NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

Updates for High School Partners

Greetings,

February is a time to come together — whether it’s encouraging students to visit campus, celebrating culture and leadership, or pausing to recognize the moments that shape our shared community.

This month, we’re proud to honor Black Heritage Month at NIU by celebrating the history, contributions and leadership of Black communities through events hosted by our Center for Black Studies. These programs reflect our ongoing commitment to education, equity and belonging — values that continue to guide our work with students.

February also brings moments that invite reflection and connection, such as World Day of Social Justice and National Leadership Day as well as familiar milestones like Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day reminding us that learning happens both inside and outside the classroom.

As a quick personal note, I’ll be stepping away on maternity leave soon. While I’m away, members of the NIU community will be guest-starring in the next few newsletters, sharing updates and resources to support you and your students.

We’re hosting Preview Days on Feb. 16 and March 21, ideal opportunities for students who are just beginning their college search to experience NIU firsthand and start imagining themselves as Huskies.

Your students can tour campus and residence halls, explore academic programs, connect with student and cultural resource centers, and learn how NIU makes degrees affordable and accessible.

New this coming fall: Merit scholarship amounts have increased for freshmen with a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Students admitted for fall 2026 and beyond will receive renewable scholarship funding ranging from $1,000 to $8,000 a year for up to four years based solely on their GPA. That’s a total of $4,000 to $32,000.

HUSKIE SPOTLIGHT

"The financial support awarded to me through NIU has had a tremendous impact on my experience in college thus far. The support has given me the ability to focus on my studies without the stress of worrying about additional costs for college.”

— Tia Fornatoro, a Honors marketing major from Algonquin, Illinois.

With a 2026 theme of “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” NIU’s Black Heritage Month will celebrate 100 years of Black history and 50-plus years of Black Studies, a legacy rooted in scholarship, resistance, creativity and global impact. Learn more about this year’s theme and the many events hosted by the Center for Black Studies in collaboration with partners across the university.

One of our cultural resource centers — a home away from home for many students — our Center for Black Studies centers histories, experiences and traditions relevant to Black and African American identities.

“The Center for Black Studies has been one of the biggest sources of support for me at NIU. It’s a space where I feel seen, heard and understood. They’ve provided me with resources, encouragement and a strong sense of community that’s helped me feel safe, supported and empowered to succeed.”

— Olivia Collier, a management major from Chicago, Illinois.

Visual Disabilities students head north to visit Wisconsin School for the Blind

CITL releases student guide to artificial intelligence

Multicultural Greek Council events celebrate culture, connection

With first-year student resources, we’ll meet your students wherever they’re at on their educational journeys andprovide personal attention, flexibility and support tailored to their unique needs. 

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