College of Engineering and Engineering Technology Central Advising Office

If you're interested in engineering or engineering technology, we'll help you get started on your academic journey and connect you across the campus community. We can help you understand course and degree requirements, explore majors and minors, and link you with academic and career resources.

We also offer tutoring services in EB 141 to engineering and engineering technology students to help ease your transition to campus. View our current hours of operation.

You'll meet with one of our professional advisors once you have completed 24 credit hours. You are required to schedule an appointment with your advisor each semester before registering for classes. Once you have met your math milestone and completed 80 credit hours, you will be assigned to a faculty advisor in your major department.

For more information, contact us at 815-753-8024 or ceetadvising@niu.edu.

Appointments

Each semester, we'll send information to your NIU email account about scheduling your mandatory advising appointment. You can also contact us anytime to set up a meeting, as we offer in-person and virtual appointments. An advising hold is placed on your account every semester, so you must meet with your advisor before you can register for classes.

What to Expect from your Professional Advisor

• Guidance on understanding academic requirements, and university policies and procedures
• Assistance in selecting courses that align with your major program of study
• Help in navigating academic challenges and identifying solutions
• Information about campus resources and services relevant to academic success
• Feedback on progress towards degree completion and graduation requirements
• Encouragement to explore academic interests and opportunities for specialization

Preparing for your Advising Appointment

• Review academic requirements: familiarize yourself with your degree program's requirements, including specific prerequisites, core courses, and electives, if any.
• Make a list: reflect on your academic and career goals. Write down questions or topics you want to discuss, such as course selections, major/minor options or academic challenges.
• Be open: take notes during the appointment to remember important information and action items discussed. Be open to suggestions and advice from your advisor.
• Follow up: you should reach out via email for additional assistance, such as course withdrawals, major change requests, not passing courses with grades required for major, etc.

Technology and Educational Tools Guidance

Incoming engineering students frequently ask for our guidance on the type and extent of technology and educational tools they will need to succeed academically.

Although individual resources and approaches may vary, we recommend that you have a PC laptop that provides the required high-end multi-core processors, dedicated graphics and heavy random access memory (RAM) required to operate demanding programs such as CAD and SolidWorks.

Key Hardware Requirements

• Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 7/9 to quickly process complex code and math.
• Graphics (GPU): Dedicated NVIDIA RTX or AMD Radeon card is required for 3D modeling and rendering.
• Memory (RAM): 16 GB absolute minimum, but 32 GB is strongly advised to prevent lag during simulations.

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