Office of Online Learning: Year in Review 2024-2025

In its second year, the Office of Online Learning built on the momentum from year one, continuing to refine processes and identify ways to better support the university’s online student population.

The online learning team supports prospective students interested in 46 of the university’s online degree and certificate programs and supports continuing students in eight of our online programs all the way through to graduation.

Lead Volume and Outreach

Our process, which combines manual, personalized 1:1 outreach attempts with complementary automated communications, provided prompt follow-up and outreach to 6,318 requests for information from prospective students.

We made over 56,757 unique interactions with this population over the last year via phone, text, and email through Slate and Navigate.

Online Admitted Student Webinars

We continued to host regular admitted student webinars in the evenings to support the university’s incoming online learners. These sessions guide new students through their next steps before the semester begins, introduce them to the range of student services available to them, and offer practical strategies for success in the online learning environment.

We held a total of 13 sessions over the spring 2025, summer 2025, and fall 2025 semesters, welcoming over 210 students to NIU that attended and an overall 79% attendance rate.

Virtual Open House Sessions

In collaboration with the College of Health and Human Sciences and the College of Business, we hosted a series of virtual open house sessions to engage prospective students interested in NIU’s online programs. Separate sessions were held for CHHS programs, graduate nursing programs, and graduate business programs. Each session featured interactive panels with current students, alumni, and/or faculty members, offering attendees valuable insights into the student experience, program expectations, and career outcomes.

Digital Literacy Series

To help online students navigate the digital learning environment with confidence, we launched a Digital Literacy Video Series. These short, easy-tofollow videos are designed to build essential technology skills on students’ own schedules - supporting both academic achievement and long-term career readiness. The videos are delivered directly to current online students via their NIU email.

Why students are responding positively:

• Minimized tech stress: Step-by-step tutorials simplify the use of key digital tools.
• Enhanced connection: Tips include ways to engage with peers in virtual spaces for collaboration and support.
• Career skill development: Students gain familiarity with the digital competencies most valued by today’s employers.

Online Student Advisory Committee

The Online Student Advisory Committee (OSAC) was launched in spring 2025 and consists of a diverse group of online student members who represent the broader student population. OSAC serves as a collaborative space for discussing and influencing key decisions and initiatives related to the online learning experience. This committee provides a vital voice for the student body, offering feedback, recommendations and insights to enhance the quality, accessibility and overall student experience of online education at NIU.

Members

NIU Online Student Facebook Group

The NIU Online Student Facebook Group went live in May 2025 and serves as an informal space for students to learn about upcoming events, important deadline reminders, and other resources to help them success virtually at NIU. It is also a platform where online learners can build community, ask questions, share resources, and connect with fellow students.

Program Celebration Events

To honor and support our online learners, we participated in the M.S. in Digital Marketing’s end-of-year student celebration, volunteered at the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony, and attended graduate nursing Immersion Days. These events provided meaningful opportunities to celebrate student achievements and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive environment. By being present for these important milestones, we continue to strengthen our campus partnerships and reinforce a sense of community for online students.

Redesign of NIU Online Website

This year, significant strides were made in redesigning the NIU Online website to better serve both prospective and current online students. The updated site now features newly formatted program pages that include a photo of the online student success specialist assigned to each program, along with direct links to schedule one-on-one appointments for personalized support. An effort to publish more Huskie Spotlights for our online students has also been ongoing and incorporated into the new pages.

In addition to program-specific enhancements, new pages were created to highlight key resources and initiatives, including online general education course offerings, the Online Student Advisory Committee, the Office of Online Learning newsletter, and the Digital Literacy Series. The site also now provides easier access to broader NIU student resources and engagement opportunities such as the NIU Online Student Facebook group. The Virtual Victor chatbot has also been added to the website for students to obtain answers to simple questions 24/7.

These updates aim to create a more streamlined, informative, and supportive digital experience for the NIU online student community. The second phase of the project will include adding Steppingblocks data to each program page.

Office of Online Learning Newsletter

We launched a dedicated newsletter designed specifically for online students. Distributed twice during the fall and spring semesters and once in the summer, the newsletter aims to keep students informed, engaged, and supported throughout the academic year.

Each issue features an encouraging and motivational message from a member of the online learning team, along with timely news and announcements, key academic dates, success tips for online learning, highlights of helpful technology tools, upcoming virtual events, and valuable information about student services.

Enrollment

The fall 2025 semester saw an overall 8% increase in fully online students enrolled this semester post-10th day, reflecting the growing impact of our online learning initiatives.

Anti-Melt Campaign and Live Chat Event

An anti-melt campaign was designed for our adult learner and online student population, who often face unique challenges. We curated messaging that aligns with adult learners’ goals. By featuring our current NIU students, we were able to personalize our messaging and provide relatable tips from real students to build up motivation. This campaign culminated with an opportunity for our online students to live text with the online team.

Campaign Themes

1. Online and On Your Way: A Huskie's Success Story

• Featured a military veteran student
• Shared online learning success tips and motivation
• Call to action: Set up an advising appointment

2. Huskies' Guide to Funding Your Future

• Focused on financial aid options and resources tailored for online learners
• Calls to action if applicable: Complete FAFSA, set up HIP, and set up financial advising appointment

3. You've Got Goals — Let's Make Them Happen!

• Highlighted a busy mom, nurse, and student
• Offered tips for organization and goal setting
• Call to action: Attend admitted online student webinar

Live Chat Event

To support new online students during their first week, NIU Online hosted a Live Huskie Help Chat on Wednesday, August 27, with two sessions:

• 12:00–2:00 PM CST
• 5:30–7:00 PM CST

Students were invited to text in questions about technology and logging in, class schedules, online learning tips, anything Huskie-related.

Support Provided

• Helped students log into Blackboard for evening classes
• Offered guidance on building community and getting more social/on-campus
• Created a welcoming environment for students feeling overwhelmed
• Assisted with registering a new student during the chat

Recruitment Events

Awards

The Office of Online Learning has been named the 2025 recipient of the UPCEA Excellence in Advancing Student Success Award. This award recognizes an institution that has implemented a successful strategic initiative, project, or service that has resulted in significantly advancing the success of adult and/or non-traditional student audiences.