The Office of Online Learning supports the experience of NIU’s fully online learner student body of more than 1,100 students from their initial contact with NIU, through the application and admittance process, all the way to graduation.
Promotion of Online Programs
The Division of Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communication is developing capacity and capabilities for promoting online programs to potential students. This includes developing advertising campaigns, creating informational web pages, and other lead generation efforts.
Recruitment and Admissions
The Office of Online Learning’s team of dedicated Online Student Success Specialists respond promptly to prospective student requests for information. We proactively reach out to students via phone, email, and text to offer support, answer questions, confirm program eligibility, and equip prospective students with the information needed to make an informed decision about the next steps in their educational journey. The Office of Online Learning collaborates closely with program departments and service units across campus to refer students at the appropriate time and ensure students are being supported at each level of the enrollment funnel.
Student Success and Retention
The Online Learning team continues to support students post-admission through to the end of their program. This support includes assisting students with registration each semester, monitoring engagement in Blackboard, sending multiple reminders about key university deadlines, and referring students to appropriate resources and opportunities as needed. Our Online Student Success Specialists provide high-touch, concierge-level services and function as a one-stop shop in supporting NIU’s online student population. Our goal is to make sure students know they don’t have to navigate their experience as an online student alone and that they have a go-to point person to help them through to graduation.