Jan. 12, 2026

Join President Freeman for the State of the University at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 in the Altgeld Hall Auditorium. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions both in person and online, and employees are granted release time to join the event.

We are excited to announce the dates for the 2026 Spring Involvement Fair. This two-day event will take place on:

Sign-up Details:

Registration deadline:
The deadline to register for the Spring Involvement Fair is Wednesday, Jan. 14. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Alex Pitner, associate director for student organizations and leadership in Student Involvement. Register today.

Space is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Students intending to graduate in May 2026 must apply in MyNIU by no later than Feb. 15. Please share this date with students and colleagues. This is the only (and final) deadline for spring (May 2026) graduation candidates. More information about applying for graduation is available at niu.edu/registration-records/graduation

The Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability (NICCS) supports NIU faculty and students whose research and artistry address themes of water, energy, food systems and environmental adaptation.

NICCS is excited to announce its first round of funding opportunities to support NIU researchers and artists through travel awards and program grants. NICCS awards aim to advance research and artistry that strengthen communities and increase the visibility of NICCS and NIU, as well as to provide networking and leadership opportunities for NIU students and faculty.

More information about each funding opportunity, including amounts of support, eligibility requirements and due dates, is now available. Learn more.

Everyone can experience the arts this semester at NIU — registration for the NIU Community School of the Arts is open for spring.

Students of any age can learn to play a new musical instrument or brush up skills with private music lessons. Inquire today and start lessons in January.

Piano and guitar group classes for adults make learning to play music a fun and more affordable experience. Keep your New Year’s resolution to learn to play an instrument with weekly classes this semester.

Piano Starter class for kids ages 5 to 7, Symphonette strings for ages 8 to 16, CSA Steelband, Sinfonia youth orchestra and Children’s Music Education classes for kids ages 1 to 5 all begin new spring sessions soon in the NIU Music Building.

Please visit the CSA website for details and to register. For assistance or more information, call the CSA office at 815-753-1450.

Join us as we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and embrace the spirit of the National Day of Racial Healing through a week dedicated to advocacy, connection and justice. Together, we will empower students to be advocates for themselves, foster a sense of belonging and build bridges across our community.

Through acts of service and transformative dialogue, each event invites us to reflect, connect and act toward equity and collective care. Let’s celebrate Dr. King’s vision by creating spaces where voices are heard, communities are strengthened and justice is pursued.

Have you been considering changing a few nutrition habits and you’re looking for guidance? Do you know what to do, but need accountability to get there? NIU Recreation has you covered. Meet with one of our nutrition coaches to learn eating strategies for your nutrition challenge. Whether you want to lose weight, get stronger at the gym, improve a health marker or build a better relationship with food, we’re here to help. For only a $99 one-time fee, meet with a nutrition coach through the spring semester. The earlier you register, the more sessions you’ll receive this spring (up to 12 visits).

A new and a revised policy are open to review and comment for a 30-day period. This provides our NIU community with the opportunity to consider and respond to the policies before they take effect. The new policy is:

The revised policy is:

To submit a comment, go to our Policy Library website. Click on “Comment on New/Renew Policies.” You’ll be able to review the policies and provide your comments. If you have any questions, please contact the university policy librarian at policy-library@niu.edu.

Do you know the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) offers professional development workshops at no cost to you or your department? This is a great opportunity to refresh your skills or learn something new.

Upcoming Workshops (January and February):

We’re also bringing back Tuesday Tech Tips, featuring keyboard shortcuts and pivot tables.

DoIT can even customize training for your department, perfect for team skill-building or exploring new tools.

For more information on these training opportunities, visit our website. Questions can be directed to Cindy Kozumplik in the Division of Information Technology.

Applaud a Colleague is a show of appreciation for those coworkers who go above and beyond. These are just a few of the employees throughout the university that go the extra mile:

Tip: Submit your event, lecture, training session or deadline to the NIU calendar to help inform Huskies about everything that is happening on campus.