Oct. 7, 2024

During the month of October, the following three (3) mandatory trainings for all employees will be available in Blackboard:

Each training varies in length from 45 minutes to one (1) hour. These trainings will be open from Oct. 7-31, 2024. All training must be completed by the last date of the training period prior to midnight. There will be no extensions available. Learn more about the trainings by visiting the NIU Calendar.

Vice President for Student Affairs Clint-Michael Reneau recently sent a communication to students encouraging them to practice self care as they may be experiencing challenges or feeling overwhelmed at this point in the semester.

Remind our students that "you've got this, because we've got you" by sharing resources including our Student Wellness website, our Student Life website or our Healthy Huskies Instagram account where they can learn more about resources and events designed to support their success and wellbeing.

We hope you are making plans to join us during the week of Oct. 13-20, 2024. If you would like to volunteer to help with these special events, you should communicate with your supervisor about release time or flexible hours. With supervisor approval, and assurance that appropriate coverage is maintained for the unit/department, all employees are encouraged to volunteer and participate in Homecoming week activities. We hope you'll help us welcome Huskies back to DeKalb for our 117th Homecoming. Please sign up to volunteer by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.

Faculty: Here is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines by sitting in on a colleague's course. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing during Open Classroom Weeks.

Twenty-two class sessions hosted by eight faculty are available between Oct. 14-25. Visit go.niu.edu/open-classroom-weeks to sign up and learn more about this helpful program.

2024 NIU Campus Flu Clinic is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 in the Holmes Student Center Ballroom.

They do not offer COVID-19 or high-dose vaccines at this clinic.

Please read the information regarding receiving your vaccine, on what you may need to know or bring to your appointment, as well as booking the appointment and pre-fill. Download and print the client consent form to bring to your appointment at the Employee Well-being website.

If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, go to your confirmation email you received and scroll down to the button “Reschedule.”

For questions regarding the vaccine, or your insurance if you are not covered under one of the offered NIU insurances, call the DeKalb County Health Department at 815-758-6673.

If you have any questions regarding booking an appointment or the event, please contact NIU Employee Well-being at 815-753-9191 or email ksmith12@niu.edu.

Nominations for our 2025 Excellence in Online Teaching Award are now being accepted. This award recognizes NIU faculty and instructors whose performance exemplifies their commitment to excellence in online teaching, course development and student engagement.

All those who teach online or hybrid courses (tenured and tenure-track faculty members, instructors and teaching staff) are eligible. There is no limit as to the number of nominees from any department/program or college. Self-nominations are allowed and encouraged.

Award recipients will receive a plaque and a $2,000 one-time stipend.

Deadline for nominations is Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. See go.niu.edu/online-teaching-award for more details and to submit a nomination.

A new program is available for faculty to receive helpful advice, recommendations and mentoring on teaching.

Faculty teaching mentors are available to all faculty to provide guidance and direction. As you are thinking about tenure and promotion progression for your faculty, consider using this program and recommending faculty who may benefit from it.

Check out the recent NIU Today story about this program to learn more. Contact Jason Rhode, associate vice provost for teaching, learning and digital dducation, at jrhode@niu.edu for assistance in connecting your faculty with teaching mentors.

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) in October, Prevention Education and Outreach is excited to invite the College of Visual and Performing Arts to collaborate on a meaningful event titled "Arts and Action," dedicated to raising awareness about domestic violence. This event takes place 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 at the Holmes Student Center.

"Arts and Action" provides a platform for students to share their stories, experiences or reflections on domestic violence, and support of those who have experienced harm through various forms of artistic expression. We believe that performance art can be a powerful tool for both raising awareness and fostering empathy.

Who are Orientation Leaders (OLs)? 
An Orientation Leader (OL) is an undergraduate student who helps incoming first-year and transfer students transition to NIU, building a sense of connection and belonging. OLs lead small group discussions, lead campus tours, answer questions and more.

Do you know any student who would be a good Orientation Leader?  
Serving as an Orientation Leader is a unique opportunity for students to develop leadership and communication skills, share their Huskie story by highlighting their academic and involvement journey, and make an impact on new Huskies.

Why should you recommend a student? 
This is a great way to recognize students for their hard work and share another opportunity for them to engage with our campus community. You can also recommend a student who is already highly involved on campus to recognize their hard work. There is no obligation for them to apply after being nominated. 

Have any questions? Contact Scott Johansen, program assistant for student training and development in the Office of Orientation and First Year Programs, at sjohansen@niu.edu.

Plan to attend the The Real Talk Conference: Opening Pathways to Embrace Our Humanity on Friday, Oct. 25. Come make new connections while engaging in powerful conversations that promote understanding, increase empathy, and facilitate change in our community. Experience dynamic keynote speakers and interactive sessions led by NIU's students, faculty, and community members.

We’re accepting submissions through Nov. 2 for our Student Engagement Fund (SEF) for spring 2025 projects. SEF provides funding for undergraduate students working on faculty-mentored research, artistry and creative inquiry projects.   

Faculty can apply for stipends to pay up to two undergraduate student researchers and to cover up to $500 in project supplies per student. Access full details and apply now.  

Emai ugresearch@niu.edu for questions about eligibility and guidelines.

SEF will accept applications annually starting spring 2025.  

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will host a free Grants Policy Updates: Fiscal Year  2025 webinar from noon to 1p.m. CDT Oct. 17, 2024, to inform the NIH grants community on the agency’s latest policy news. 

See our Sponsored Programs Administration Newsblog for additional information.

Bring your clubs, friends and family to NIU Adventures for custom team buildings. We can tailor the experience to fit the needs of your group. Come spend some time to get to know each other, improve communication, expand leadership skills, or to spend some quality structured time together. Visit our team building webpage for more details and to request a workshop.

The #HuskiePride Committee will be around campus each day during Homecoming week to hand out NIU swag and other prizes for folks sporting that day’s theme.

Monday, Oct. 14 – Favorite NIU Team Day
Tuesday, Oct. 15 – Retro Day 
Wednesday, Oct. 16  – NIU Accessory Day
Thursday, Oct. 17 – Pride with Purpose Day
Friday, Oct. 18 – Super Spirit Day 

Additionally, all Huskies, including our remote employees and online students, are encouraged to upload a photo each day for entry into a drawing for a Pride with Purpose t-shirt (one given out for each day of the week). The photo submission form will be made available during the week of Homecoming.

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

The month of September is closing for all financial reporting activity at noon Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. Journals not posted at that time will go into October business. Submit September journals before end of business Tuesday, Oct. 8. Final September reports are scheduled to be available Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. In addition, October reports are scheduled to be available Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. These and other important dates can be found on the Controller's Office website.