Nov. 10, 2025

Join President Lisa Freeman, her leadership team and fellow colleagues for the Annual President's Holiday Gathering on Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Altgeld Hall Auditorium. Employees are granted release time to participate. Learn more.

“A Teacher’s Shoes” is a compelling new short documentary that offers a powerful look at a single day in the life of three NIU alumni teachers. This film follows their journey from home to the classroom, highlighting their dedication and the profound impact they make. Walk alongside these passionate educators as they navigate challenges, spark curiosity and leave lasting imprints on their students. Whether you're an aspiring teacher, a proud Huskie or simply someone who believes in the power of education, this screening will move you, inspire you and remind you why great teachers matter.

Wednesday, Nov. 12
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center Ballroom

5:30 p.m.          Light refreshments and conversation.
6:00 p.m.          Welcome and documentary showing.
6:45 p.m.          Panel discussion with featured teachers.

Please RSVP

While registration is not required, we encourage you to RSVP so we can plan accordingly and acknowledge those attending.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

If you have any questions regarding this event, please email our Morgridge Endowed Chair Office Graduate Assistants Kristen Aragon and Kimberly Teal at meco@niu.edu.

Due to system maintenance, the PeopleSoft Human Resources System will be unavailable from
5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14.

Due to system maintenance, the MyNIU Student System will be unavailable between 5 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11.

It’s that time of the semester: Course evaluations for 16-week classes are open. Keep an eye on your inbox for an email from BlueEvaluations@niu.edu with all the details. 

Pro tip: Want to boost your response rates? Set aside class time for students to complete their evaluations — it's a win-win.
Starting in November, you’ll be able to track response rates, so stay tuned and help us make every evaluation count.

For additional information about Blue Evaluations, please visit our website. 

This is to inform NIU tenured and tenure-track faculty that the University Council (UC) is starting the faculty election process for terms beginning fall 2026. Faculty are encouraged to become involved in this election process. Below is a list of the faculty members whose UC terms expire at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

Important Information About Serving on University Council

At a minimum, representing one’s academic college or University Libraries on UC requires participation at monthly UC meetings, held in person only, at 3 p.m. Wednesdays during the academic year. Additionally, members are expected to assist with occasional UC subcommittee work.

Who is Eligible to Vote in This University Council Election?

All tenured and tenure-track faculty who hold the rank of professor, associate professor or assistant professor, excluding the president, provost, deans and their staffs.Who is Eligible to be Elected to University Council in This Election?

All tenured and tenure-track faculty who hold the rank of professor, associate professor or assistant professor, excluding the president, provost, deans and their staffs.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the UC election process, please contact Pat Erickson, UC administrative assistant, at pje@niu.edu.

The Division of Administration and Finance is seeking an Office Administrator whose primary area of support will include the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director and staff of Procurement Services and Contract Management and Controller and the Controller’s Office staff. Essential responsibilities of this position include advanced secretarial duties, compiling administrative reports, dealing with highly confidential and sensitive issues, and managing the interactions of departmental functions. This position also works very closely with the University’s commercial card program. 

Interested applicants should apply no later than November 12, 2025, by submitting their materials here: https://employment.niu.edu/postings/87748

This is an internal posting open to current NIU employees.

The Office of Research Development (ORD) is pleased to share that the Mellon Foundation has announced its 2026 Open Call for Concepts under the Higher Learning program. NIU may submit up to three proposals in response to this opportunity, and ORD will manage this institutional limit. 

The Mellon Foundation invites institutions of higher education to submit applications for research and/or curricular projects focused on either of the following two areas: 

For full descriptions of the research areas, see the Open Call for Concepts. Applications must be demonstrably grounded in the humanities and led by humanities scholars. Experimental methodologies, interdisciplinary and community collaboration, and pathways to informing campus and/or wider policies and practices are welcome.  

PI Eligibility: The principal investigator (PI) must be a faculty member and/or dean in a program or department in the humanities or humanistic social sciences. The PI may also be the institution's provost or chief academic officer. 

If you are interested in applying, we strongly encourage you to carefully review both the call for concepts and full application guidelines.  

Interested applicants must submit a notice of intent (NOI) to ord@niu.edu by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. Please include the following information: 

Should interest exceed the limit of three proposals, ORD will conduct an internal competition to select which proposals will move forward.  

ORD will notify individuals who submit NOIs of next steps by Wednesday, Nov. 26. 

NIU may not support or submit proposals from applicants who do not comply with this NOI requirement. 

Please join us for our November Leadership Training Series for faculty and staff. Coordinated by Human Resource Services and Employee Well-being and led by Holly Nicholson, the 2025 Presidential Staff Fellow, this month’s discussion will explore “Centering Students in Our Work,” and features panelists from across Student Affairs. Our panelists will share their perspectives and experiences with student-centered approaches to work. Please join us from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13 on Teams. To register, go to campus training. Register by noon Thursday, Nov. 13.

https://calendar.niu.edu/event/centering-students-in-our-work

We’re just days away from the submission deadline for the Huskie Trek Talks program on November 14! This year, there is $80,000 in funding available to support faculty and student-led projects. With federal funding streams tightening, this opportunity could help bridge existing or emerging funding gaps for your research or innovation initiatives.

Additionally, presenting your work through the Hus­kie Trek Talks gives you an excellent platform to showcase your ideas and engage potential investors. If you’ve been considering submitting a proposal—now’s the time. Don’t miss out on this chance to accelerate your project and get your work in front of key stakeholders.

Do you lead or oversee a volunteer leadership group like an alumni council? Looking for ways to support their professional development? You and your volunteer leaders may be interested in the 2026 Volunteer Leadership Summit.

Hear from professional experts about key university initiatives, expand volunteer leadership skills and network with fellow volunteer leaders. Email volunteer@niu.edu before Friday, Nov. 28 for more information.

 The Dr. Scholl Foundation is currently accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs); full proposals are by invitation only. The foundation will only accept one LOI per organization per grant cycle. The deadline for the internal competition is 4:30 p.m., Nov. 26, 2025. at A full LOI is due to the foundation by Jan. 30, 2026.

The Dr. Scholl Foundation is committed to supporting organizations that work to make the world a better place. Guided by the principles of innovation, practicality, hard work and compassion, the foundation believes these enduring values are key to addressing today’s challenges. Grant applications are welcomed in broad areas including education, social service, health care, civic and cultural initiatives, and environmental efforts. While these categories represent the foundation’s main interests, its guidelines remain intentionally flexible, allowing consideration of other meaningful projects that align with its mission to foster positive change. 

A full description of the program, preferences and limitations can be found on the Dr. Scholl Foundation Website.

Look for more information on this opportunity and other limited submission funding opportunities on the ORD InfoReady internal competition portal. If you come across a funding opportunity that limits the number of proposals accepted and do not see it on the ORD website, please email ord@niu.edu.   

Huskies, we want your on-campus dining experience to be exceptional. Please take a few minutes to complete our Campus Dining Customer Satisfaction Survey and let us know what you love and what you’d like to see improved. We’re listening!

Come join us in supporting NIU students by volunteering at our Huskie Food Pantry. As faculty, staff, alumni or friends of the university, your time and energy can make a meaningful impact. This is a critical time for the pantry, and your support helps ensure students have access to essential resources.

Whether you're a returning volunteer or new to the pantry, we welcome your help. Available shifts include:

Learn more and register. Thank you and go Huskies!

Each year, the Division of International Affairs celebrates International Education Week (IEW), an opportunity to recognize the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, reflecting efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences. 

This year, International Education Week takes place the week of Nov. 17-21.

We want to feature and encourage others’ celebrations of International Education Week. If you plan on hosting an international education event between Nov. 17-21, please visit our Division of International Affairs website to have your event featured on our NIU International Education Week calendar feed. Simply follow the steps under the Submit an Event section.

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. 

The month of October is closing for all financial reporting activity at noon Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. Journals not posted at that time will go into November business. Submit October journals before end of business Friday, Nov. 7.  Final October reports are scheduled to be available Tuesday, Nov. 11. In addition, November reports are scheduled to be available Wednesday, Nov. 12. These dates, and other important dates related to the Controller’s Office, can be found on the Controller’s Office calendar webpage.