Feb. 2, 2026

NIU’s Campus Climate Survey being administered and analyzed by Viewfinder, LLC. is open now until March 6, 2026. The survey, which was sent to your NIU email address, will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and includes sensitive topics related to individual identities, discrimination, sexual harassment and the overall campus experience. These topics may bring about different emotions, and there are several university resources available to support you before, during or after taking the survey. 

Resources for Employees: 

If you have questions, please reach out to JadeSilva Tovar, Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at equity@niu.edu. Further information can be found online. 

NIU is excited to launch the NIU Advocacy Network, a new opportunity for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and university supporters to help advance the university’s priorities in Springfield and Washington, D.C.

The NIU Advocacy Network supports the university’s established advocacy priorities, messaging, and strategies, ensuring a consistent and coordinated institutional voice.

By opting in, you’ll receive:

Your voice makes a difference. Together, we can ensure NIU’s values and impact are reflected in public policy.

Join us from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6 in the Holmes Student Center for this dynamic conference that centers on intergenerational dialogue and the power of oral history. Through storytelling, shared experiences and meaningful conversations, participants will explore how the wisdom of the past can inform and inspire visions for a more just and connected future. Designed to bridge generational gaps, this gathering invites attendees to listen deeply, speak authentically and honor the voices that have shaped our communities across time.

The PCPD invites nominations for the Exemplary Advocate Award for Faculty/Staff, the Exemplary Advocate Award for Community Partner, and the Gregory Long, Ph.D., Award for Excellence in Service and Leadership. Please see the Presidential Commissions Award site for more information and to access the nomination form. Nominations are being accepted through Monday, March 2, 2026.

Supportive Professional Staff (SPS) and Operating Staff (OS) have a critical role in NIU’s success. NIU annually recognizes current staff members and staff teams who have demonstrated exemplary performance and service in promoting the goals of the university while demonstrating the core values of excellence, advancement of NIU’s mission, vision and values, integrity, collaboration and service.

The awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge staff members’ extraordinary effort and exemplary service. The nomination deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. and references must be submitted by Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Please plan to submit nominations early, so references have enough time to provide information by the deadline.

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

2026 NIU Huskie Volleyball Camp registration is now live, and we would love to welcome fellow Huskies and the next generation of Huskies to campus this summer. Attached below is additional information on each of our camp offerings, designed for a variety of ages and experience levels.

All NIU employees receive a discount on camp registrations. Please contact Mackenzie Rombach (mrombach@niu.edu) for the discount code to use at sign up.

NIU Prospect ID Camp
📅 July 10, 2026.
👥 Ages: Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors (14–18).
🏐 Designed for advanced athletes with club volleyball experience.

Huskie Pups Camp
📅 July 14, 2026.
⏰ 9 to 11:30 a.m.
👥 Ages: 5–12.
🏐 Beginner/novice volleyball experience.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mackenzie Rombach at mrombach@niu.edu. Thank you for staying connected to NIU Volleyball — we would love to see Huskies past, present and future in the gym this summer.

NIU Volleyball Camps are open to all entrants (limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender).

Submissions for the Student Engagement Fund (SEF) are being accepted through Feb. 27 for proposed projects in the upcoming academic year (summer, fall and/or spring). SEF provides funding for undergraduate students working on faculty-mentored research, artistry and creative inquiry projects.

Faculty are eligible to apply for a maximum of $3,800 per year.  

Read the full details and apply by Feb. 27 to be considered for funding.  

Questions can be emailed to ugresearch@niu.edu.  

Research and Innovation Partnerships (RIPS) invites all faculty and members of campus to attend an upcoming RIPS Town Hall. These town halls include a brief overview of the current external funding landscape and a short presentation about NIU’s historical investments in research, scholarship, artistry and innovation, followed by a Q&A discussion with RIPS leadership. This is an opportunity to learn more about RIPS services, ask questions and share feedback on how RIPS can best support research, scholarship, artistry and innovation across our university. Most importantly, this is an opportunity to shape the future of RIPS and how it serves campus.  

Two more town halls will be offered on different dates at different times; we hope you can attend one. All sessions will be held in Altgeld Hall, Room 315 and will be offered in a hybrid format. In-person attendance is strongly encouraged and appreciated to support discussion and engagement. 

Townhall dates and times: 

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2-3 p.m. 
Townhall #2 Meeting Link  
Meeting ID: 259 370 814 314 51  
Passcode: GV6by2G9  

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 January is closing for all financial reporting activity at noon Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. Journals not posted at that time will go into February business. Submit January journals before end of business Friday, Feb. 6. Final January reports are scheduled to be available Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. In addition, February reports are scheduled to be available Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. These dates, and other important dates related to the Controller’s Office can be found on the Calendars and Important Dates - NIU - Controller's Office webpage.