| Week of Feb. 22, 2021
Contents: | | | COVID-19 Vaccines: Ask the Experts Panel Scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 23 Experts from NIU’s College of Health and Human Sciences and the DeKalb County Health Department will join Chief of Staff Matt Streb to answer questions and address concerns related to the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. The discussion will take place from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Zoom. The expert panelists include:
• Beth Squires, Public Health Program Coordinator for the College of Health and Human Sciences.
• Cindy Graves, Director of Community Health & Prevention and Health Promotion and Emergency Preparedness for the DeKalb County Health Department
• Susan Caplan, Chair and Associate Professor in NIU’s School of Nursing Come prepared with your questions--you’ll be able to ask the experts via the chat function during the presentation.
Supervisor Guidance Update for Spring 2021 Scheduled for Friday, Feb. 26
Please join Dr. Vernese Edghill-Walden, Dr. Matt Streb and Liz Guess for a virtual information panel discussion for supervisors at 8-9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. The panel discussion will provide updates, continued guidance, and the opportunity to ask questions as we mutually seek to lead and support our employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. To register, please email ksmith12@niu.edu by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25.
Enroll in Voluntary COVID-19 Testing Program by March 1
We are expanding the free COVID-19 surveillance testing program to allow employees and students who are on campus but not part of the mandatory testing program to opt into regular voluntary COVID-19 testing every four weeks.
The COVID-19 surveillance testing program on campus uses the saliva test from SHIELD Illinois and is administered by Northwestern Medicine in the Holmes Student Center. You will usually receive your results within 48 hours of your test.
To opt into the voluntary testing program, please complete this form by March 1.
Please note, surveillance testing is only for those who DO NOT have any symptoms of COVID-19. If you opt in, you are committing to testing during the weeks you are assigned. You will be provided with a link to schedule your appointments for your assigned weeks. No special scheduling arrangements will be available.
Employees and students who are part of the mandatory testing program or who are not regularly on campus are NOT eligible for this opt-in program.
More information on this voluntary testing opportunity – including FAQs - is available on the Protecting the Pack website. |
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| Upcoming Events
Please check the calendar for more information and for online-only events as they become available!
Visit the NIU Huskies’ calendar of events to learn more about upcoming athletic events.
• Monday, Feb. 22: Outdoor Adventures Craft Night: T-Shirts Reimagined
• Monday, Feb. 22: Education Job Fair
• Monday, Feb. 22: National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2021: Thinking Thankfully Through Art
• Tuesday, Feb. 23: LMS Review - D2L Brightspace Demonstration
• Tuesday, Feb. 23: The Supervisors’ Guide to Delegating Tasks
• Tuesday, Feb. 23: COVID-19 Vaccines: Ask the Experts
• Tuesday, Feb. 23: National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2021: Diet Discovery - A Discussion of the 5 Most Popular Diets
• Tuesday, Feb. 23: Men's Basketball vs Buffalo
• Wednesday, Feb. 24: State Universities Civil Service System (SUCSS) Overview
• Wednesday, Feb. 24: National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2021: Panel Discussion
• Wednesday, Feb. 24: Women's Basketball vs Ball State
• Thursday, Feb. 25: "What's Holding Us Back?" Understanding -isms Town Hall (Session 2)
• Thursday, Feb. 25: LMS Review - Instructure Canvas Catalog Demonstration
• Thursday, Feb. 25: Dr. Douglas E. Sperry - The role of overheard speech in the ambient verbal environments of young children
• Thursday, Feb. 25: National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2021: NIU Teaching Kitchens Cook Along
• Thursday, Feb. 25: Of Fantastic Stories, Freaks & Feminism: Beyond Gender Myths in Art
• Friday, Feb. 26: Government, Public and Social Services, Health and Wellness Fair
• Friday, Feb. 26: National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2021: Body Positive Yoga
• Friday, Feb. 26: Reanimated Stories |
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| Notices
Register for Upcoming Presentations from the Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program has partnered with Human Resource Services to provide two upcoming workshops.
State Universities Civil Service System (SUCSS) Overview will provide a snapshot of the Civil Service System and the rules and statues we follow as governed by the State University Civil Service System. This presentation, presented by Pulchratia Smith, will include information related to hiring in the civil service system, bumping and seniority. You can attend the presentation on Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 10 to 11 a.m. or on Friday, March 5, from 9 to 10 a.m. by registering online. Recommendations for How to Write Job Descriptions will provide tips and recommendations for writing and updating job descriptions. This presentation will cover how to write job duties, including how to write qualifications, knowledge, skills and abilities. You can attend the presentation on Thursday, March 18, from 1-2 p.m. or on Monday, March 29, from 2-3 p.m. by registering online.
Learn Management System Vendor Demonstrations Scheduled
The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning is conducting a review of the university’s Learning Management System (LMS). A critical aspect of the review process is inviting vendors to provide demonstrations to our campus community. With "Blackboard Original" gradually being phased out, we have the opportunity to compare "Blackboard Ultra" with other vendors' platforms. Our goal is to provide everyone with an opportunity to see the capabilities and provide feedback as to which systems offer the functionality and user experience desired moving forward. More information about the LMS review, including a list of dates and times for demonstrations is available on the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning’s website.
Know a Huskie in Need of Academic Support?
The Huskie Support Academic Center brings together services for students of all majors — including tutoring, writing and research assistance, and success coaching. Not sure how to help get students started? Have them check out these five tips on reaching out to stay on track.
Season Two of Huskie Conversation Café Podcast Now Available
Social Justice Education is back with season two of the Huskie Conversation Café podcast! This season, your host Jane Pappas interviews authors from NIU and beyond who have written books on social justice.
Come back every other week to hear from the authors themselves about the writing process, the themes in their books, and what they think we can do to be better, more engaged and inclusive Huskies. The first two episodes — a two-part interview with Kevin Gannon — are already posted on the ADEI website.Join us for conversations that matter with:
• Kevin Gannon, author of “Radical Hope: A Teaching Manifesto.”
• Mark Schuller, author of “Humanity’s Last Stand: Confronting Global Catastrophe.”
• Joe Flynn, author of “White Fatigue: Rethinking Resistance for Social Justice.”
The Huskie Conversation Café Podcast is brought to you by Social Justice Education. Please contact Jane Pappas with any questions.
Register to attend Winning in Football, Winning in Life: Teaching and Coaching for Success Join the College of Education’s spring Educator in Residence, P.J. Fleck (B.S.Ed. ’04), head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team, as he shares how he transformed and built on his foundation as an Elementary Education major to become a highly successful coach. Learn how Coach Fleck motivates, develops and supports college athletes as they focus on teamwork and shared goals. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 3, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Zoom and registration is available online.
Develop Your Outdoor Leadership Skills
This spring, NIU Outdoor Adventures seeks to support and promote equity in outdoor recreation through a free, six-part weekly Outdoor Leadership Series. For too long, the outdoor industry has been a space where there has been unequal access for underrepresented populations. NIU Outdoor Adventures wants to see this change. This series will expose students who are newer to the outdoors with an array of outdoor leadership skills, provide hands-on practice using these skills and encourage students from underrepresented populations to explore outdoor recreation activities. By sharing resources, knowledge and practical tips, this series aims to disrupt the traditional narratives of who is active in the outdoors in favor of a more inclusive and diverse group of outdoor enthusiasts. If you or someone you know would like to be part of making this change, please sign-up and join us for our Outdoor Leadership Series taking place during the last half of this semester. This series will be held outside, in person, with masks and physical distancing required. There is no fee, no commitment and no pressure to participate. We hope you’ll join us and reach out with any questions. For more information please contact NIU Outdoor Adventures Graduate Assistant Dan Dunne ddunne@niu.edu or outdooradventure@niu.edu.
Policy Library Update – Two New Policies and Nine Revised Policies
Two new policies and nine revised policies have been posted on the Policy Library website and are open to review and comment for a 30-day period. This provides the NIU community the opportunity to consider and respond to the new and revised policies before they take effect. The policies are: New Policies: - Huskie Pride Lights.
- Recharge Operations Policy.
Revised policies: - Research with Pregnant Women, Fetuses and Neonates.
- Research Involving Persons with Impaired Consent Capacity.
- Research Involving Prisoners.
- Research Involving Children.
- Reviewing and Reporting Unanticipated Problems.
- IRB Review of Research with Human Subjects.
- IRB Procedures for Reports of Noncompliance.
- IRB Membership and Responsibilities.
- Informed Consent for Human Research.
To submit a comment, go to the policy library website. The revised policies will appear at the center of the screen. Click on “Comment on New/Revised Policies.” You’ll be asked to sign into SharePoint. All comments are due Tuesday, March 9. If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Hunt, university policy librarian, at rhunt@niu.edu.
OneCard Office Hours Updated
Effective Feb. 22 through April 30, the OneCard Office will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Scheduling an appointment through the online app is highly recommended. Students and faculty, staff or retirees can submit a photo and request a OneCard online. In addition, Huskie Bucks deposits can also be made online.
Check out the OneCard Offices’ Frequently Asked Questions or contact onecard@niu.edu or call 815-753-9569 for more information. |
| Deadlines
Financial Month End Close
The month of February is closing for all financial reporting activity at noon Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Journals not posted at that time will go into March business. Submit February journals before end of business Monday, March 8. Final February reports are scheduled to be available Wednesday, March 10, 2021. In addition, March reports are scheduled to be available Monday, March 15, 2021. These dates, and other important dates related to the Controller’s Office can be found on the FMS Reports Calendar.
Wednesday, Feb. 24: Faculty and Staff COVID-19 Work-Life Balance Survey Deadline
Friday, Feb. 26: Nomination for Great Professor Award deadline
Sunday, Feb. 28: Deadline for Annual Employee Nondiscrimination and Sexual Misconduct Training
Monday, March 1: Presidential Commission on Persons with Disabilities Award Nomination Deadline
Friday, March 5: Excellence in Online Teaching Award Nomination Deadline
Friday, March 5: Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards Deadline |
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| Expert panel to provide overview of COVID-19 vaccines
Experts from NIU’s College of Health and Human Sciences and the DeKalb County Health Department will join Chief of Staff to the President, Matt Streb, to answer questions and address concerns related to the COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. via Zoom.
“There are understandably a lot of questions surrounding the vaccine,” Streb said. Read more. |
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| CHHS students and faculty on the front lines of COVID vaccinations
Blessing Christian has been using her clinical skills and making a difference in the fight against COVID-19. The NIU nursing student is part of a team of Huskie nursing students and faculty who have been administering vaccinations to community members at the DeKalb County Health Department vaccination clinics held at the NIU Convocation Center. Read more. |
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| | Celebrating our amazing history
America’s most enduring institutions are those created to meet specific needs and allowed to evolve as those needs change. Such is the story of Northern Illinois University, which this year celebrates its 125th anniversary. |
Featured Key Moment
New Alumni and Visitors Center opens (2005)
NIU was on a roll in the early 2000s, having reconnected with many alumni and created a development program that offered donors important ways to help their university. One such project was the Alumni and Visitors Center, a gathering place to welcome alumni home and make a first impression on those new to the campus. Learn more about the Alumni and Visitors Center > |
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|  Northern Illinois University's vision is to be an engine for innovation to advance social mobility; promote personal, professional and intellectual growth; and transform the world through research, artistry, teaching and outreach.
Learn more about NIU’s vision, mission and values.
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