| Week of Feb. 8, 2021 Contents: | | | Remember to complete NIU’s Self-Reporting Checklist It’s critical to the health of our community that you let the university know if you have COVID-19, have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or if you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19. If you If you meet any of those criteria from now until the end of the semester, we expect you to complete the NIU Self-Reporting Checklist immediately so we can support you and take the necessary precautions to help reduce transmission of the virus. The Protecting the Pack Flowchart helps you identify next steps in the event you are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19. |
| | Resources for Teaching Remotely | Teaching Tip of the Week Connect course content to campus activities, workshops, events, etc. Where possible, incorporate events offered through the NIU Calendar, your department or other areas across campus or in the community into your syllabus, especially if the content aligns with the subject area. Encourage students to participate and reflect on their experiences and to connect with one another along the way. Students may already be connecting through electronic platforms, so you can propose that they use social media to connect with their peers. You can set up course hashtags or course rooms that students can use to connect, share materials or just exchange ideas. |
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| What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU? “Identify and cultivate mentors early in your college career. The Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning is an excellent place to start. Also, try to plug into support networks to find friends and allies, and seek help from your professors if you need it.” Michael Papka Presidential Research, Scholarship and Artistry Professor in Computer Science |
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| Upcoming Events Please check the calendar for more information and for online-only events as they become available!
• Monday, Feb. 8: Women's Basketball at Ball State • Monday, Feb. 8: Outdoor Adventures Craft Night: Tie-Dye • Tuesday, Feb. 9: Humanity's Last Stand: Confronting Global Catastrophe - Spring 2021 Speaker Series • Tuesday, Feb. 9: Homeschooler's Survivor Class • Wednesday, Feb. 10: Are You a Scholar? • Wednesday, Feb. 10: Certainty in Uncertain Times • Wednesday, Feb. 10: Owl Hike at Lorado Taft • Thursday, Feb. 11: Administrative Closure (university closed) • Thursday, Feb. 11: Sunset Hike at Lorado Taft • Thursday, Feb. 11: Outdoor Adventures Weekly Thursday Crate Climb • Saturday, Feb. 13: Men's Basketball at Kent State • Saturday, Feb. 13: Women's Basketball vs Buffalo • Sunday, Feb. 14: Forward, Together Forward: Moment of Reflection • Sunday, Feb. 14: Outdoor Adventures Valentine’s Skate • Thursday, Feb. 18: Rebuilding Democracy Lecture Series: Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) |
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| Notices
PeopleSoft Maintenance Scheduled for Feb. 13 All three PeopleSoft systems (FMS, HR, and MyNIU Student) will be unavailable on Saturday, Feb. 13, from 7 to 8 a.m. due to system maintenance.
Campus community input sought for ombudsperson end-of-term review The University Council is conducting its end-of-term review of the performance of NIU Ombudsperson Sarah Klaper, and seeks input, which will help in the preparation of its review. The NIU campus community is invited to provide input via a brief anonymous survey. The survey will close on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The following resources are available for review before completing the survey: Office of the Ombudsperson NIU Bylaws, Article 11, The University Ombudsperson NIU Ombudsperson 2018-19 Annual Report NIU Ombudsperson 2019-20 Annual Report
For more information, contact Pat Erickson, Office of University Council and Faculty Senate.
Funding for fall 2021 Undergraduate Research Projects available Applications for fall 2021 Student Engagement Fund (SEF) and Research, Engagement and Academic Diversity (READ) grants are currently being accepted and have a due date of Monday, March 15. SEF and READ support projects that consist of undergraduate students working on faculty-mentored research, community-based projects and projects focused on social justice and diversity. Student and faculty submissions are considered.
Recipients of the funds are provided financial support of up to $2,500 for research-related expenses including project supplies and conference registration (for the student). Additionally, students working on the project are eligible for up to $1,200 in compensation for their work as an undergraduate research assistant.
Open to all colleges! Visit OSEEL.niu.edu for more information and to apply.
2021 Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement (CURE) NIU’s annual Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day (URAD) and the Community Engagement Showcase (CES) have been formally combined and will now be known as the Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement (CURE).
The new title of the conference offers more clarity and simplifies logistics and planning, while providing NIU students with the opportunity to formally present their undergraduate research and other engagement projects that they have participated in during 2020-21. The conference is designed to acquaint undergraduate students with the process and academic rigors of presenting research in a scholarly manner and in an affirming environment.
The 2021 CURE will be held virtually using the Symposium by ForagerOne platform from April 19-23, 2021. Participants will showcase their poster along with a short video presentation (three to five minutes) describing the project with the ability to engage with the NIU community through questions or comments in the new virtual platform. The posters will be judged for the opportunity to receive feedback and a monetary award for the top three posters within respective categories.
Registration for the event will begin Feb. 15 with a deadline of April 2.
Be sure to check out the OSEEL website for updates and resources related to the event. Contact ENGAGE@niu.edu with any questions you have related to the event. |
| Deadlines
Friday, Feb. 12: 2021 Operating Staff Outstanding Service Awards Nomination Deadline Wednesday, Feb. 24: Faculty and Staff COVID-19 Work-Life Balance Survey 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
Financial Month End Close The month of January is closing for all financial reporting activity at noon Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. Journals not posted at that time will go into February business. Submit January journals before end of business Monday, Feb. 8. Final January reports are scheduled to be available Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. In addition, February reports are scheduled to be available Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. These dates, and other important dates related to the Controller’s Office can be found on the FMS Reports Calendar. |
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| Illinois Innovation Network announces seed funding for research The Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) has awarded $229,000 in seed grants to eight research teams across the state in its second round of funding, selecting projects that include vaccine distribution, strengthening the state’s teacher pipeline and protecting Illinois’ biodiversity. Read more. |
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| New award will recognize excellent online teaching NIU’s Excellence in Online Teaching Award both encourages and honors outstanding online and hybrid teaching. Beginning this semester, one to three award recipients will be recognized annually for their commitment to excellence in online teaching, course development and student engagement. 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 NIU Convocation Center opens (2002) It was 1971. The Guess Who headlined NIU’s Winter Carnival. The men’s run-and-gun basketball team averaged nearly 93 points a game. And the staff of the Norther, the university’s yearbook, rallied in support of building a new home for concerts and sporting events alike. It would be on the western edge of campus with 10,000 chairback seats and parking for thousands outside. Learn more about the history of the Convocation 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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