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Week of Feb. 8, 2021
Contents:

Protecting the Pack Updates

Resources for teaching
and working remotely

Applaud a Colleague

Upcoming Events

Notices

Deadlines

From NIU Today

Celebrating NIU’s
125th Anniversary

View Student Announcements

Protecting the Pack (COVID-19) updates
We continue to closely monitor activities and developments related to the spread and management of coronavirus (COVID-19) in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Illinois Department of Public Health and the DeKalb County Public Health Department. The resource links below are meant to support the health and wellness of our university community. Please check them frequently.

Frequently Asked
Questions

Communications

Human Resource Services FAQs

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

Learn more by visiting the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning’s website.

Applaud a Colleague

 

Applaud a colleague is a show of appreciation for those co-workers who go above and beyond. These are just a few of the employees throughout the university that go the extra mile:

• Aubrey Hence
• Cindy Meeks
• Terry Borg
• Jenny Johnson

 

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Read recent applause and take the time to applaud a colleague for a job well done >

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)

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, 2021Participants 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.

From NIU Today

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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.

Read more stories at niutoday.info

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.

 

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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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Learn more about NIU’s vision, mission and values.