Week of March 15, 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 125^th 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

Commencement Plans for May and June
We are delighted to announce that planning is underway for in-person spring commencement ceremonies to celebrate the accomplishments of our spring 2021 graduates as well as all 2020 graduates who missed out on this rite of passage because of the pandemic. Read the full message from Executive Vice President and Provost Beth Ingram.

Resources for Teaching Remotely

Teaching Tip of the Week
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 in finding the help they need? Have them check out these five tips on reaching out to stay on track.

NIU also offers a variety of resources to help students succeed inside and outside the classroom. You are encouraged to incorporate these student success and academic support resources into your teaching and to refer students to utilize the services available for their academic success.

What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
“Take advantage of the support programs and offices available. Whether you’re looking for academic support, financial support, a social group, work or research experience, there is someone who can provide the help you need.”

Melanie Costello

Lorado Taft Campus Director
Outdoor Education Coordinator

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:

• Kelsey Johnson
• Alan Clay

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!

• Tuesday, March 16: Commercial Card Introductory Training
• Tuesday, March 16: LMS Review - Instructure Canvas Demonstration
• Tuesday, March 16: Active Bystander Workshop
• Tuesday, March 16: Onboarding for Success: What to Do with the New Employee
• Tuesday, March 16: Hospitality 320 "Ellington's" served at The Depot
• Tuesday, March 16: Electronic Requisitions Training
• Tuesday, March 16: 20 Steps to a More Optimized LinkedIn Profile in 2021
• Tuesday, March 16: STEM Cafe: Harvesting the Power of Wind Energy
• Wednesday, March 17: LMS Review - Blackboard Training and Development Manager Demonstration
• Wednesday, March 17: Roger Angell: America's Greatest Living Baseball Writer
• Wednesday, March 17: Cultivating a Mentoring Culture at NIU
• Wednesday, March 17: Esports Career Lecture: Dr. Levi Harrison, Esports Physician
• Thursday, March 18: Board of Trustees (BOT) Meeting
• Thursday, March 18: Hospitality 320 "Ellington's" served at The Depot
• Thursday, March 18: Recommendations for How to Write Job Descriptions
• Thursday, March 18: I’m a Career Changer! Strategies for Job Searching
• Thursday, March 18: Your Vote Matters Close to Home: Local Elections and Local Economies
• Friday, March 19: Nature Ed Series: Make a Wood Spoon
• Friday, March 19: Outdoor Adventures Outdoor Leadership Series: Introduction to Climbing
• Friday, March 19: Outdoor Adventures Campfire
• Saturday, March 20: Outdoor Adventures Indoor Climb
• Sunday, March 21: Outdoor Adventures Standup Paddleboard Yoga
• Sunday, March 21: Outdoor Adventures Standup Paddleboard Clinic
• Wednesday, March 24: NIU women faculty in STEM fields: A celebration of their accomplishments
• Monday, April 19 through Friday, April 23: 2021 Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement (CURE)

Notices
MyNIU Student System Maintenance Scheduled
The MyNIU Student System will be unavailable on Saturday, March 20, between 7 and 8 a.m. due to system maintenance.

The NIU OneCard is Getting a Facelift

Faculty, staff and students are invited to vote for their favorite of three proposed new designs for the NIU OneCard. Voting is open until Friday, March 26, 2021.

Commercial Card Introductory Training
Required training session for cardholders, transaction approvers and proxies who wish to participate in the Commercial Card Program at NIU. Please email cardservices@niu.edu that you wish to register. Card Services will send you a Teams appointment prior to the virtual training scheduled for Tuesday, March 16, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Policy Library Update – Three Revised Policies
Three policy revisions are 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 revised policies before they take effect. The policies are:

1. Immunization Requirements.
2. Occupational Health and Safety Program for Animal Workers.
3. Activities Involving the Use of Animals.

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/Renew Policies.” You’ll be asked to sign in to SharePoint. All comments are due Friday, April 9. If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Hunt, university policy librarian, at rhunt@niu.edu.

Deadlines

Friday, March 19: Deadline for the 2021 Patricia S. Siebrasse Administrative Professional Award for Excellence

From NIU Today

Learn to advocate for Undocumented students during annual ally training
DREAM Action NIU and the Office for Undocumented Student Support will host the annual Undocumented Ally Training on Tuesday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to noon via Zoom. This training is for NIU faculty, staff and those who wish to become allies to undocumented students. This training focuses on how to assist, support and welcome cultural and intellectual diversity at NIU. Read more.

Rashon Burno named men’s basketball head coach
Rashon Burno, who has spent the last six seasons at Arizona State, including the last five as associate head coach, was announced as the new Northern Illinois University men’s basketball head coach by NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier on Saturday, March 6. 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.

Featured Key Moment
Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day established (2010)
President Lisa Freeman calls it her “favorite day of the academic year.”

Each spring for the last decade, hundreds of NIU undergraduates showcase their faculty-guided research at an event that highlights curiosity, creativity and scientific methods. Learn more about Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day >

This message has been approved for distribution by the appropriate NIU party and is distributed by the Division of Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications. NIU Mass E-Mail Policy

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.