| Week of March 8, 2021
Contents: | | | | | Resources for Teaching Remotely | Teaching Tip of the Week
As you consider your options for delivering exams while teaching virtually, remember to exhibit equity, kindness, generosity and patience with your students. There are several options for you to rethink or deliver your exams via virtual instruction. The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning provides you with several useful examples of alternatives to traditional exams and encourages you to consider one or multiple of these recommendations. |
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| What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
“Take advantage of the connections that NIU has in the community. If you want to get involved, just ask.” Christopher Goodman Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration |
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| Upcoming Events
Please check the calendar for more information and for online-only events as they become available!
View the NIU Huskies calendar for all upcoming athletic events.
• Monday, March 8: Outdoor Adventures Craft Night: Affirmation Rock Painting
• Tuesday, March 9: Hospitality 320 "Ellington's" served at The Depot
• Tuesday, March 9: LMS Review - D2L Course Merchant Demonstration
• Tuesday, March 9: Resume Trends & Forecasts for 2021
• Tuesday, March 9: Outdoor Adventures NOLS 2021 Exploration Film Tour
• Tuesday, March 9: Outdoor Adventures Night Hike
• Wednesday, March 10: Women's Basketball vs Central Michigan
• Wednesday, March 10: History of Coming Out of the Shadows
• Wednesday, March 10: Owl Hike at Lorado Taft
• Thursday, March 11: SPS Council Meeting (Virtual)
• Thursday, March 11: Hospitality 320 "Ellington's" served at The Depot
• Thursday, March 11: Innovation Conversation
• Thursday, March 11: Job Searching: What Skills Should I Be Emphasizing When Applying for Jobs and Internships?
• Thursday, March 11: Importance of School Boards Panel Presentation
• Thursday, March 11: Outdoor Adventures Weekly Thursday Crate Climb
• Friday, March 12: Administrative Closure (university closed)
• Friday, March 12: Outdoor Adventures Outdoor Leadership Series: Introduction Session
• Sunday, March 14: Pioneer Living at Lorado Taft
• Tuesday, March 16: STEM Café: Harvesting the Power of Wind Energy
• Wednesday, March 17: Esports Career Lecture: Dr. Levi Harrison, Esports Physician
• Tuesday, March 16: Electronic Requisitions Training
• Wednesday, March 24: NIU women faculty in STEM fields: A celebration of their accomplishments
• Wednesday, April 14: Electronic Requisitions Training
• Monday, April 19 through Friday, April 23: 2021 Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement (CURE)
• Tuesday, May 11: Electronic Requisitions Training
• Wednesday, June 9: Electronic Requisitions Training |
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| Notices
PeopleSoft HR System Maintenance Scheduled
The PeopleSoft HR System will be unavailable on Thursday, March 11, between 5:30 and 9 p.m. due to system maintenance.
New Minimum Rates for Graduate Assistantships for 2022 Academic Year
The Graduate Council has set new minimum rates for Graduate Assistantships for Academic Year 2022 (effective August 1, 2021). The new minimum rates can be found on the Human Resource Services website.
Questions can be directed to the employment Graduate Assistantship mailbox at GradAssistantshipEmp@niu.edu.
Call for Proposals – Online Teaching Symposium, Monday, May 24 through Wednesday, May 26
The Online Teaching Symposium, to be held virtually over three days (Monday, May 24 through Wednesday, May 26), will provide an opportunity for us to showcase the achievements of NIU’s outstanding faculty and instructors who have been teaching online and to come together to share practices and learn from one another. The symposium will feature NIU faculty through a series of panels on key themes in online teaching and learning and will include an inspiring keynote.
We are looking for NIU faculty to share their best practices on the following themes, from their own experience teaching online. Each panel will include a moderator who can highlight how these experiences connect with evidence-based practices from research on online learning.
• Accessibility and universal design for learning.
• Assessment and feedback.
• Building community.
• Equity and inclusion.
• Instructional materials and content.
• Lessons from remote teaching applied to in-person courses.
• Student engagement.
• Teaching accelerated online courses.
• Teaching online STEM courses.
• Other innovative practices.
To participate on a panel, submit a brief proposal describing how you have incorporated one of these themes in your online teaching. Submission deadline is Friday, March 26.
Judges Needed for the Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement
Student registration for the virtual Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement (CURE) is currently open and has a deadline of Friday, April 2, 2021. The Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning (OSEEL) is in need of judges to provide these students with critical feedback on their presentations. CURE judges play a crucial role in this exciting event that celebrates students’ research, artistry and community engagement endeavors.
Judging consists of rating a student’s poster presentation on the overall design, relevance of the project, appropriate methods used and virtual presentation. NIU faculty, staff, graduate assistants and alumni are eligible to judge. The judging process takes place the week of the event, April 19-23, 2021, at your own pace.
If you are interested in volunteering to judge, please register. For more information about judging or CURE, visit go.niu.edu/CURE or contact OSEEL at engage@niu.edu. Unable to volunteer as a judge? OSEEL encourages you to invite undergraduate students to showcase their faculty-mentored research, artistry and community engagement endeavors. Consider discussing the event date and registration information in your lectures, grant students extra credit if they present their work at the event, and encourage them to attend!
Celebrate National Volunteer Month with the NIU Alumni Assocation
April is National Volunteer Month and the NIU Alumni Association will celebrate and recognize alumni and friends who have volunteered for NIU in the last year. The NIUAA is inviting them to a virtual chocolate tasting, a wellness session or offering them $5 off the NIUAA swag store. If you'd like to make sure your volunteers are invited, please contact Liz McKee, M.S.Ed '14 at lmckee1@niu.edu or 815-753-7400 for more information.
Free Outerwear Available through March 26
The Student Government Association (SGA) had great success on a recent coat drive led by Clayton Schopfer. Coat, hat, gloves, boots, scarf, sweater and jacket donations are being distributed to anyone in the NIU community. The items are displayed and available to take through March 26 in the Chick Evans Field House, along the wall inside the south entrance facing Stadium Drive. Please help yourself to any items!
Please contact Jeanne Baxter, jbaxter1@niu.edu, with questions. Stay warm NIU!
Register Your Child for STEAM Studio After-school Programs!
Virtual spring activities for students (grades 3-12) with NIU STEAM Studio.
Online doesn’t have to mean hands-off! Participate in live, online, after-school programs and complete hands-on activities related to science, technology, engineering, art and math. Make your own weather instruments and explore the science of weather. Design your own video games using professional software. Or create your own blog, podcast or videos as you learn about related careers.
Starting March 15, NIU STEAM Studio offers hands-on activities that are open-ended and allow for free choice and exploration. Small class sizes give plenty of time for socializing and one-on-one instruction with our knowledgeable and passionate STEAM educators.
If your child is looking for a chance to rekindle their spark of inspiration, STEAM Studio after-school programs are the perfect choice. We’re putting the fun back in online, hands-on learning for as little as $39 for a two-week session. Learn more and register.
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| 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.
Friday, March 19: Deadline for the 2020 Patricia S. Siebrasse Administrative Professional Award for Excellence |
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| Huskie Academic Support Center integrates writing help, tutoring and coaching
Two campus programs have come together for a holistic approach to support undergraduate and graduate students in their learning. The Huskie Academic Support Center began a yearlong buildup and rollout last fall to harmonize the work of the University Writing Center with Supplemental Instruction’s Tutoring and Peer Academic Coaching functions. Read more. |
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| Geology emerita leaves lasting legacy of dedication and service
When Dr. Carla Montgomery passed away on Feb. 1, she left a legacy that can never be erased. “We are heartbroken to learn of Dr. Montgomery’s passing,” said Catherine Squires, Vice President of University Advancement and President and CEO of the NIU Foundation. “Carla’s selfless dedication to the causes she held dear will resound for decades through the funds she established to help NIU students achieve their dreams.” 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
Duke Ellington performs last concert of his life in HSC Ballroom (1974)
Edward Kennedy Ellington, better known as Duke, played the last full concert of his 75-year life as the highlight of NIU’s 75th anniversary celebration in 1974. Battling both lung cancer and pneumonia, Ellington and his jazz orchestra nonetheless delighted a capacity crowd in the University Center (now HSC) ballroom on March 20, 1974. Learn more about Duke Ellington's last performance > |
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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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