April 28, 2025

The Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement (CURE) provides NIU Undergraduate students from all colleges with the opportunity to showcase their research, artistry or engagement projects they are completing or have completed as part of a capstone or senior project, community engagement project or course, independent study or funded research and artistry program through posters and exhibits for a chance to place in their respective award category.

This year's event will be held in person at the Duke Ellington Ballroom in the Holmes Student Center on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Use of the Long Term Off Campus Use of Equipment Form has transitioned from OnBase to PeopleSoft. The PeopleSoft form will be very similar to the former OnBase form. The form is available through the Human Resource System. Benefits of moving to the PeopleSoft solution include:

It is important that records on the use of NIU property at off-campus locations be maintained to support an efficient annual inventory process as required by the state.  More information and detailed instructions can be found on the Property Control website in the “Off-Campus Use of University Property” tab under “Long-Term Off-Campus Property”. 

Head on over to the Convocation Center on Friday, May 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for this hands-on, real-world experience that reflects the innovation, creativity and persistence that marks our students in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. For over 50 teams, consisting usually of three or four students, the event is also the capstone to their Huskie education.

Supported by a variety of industry partners, senior design project collaborations have often led to innovative solutions that have practical applications. That includes a team that improved a company’s production time, potentially saving the company $100,000 a year.

Proxima Centauri Alpha will be launching a weather balloon to space from the NIU Huskie Stadium at 9:30 a.m. May 3. Doors open at 9 a.m. The livestream from the balloon will capture live, HD footage as well as Geiger counter readings. The event is open to the public — no RSVP necessary.

Honors students can receive Honors credit for attending this event. The event will be held weather permitting.

If you have any questions, please contact Charlie Vazquez Acosta at z2027266@students.niu.edu. We hope to see you there.

The PeopleSoft Financial Management System will be unavailable from 6 a.m. Saturday, May 3 through 10 a.m. Monday, May 5 due to system maintenance.

The Office of Research Development (ORD) in the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships (RIPS) invites faculty to apply for the University Grants Academy (UGA). This semester-long, cohort-based program is designed to enhance faculty success in securing extramural funding by guiding participants through the development of competitive, submission-ready grant proposals.

UGA follows a structured, faculty-facilitated curriculum with weekly meetings that include collaborative discussions, and peer and facilitator feedback to refine draft proposals.

Application Deadline: April 30, 2025

Submission: Internal proposals must be submitted via ORD’s InfoReady internal competition portal.

For questions about UGA or the application process, please contact ord@niu.edu

The Staff Professional Development Academy is a yearlong, cohort style program that both promotes professional development and creates a network of leaders across campus. We aim to have diverse cohorts with representation across campus and encourage staff at all levels to apply. Learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply by visiting the Office of the President's website.

Deadline for applications is May 1, 2025.

We look forward to celebrating our graduates during commencement ceremonies Friday, May 9, 2025 and Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the Convocation Center.

Please consider volunteering your time at these events to help make them successful for our graduates, families and guests. Volunteers are critical to creating fun, organized and celebratory events.

If you are able to help, and are not already participating through your academic college or the Graduate School, please visit the commencement volunteer website and fill out the volunteer form by no later than Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Join Sponsored Programs Administration Monday, May 12, 2025, for our final session of virtual open houses to focus on various aspects of grants management. This session will cover time and effort and includes a Q&A segment. If interested, please register and join. For more information, please visit our Sponsored Programs Newsblog.

In early May, Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) will distribute effort statements (aka time and effort reports or effort certifications) for the period July 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024.

Effort statements are required for any NIU faculty, staff or student receiving pay from a sponsor-funded award. Hourly employees verify their time via time sheets and do not receive effort statements.

Colleges and divisions will receive all effort statements for distribution to their faculty, staff and students. Statements are due back to SPA by June 2, 2025. SPA will review any corrections to reports and will work with the principal investigator and their department to make any necessary adjustments.

See our Sponsored Programs Administration Newsblog for more information.

NIU alumni, faculty, staff and community members are invited to volunteer at our Huskie Food Pantry during finals week. Your volunteer participation carries on the legacy of genuine care among our NIU community. Our student shoppers always enjoy the supportive spirit you bring to the pantry, and our student leaders and volunteers appreciate the chance to focus on their final projects and tests.

Pantry shifts run from Tuesday, May 6 through Thursday, May 8. Learn more and register at our HFP volunteer registration page for community, alumni, and faculty and staff (current and retired).  

Shift openings, May 6-8, 2025:

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

Tip: Submit your event, lecture, training session or deadline to the NIU calendar to help inform Huskies about everything that is happening on campus. 

The month of April is closing for all financial reporting activity at noon Friday, May 9, 2025. Journals not posted at that time will go into May business. Submit April journals before end of business Thursday, May 8, 2025. Final April reports are scheduled to be available Monday May 12, 2025. In addition, May reports are scheduled to be available Tuesday, May 13, 2025. These and other important dates can be found on the Controller's Office website.