| Week of May 3, 2021
Contents: | | | A Year-end Message from President Freeman
Last week marked the conclusion of what has been an incredible and challenging academic year for all Huskies, and President Freeman sent a message to campus expressing her deepest gratitude for your resilience and perseverance. Read President Freeman’s full message. |
| | Resources for Teaching Remotely | Teaching Tip of the Week
Now more than ever, it is to grow and develop as online educators. We need to share with and learn from one another to build a community that values excellence in online teaching as we explore new strategies and tools. The Online Teaching Symposium, scheduled for May 24-26, is designed for creating these opportunities. It is not another workshop or presentation. The Symposium is a multi-day celebration of our outstanding faculty and instructors, an opportunity to connect with your colleagues in new ways, and a dynamic learning experience you build to meet your personal learning needs.
Learn more and register. |
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| What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
“Plan to perform research in a professor's lab through the Research Rookies program. Try to find the opportunity to do an internship in a national lab or other big company near Chicago.” Tao Li Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry |
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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.
For upcoming exhibits, performances and recitals, view the College of Visual And Performing Arts calendar.
• Through Wednesday, May 12: NIU Communiversity Gardens Plant Sale
• Monday, May 3: CMS Employee Virtual Benefit Choice Fair - Session 1
• Tuesday, May 4: HRS Employee Benefit Choice Virtual Info Session 1
• Tuesday, May 4: End-of-Year Career Fair
• Tuesday, May 4: Guilty on Three Counts: Understanding the Derek Chauvin Verdict
• Wednesday, May 5: Medical Device Forum Series, NIU Biomedical Engineering Society
• Wednesday, May 5: HRS Employee Benefit Choice Virtual Info Session 2
• Wednesday, May 5: "Take Ten" to Take Back your Life: Meditation as a Daily Practice
• Wednesday, May 5: Wednesday Night Wisdom: Careers In Music
• Thursday, May 6: Operating Staff Council General Meeting
• Thursday, May 6: CMS Employee Virtual Benefit Choice Fair - Session 2
• Thursday, May 6: Planning for the Summer Panel Discussion Update for Supervisors
• Thursday, May 6: Maintaining Your Joy in the Workplace
• Thursday, May 6: Poems for Well-being and Coping
• Saturday, May 8: Wooden Spoons at Lorado Taft |
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| Notices
PeopleSoft HR System maintenance scheduled
The PeopleSoft HR System will be unavailable from 7 p.m. on Friday, May 7, thru 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 8, due to system maintenance.
FY2022 Annual Benefit Choice Period is open until June 1, 2021
The FY2022 Benefit Choice period will run from May 1, 2021, through June 1, 2021, with benefit elections effective July 1, 2021. Eligible employees are encouraged to visit the State of Illinois MyBenefits website and review the FY22 Benefit Choice Booklet for detailed information. The NIU HRS website also has been updated as a resource for employees. More information is also available on the HRS News Blog.
Planning for the Summer Panel Discussion Update Supervisors are invited to join Dr. Vernese Edghill-Walden, Dr. Matt Streb, Liz Guess, Vicky Guzman, Molly Holmes and Ros Snell for a virtual information panel discussion for on Thursday, May 6 from 1-2:30 p.m. The panel discussion will provide updates on vaccines, surveillance testing, working from home policies, HR updates and the opportunity to answer any of your questions. To register, email ksmith12@niu.edu by 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 5.
Holmes Student Center summer dining hours
Beginning today both Starbucks and the Grill at the Huskie Den will be open. Starbucks will be open Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Grill at the Huskie Den will be open Monday thru Friday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Volunteers needed for Commencement
Provost Ingram recently sent a message asking faculty and staff to volunteer at one of the upcoming commencement ceremonies celebrating the Class of 2020 and 2021. If you are interested in volunteering at commencement, please fill out the NIU Commencement volunteer form no later than May 10, 2021. Volunteers will be contacted with more details following this deadline. Please email commencement@niu.edu with questions.
NIU’s annual Water Quality Report now available
We are pleased to provide you with our Water Quality Report for NIU’s drinking water on our DeKalb Campus in 2020. This report details the source of your water, what it contains, and how it compares with EPA and state health standards.
Provide feedback about NIU’s proposed Anti-racism Statement
NIU’s Committee for Academic Equity and Inclusive Excellence (CAEIE) includes faculty, staff, and students who recognize the need to dismantle structural racism and is committed to creating an equitable, just, and welcoming campus for all. During the spring 2021 semester, the committee worked to develop an anti-racism statement for NIU. The recent senseless killings of historically marginalized people at the hands of the police, and the xenophobic language that spurred violence against the AAPI community are only two recent examples of why the development of this anti-racism statement is critical.
We welcome Huskies to read the statement and share feedback via Qualtrics. We will also solicit feedback when we return to campus in the fall. Once all the comments are reviewed, we will incorporate your responses into the statement and present the revised statement before the end of Fall 2021. Please contact Tamara Boston at tboston1@niu.edu if you have any questions.
Transact (OneCard) System Maintenance
For departments that utilize the Transact System, the system will be unavailable from 1:45 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 11 due to system maintenance. The OneCard Office will bring all Transact devices and readers back online following the system update.
The following areas will have service impacts: LOCATIONS | CLOSE DATE | OPEN DATE | Laundry - NIU Residential Halls | May 11, 1:45 p.m. | May 13, 4:30 p.m. | Huskie Den and Grill | May 11, 1:30 p.m. | May 12, regular hours | Starbucks | May 11, 1:30 p.m. | May 12, regular hours | OneCard Office | May 11, all day | May 13, 8:15 a.m. | All locations that accept Huskie Bucks
(on and off campus) | May 11, 1:45 p.m. | May 13, 4:30 p.m. |
If you have Transact equipment that is not functioning following the upgrade, please contact onecard@niu.edu.
Register for CSA music lessons and classes this summer
At the NIU Community School of the Arts, summer registration is now open! Learn to play a new musical instrument or brush up your skills by taking private music lessons online or in person. Lessons are available on many instruments including violin, cello, piano and guitar; plus clarinet, flute, viola, harp, saxophone, drums and more. Register by June 4 and begin lessons the week of June 7.
Piano Starter, a beginning group piano class for ages 5 to 7, meets online or in person Tuesdays at 4 p.m. starting June 15.
Guitar and piano group classes for adults and for kids make learning to play music more fun! Classes begin online in mid-June.
Enroll in CSA summer music lessons and classes by June 4. Call the CSA office at 815-753-1450 for more information or visit our website to find a teacher and register online.
Register for online NIU STEAM Camps
Are you looking for fun and educational activities for your children this summer? NIU STEAM Camps offer a balance of online interaction and independent at-home projects for campers entering grades three through 12.
With a range of topics including creative writing, video game design, digital photography and even exploring careers in healthcare, campers are sure to find something that interests them. We offer one-week camps for all ages, and some two-week camps for high schoolers to help them delve more deeply into a topic.
Camps are affordable – starting at just $159 for a one-week session – and most use technology and supplies readily available at home. Learn more about our nearly two dozen sessions and register.
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| Deadlines
FY2021 Accounting Office Deadlines
We’re preparing to wrap up another fiscal year here at NIU and it’s important that we finalize the university’s FY21 financial statements in a timely manner. Please ensure that all FY21 transactions for your department are properly classified and submitted to the Accounting Office by the deadlines listed below: Year-end cutoff for posting all journal activity occurring prior to June from all fund sources due to General Ledger at JournalEntries@niu.edu. | June 11, 2021 | All FY2021 invoices, payment authorizations, check requests and travel reimbursement requests due to Accounts Payable Services at AccountsPayableSrvs@niu.edu or Lowden Hall 208. | July 14, 2021 | Year-end cutoff for posting all journal activity occurring in June from all fund sources due to General Ledger at JournalEntries@niu.edu. | July 14, 2021 | All FY2021 cash and/or checks received must be deposited at the Bursar’s Office in Swen Parson 235, and must be made in accordance with Bursar’s Office policy. | June 30, 2021 |
It’s very important to note that transactions required to be processed in FY21 must be received by the requested due dates (do not hold FY21 documents even if the deadline has passed).
Financial Month End Close
The month of April is closing for all financial reporting activity at noon Monday, May 10, 2021. Journals not posted at that time will go into May business. Submit April journals before end of business Friday, May 7. Final April reports are scheduled to be available Tuesday, May 11, 2021. In addition, May reports are scheduled to be available Wednesday, May 12, 2021. These dates, and other important dates related to the Controller’s Office, can be found on the Controller’s Office calendar.
Sunday, May 9: Deadline to join NIU Golf League |
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| Award-winning advertising copywriter traces his success back to his philosophy degree
Jim Morris’ life has been filled with music, language, philosophy and advertising. That combination of influences and interests has made for an interesting journey. When he landed on campus in 1967, it was a different time. The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War and the political unrest had wiped away America’s innocence. The turbulent period was evident on campus, which was the site of protests and activism. While Morris wasn’t an active participant, he was aware of the situation. Read more. |
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| NIU to celebrate heroes, alums and champions at Huskie Stadium in 2021
With season tickets on sale and fans ready to fill the stands at Huskie Stadium again for the 2021 Northern Illinois University football season, NIU has set its initial promotional schedule for the Huskies’ four Saturday home games. The 2021 home opener on Saturday, September 11 will serve as a “Welcome Back” celebration after the Huskies played in front of limited or no supporters during their three 2020 home games. During the game versus Wyoming, NIU will honor local heroes, including first responders and health care workers, with the contest and surrounding activities also serving as a central part of NIU Family Day. Read more. |
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| | 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 |
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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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