Sept. 15, 2025

We're excited to welcome Huskies home for our 118th Homecoming celebration happening the week of Sept. 28 - Oct. 5, 2025..

We hope you are making plans to join us during the week of Sept. 28 through Oct. 5. If you would like to volunteer to help with these special events, you should communicate with your supervisor about release time or flexible hours. With supervisor approval, and assurance that appropriate coverage is maintained for the unit/department, all employees are encouraged to volunteer and participate in Homecoming week activities. We hope you'll help us welcome Huskies back to DeKalb for our 118th Homecoming. 

It’s back for a third year – our Homecoming office decorating contest. This newer Homecoming event has been a big hit the past two years, and we look forward to seeing all the creative efforts from offices across campus again this year. It’s a great way to show your Huskie Pride, and also compete for bragging rights. Last year saw 49 offices participating in the contest, with Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development taking top honors for their Lowden Hall 307 decorating efforts. To get in on the action, be sure to register your department today.

All Huskies fans are welcome to join us for an evening of sweet treats, hot drinks, fun festivities and #HuskiePride at the MLK Commons, between the Holmes Student Center and Founders Memorial Library. There will be music, yard games, glow-in-the-dark activities, fire pits and more. There’s no better way to get fired up for Saturday’s Homecoming football game!

This event is presented by State Farm Agent Scott Zeimet.

Nominations for the 2026 Board of Trustees and Presidential Professorships are now being accepted. Please consider nominating a colleague for one of these prestigious awards. 

More information about each award and the criteria and procedure for nomination is available by visiting the links below.

All professorships share the same nomination deadline of Monday, October 6, 2025, followed by a Monday, November 10, 2025 deadline for full application materials. Note starting this year, persons who have been nominated and submitted the materials above within the last three years will automatically be considered in the current year’s competition. These candidates will be contacted and given the opportunity to update materials for their application.

The Office of the President seeks to identify a member of the Supportive Professional Staff or Operating Staff interested in serving a year-long professional development fellowship. The Office of the President Staff Fellow will be assigned special projects needed to carry out the functions of the Office of the President and will be afforded professional development opportunities. The fellow will be appointed for the 2026 calendar year and will report to the university’s chief strategy officer. Learn more about the President Staff Fellow Program, including how to apply. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, Sept. 30.

The university is please to open for internal consideration an Administrative Assistant position. The Administrative Support Specialist (Administrative Assistant classification) will provide operational support for the Child Well-Being Grant Program (CWBP). The CWBP is a collaboration between NIU and DCFS with the goal to expand evidence-based interventions that enhance well-being for children and families involved with DCFS. These programs are designed to address the needs of at-risk families, promote stability, and lay the foundation for long-term success and self-sufficiency. The process of implementation and system change helps transform child welfare services, ensuring the programming is more effective, accessible, and sustainable. Interested candidates should apply online at: https://employment.niu.edu/postings/85956 no later than Sept. 19, 2025.

 Have you been considering changing a few nutrition habits and you’re looking for guidance? Do you know what to do, but need accountability to get there? NIU Recreation has you covered. Meet with one of our nutrition coaches to learn eating strategies for your nutrition challenge. Whether you want to lose weight, get stronger at the gym, improve a health marker or build a better relationship with food, we’re here to help. Sign up for a one-time fee of only $89 and meet with a nutrition coach through the fall semester. Better yet, bundle with six personal training sessions for only $205.

Applications are now being accepted for NIU Impact, the NIU Foundation's crowdfunding platform where students, faculty, staff members and researchers can raise money to turn their great ideas into reality. Since its inception in 2021, NIU Impact has helped raise over $450,000 from more than 3,300 total gifts.

Fall crowdfunding campaigns run Oct. 9 through Nov. 6. Please apply by midnight, Sept. 18. To submit your crowdfunding application or register for one of our informational webinars, visit the NIU Foundation crowdfunding page.
 
Questions? Contact Cody Carter, ccarter1@niu.edu.

The Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) is a statewide network that advances research, public-private partnerships, and entrepreneurship to support innovation and economic development in Illinois. The Sustainability and Social Innovation Research Conference, taking place on Thursday, Sept. 25 and Friday, Sept. 26,  will provide a forum for NIU faculty and students to discuss their work on projects that are important to the future of Illinois and learn about research conducted by university faculty and collaborators from around the state. Topics will include climate resilience, food systems, advances in infrastructure and technology, equitable planning, ecosystem restoration, and social innovation to advance education and economic development.

Toddlers ages 1-5 sing, dance, play and have fun in CSA Prelude and Development children’s music education classes.

Sign up today and bring your kids to the NIU Music Building for their very first music classes.

Please visit the CSA website for schedules and details and to register. Call 815-753-1450 for more information.

The Office of Research Development is excited to announce the launch of the Faculty Grant Writing Group this fall, meeting at the 71N Partnership Studio Garage from 10 a.m. to noon every Thursday starting Sept. 18.

The Faculty Grant Writing Group is open to all NIU faculty and will provide participants with quiet, dedicated time and space to work on writing for external funding pursuits. ORD research development specialists will be available during sessions to support your grant writing as needed. An adjacent room is available for ORD consultation and faculty collaboration.

Sessions are drop-in friendly. Coffee and tea will be provided. Add the meetings to your calendar by visiting the event page. With any questions, please contact ord@niu.edu.

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.