| Week of September 21, 2020
Contents: | | NIU Well-Being Tip: Engaging Yourself in the Wellness Process
by Counseling and Consultation Services, Employee Assistance Program and RecWell.
Dimensions of Wellness: Emotional Wellness
In our last article, we focused on occupational/financial wellness. This week, we are going to spend some time examining our second dimension – emotional wellness. As a reminder, emotional wellness is having an awareness and acceptance of a wide range of feelings in yourself and others. How can you engage yourself into examining your own emotional wellness? Some simple steps include working on creating healthy coping strategies and skills. Why are coping skills important? These skills are strategies and activities we use to help deal with, work through, or process our emotions in different day-to-day occurrences. Coping skills might include meditation, exercise, healthy eating patterns, getting plenty of sleep, using positive self-talk, removing unhealth skills (abusing substances or even negative self-talk), or talking with a friend or therapist if you are unable to find personal support. Second, try practicing self-compassion. Self-compassion simply means treating yourself with kindness and understanding. It includes realizing you are not perfect, will make mistakes, and stops you from beating yourself up when things don’t go well. This is about showing yourself love. Finally, emotional wellness focuses on maintaining fulfilling connections with others. While COVID-19 made us discover new and creative ways to stay connected with each other, it did also help many of us strengthen these bonds. You can work on these simple steps for emotional wellness yourself. However, if you don’t have the support you need or believe you need help to realize some of these goals, remember it is okay to ask for help from a close, trusted friend or a counselor to assist you. |
| | In addition to the three sites above, here is a recent communication you may want to read:
• Student employment guidance for Sept. 12-28 from Interim Chief Human Resource Officer Vernese Edghill-Walden – Sept. 13
 Have you made an appointment to get your flu shot?
Do your part to protect the pack by attending one of NIU’s Flu Vaccine Clinics taking place on Thursday, Sept. 24 and Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the Holmes Student Center. Flu shots are free for employees enrolled in state-sponsored insurance plans. Schedule your five-minute appointment and complete the client form in advance.
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| | Notices
Sick Leave Bank Donation for Temporary Faculty and SPS
NIU has established a Sick Leave Bank program in which temporary Faculty and Supportive Professional Staff are eligible to participate.
Participation in the Sick Leave Bank program requires an employee to donate at least one day of sick leave. For employees on less than 100% appointment, one day is determined on the basis of their appointment percentage. Donations will be taken from the 25 days of non-accumulative sick leave granted at the beginning of the academic year. Participation in the program is then established for the current academic year. Consistent with the Illinois Sick Leave Bank Act, the Sick Leave Bank program is designed to assist NIU employees who face major health crises and who have exhausted all other available benefits.
To register for the NIU Sick Leave Bank program for FY2021, please complete the enrollment form, which must be submitted to the Payroll Department by Oct. 31, 2020. If you have questions regarding the NIU Sick Leave Bank program contact Payroll at payroll@niu.edu.
P2PO Requester Training Session
Individuals who have recently requested to create, submit or approve P2PO requisitions can now sign up to attend a training session, which is required before authorization will be provided. The training is also available to anyone who needs to serve as a requisitioner for their department or unit.
You may register for any of the following sessions by clicking on the date you would like to attend. • Oct. 6, 2020 – 9:30 – 11:00 AM • Nov. 11, 2020 – 9:30 – 11:00 AM • Dec. 12, 2020 – 1:30 – 3:00 PM
All sessions will be conducted via Teams. If you have been identified as a requester and have not yet attended training, please email reqadmin@niu.edu to reserve your seat for one of the sessions.
Approvers are encouraged to obtain the Approver’s Training Guide as well as the Quick Reference Guide for instructions on how to review and process requisitions. If you have reviewed the available training materials and still have questions, please contact your business manager for assistance.
For questions, please email Cindy Kozumplik at ckozumplik@niu.edu. Participate in National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, Sept. 22
“Voting is your civic duty.” This is a pretty common sentiment, especially each November as Election Day approaches. Participating in elections is one of the key freedoms of American life. Many people in countries around the world do not have the same freedom, nor did many Americans in centuries past. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is important to exercise your rights. Tuesday, Sept. 22 is National Voter Registration Day. Make sure that you are registered to vote in the upcoming election cycle. Visit our Huskies Vote website for more information about voting and to check your voter registration status. |
| Deadlines
Nominations for outstanding international educators, staff and students due Oct. 9
The NIU Division of International Affairs invites nominations for the 2020 awards to recognize outstanding practice in international education.
Recognition is planned for: • Outstanding International Educator. • Outstanding Department Contribution to International Education at NIU. • Outstanding Student Contribution to International Education at NIU (for a domestic student and a non-immigrant student). • Outstanding Staff Contribution to International Education at NIU.
International Education Week begins Monday, Nov. 16. The awards will be presented virtually during the Virtual International Recognition Presentation from noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17. For more information on any of these awards, please visit our Awards, Grants and Scholarships webpage, or contact Sarah Lindell at 815-753-9526.
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| Protect the Pack by getting a flu vaccine
Protecting the Pack is about protecting ourselves, protecting each other and protecting our community. Do your part by attending one of NIU’s Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Clinics taking place Sept. 24 and Oct. 14 at the Holmes Student Center. Read more. |
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| NIU is ALL IN on democracy challenge
With the Nov. 3 presidential election just around the corner this fall, NIU has received a glowing review of its ongoing Huskies Vote effort to promote civic awareness among students, increase political participation and instill the value of lifelong voter participation. 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
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Commons is completed (1982)
As early as 1973, campus master planning called for the parking lot outside the Holmes Student Center to be removed and replaced with a landscaped commons area connecting the Center to the new Founders Library. But as the years went by, no state funding was made available for that project. Learn more about the MLK Commons. |
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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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