Communities
Each floor of our residence halls promotes academic success and offers programming to help you during your time at NIU. Our residential communities go one step further in strengthening connections between you, faculty and other Huskies.
Living-learning Communities
Engagement in our new normal will include virtual conversations and connections to students in your cohort and faculty that helps you understand the careers and majors in your particular interest area.
Engineering House
Experience unique opportunities to connect with engineering faculty and other engineering and technology students.
Fine Arts House
Live with other students from the Schools of Theatre and Dance, Art and Music.
Honors House
Join fellow Honors students in intellectual, cultural and social activities, as well as community service projects.
Sustainability House
Connect with others who share your passion for sustainability through field trips, collaborative projects and more.
TEACH House
Prepare to make the most of your teaching career by living with students pursuing teacher certification.
Special Interest Communities
Get to know other NIU students with common interests in these Special Interest Communities.
Business House
Experience unique opportunities to connect with business faculty and other business students.
Community Engagement House
Make a difference in the community through service and leadership opportunities.
Health Professions House
Enjoy opportunities to engage and learn with others interested in health- and service-related careers.
Sport, Recreation and Wellness Community
Enjoy opportunities to live around other students who are interested in living a healthy, active lifestyle including intramural leagues, weekend trips, fitness programs, virtual programs and other fun, engaging recreation and wellness activities.
Identity-based Communities
These residential communities are for students who are looking for a higher level of engagement with a focus on personal and community identities.
Latinx Community
Explore Latinx culture both in the classroom and out of it.
LGBTQA Community
Connect with others who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or as an ally.
Why Join a Community?
- Formal and informal out-of-class interaction with people connected in your academic field.
- Increased opportunity for career information, internships and professional networking.
- Informational programs that will enhance your experience, connect you to other students and help you better understand possible career paths.
How to Join
Joining a living-learning, special interest or identify-based community is easy, but space is limited and sometimes requires department approval. After being admitted to NIU and completing your housing contract, you'll have a chance to choose a room in one of these communities during online room sign-up as space permits. For Esports, LGBTQA and LatinX, please contact the community coordinator listed on their specific web page to request to be placed into the community. There may also be opportunities to be put on a waitlist if a community is full.