Outstanding Department Contribution to International Education

The Outstanding Department Contribution to International Education Award recognizes a department that has made significant enhancements to international education at NIU or the internationalization of campus.

The award will be presented to the selected NIU unit on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. during the International Recognition Presentation in the Holmes Student Center Sky Room.

Please contact Sarah Lindell at 815-753-9526 or slindell@niu.edu with questions.

Eligibility and Criteria

All NIU units, including academic departments, administrative units and support units, are eligible for the award. Previous award recipients, as well as individuals and units within the Division of International Affairs, are not eligible.

Not every nominee will have done something in every category. The nominated unit should have made outstanding contributions to international education or the internationalization of campus in one or more of the following ways:

  • Supporting NIU-sponsored Study Abroad Programs benefiting NIU students and or faculty
  • Offering or supporting international courses in the curriculum or inclusion of international issues in the courses
  • Recruiting international faculty, staff and/or students
  • Co-sponsoring/implementing international professional development programs (e.g. short-term training programs, organizing international conferences)
  • Supporting faculty in international work (e.g. research, technical assistance, conference participation)
  • Supporting international students (e.g. tuition waivers, assistantships, financial aid, support for international travel, support for conference participation)
  • Hosting visiting international scholars and exchanges
  • Receiving external funding for international projects (of any type, such as research, programmatic, curricular; federal, foundation, donor)
  • Administering NIU-sponsored international events to promote international understanding (e.g. international conferences/lectures, educational exhibits with an international focus)
  • Collaborating with other campus units on international activities or projects or programs
  • Any other contributions related to the International Affairs mission statement

Nomination Process

The nomination deadline is 4:30 p.m. Friday, October 31, 2025.

Nomination Form

Selection Procedure

Nominations will be reviewed on the above-mentioned criteria by the selection committee.  Specific attention will be given to outstanding contributions where a department has developed a new special project or a new particular initiative focused on internationalization. A Selection committee established by the Division of International Affairs will review the nominations and select award recipients.

Past Award Recipients

Year Recipient
2024 University Libraries
2023 Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literacy
2022 not awarded
2021 not awarded
2020 Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment
2019 Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education
2018 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
2017 College of Education Office of External and Global Programs
2016 not awarded
2015 Department of English
2014 University Honors Program
2013 Division of Public Administration
2012 Department of Literacy Education
2011 School of Music
2010 Special Award: Office of the Ombudsman
2010 Department of Chemistry
2009 Department of Marketing
2008 Department of Mechanical Engineering
2008 School of Art
2007 Department of Political Science
2006 Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center

Contact Us

Division of International Affairs
Williston Hall 406
815-753-9526
slindell@niu.edu