A recent piece published in the NIU Newsroom highlights new research from our Department of Psychology regarding health risks tied to loneliness and isolation. This study confirms that finding simple ways to build intentional social connections is one of the most effective ways to protect your well-being.  

While remote learning offers incredible flexibility, we know it can also feel a bit isolating at times if you're stuck behind a screen. Because of that, we want to make sure you're taking full advantage of a few easy, built-in opportunities to get involved and stay connected with our community: 

We always want you to know that you're not alone, and we're here to support you along your journey. 

Because you’re an NIU student, you have access to Microsoft Office 365, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher and OneNote. Also included, 1 TB of file storage per user is available in OneDrive for Business. 

You have access to online web versions, or you can download the desktop versions of these programs directly onto your PC or Mac device for free, including up to five tablets and five phones per user. This means you can have the fully featured desktop software running on your home setup, your mobile phone for proofreading on the go and a backup device. To get started, just log in at go.niu.edu/m365 using your Z-ID and password. 

Questions or trouble installing? If you run into any issues downloading your software or logging into your account, reach out to the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) at 815-753-8100 or email ServiceDesk@niu.edu for quick tech support.

Arianna Fuchs, Master of Science in Digital Marketing.

Fuchs is a double Huskie that graduated from NIU with her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in business administration with an emphasis in hospitality, and a minor in business innovation and entrepreneurship in May 2025. After graduating, she re-enrolled with NIU to begin her Master of Science (M.S.) in digital marketing.  
 
Fuchs is enjoying her time as a graduate assistant with the marketing department in the College of Business, where she assists with undergraduate marketing classes as well as refines her skills in digital marketing by assisting in the management of multiple social media pages for the department. As she begins to move into her last year of study, Fuchs is excited to begin her next phase of life upon graduating. 

One of the most common questions we get from students is, "What kind of jobs can I get with my degree?" As an NIU student you have free access to the Steppingblock Digital Career Counselor to answer that question. Take a short personality quiz to find majors and career paths suited to your interests. Check out career path matches by job title or major, or search by paths that are found most often and paths that are more unique. Get a downloadable AI snapshot summary of your search. See where NIU alumni are working and get information on salaries for specific fields. Develop your skills and achieve personal and professional growth with insider knowledge. 

You can get started by watching this introductory video to get started and learn more. 

For all students: 

For graduate students: 

That wraps up this edition of your NIU Online Learning newsletter. We hope you find these updates and resources helpful as you continue your summer studies.

Stay tuned for future editions packed with more tips, new opportunities and inspiring stories from our online Huskie community. And always remember, our entire team at the Office of Online Learning is here to support your success and is rooting for you.

With Huskie pride,

The Online Student Success Team

Contact Info: Office of Online Learning | online@niu.edu I 815-753-6660

We’re proud to spotlight the stories and achievements of our online students. Share your “why,” celebrate your wins, and inspire fellow Huskies by telling us about your journey. Complete this short survey for a chance to be featured and help motivate our community!