NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
|
|
|
Academic Affairs Newsletter
|
|
|
|
Welcome back to campus, colleagues. I hope you had a restful and enjoyable summer. I want to share a couple of exciting accomplishments with you, as we head into the fall semester.
Earlier this summer, NIU received the inaugural Top Colleges for Innovation Award from Insight Into Academia magazine. The award recognizes colleges and universities where innovation is embedded in their vision, strategy and measurable impact. That certainly is the case here at NIU, and congratulations to each of you for helping move the needle forward when it comes to being a place where innovation is front and center.
In July, NIU was named to the 2026 Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll, one of the nation’s most comprehensive recognitions of transfer excellence. This is a testament to our ongoing commitment to the success of transfer students at NIU.
I’d like to welcome two interim deans to our colleges, who began their new roles July 1 – Amanda Durik in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Andrew Glendening in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Dr. Durik has been at NIU for 21 years and has served in progressive leadership roles in CLAS since 2012, most recently as associate dean for undergraduate education. She is an experienced and effective leader who is widely respected for her collaborative and strategic leadership, approachable style, commitment to academic rigor, and dedication to student success.
Dr. Glendening brings substantial administrative experience to this role. He has served as director of the NIU School of Music for seven years and previously held dean and chair level positions at two other universities. He is widely respected for his strong analytical skills, experience with accreditation processes, and a proven record of effective problem solving and innovation.
Numerous events are planned for the next few weeks to welcome new and returning faculty back to campus. Please check out the Faculty Welcome Back calendar and plan to attend some of these events. Additionally, NIU’s Week of Welcome runs from Aug. 19-23. I invite you to get involved there as well to help provide a welcoming community environment for students to kick off their semester.
Despite the challenges we and other institutions of higher education continue to face, it is important to remember our “why” and continue our important work to support students, generate and disseminate knowledge and artistry, and deliver on the promise of public higher education to transform lives, support communities, and foster innovation.
I look forward to what this new academic year holds at NIU and appreciate your enthusiasm and support as we welcome students to campus this fall. Thank you. Go Huskies!
Sincerely,
Laurie Elish-Piper, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
|
|
|
|
We are pleased to announce that Jason Rhode will assume an expanded leadership role as vice provost for Academic Innovation and Lifelong Learning.
|
|
|
|
|
As a collaborative and forward-thinking leader, Jason has made a lasting impact throughout his NIU career by enhancing teaching excellence, supporting faculty development and helping NIU adapt to a rapidly changing educational environment. We are excited to build on this momentum under his leadership as we continue to expand access, foster innovation and create new opportunities for student success.
|
|
|
|
We are pleased to announce that Stephanie Brown has agreed to take on the interim executive director of International Affairs and Senior International Officer roles for the coming year. Stephanie is also NIU’s current EAB Rising Higher Education Leaders Fellow.
|
|
|
|
|
In these roles, Stephanie is expanding her leadership with integration across continued foundational attention to international student and scholar support and broadened attention to international recruitment, admissions, partnerships and development. One of her responsibilities will be collaborating on action steps based on the recommendations of this spring’s Action Team for Internationalization at NIU. This will allow us to build on past accomplishments, navigate challenges and pursue opportunities for sustaining and growing our international portfolio.
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Interfolio trainings
Self-paced and synchronous trainings in the Interfolio system are available for those getting ready for submission and review of sabbatical, promotion and tenure materials. Faculty personnel committee members, department chairs and school directors can attend trainings in August and September, or watch recordings afterwards. You may also access self-paced trainings.
Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program
NIU may nominate up to two candidates for the 2027 Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program: one tenured faculty member and one nontenured faculty member. The program supports research that examines the causes of political polarization and identifies ways to strengthen social cohesion. Faculty members who wish to be considered for institutional nomination must submit an internal proposal through the NIU InfoReady portal by 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14.
Temperature Guidance
Guidance regarding what to do if a classroom is too hot, too cold or uncomfortably humid is now available on the Learning Spaces website. Please take a moment to review recommendations on what to do, how to request assistance and how to document the issue.
|
|
|
General education teaching community
The Enriching the Design of General Education (EDGE) teaching community will meet monthly on select Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. on Teams this academic year to discuss topics related to our general education program. The dates are Sept. 25, Oct. 23, Dec. 4, Jan. 29, Feb. 26, and April 23.
If you are teaching a general education course this semester, look for calendar invitations with topic information. Also, you are welcome to review recordings of past EDGE sessions and an online toolkit for teaching in general education. To suggest topics or to ask questions, contact Alicia Schatteman, vice provost for Academic Affairs aschatteman@niu.edu.
Course material adoption supports student success
All course materials and books must be adopted with Huskie Books and Gear to help students prepare for their classes. Please make sure any required materials listed in your syllabus have been submitted through the Blackboard adoption tool called Follett Discover, listed under “Tools.” Students using financial aid to buy their course materials must purchase them at Huskie Books and Gear and can do so until Friday, Sept. 4 using our Book Charge Program.
Contact Celeste Bryant at 2089txt@follett.com with questions about course materials and book adoptions.
Kaplan professional development sessions
As we prepare for the fall 2026 semester, we encourage you to maximize NIU’s All Access License® partnership with Kaplan. To support this goal, Kaplan has designed a professional development track specifically to empower you with tools to best support students utilizing this free test prep program.
Register for these upcoming sessions:
|
- 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16 (new faculty and staff)
- 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22
|
Fall career prep starts now – here’s how to help
As you finalize your course prep, add the following programs and events to help students become career-ready:
|
|
|
Week of Engagement
The first week of class provides an excellent opportunity to create an environment where students feel comfortable and excited to be a part of your classroom. The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) offers a Week of Engagement Toolkit to increase your connection with students and promote a sense of belonging.
You’ll find tips on creating a student-centered syllabus, recommended strategies for inclusion and accessibility, activities to build engagement, helpful resources and more. CITL staff are available at citl@niu.edu to answer your teaching questions.
Student Guide to AI updates
The NIU Student Guide to AI has new resources designed to help students develop the enduring human skills that remain essential in an AI-enabled world. The additions include a self-assessment tool, reflection activities and resources focused on critical thinking, ethical reasoning, creativity, communication, adaptability and judgment.
Faculty can access companion teaching resources, including lesson plans and discussion prompts, to support conversations about AI, ethics, career readiness and responsible technology use across disciplines.
Exciting changes in Blackboard
This fall in Blackboard, you’ll find a new full-page content view, a completely rebuilt grid view in the Gradebook, a more efficient Groups management experience, and a new Rubric Evaluation Report, among other updates. Learn more in this news site post.
|
|
|
|
Fall CVPA performance season features old favorites, and exciting new works
One of the perks of being at NIU is the faculty and staff ticket discount for performances in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The upcoming fall season features performances from the world-famous ensembles like the NIU Steelband and NIU Jazz Orchestra, and everything from the Philharmonic to Opera Theatre to string quartets to world music, the 14th iteration of the NIU New Music Festival and much more.
Theatre performances include a fresh take on Jane Austen’s Emma, a comedy based on a somewhat true account of an 1860s expedition to chart the Colorado River and the story of the trials of Oscar Wilde, plus the annual Fall Dance Concert. The Jack Olson Gallery season opens with “The Risk Worth Taking” an exhibition of works by School of Art and design alumnus Kevin Cole. Exciting announcements about the new shows in the Art Museum are coming soon. Visit go.niu.edu/arts to keep up to date and what’s coming up and how to get tickets. NIU students are admitted free of charge with a pre-reserved ticket.
|
|
|
|
- NIU has a new website for parents and families, providing helpful information, resources and an opportunity to sign up for our parent and family newsletter. Check out the Huskie Family Hub and feel free to share the link with others!
- NIU’s Student Athlete Academic Support Services has been recognized for organizing impactful civic initiatives for NIU student athletes and was named a top three finalist for the 2026 NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl. Nearly 400 Huskie student athletes (approximately 90 percent of the student athlete population) dedicated 3,399 community service hours across 33 local programs during the 2025-26 academic year, generating a local economic impact of more than $118,000.
- The NIU Art Museum reopens Wednesday, Sept. 9 and we invite faculty across all colleges to incorporate our changing exhibitions into fall and spring syllabi. The museum offers a dynamic opportunity to engage students with material culture, visual arts and interdisciplinary research. NIU staff are eager to collaborate with you to align visits with your learning outcomes. To reserve a guided tour for your class or discuss itinerary options, contact artmuseum@niu.edu and burmastudies@niu.edu or register online.
|
|
|
|
Thank you, Greg Barker for providing helpful data for a project this summer.
Shout-out to Rachel Xidis for ongoing support with several website update projects!
|
|
|
|
Do you have shout-outs about your colleagues or comments about this newsletter to share? We would love to hear from you. Please complete this form to submit your feedback.
|
|
|
|
This message has been approved for distribution by the appropriate NIU party and is distributed by the Division of Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications. NIU Mass Email Policy.
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
