Academic Affairs Newsletter
|
|
|
|
Hello and happy new year! I hope you had an enjoyable winter break and are excited to kick off the new semester here at NIU.
I had the pleasure of attending commencement ceremonies in December, and what a joy it is to celebrate the success of our Huskies as they complete their degrees and enter the next chapter of their lives.
Please take a few minutes and check out the updates in this issue to find out what is happening and what is coming up across our campus. Thanks to your commitment and hard work, we are putting the success of our students at the forefront of everything we do.
Let’s have a great semester together!
Sincerely,
Laurie Elish-Piper, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
|
|
|
Board of Trustees Professorship Lecture
You are invited to this special event Thursday, March 27 at Founders Memorial Library featuring presentations from Michelle Demaray, professor in NIU's Department of Psychology and Paul Wright, Distinguished Engagement Professor in NIU's Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education.
Demaray's presentation, "Bullying Participant Role Behaviors and Students’ Mental Health" will overview a study investigating how students’ engagement in various bullying participant roles (e.g., perpetrator, victim, defender) may overlap. Wright's presentation, "Promoting Positive Youth Development and Teaching Life Skills Through Physical Activity Programs" will overview a program of engaged scholarship that leverages the potential of physical activity programs to foster positive youth development and social change.
Study Abroad program workshop
The Study Abroad Office is now accepting proposals for the 2025-26 academic year. Faculty interested in developing a first-time study abroad program should register for the virtual “Developing a Study Abroad Program” workshop to be held from 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4.
This workshop is required for faculty submitting a new program proposal for the first time and will introduce the faculty-led program model, provide an overview of the program development process and provide resources to get started.
|
|
|
Supporting general education – spring programs
The Enriching the Design of General Education (EDGE) program supports excellence in general education teaching and includes an ongoing community of practice with monthly sessions, an asynchronous community and a library of pedagogical resources.
Online sessions will be made available on the EDGE website, where you can register for upcoming events, find previous session recordings and learn more. Check out the online toolkit to support teaching in general education courses and earn recognition for your participation.
Upcoming sessions, all beginning at noon:
|
- Jan. 8 (online) – Vision and philosophy of general education and the new approach to general education assessment.
- Feb. 12 (in-person, Founders Memorial Library Room 393) – How the Division of Student Affairs supports student success, plus a resource fair featuring student support areas across campus.
- March 19 (online) – NIU’s University Honors Program, its general education course offerings and opportunities to teach in Honors.
- April 30 (in-person, Founders Memorial Library Room 393) – Low- and no-cost course materials initiative and open education resources to support your courses.
|
New community engaged courses and application
Designation of community-engaged courses will begin in Fall 2025. Faculty may apply until Friday, Jan. 24 for section-level designation that will appear in MyNIU for one semester only, starting in Fall 2025.
Undergraduate courses already approved as community-engaged:
|
- ANTH 302 Asian American Cultures
- ENVS 210 Introduction to Sustainable Food Systems
- ENVS 303 Nature in Society: Environmental Social Sciences and Humanities
- GERO 442 Gerontology: Community Services
- NNGO 351 Nonprofit Boards and Governance
- NNGO 492 Grant Proposal Seminar
- SOCI 487 Gender and Crime
- UBUS 485 Business Consulting Project
- UBUS 490 Topics in Business
|
NIU BookLab and NEH Initiative Grant
NIU Libraries and the Departments of English and History invite you to learn about NIU’s BookLab and NEH Initiative Grant planning. Part of a growing movement, the BookLab is a humanities laboratory enabling students and faculty to experiment with a variety of technologies of the word. From calligraphy, book making and letter press to digital publishing, 3D printing and generative AI, the lab facilitates a greater appreciation of the global, historical and technological contexts of print and media cultures.
To learn more about our faculty working group and how you and your students might use the lab, join one of our planning meetings from noon-1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27 or from 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28 in Founders Library BookLab, Room 400. Contact Melissa Adams-Campbell at madamscampbell@niu.edu with questions.
|
|
|
Student leadership workshops: Call for presenters
Share your expertise with our student leaders! We're seeking presenters to lead workshops on leadership topics of your choice. Whether it's a specific area you’re passionate about or a unique perspective you bring, your insights can inspire and empower future leaders. Submit your proposal today.
Counseling and Consultation Services wellness programs
To prioritize mental health and well-being, please let students know they can take advantage of the following engaging wellness programs starting Monday, Feb. 3:
|
For 24/7 counseling, students can call 815-753-1206 or connect anonymously on Togetherall.
|
|
|
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
|
|
|
Lunar New Year celebration
You are invited to Neptune Dining at noon Tuesday, Jan. 28 as the Asian American Resource Center will be hosting a Lunar New Year luncheon. Enjoy lunch and conversation, along with community building and networking, plus performances by the NIU Chinese Music Ensemble and Dragon Dance.
Please RSVP to this event if you plan to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!
MLK Week 2025
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, MLK Week (Jan. 21-24) invites us to reflect on the deep connection between African Americans, labor and the pursuit of justice and equality. This year's national theme, "Dream On" draws inspiration from the visionary leaders who fought tirelessly, often under harsh circumstances, to pave the way for a better tomorrow. These historical figures labored not only for their own future but for the generations that would follow.
Dream On encourages us carry forward the path of justice, equity and opportunity. You are invited to reflect on the dreams of those who labored before us and renew our commitment to making their dreams a reality. Please join us at an MLK Week event.
National Day of Racial Healing
Tuesday, Jan. 21 is an opportunity to come together in an open and supportive environment to foster healing, understanding and unity. This day emphasizes the importance of recognizing the impacts of racism on society, as well as promoting inclusive dialogues, actions and collective efforts to dismantle racial inequality.
Several events to be held on this day will encourage reflection, education and the sharing of personal stories. Please join us.
Spring dates for FACCE
The Division of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning invite you to register for upcoming Spring 2025 FACCE sessions. The Faculty Academy on Cultural Competence and Equity (FACCE) re-imagines the collective richness students, staff and faculty bring to learning and offers cultural competence and equity-based pedagogy and practical tools for application for implementation in the academic environment.
|
|
|
Tips to set the tone for a successful semester
The first few weeks of the college semester are crucial, as they lay the foundation for a successful journey for instructors and students. With thoughtful planning and a focus on setting the right tone, you can sidestep common pitfalls, propel student engagement and set the stage for a successful semester for you and your students. Check out these five tips you can use the first weeks of the semester to set the tone for a successful semester!
Chat with a faculty teaching mentor
Looking for new ideas to boost your teaching or connect better with your students? Chat with a faculty teaching mentor! These are fellow faculty members who can offer helpful tips and fresh perspectives on topics such as:
|
- How to talk to a student
- How to respond to disability accommodation requests
- How to make changes based on course evaluations
- How to integrate active learning into lectures
- How to create engaging discussions in online and in-person classes
- How to assess student learning without being overwhelmed with grading
- How to use technology to enhance student participation and feedback
|
Whether you are updating a course or trying something new, mentors are here to support you. Meet the faculty teaching mentors and schedule a conversation for personalized guidance to enhance your teaching.
Excellence in Online Teaching Award
Nominations are due Friday, Jan. 31 for the 2025 Excellence in Online Teaching Award, which recognizes NIU faculty and instructors whose performance exemplifies a commitment to excellence in online teaching, course development and student engagement.
All who teach online or hybrid courses (tenured and tenure-track faculty members, instructors and teaching staff) are eligible. There is no limit as to the number of nominees from any department/program or college, and self-nominations are allowed and encouraged.
Award recipients receive a plaque and a $2,000 one-time stipend. Submit a nomination today!
Now is a great time to have your online course reviewed for quality, prior to the nomination deadline, with a Quality Essentials (QE) Course Review. This process lets you conduct a detailed self-review of your course, then receive feedback by a CITL staff member. Courses that meet all the QE will be recognized as NIU quality online courses and qualify for an official QM review. Learn more and submit your course for review!
|
|
|
Join us for an engaging discussion
Richard Mocarski, vice president of Research and Innovation Partnerships, will join faculty and interested graduate students at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27 to discuss the current and future resources available to our NIU community to support research and creative activities.
This talk will cover best practices for building a research agenda that leverages support structures to accelerate sustaining success, including best grantsmanship practices, how to find collaborators and how to engage with external agencies.
Every successful research agenda is unique, and you're encouraged to come ready with questions. This in-person presentation will be held at the Holmes Student Center Capitol Room.
|
|
|
Business students visit China, explore economic development and local business
In November, 18 College of Business students visited China, learning about its economic development, culture and local business. This 10-day program was packed with lessons and sightseeing.
The trip was partially funded by the Chinese government and Shanghai DianJi University – one of our partner schools. In addition, the College of Business provided $1,500 scholarships to students to partially cover airfare.
“What impacted me most was exploring the largest wholesale market in China, which was fascinating, as it showcased the enormous scale of e-commerce and the opportunities it provides,” said management major Olivia Collier.
Read the full article to learn more.
|
|
|
Disability Resource Center
|
|
|
CART services
Students with hearing loss may receive CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services, real-time captioning where a CART provider transcribes what is being spoken in class.
Professors are encouraged to wear microphones to capture spoken content, passing it to other speakers as needed. If a student uses CART, you'll receive instructions on adding the Disability Resource Center to your Blackboard course, so CART providers can access materials for transcribing purposes. Contact drc@niu.edu for more information.
|
|
|
NIU faculty are doing impactful community engaged research, teaching and collaboration. Hear their stories, ask your questions, make connections and leave with tools and inspiration to pursue your community engagement goals at two upcoming professional development events.
“How to Build a Community-engaged Partnership” will be hosted Thursday, Feb. 20 by Jennifer Groce of the Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development. Learn about partnerships Groce has helped NIU develop with local businesses and organizations and best practices for successful long-term community engagement.
“How to Create a Community-engaged Course” will be hosted Tuesday, April 15 by Alicia Schatteman, vice provost for Academic Affairs and Laura Ruth Johnson of the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies. Learn about the new NIU community-engaged course designation, find out what best practices make for a successful community-engaged course and hear about the speakers' experiences teaching community-engaged courses.
|
|
|
- NIU Athletics reached a department record with a 3.357 GPA for the 2024 fall semester term! Congratulations to all teams for scoring above a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and to the men’s golf team and cross country and track teams for earning the highest men's and women's team GPAs. Special thanks to our Student Athlete Academic Success Services team for all their work to support NIU’s student athletes!
- The Huskie Leadership Academy, hosted by Student Involvement, is a dynamic seminar series introducing first-year students to key leadership concepts they can apply in their personal, academic and community lives. The academy runs Jan. 29 through March 5, with sessions from 4-6 p.m. every Wednesday. You are invited to be a part of this, by leading a session on a leadership topic of your choice. Please complete this brief form to submit a proposal.
- Check out the accolades NIU students are sharing with your colleagues on the Thank a Professor website. Students can share their comments by completing this brief form. Thank you to all faculty for your excellent work!
|
|
|
Shout-out to Jade Silva Tovar for your efforts in leading projects that support students at NIU!
|
|
|
Do you have comments, ideas for future newsletter topics or shout-outs about your colleagues to share? We would love to hear from you. Please complete this form to submit your feedback. Thank you!
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
