Academic Affairs Newsletter
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Colleagues,
It’s an exciting time on campus, as we are approaching commencement and the completion of the fall semester at NIU.
New this year, we are introducing Gradpalooza, an event that will bring graduating students together to celebrate their accomplishments and prepare for their big day. Students will be able to take pictures with Mission and Victor E. Huskie, decorate their graduation caps, make their first donation to NIU and receive a graduation cord, get information about their ceremony and share notes of thanks with their favorite faculty and staff.
More than half our undergraduates at NIU are among the first generation in their family to attend a four-year college. As part of our commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students, NIU is now a FirstGen Forward Network member. First-gen week at NIU this fall offered events, workshops and support networks to empower first-generation students. Check out the newly created Teams/Zoom backgrounds and email signature backgrounds to show your support!
Another highlight of this semester for me has been our newly formed Provost’s Office Undergraduate Student Advisory Committee. Currently enrolled NIU undergraduate students are sharing direct feedback about their experiences by providing insights and suggestions on Division of Academic Affairs programs, policies and initiatives. In the process, student members are gaining campus leadership experience and insights into university administration.
As we approach the holiday season, I wish you and yours the very best and a Happy New Year. I’m looking forward to doing great things together in 2025!
Laurie Elish-Piper, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
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Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement (CURE)
CURE will take place Tuesday, April 29, celebrating undergraduate research in all forms including community engagement, Honors Program capstones, senior theses, internships, design projects, course-based research experiences, creative inquiry and expression. Registration is now open for faculty and students, and student resources are available.
Check out the faculty involvement page as you build your spring syllabi for a CURE syllabus statement and suggested classroom activities to engage students in the Undergraduate Research Month theme of “What is knowledge creation?”
Newman Civic Fellow application deadline approaching
Please submit your nomination by Friday, Dec. 6 for the 2025-26 Newman Civic Fellowship program!
Each year, one NIU student is selected for the program, which offers students opportunities to expand their learning, make an impact and create meaningful professional connections. The selection is based on demonstrated civic engagement leadership and commitment to finding solutions for challenges facing communities.
EUTA and EUIA awards
Nominations are due to departments Friday, Dec. 13 for this year’s Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (EUTA) and Excellence in Undergraduate Instruction (EUIA) awards. These awards recognize outstanding individuals who positively impact NIU’s student learning experience.
The EUTA is available to tenured and tenure-track faculty. The EUIA is available to non-tenure track instructors. Nominees may not participate in the selection process.
Nominate someone for EUTA recognition.*
Nominate someone for EUIA recognition.*
*Please note that both the EUIA and EUTA nomination forms have been updated.
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Finals Late Night Breakfast
This annual event is a great opportunity for students to take a break, destress and recharge during final exams week.
Finals Late Night Breakfast is scheduled for 9-11 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 at the Duke Ellington Ballroom. Students can enjoy free food, activities and fun with their friends. Please encourage students to attend!
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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Equity-based Assessment and Growth Mindset Practices session
In this Friday, Dec. 6 session led by Stephanie Richter of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, participants will examine how to move from a deficit- to a growth-mindset and further consider why this is important for student achievement and producing an equitable classroom. As part of this examination, participants will also consider equity-based approaches toward assessing students.
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NIU Art Museum hosts Faculty Biennial Exhibition
Every two years the NIU Art Museum, located in Altgeld Hall, hosts an invitational exhibition of full-time and part-time faculty and teaching staff from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The current exhibition runs through December 14 and again from January 15 to February 15.
The work on display represents the activity and interests of individual members in the Schools of Art and Design, Music, and Theatre and Dance. Work includes the fields of art foundations; art history; ceramics; dance; drawing; illustration; painting; photography; printmaking; sculpture; theatre history, literature and criticism; theatre costume design and costume technology; time arts; and visual communication.
For a full list of artists represented in the show, dates and times, and a calendar of events supporting the exhibition including lectures and presentations, visit the NIU Arts Blog.
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Disability Resource Center
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Accommodations and grades
Accommodations are provided based on a student’s needs throughout the semester. However, these are not designed to extend beyond the end of the semester. All course expectations are due by the end of course deadlines and should not impact instructors’ deadlines to submit grades.
If an instructor agrees to issue an incomplete and has questions about how accommodations function throughout the process, please contact the Disability Resource Center at drc@niu.edu or 815-753-1303.
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- NIU’s 2024 Pride with Purpose shirt is a great gift for the Huskies in your life! By purchasing this shirt, you support our general student scholarship fund and show your Huskie pride. Pick up your shirt at Huskie Books and Gear in the Holmes Student Center or by purchasing online.
- The Division of Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications recently launched the upgraded Exploring Majors website for undergraduate programs. By clicking on specific majors, you can learn more about students who have completed them, what a degree in a specific major can mean for a student’s career, plus salary outlook, top employers and more.
- You can participate in Huskies United 2025 by creating a dedicated giving page for your department. The deadline to do so is Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 and Huskies United will take place April 2-3, 2025.
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Shout out to Dr. Laura Vazquez for keeping our department together and helping students as much as possible! She is always willing to help find creative solutions when things are tough. Couldn't do what we do in Communication without her! She's part of the glue in this department.
Thank you, Ian Gawron for your guidance with facilitating the Engineering Technology curriculum revision. Ian provided great support and a willingness to help, making the process a smooth and effective one.
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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!
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