Academic Affairs Newsletter
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Colleagues,
As you are likely aware, there have been more than 50 Executive Orders (EO) signed by President Trump since his inauguration on January 20th many of which impact higher education. They address topics including immigration, pausing federal funding for research and student support initiatives, and eliminating federal programs that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, among others. Many of these EOs have been paused with temporary restraining orders and multiple lawsuits have been filed that will have to work through the legal system.
I understand that all the activity in Washington, D.C. may feel overwhelming and chaotic, but it’s important to remember that at NIU we remain focused on our vision, mission and values. For over 125 years, NIU has been committed to providing access and opportunity to pursue a college education that is high quality and affordable. Now is the time for calm, for continuing our critical work in supporting student success and importantly for supporting one another.
We are monitoring the ongoing developments in collaboration with NIU’s directors for State and Federal Relations, our elected officials, and professional organizations such as the Council of American Education and the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities. VP Mocarski is also working with PIs on federal grants to address questions and provide support.
I understand this may be a stressful time and encourage you to utilize resources here at NIU such as Employee Well-Being for support, should you need it.
In these challenging times, I sincerely want to thank you for all you do.
Laurie Elish-Piper, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
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College of Law to host information sessions
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The university community is invited to join a conversation about the “unified executive theory” at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 at Swen Parson Hall, Riley Courtroom. You may also join online via Zoom. This lecture and subsequent lectures in this series will provide context for the unprecedented recent executive activity in Washington, D.C. by describing and assessing the legal arguments that have been or will be made to support or challenge their legality.
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Faculty encouraged to add their voice
University-level committee service allows faculty to take an active role in shared governance at NIU by impacting campuswide academic decisions, helping set the direction of NIU for the future and promoting academic freedom and productivity.
The administration of NIU’s colleges and University Libraries will be reaching out to offer these opportunities to serve on a wide variety of committees, councils and boards for terms to begin in fall 2025. Faculty are encouraged to engage in this process and directly contribute to the health of our university.
Writing Center services available
The Huskie Academic Success Center (HASC) offers support for faculty on writing and conference projects, along with support focused on the classes faculty are teaching. HASC provides workshops and presentations and can assist with fine-tuning your syllabi, assignments, rubrics and other documents. Please contact the Writing Center program director, Ashley Bartelt, at abartelt1@niu.edu to discuss your needs.
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Spring 2025 all-majors internship and job fair
Please encourage students to attend this event from 1-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 at the Convocation Center, which provides an opportunity to connect with employers for internships and full-time, part-time and student employment positions. The event is free for candidates to attend.
Student athletes succeeding in the classroom
In addition to NIU Athletics reaching a department record GPA for the 2024 fall semester term, NIU student athletes are now gaining even more recognition for their academic success. The NIU women’s cross-country team posted a team grade point average of 3.817, which is the eighth best in the country.
NIU’s Student Athlete Academic Success Services (SAASS) staff members are helping students reach these academic heights in the classroom, while they succeed at their respective sports. Check out this recent NIU Today story to learn more.
UNIV 101 teaching opportunity
Apply now to teach UNIV 101 in fall 2025. This course supports first-year students and includes content and experiences on belonging and connecting to NIU, academic resources, time management and academic policies.
UNIV 101 instructors are supported in a community of practice and meet monthly throughout the semester. Instructors are paid according to their employment status as faculty, instructors or staff.
Priority review of applications starts Monday, March 3. Email aschatteman@niu.edu with questions.
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Supporting student leadership development
Student Involvement is continuing its commitment to student leadership development with Spring 2025 Leadership Workshops, to be held from 4-5 p.m. at the Holmes Student Center Heritage Room.
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- Developing a Leadership Mindset: Turning Challenges into Growth – March 27
- Effective Communication for Leaders: Building Stronger Connections – April 3
- Conflict Resolution & Decision-Making: Leading with Confidence – April 10
- Building Inclusive Teams: Creating a Culture of Collaboration – April 17
- Visionary Leadership: Setting Goals & Inspiring Action – April 24
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These sessions will help students build essential leadership skills, navigate challenges and grow personally and professionally. Please share these opportunities with students and contact studentinvolvement@niu.edu for more information.
ESHI grants available
NIU has been awarded the state’s End Student Housing Insecurity (ESHI) grant for the Spring 2025 semester, furthering efforts to address homelessness and basic-needs insecurity among students. Nearly 100 NIU students have received ESHI grants, which are available to currently enrolled undergraduates.
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- Book assistance grant: Helps cover the cost of books and supplies.
- Transportation grant: Supports students commuting over 20 miles or traveling for NIU-sponsored clinicals, internships or student teaching.
- Wi-Fi grant: Assists off-campus students with internet access costs.
- Housing emergency grant: Provides rent assistance or security deposits.
- Emergency grant: Supports students facing unexpected challenges including medical bills, short-term housing needs or property damage.
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Funding remains available through the Center for Student Assistance. Students interested in applying should contact Jeff Salmon at jsalmon1@niu.edu for an appointment. Funds cannot be used to pay tuition.
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Register for February and March FACCE sessions
You are invited to sign up for upcoming Faculty Academy on Cultural Competence and Equity (FACCE) professional development sessions scheduled for Friday, Feb. 14 and Friday, March 21. Learn more by visiting the FACCE website.
Examples of Excelencia
Save the dates for informative sessions to learn how you can submit your course, practice, program, outreach or other initiative to be recognized as an Example of Excelencia. In 2024, NIU’s Latinx Living Learning Community has been recognized as a Program to Watch by Excelencia in Education. Email Jade Silva Tovar at equity@niu.edu to learn more and sign up for upcoming sessions.
Black Heritage Month
The Center for Black Studies, in collaboration with partners across NIU, organizes events every February to celebrate Black Heritage Month. Join the celebration and attend upcoming events to recognize, learn and celebrate the central role of Black diasporic experiences in U.S. History and globally – past, present and future.
Refer Huskies for additional support services
The Center for Black Studies is partnering with the Huskie Academic Success Center to offer tutoring. All students are welcome to visit for additional academic support resources, to enhance their learning experience and connect with a vibrant, inclusive community.
Training opportunities
Registration is now open for spring 2025 LGBTQ+ ally training.
Part 1 - 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 21 or Monday, Feb. 24
Part 2 - 1-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 or Monday, Feb. 24
Contact gsrc@niu.edu for registration information. The training location will be sent with verification of registration; no virtual option is available. Both trainings must be completed for successful completion of this program.
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Open Classroom Weeks
Sit in on a colleague's course to learn new teaching approaches and make connections across disciplines during Open Classroom Weeks Feb. 17-28. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. All participants and the featured faculty are invited to a networking luncheon at noon on Wednesday, March 5.
Find out more and register now!
Faculty recognition for Affordable Course Materials
Congratulations to the more than 260 NIU faculty who have committed to affordability for students by teaching with low or zero-cost course materials. Since launching the taskforce, NIU has seen a remarkable increase in the adoption of Affordable Course Materials (ACM), student enrollment in these courses and overall student savings.
The use of ACM has expanded to almost 45,000 student enrollments in 2,025 course sections designated as low or zero cost material courses. Efforts this past year have led to $2.1 million in savings, totaling $5.2 million in savings for students over three years.
Open education forming bridges for lifelong learning
Register for Open Ed Live, a free, online event designed to bring together higher ed faculty, librarians, instructional designers and others to explore the vast opportunities of open education. The event will take place from Feb. 25-27 and will consist of three half-day, virtual events with drop-in sessions for extended conversation on key topics.
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New website available
Research and Innovation Partnerships continues to monitor the federal funding landscape. We have set up a website for faculty and staff to keep you up to date as new information arises.
The Office of Research Development is here to serve your research and creative activities funding needs. Please email ord@niu.edu to schedule an appointment for strategizing how to best fund your work through external sources. Staff members will assist in planning for your future and partner with you to craft the best possible proposal, no matter the source of funding.
Q&A on academic book publishing
Join us at 11 a.m. Feb. 26 on Teams for an insightful professional development event designed for scholars navigating the academic book publishing process. NIU press acquisitions editor, Amy Farranto, will provide brief remarks on the academic book publishing world, followed by a moderated Q&A. Whether you’re publishing your first monograph or have questions about academic book publishing, this session is for you!
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AI at CEET: Enhancing Learning, Expanding Possibilities
The College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET) is leading the way with its embrace of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance student learning.
Since the fall semester, more than 80 CEET students have used an AI-powered calculus tutor, which supports dozens of languages. Recently, the service expanded to all students, with plans to extend AI tutoring to trigonometry and physics.
AI also took center stage at CEET’s Innovation Showcase in November, where a panel of four experts—alongside an interactive chatbot—discussed AI’s impact on education and industry. The chatbot later distilled their insights into a podcast episode.
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Disability Resource Center
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Accommodation requests
If professors believe an accommodation request is not reasonable for their course, they should initiate an interactive process by contacting the student’s access consultant. The access consultant will collaborate with the professor to review the accommodation request in the context of the student’s disability, the course learning outcomes and policies, the student's progress and alternative accommodations.
This approach ensures that accommodations are carefully considered and tailored to support both the student’s needs and the integrity of the course. Contact Jennifer Salmon at jsalmon2@niu.edu with questions.
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Build community-engaged partnerships
Register to join Jennifer Groce, director of Community Engaged Partnerships, at noon Thursday, Feb. 20 for a step-by-step guide to understanding local community context, identifying a research problem of interest to the community, connecting with local community members and building mutually beneficial partnerships.
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- Honorary Degree nominations are being accepted. Awarding an honorary degree is an opportunity to recognize someone especially outstanding in a field of interest to the university. A nominee should be accomplished and renowned in their field; an honorary-degree recipient should be clearly exceptional among other outstanding persons in that field. Visit the Academic Affairs website to learn more and email kdoane@niu.edu by Friday, Feb. 28 to nominate someone.
- The Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Award recognizes the efforts and accomplishments of NIU's top graduating students. Each year, this award is given to an outstanding senior from each of the four-year, degree-granting institutions of higher learning in Illinois. All NIU faculty are encouraged to put forward excellent nominees for endorsement consideration by their department. Academic chairs and directors should review and complete the nomination form by Friday, March 7.
- Friday, Feb. 14 at 4:30 p.m. is the deadline to nominate someone for an NIU staff award. NIU annually recognizes current staff members and staff teams who have demonstrated exemplary performance and service in promoting the goals of the university while demonstrating the core values of excellence, advancement of NIU’s mission, vision and values, integrity, collaboration and service. Learn more and nominate a colleague today!
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Shout-out to Cody Schmitz for his exemplary leadership and collaboration in preparing and submitting NIU’s report on Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Thank you, Holly Nicholson for your project leadership skills and pleasant demeanor. You are appreciated!
Shout-out to Diane Layng for your timely and professional work and willingness to go the extra mile to help with a recent project. Thank you!
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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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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.
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