Academic Affairs Newsletter
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Hello, colleagues.
As we continue to navigate challenging times in our nation, I want to thank you for your unwavering commitment to our students and their success, as well as the support you provide to one another. Please remember that at NIU, we remain firmly grounded in our mission, guided by our vision and values, and focused on achieving our university goals.
A recent impact of federal actions on our campus has been the revocation of five international students’ visas. The university is working directly with each impacted student to ensure they understand their rights and options and have access to resources to support them as they navigate the significant disruption to their daily lives and future plans.
I understand this is an especially challenging and stressful time for students, faculty and staff and with the end of the semester just a few weeks away, I know we are all working hard to finish strong. Even in the midst of all that is going on, please do take time to take care of yourselves and those around you. I also want to remind you that support is available; please do not hesitate to utilize resources such as Employee Well-being.
Despite these challenges, it is important to celebrate the accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff at end-of-year events. I look forward to seeing you at various award celebrations as well as commencement ceremonies. Thank you for your continued dedication and all you do here at NIU.
Go Huskies!
Laurie Elish-Piper, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
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Thank a Professor
More than two dozen faculty members have been recognized by students in just the past month via NIU’s “Thank a Professor” form. Check out the recent mentions, and thank you to all faculty for your hard work!
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NIU adding Quinncia to student success toolkit
NIU students soon will have access to Quinncia, an AI-powered tool that provides resume analysis, mock interviews, LinkedIn profile analysis and more to help them stand out to employers and succeed in their careers. Quinncia licenses will be available for students via Career Services, starting this fall.
Faculty may adopt Quinncia for course use (via ISBN) and incorporate it into assignments. Career Services staff members are available to provide demonstrations to help you with the setup process and incorporate Quinncia into your syllabi. Please contact Andrea Radasanu at aradasanu@niu.edu for more information or to request faculty access.
NIU Wrestling achieves academic honor
Congratulations to the NIU wrestling program for earning team scholar All-America honors from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. The Huskies are 12th in the nation with a 3.536 team grade point average, and the second highest Mid-American Conference school to receive this honor.
Our Student Athlete Academic Support Services team helps NIU athletes achieve success in the classroom as well as in their respective sports by providing tutoring, academic coaching and additional services.
Faculty advisor nominations for Academic Advising Council
The Academic Advising Council is accepting self-nominations for a representative of faculty advisors on next year’s council. If you are interested, complete this online form by Friday, May 16.
Academic Advising Council meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month and alternate between in-person and virtual from 1-2:30 p.m. The first meeting of the 2025-26 council will be Tuesday, July, 8. If you have any questions or need additional information, please reach out to Megan Woodruff or Alicia Schatteman.
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Wellness events for faculty and staff
Spring Into Wellness is a week of campuswide events focused on self-care, mental health and well-being.
NIU’s Annual Wellness Fair takes place Wednesday, April 16 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Holmes Student Center. This event includes free wellness screenings, therapy dogs, arts and crafts and an interactive sensory playground with NIU STEAM. Receive a free tote bag at entry and win prizes for participating! Wellness opportunities include free workshops featuring healthy eating, fitness tips, mental health support training and more.
"The Mind: A War Won with Resilience" featuring Jade Mathis promises to be a powerful event Wednesday, April 16 from 5–6 p.m. at Holmes Student Center. Jade is an attorney, public speaker and mental health advocate whose story of resilience and authenticity has moved audiences nationwide. This event is presented in collaboration with Active Minds, a national nonprofit focused on empowering young adults to speak openly about mental health. Faculty and staff are invited to attend.
Finals Late Night Breakfast
Please let students know about this event that will give them a much-needed study break and help them power through finals. Hosted by the Campus Activities Board Monday, May 5 from 9-11 p.m. at Holmes Student Center, this popular end-of-semester tradition features breakfast favorites, music and a fun, relaxing atmosphere to help students recharge.
CAB Carnival
Encourage students to celebrate the end of the semester with the CAB Carnival! Students are invited to enjoy an afternoon of outdoor fun with carnival games, inflatable attractions, food trucks, giveaways and more. A great way to de-stress and make lasting memories before finals begin. This event will be held from 3-7 p.m. Friday, May 2 on the field next to the Chessick Practice Center.
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Professional development event
Join Melissa Clucas Walter and Tammy Wynard Friday, April 25 for the “Supporting Mental Health in the Classroom with a Trauma-Informed Approach” interactive session.
Trauma-informed approaches have become crucial to effective and equitable classrooms. This session will introduce participants to trauma-informed approaches that can be applied universally so strength-based teaching and learning can support all students, including those who are neurodivergent. After the session, numerous strategic resources will be provided for further self-directed learning.
FACCE Summer Academy
Save the dates for the Faculty Academy on Cultural Competence and Equity’s (FACCE) Summer Academy scheduled for May 19-22, 2025.
Led by NIU faculty experts, this academy will engage NIU educators in enhancing skills in culturally relevant and sustaining curricular pedagogies, inclusive and accessible instructional design, and teaching. The four-day immersive experience will result in participants developing at least one course enhancement.
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month
Join the Asian American Resource Center, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies and their partners for community events and programs throughout April to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month. Visit the NIU calendar to see upcoming events.
Combating barriers to disclosure of sexual violence
Northern Illinois University recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. Join Prevention Education and Outreach Wednesday, April 16 for a signature event featuring Kinza Khan, founder and principal attorney at Kinza Khan Legal LLC in Chicago. Khan has significant experience advocating for marginalized communities, focusing on areas such as human rights, domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, family law, civil rights and immigration law.
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Award winners named
The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award recognizes outstanding graduate teaching assistants for their contributions to the teaching mission of NIU.
This year’s recipients are:
Melina Baer, Department of English
Fernando Marroquín Mendoza, School of Music
Kathryn Sowinski, School of Art and Design
Peter Tappenden, Department of Psychology
Campuswide, our teaching assistants are critical to student success. These awards are a testament to the impact of their hard work, unwavering support and genuine care that makes a difference in the lives of our students.
Community-engaged teaching toolkit
Community-engaged courses combine learning goals and community service to positively impact students’ knowledge, skills and value while tackling critical community issues. However, there are additional logistics and complexity inherent in these experiences. Check out the new Community-engaged teaching toolkit for information on getting started or rethinking how you integrate community engagement in your teaching.
Already teaching a community-engaged course? We’d love to feature samples from your course in the toolkit such as a syllabus, partner scope of work, assignment instructions or reflection prompt.
Authenticity, faculty wellbeing and teaching in uncertain times
This fall, we are thrilled to welcome Liz Norell, author of “The Present Professor: Authenticity and Transformational Teaching” to facilitate the Teaching Effectiveness Institute in two independent, in-person sessions Thursday, Aug. 14.
Authenticity and Presence as Instructor Wellbeing
9 a.m.-noon
We often hear about student-centered teaching and its benefits. In this session, our focus will be on how to be more authentically ourselves in our teaching, and why doing so matters.
Sustaining Ourselves (and Work) in Uncertain Times
1-4 p.m.
Teaching in 2025 is not for the faint of heart. Uncertainty abounds, and how we maintain our commitment to transformational learning in the current environment may feel overwhelming. We’ll talk about how to reclaim and sustain our joy and purpose in an environment filled with challenges.
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Don’t miss these end of year arts events
As the academic year draws to a close, some of the most popular events in the College of Visual and Performing Arts are staged. There are a pair of art exhibitions featuring students earning their degrees. The BA/BS Show runs from April 7-17 and the BFA Show is April 28-May 7. Both are in the Jack Olson Gallery in Jack Arends Hall. The Spring Dance Concert is being held, for the first-time ever, in the Black Box Theatre in the Stevens Building. Performances are April 24-27. And there are some great concerts remaining, including the Jazz Ensemble (April 17), Jazz Orchestra (April 24) the NIU Philharmonic (April 25), and the Choral Concert (April 27) and more. Art exhibitions are free, and tickets for dance and music can be purchased at go.niu.edu/arts-tickets.
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Disability Resource Center
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Mental health disorders in the classroom
Students with mental health disorders may be experiencing more stress as the semester comes to an end. In addition to academic pressures, they may experience increased anxiety, sensory overload or fatigue.
Faculty can play a crucial role in supporting these students. Consider offering flexible office hours or alternative ways for students to engage, such as virtual meetings. Encourage students to seek counseling or academic success services. Even small adjustments can make a big difference in helping students finish the semester strong.
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- Class of 2025 Gradpalooza is Wednesday, May 7 at Holmes Student Center and we encourage you to spread the word to graduating students! This is a celebratory event where students can participate in fun activities, learn more about their commencement ceremony and connect with other graduating Huskies.
- Please consider volunteering your time at commencement events May 9 or May 10 to help make them successful for our graduates, families and guests. Visit the commencement volunteer website and fill out the volunteer form by no later than Wednesday, April 30.
- Week of Welcome (WOW) is set for Aug. 20-24, 2025, and faculty, staff and other campus partners can get involved by submitting event proposals, volunteering or accepting the invitation to participate in a planning group. Let’s make WOW 2025 an unforgettable welcome for our newest Huskies!
- The Office of the President seeks nominations for individuals to serve on Presidential Commissions. To nominate someone or to self-nominate, please complete the online application which seeks general information and a brief statement of interest by Friday, May 16. Contact Tamara Boston at tboston1@niu.edu with questions.
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Shout-out to Jamie Obermeier from the School of Art and Design in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Jamie was a huge help by buffing the Presidential Teaching Professor Award medallions and getting them ready for engraving for the 2025 awardees. This was a significant task with hard work involved, and we truly appreciate him finding time not once, but twice to make these medallions look better than ever. This was no small endeavor, and you are appreciated, Jamie. 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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