Academic Affairs Newsletter
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Hello colleagues.
It is hard to believe, but the 2024-25 academic year is just about complete! I encourage you to join us for commencement ceremonies May 9 and May 10 at the NIU Convocation Center and celebrate our Class of 2025 graduates.
We have faced unprecedented challenges in higher education this year. Through it all, your professionalism and personal touch have positively impacted countless students, helping them achieve their goals. In the process, you have inspired your colleagues and the administration here at NIU, and I thank you for your diligence and unwavering dedication to what you do.
As we approach the summer months, I hope you can find time to relax and do things that rejuvenate you. We have important work still to do together, and I look forward to connecting with you again this fall as we welcome a new class of Huskies to NIU and continue our mission.
Thank you once again for all you do. Have a great summer!
Sincerely,
Laurie Elish-Piper, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
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NIU welcomes new AVP for Global Affairs and Faculty Development
Rachel Gordon has been selected to serve as NIU’s new associate vice president for Global Affairs and Faculty Development, effective July 1. This is a joint appointment between the Division of Academic Affairs and the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships, ensuring alignment between faculty success initiatives, international education and research development.
In this role, Gordon will provide strategic leadership in advancing NIU’s global engagement, faculty development and success including research capacity-building efforts. She will provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Division of International Affairs with a focus on strengthening NIU’s global presence and enhancing student success. Gordon also will help advance faculty success by leading faculty mentoring and professional development programs, supporting faculty recruitment and retention efforts, and fostering faculty research development.
Please join us in congratulating Rachel on this new role!
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To support the success of incoming students, we have developed “Huskie 3-2-1” – a simple plan to help new Huskies succeed during their first year at NIU. Huskie 3-2-1 outlines three steps to make sure students are where they need to be at the end of freshman year – complete three steps in your first two semesters to reach your one ultimate goal of graduating from NIU!
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- Complete English requirements.
- Complete the COMS 100 speech course.
- Earn at least 24 credit hours.
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Please visit the website and share this information with freshmen students.
Course material adoptions for Summer and Fall 2025
Please make sure to submit your course material adoptions as soon as possible for the upcoming semester(s). Submitting course material adoptions on time helps students succeed by giving them a better look at potential costs so they are ready for the first day of class.
The quickest and easiest method to do this is by using Follett Discover through Blackboard. If you need assistance with course material adoptions, contact Celeste Brown at 2089txt@follett.com.
Thank you, advisors!
We recently sent a message via Navigate to undergraduate students, asking them to share their appreciation for their advisors. The response we received was overwhelming. More than 150 students shared their thanks and positive sentiments. Here are a few examples:
“Thank you for helping me get back on track after I fell behind, and for sticking with me and helping me through these hard times.”
“You truly have a special way of making every student feel welcome, heard, supported and not alone.”
“Your belief in my potential has been a constant source of motivation.”
We want to share a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated advisors here as well, for being an essential part of student success at NIU.
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Blackboard Office Hours: calculating and submitting final grades
At the end of the semester, there is a short window to calculate grades and submit them by the due date. The Blackboard Gradebook can help you calculate final grades quickly. You can then use the Blackboard Grade Submission Tool to publish grades directly to MyNIU, saving time and reducing the opportunity for data entry errors.
Join us for office hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 8 and meet individually with staff from the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning to discuss how to set up your grade calculation in Blackboard. You can pop in or register to let us know you’ll be attending. Can’t make office hours? Schedule an individual consultation at citl.niu.edu/conversations.
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Fall 2025 Teaching Effectiveness Institute
NIU is pleased to welcome Liz Norell, author of “The Present Professor: Authenticity and Transformational Teaching” to facilitate our Teaching Effectiveness Institute in two independent, in-person sessions Thursday, Aug. 14. This year's event focuses on you and sustaining your wellbeing and passion. Presented as two half-day workshops, we invite you to register for one or both sessions.
Authenticity and Presence as Instructor Wellbeing
9 a.m.-noon
In this half-day workshop, we’ll dig into some of the research that touches on instructor presence and relationship-rich education, focusing on how to be more authentically ourselves in our teaching – and why doing so matters. Register for the morning session.
Sustaining Ourselves (and Work) in Uncertain Times
1-4 p.m.
Teaching in 2025 is not for the faint of heart. 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. Register for the afternoon session.
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Open Forum
In the last stretch of the semester, RIPS will hold a final open forum to share the latest information about the evolving federal funding landscape, including federal policy changes related to indirect costs. Join us virtually or in person 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at the 71 North Partnership Studio in Founders Memorial Library. For more updates, visit our Federal Administration Transition and Resources page.
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Uniting future health professionals
About 150 students and two dozen faculty and instructors gathered at the Holmes Student Center for the 10th interprofessional education (IPE) event hosted by the College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS). Students from programs including athletic training, audiology, marriage and family therapy, medical laboratory sciences, nursing, nutrition, kinesiology, physical therapy, rehabilitation counseling and speech-language pathology learned and worked together with the goal of improving patient care and outcomes.
Faculty liaisons from each program participated in a grand-rounds style session and discussed interprofessional collaboration strategies to create a patient-centered treatment plan.
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Disability Resource Center
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Semester deadlines
Accommodations are intended to support students with disabilities in completing coursework by established semester deadlines. They do not extend beyond the end of the semester. Faculty are not expected to modify grading deadlines due to accommodations.
If a student is unable to complete coursework and is eligible for an incomplete, faculty may proceed according to university policy.
If questions arise about how accommodations apply during the incomplete period, instructors are encouraged to contact drc@niu.edu or 815-753-1303 to discuss the individual situation.
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- NIU will soon have a new dean of the Graduate School. James Ahern, an NIU Graduate School alum, will begin his role as dean July 16. Learn more about Ahern by checking out this recent NIU Today article, and please give him a warm welcome as he returns to campus.
- The City of DeKalb’s project to convert the Lucinda Avenue and Normal Road intersection from traffic lights to a single-lane roundabout is set to begin in mid-May. The project is scheduled for completion in August prior to the start of the fall semester. A significant detour will be in place during construction, primarily using Hillcrest Drive. Buildings impacted by the detour will remain open and accessible, but you are encouraged to allow extra time when accessing campus in this vicinity. Visit the NIU website for detour and Huskie Bus Line impact details.
- Effort statements for the period of July 1-Dec. 31, 2024 are due to Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) by Monday, June 2. SPA will review any corrections to reports and will work with the principal investigator and their department to make any necessary adjustments. Visit the SPA Newsblog to learn more about this process.
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Thank you, Tony Wedick for your diligent work on a recent graphics request. Your efforts are very much appreciated!
Thanks to Celeste Latham for her analytical expertise and attention to detail in leading multiple projects.
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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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