Provost Post

Hello Colleagues,

I hope your fall semester is going well so far and you enjoyed the recent Homecoming festivities on and around campus.

As you know, our enrollment is up this fall, and the energy on campus is evident every time I walk into the Holmes Student Center, Founders Memorial Library or any of our academic buildings. While we are pleased to have so many new students, we need to stay focused on our efforts to support their success.

As evidence of the hard work we have been doing to support students, I am thrilled to share that NIU has been named a finalist for the inaugural 2025 Excellence in Student Success Award by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). This award recognizes institutions demonstrating a comprehensive, systemic commitment to advancing student success.

It makes me very proud that our university has been recognized in this way. I want to thank associate vice provost for Student Success, Nichole Knutson and director of Planning and Assessment, Brandon Lagana for co-chairing our Registration Promotion Action Team – a cross-functional group of leaders at NIU who have collaborated to improve student outcomes. As part of the collaborative spirit at NIU and our model for student success, the Division of Academic Affairs, Division of Student Success and Division of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are working together to ensure all students have access to resources and opportunities to thrive.

Another example of the efforts to support student success focuses on the increasing number of students in online programs. I am excited to share that our Office of Online Learning is a 2025 recipient of the UPCEA Excellence in Advancing Student Success Award. This honor recognizes an institution that has implemented a successful strategic initiative, project or service that significantly advances the success of adult and/or non-traditional student audiences. NIU continues to be a leader in online learning, and this is a significant accomplishment for our university.

I want to thank each of you for playing an important role in student success at NIU. I hope this news illustrates just how much of a difference your care and dedication toward our students is making every day.

Sincerely,

Laurie Elish-Piper, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost

Updated information regarding immigration enforcement

Given recent developments across our region, and the resulting fear and uncertainty that has arisen for many members of our community due to ICE and the National Guard being deployed in Chicagoland and surrounding counties, NIU’s protocol for interactions with external law enforcement on campus has been updated. The NIU Know Your Rights page has also been revised to include the most current guidelines, links to external resources and a printable card for individuals who wish to keep this information with them.

NIU is committed to fostering a respectful environment that directly supports the safety and well-being of all students, staff, faculty and visitors. We encourage you to talk with your peers and utilize the Well-being at NIU program for guidance, counseling and additional support resources to manage stress and maintain wellness. We also encourage you to maintain an open dialogue with students and make them aware of the websites listed above for helpful information and resources during these challenging times.

Faculty Fellow for Internationalization

We are delighted to invite applications for a Faculty Fellow for Internationalization. This opportunity will begin in Spring 2026 with the potential for renewal in Summer 2026 and in AY 2026-2027. Any tenured member of the faculty appointed to the ranks of associate or full professor is eligible to apply. 

This role is designed for faculty members with experience and interest in international affairs, including as a teacher, scholar and leader and offers an opportunity to gain leadership experience by collaborating with faculty, staff and students in international affairs and across campus in support of internationalization at NIU. 

The Faculty Fellow for Internationalization will offer leadership for supporting inbound and outbound Visiting Scholars, including facilitating Student and Faculty Fulbright applicants and awardees, as well as for Campus Engagement in globalization, including serving as a liaison for degree programs that partner with international universities and for faculty pursuing curricular innovations that internationalize teaching and learning. The role is well suited for faculty with demonstrated skill in organizing and executing projects in their programs and departments, allowing them to elevate this skill set through leadership of university-wide initiatives. 

The initial appointment will be for Spring semester (Jan. 5, 2026 to May 15, 2026) during which time the Fellow will receive one course release. If mutually agreeable, the Fellow may continue, receiving two weeks summer salary during Summer 2026, and one course release for each of the fall and spring semesters of AY 2026-2027. Upon acceptance of the role, Fellows will define specific activities aligned with a time commitment of approximately 10 hours per week throughout Spring 2026. Similar commitment would be made in future periods. 

To apply, a faculty member should submit an abbreviated CV (five pages maximum) plus a cover letter highlighting their experiences in international activities, their experiences in academic leadership, why the position interests them, and what they would most like to work on as a fellow.

Email these application materials to rgordon@niu.edu by no later than Friday, Nov. 7. When sending the email, the faculty member should Cc their department chair who should “reply all” to endorse the application, including to verify that a spring course release would be possible if the faculty member was selected. Thank you for considering and thank you for all you do! 

Interfolio leadership update

Faculty Affairs would like to introduce you to Laura DeThorne, who will be taking on leadership of the Interfolio implementation team at NIU. Laura served as the interim chair for the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders last year and has now joined our office on a part-time basis as assistant to the vice provost for Faculty Affairs. Visit the Interfolio website for general information on Interfolio at NIU, along with FAQ and trainings.

Help us help you improve course evaluation response rates

We need your help to boost course evaluation response rates and improve students’ experience at NIU. Here are a few quick tips to encourage participation:

Important Dates (16-week courses):

For additional information about Blue Evaluations, please visit our website. Your effort in collecting feedback is just as important as the feedback itself!

Apply for faculty cohort of community-engaged courses

Community-engaged course designation can be at the course level through the curriculum process for designation in the catalog or for a particular semester as a section in MyNIU. Visit the Community-engaged Courses website to learn more, or fill out the application form. Designated courses will be promoted to students, and the 2026-27 faculty cohort will be supported by a team to assist with community partnerships and assessment.

Contact aschatteman@niu.edu with questions about the designation process.

Career tools at your disposal

If you are looking for a way to help students feel confident and prepared when interviewing for their dream job, internship or graduate school program, check out the Faculty/Staff Career Readiness Toolkit.

Landing career opportunities requires more than just finding the right employment listing; students benefit greatly from understanding their skills and knowing how to present them effectively. Use this toolkit to bring career readiness into your classroom with quick, ready-to-use materials designed to support students’ success.

Spring semester course material adoptions due by Nov. 1

Now is the time to adopt your textbooks for the spring semester. Students who use financial aid to support their education can charge up to $700 through our Book Charge Program, approximately one month before classes start, to 10 days after the semester begins by utilizing the NIU bookstore.

If you are not requiring students to purchase any course materials or using open access materials, the bookstore must have this information. Here are the steps to adopt your course materials; indicate no course materials required or that you will use open access materials, using Follett Discover in Blackboard. Contact Celeste Brown, Course Materials manager at 2089txt@follett.com with questions.

Forward Focus book club event

Join faculty, staff and administrators on NIU’s campus for a unique opportunity to explore ideas shaping the future of higher education.

Forward Focus is a cross-campus book club cohosted by University Libraries and the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs designed to spark conversation, foster connection and inspire innovation. Each semester, the group reads a thought-provoking book and comes together for flexible online dialogue and an informal, in-person discussion.

RSVP to join the next event at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27 where the group will be discussing The Resilient University: How Purpose and Inclusion Drive Student Success by Freeman A. Hrabowski III.