What's New at NIU – December 2023
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Dear Huskie families,
We wish you and your Huskie a happy holiday season!
This month and beyond, we're here to answer any questions you may have, keep you up to date and informed on events and deadlines, and provide resources to help your student succeed.
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Student Financial Advising Services available.
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NIU's Student Financial Advising Services (SFAS) supplements our services provided by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office and the Office of the Bursar by providing comprehensive financial advising and financial literacy.
We can provide you with information and guidance about financial aid such as how to apply and how to understand your financial aid offer. We can advise you on how to prepare for tuition and fee costs, help you to identify options for remaining out-of-pocket costs and share available resources such as payment plans and other financing opportunities.
We also provide general financial literacy and educational presentations. SFAS offers virtual, phone and in-person one-on-one appointments in English and Spanish during regular business hours as well as evening and weekends.
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NIU's annual MyScholarships application is now open. This single general application will be used for multiple competitive NIU scholarships for our 2024-2025 academic year. A common deadline for these scholarships is Jan. 31, 2024.
Although some scholarships may have later deadlines, we recommend students complete their MyScholarships general application prior to Jan. 31 to be considered for the majority of NIU-offered scholarships.
Please encourage your student to visit our MyScholarships page for more information on this campus-wide scholarship application opportunity. They should also visit our outside/private scholarships page to find additional scholarship opportunities and resources. Keep in mind that winter break is a great time for your student to apply for as many scholarships as possible!
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There are major changes and improvements coming to the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. This redesigned and streamlined FAFSA form will be available by Dec. 31, 2023. Check out the FAFSA Updates Page at '24-25 FAFSA Simplification to see what is new and different.
You'll also find what you need to know about the revised form, what you can do to prepare to submit it and how to stay informed at studentaid.gov.
The FAFSA form should be completed every year by all incoming and continuing students. If a student is not eligible to complete the FAFSA and lives in Illinois, they may be eligible to complete the RISE Act/Alternative Application. Please be aware that both the 2024-2025 FAFSA and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid will be available by Dec. 31, 2023. Once it opens, please encourage your Huskie to complete their application as soon as possible in order to be considered for the maximum financial assistance for the next academic year.
If you or your student have questions about how to maximize financial resources or how to create a financial plan for the upcoming academic year, please schedule a virtual, phone or in-person appointment with our Student Financial Advising Services team or email them directly at financial-advising@niu.edu.
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End-of-semester challenges? Ombudsperson Office can help.
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With the end of the semester approaching, your Huskie might have a few problems they just can't seem to solve. It could be a grade appeal, an ongoing concern with a roommate, financial issues or other challenges.
The Office of the Ombudsperson is a place for students to share questions, concerns and challenges with a neutral party outside of the standard NIU administrative channels. It offers a confidential, non-judgmental and impartial perspective.
There are four important things to know about this office:
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It is independent and does not advocate for students, employees or the university. It advocates for appropriate following of policies and procedures, and positive experiences for all at NIU.
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Its role is to see things from an impartial point of view.
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It looks for informal ways to help students resolve concerns and can connect them with other resources they need for formal processes if they choose to do so.
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It is a confidential office (with a few exceptions) so students can feel comfortable sharing their concerns.
It is easy to reach the Office of the Ombudsperson (located at Holmes Student Center Suite 601). Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment only. You can also call the Office of the Ombudsperson at 815-753-1414 or email ombuds@niu.edu.
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Final exams are scheduled from Monday, Dec. 11, through Saturday, Dec. 16. Additional information, including final exam schedules, can be found on our website. Please contact regrec@niu.edu with any questions.
It can be a very stressful time for students. Encourage your Huskie to take care of themselves and take advantage of our many resources available through our new Student Life site.
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All residence halls close at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, for the fall term.
Winter break housing will be offered from Dec. 16, 2023, until Jan. 12, 2024, to students currently living in Neptune and Patterson Halls. Students in these halls looking to stay during winter break must register for break housing to be eligible.
If your Huskie doesn't sign up for winter break housing, they'll need to leave their room and come back in January when our residence halls re-open Jan. 12, 2024. Please remind your Huskie to take any critical items with them as all resident halls will be locked during break.
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Following are key dates and university closures for spring 2024:
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Monday, Jan. 15. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday (university closed).
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Tuesday, Jan. 16. Classes begin.
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Sunday through Sunday, March 10-17. Spring recess.
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Monday, March 18. Classes resume.
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Thursday, May 2. Classes end.
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Saturday and Monday through Friday, May 4 and 6-10. Final examinations.
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Friday, May 10. Spring graduate commencement.
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Saturday, May 11. Spring undergraduate commencement.
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