Frequently Asked Questions

Many of our students find a home away from home in our Cultural Resource Centers— the Asian-American Center, Center for Black Studies, Disability Resource Center, Latino Resource Center, Gender & Sexuality Resource Center and Undocumented Student Services. These are places rich in history where you’ll meet new friends and broaden your cultural knowledge. Along with our cultural resource centers, our Disability Resource Center and Military and Veteran Services help foster an inclusive campus environment. NIU also has over 200 clubs and organizations for students to connect and engage with and a wide variety of fraternity and sororities. Reflecting the diversity of our campus, our fraternities and sororities not only provide leadership growth and personal development, they’re committed to serving the world around them. Our Sport Clubs, Intramural Sports and Esports are also a great way to meet fellow Huskies. And be sure to get out and cheer on our Division I Huskies at home football games!

If you live in the areas surrounding campus, you probably live by a Huskie Line bus stop. Visit cityofdekalb.com for more information. The 16 public transit routes that operate in and around the NIU campus and surrounding area include routes that go to the residence halls, routes that travel off campus and routes that go into the surrounding DeKalb community with access to shopping, entertainment and medical facilities. All routes are free to NIU students. Most routes operate between 7 a.m. and midnight. Bus routes can be tracked in real time via the GPS tracking application, ETA Spot. Users can download the application free of charge in the Apple and Android app stores.

NIU offers several programs for students with diverse backgrounds, as well as programs that will connect you with fellow students, while other programs will connect you with alumni or faculty members. OFP oversees two mentoring programs— Transfer2Transfer and Student-Faculty/Staff Links. Transfer2Transfer (T2T) matches incoming transfer students with another student who has successfully transferred to NIU within the past year. Student-Faculty/Staff Links provides an opportunity for students to connect one-on-one with an NIU faculty or staff member who can help them learn the ropes of university life, how to get involved on campus, find answers to academic and personal questions, locate and use university and community resources, set goals and learn how to succeed at NIU.

Yes, at NIU, you’ll find our Study Abroad Office has over 300 program options (no matter what your major) in 80 different countries. You can study abroad for a week, a full academic year or anywhere in between. Programs are led by NIU faculty or through NIU-affiliate partners, and classes you take will be included in your NIU transcript and GPA. The best part is, it’s affordable. Want to learn more? Visit the Study Abroad Office in Williston Hall, Room 417 and check out the Study Abroad Fair in the fall (9/21/22) to help you explore the program options.

NIU Campus Activities Board (CAB) events are planned for students by students who love hosting concerts, parties, comedy shows, gaming events and more for students to attend. Almost all CAB events are free to NIU students. Homecoming week in October has events every day, most planned by the students of CAB. If you love planning events and getting involved, you can be a member of the CAB team too! You can find CAB on the ground floor of the Holmes Student Center, or visit the CAB website.

Our student-run Sport Clubs, Intramural Sports and Esports are a great way to compete, get exercise and meet fellow Huskies. Our large esports arena is a can’t miss on campus. Huskies play 7 days a week, with 24 open play computers, 9 console gaming areas, tabletop gaming areas, a VR room and designated gaming PCs for our varsity teams. The space also includes couches and chairs for students to hang out, do homework and socialize, as well as areas for tabletop games ranging from chess to Dungeons and Dragons and everything in between. And be sure to get out and cheer on our Division I Huskies at home football games and other athletic events!

The Center for Student Assistance is your one-stop hub for advocacy, support and additional resources. CSA staff help Huskies with a variety of concerns and provide referrals to other campus offices.

Along with helping you find jobs both on campus and off, our Career Services team will assist you from your first day on campus all the way through graduation. We’ll help you write effective resumes and cover letters, train you in interview skills, assist with internships, provide one-on-one career counseling and connect you with professionals and organizations in multiple industries. As a Huskie, you’ll have access to our free online job board Huskies Get Hired throughout your NIU journey and even after graduation.

We offer a wide range of helpful programs and services, including our Breaking Barriers support group and our Center for Student Assistance (a hub for general student support and questions), to both strengthen and bring together the first-generation Huskie family.

The Founders Learning Commons in Founders Memorial Library offers technology support, research resources and friendly staff who will answer your questions. The Division of Information Technology also provides a variety of services and support options for students, faculty and staff.

Professors and instructors set aside office hours as time available for you to connect and ask questions one-on-one. Take advantage of them! Attending office hours, whether in person or online, can give you valuable time to better understand your class content and your professor’s expectations and can have a big impact on your academic success. Office hours can also be an opportunity to get to know your instructor or teaching assistant better, especially in online courses and in larger courses. Learn five tips about office hours.

The Founders Learning Commons in Founders Memorial Library (FML) is a one-stop shop for assistance and resources to help you succeed.

The Founders Learning Commons team can answer your questions, link you to tutoring services, assist you with research and help improve your writing. And, the Founders Learning Commons provides technology resources and support and spaces for collaborating with classmates or grabbing a bite to eat with friends.

Read more about Founders Learning Commons resources.

Study outside of class for two to three hours a week for every credit hour you take. For example, if you register for 16 credit hours, you should study outside of class for at least 32 hours a week.

It’s very important that you ask for help. Everyone struggles occasionally. Connect with our Huskie Academic Support Center. The center offers comprehensive academic services and resources, including tutoring sessions, writing assistance and academic skills development. And be sure to go to class and stay in communication with your professors. They’re people too and can help you if you’re struggling. Send them an email or meet with them during office hours. Your academic advisor is another great resource. They can help you set goals, understand academic requirements and guide you in course selection. Schedule an appointment with them every semester using the Navigate Student app.

Reach out to the Center for Student Assistance. If you need time away, staff at the center will notify your professors. The center also offers a student emergency fund for short-term financial need and can provide resources and information or direct you to someone who can assist you. If you're facing a difficult situation or need help addressing an issue that affects your personal or academic life, contact the center at 815-753-8300 or studentassistance@niu.edu.

Your professors and instructors in each course will give you a syllabus with the most important information about the class. Be sure to read it. You’ll find course objectives, expectations, assignments, dates of exams/quizzes, university requirements and faculty contact information. It’s a good idea to put all important dates from the course syllabus in your planner right away. This will help with planning your time later in the semester.

Yes! The key to getting and staying organized is mapping out what needs to be done, then doing it in small steps. Use an academic planner to keep track of homework and tests, as well as work, meetings and other commitments.

Yes, see our academic calendar. You’ll also find dates of exams/quizzes — along with course objectives, expectations, assignments, university requirements and faculty contact information — in the syllabus given to you by your professors or instructors for each course. It’s a good idea to put all important dates from the academic calendar and the course syllabus in your planner right away. This will help with planning your time later in the semester.

Blackboard is a course management system that allows professors or instructors to add and organize course resources for you to access online. To access Blackboard, just visit niu.edu. You’re going to need your Z-ID and password to log in. Blackboard is a great tool to help monitor your class performance. Your professors or instructors will put grades for assignments in your Blackboard. However, your official final grade for classes and GPA are always found in MyNIU.

Navigate Student is a great place find a study buddy! It will help you connect with fellow Huskies, advisors and services. The app also allows you to see all your important tasks in one easy-to-view list. It also can help you locate campus resources.

We want to help you keep your education on track. One of the best ways you can do this is by registering for classes early. Prepare now by learning when to register and how to register. Registering for classes early has many benefits including:

• Increased chance of getting into needed classes.
• Earlier access to financial aid and scholarships.
• Easier to stay on track to graduate.

It’s important to know that you won’t be able to register if there’s a hold on your account. Holds can be placed on accounts for several reasons. Learn more about holds on student accounts.

We know that social connection, mental health and physical health all contribute to your wellness, and we offer a variety of services and programs to keep you connected, supported and feeling well. You can learn about how to be well through Mission Wellness, and check out the many opportunities we provide for you to get involved in wellness activities on campus. You’ll find comprehensive mental health support through Counseling and Consultation Services. Health Services offers a variety of services, including leading-edge healthcare through Northwestern Medicine Student Health Center at NIU. You can also connect with a nutrition coach to fuel your body and your mind. And, as a Huskie, you also automatically have access to recreation programs and facilities throughout campus, as well as the chance to take part in Outdoor Adventures.

Yes! The Student Wellness area offers presentations for student organizations or classes, events and activities to influence your wellness, health information in many formats on campus, online training for skill development and the opportunity to connect with or become a peer health educator. Every year Student Wellness at Counseling and Consultation Services trains students to join our peer health educator group, known as the Wellness Crew. You’ll find more information on the application process here.

The Center for Student Assistance is your one-stop hub for advocacy, support and additional resources. CSA staff help Huskies with a variety of concerns and provide referrals to other campus offices.

A welcoming spot for Huskies, our Disability Resource Center offers a variety of resources, from alternate testing areas with limited distractions and extended testing time to personalized guidance. If you’re in need of accommodations when it comes to housing, the class environment or other barriers that may impact your experience at NIU, the staff at the center will help you effectively collaborate with faculty and staff and introduce you to the many support services available to Huskies. Reach out to them directly at 815-753-1303 or drc@niu.edu with any questions.

Whether living in a residence hall or an apartment, living with others requires open communication and mutual respect. Here are a few tips to help improve your roommate experience and help you resolve any conflict that may arise.

• Communication is key. Use open communication to voice your concerns.
• Revisit or set up an NIU Housing roommate agreement or apartment living agreement.
• Talk with your CA if you need advice on how to communicate a concern with a roommate.
• Contact the Ombuds Office for a confidential, non-judgmental and impartial perspective.

Read more about resolving roommate concerns.

Yes! MyDining provides nutrition and food allergy information to help you make decisions about the foods you choose to fill your plate. To help you navigate healthy choices within the dining halls, we’ve identified Healthy Huskie Choices using guidelines developed by our registered dietitian nutritionist. And MyPaw will help you fill your plate with foods from all groups to consume a balanced meal. You can also connect with a nutrition coach to fuel your body and your mind.

As a student, you automatically have free access to NIU Recreation, with facilities throughout campus. Lift weights, squeeze in some cardio or join a pickup game or fitness class at our Recreation Center, featuring multipurpose and racquetball courts, a three-lane track, a TRX room and much more. Or how about a swim in our Anderson Hall pool? Our student-run Sport Clubs are a great way to stay healthy and active as you compete against other schools. Be sure to also check out our intramural sports. With more than 40 intramural sports and activities for men’s, women’s and co-recreational leagues, we offer both competitive and recreational opportunities to be active and involved, meet new people and have fun.

Available at financial-advising@niu.edu or by virtual appointment, Student Financial Advising Services (SFAS) will work one-on-one with you to help you understand your finances. The SFAS team includes financial advisors that can advise all NIU students (undergraduate, graduate, law and international) and their family members on a variety of topics. SFAS also offers presentations on financial topics and can connect you to other campus support services to help you navigate your college journey, including the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, Office of the Bursar, Center for Student Assistance, Housing and Residential Services, Student Health Services and Undocumented Student Support.

Available at financial-advising@niu.edu or by virtual appointment, the SFAS team can help students with financial aid, tuition and fees and general financial literacy. Among the many services offered, the team will help you interpret financial aid offers, understand how financial aid applies to costs, identify scholarship opportunities and identify the process for accepting, tracking and repaying student loans. Other services include completing cost estimates, developing multi-year financial plans and helping you understand the billing process, financial aid disbursement, credit balance refunds, payment plans and more. Please see our SFAS FAQs for answers to other questions about the services we offer.

Student Financial Advising Services are offered at no charge to students.

Student on-campus employment opportunities are advertised through Career Services at Huskies Get Hired. Create a free account on Huskies Get Hired to search and apply for hundreds of internships and part-time and full-time jobs, including on-campus positions. Almost every department on campus has student employment opportunities, with many—like our Housing and Dining services and our Northern Ambassadors —regularly hiring.

The Office of the Bursar processes student payments and refunds, as well as offers payment plans and advice regarding your financial situation with NIU. Reach out with questions at 815-753-1885 or through the Bursar Email Form. You can also schedule an appointment.

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is your application for federal financial aid such as grants, work-study and student loans. You must complete a new FAFSA for each academic year to be considered for financial aid. Please see our Financial Aid and Scholarship FAQs for more information about the FAFSA and answers to other financial aid and scholarship questions.

Just log on to your MyNIU and check your status. Please see our Financial Aid and Scholarship FAQs for answers to other questions about financial aid and your student account. If you have financial aid questions, you can always reach out to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office at 815-753-1395 or toll free at 800-892-3050 during university business hours.

Contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office to talk through your options. You can call them at 815-753-1395 or toll free at 800-892-3050. Or feel free to stop by Swen Parson Hall, Room 245 to speak with a counselor.

It is very important that you check your NIU email daily and check in with academic advisor each semester. By checking, sending and responding to email, you can keep up with important tasks that need your attention. Along with MyNIU — where you can check grades, register for classes, see your financial aid, see your tasks/to do list and more — NIU’s suite of apps are an easy way to utilize resources at the touch of a button. You’re going to want to download the NIU Mobile App, NIU Safe App, Huskie Hub, Navigate Student and Bus Tracker (ETA Spot, available through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store).

Consider the NIU Mobile App as your official everything app. You’ll find everything from campus resources, event calendars, tech guides and residence hall laundry machine status updates to emergency information, campus maps, dining info, academic resources, social media and more. Be sure to enable notifications so you don’t miss any important announcements.

Huskie Hub serves as a one-stop shop for students to discover new organizations and become involved, while learning about events throughout campus. Visit Huskie Hub to find, join and manage organizations and events.

The NIU Safe App strives to keep everyone safe by sending NIU alerts, safety warnings and community awareness messages directly to subscribed phones. The app also provides safety features, available 24/7, like an emergency contacts button that allows you to dial the police dispatchers.

The Weekly Scroll is a newsletter that will arrive in your inbox every Monday with the latest events, updates and tips. It’s a quick and easy read.

Along with the many resources provided through Huskie Hub and our NIU Mobile App, including event calendars, you’ll find our online Calendar of Events filled with the many activities and programs we offer to help you stay involved and have fun on campus.