Five Tips to Take Advantage of Faculty Office Hours

One of the best things you can do for academic success is attend office hours. 

Faculty set aside this time for you to connect and ask questions one-on-one. Take advantage of it! Along with our guide to using office hours, discover five tips will help you get the most out of this valuable time.

Preparing for a career fair

Get ready for the All-Majors Internship and Job Fair taking place on Wednesday, Feb. 18. 

Attending a career fair is a valuable opportunity to learn about different industries, make important professional contacts, practice your interviewing skills and gain intelligence about the job market within your major and outside of it. With a little preparation and a focus on some key details, it can be a worthwhile experience.

Get ready to polish your résumé (bring a copy of your résumé or your laptop), LinkedIn profile, perfect your elevator pitch and connect with professionals eager to support your success. Our Career Success Clinic is an interactive evening designed to help you feel confident and career-ready, no matter where you are in your journey.

NIU’s Campus Climate Survey being administered and analyzed by Viewfinder, LLC. is open now until March 6, 2026. The survey, which was sent to your NIU email address, will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and includes sensitive topics related to individual identities, discrimination, sexual harassment and the overall campus experience. These topics may bring about different emotions, and there are several university resources available to support you before, during or after taking the survey. 

Individuals who complete the survey can enter to win one of several prizes through a separate link shared at the end of the survey. Prizes include Huskie gear, free Qdoba chips and salsa vouchers, free Starbucks drink vouchers, tickets to NIU musical and theatre performances, enjoying a slice of pizza with university leadership, and more! 

 If you have questions, please reach out to JadeSilva Tovar, Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at equity@niu.edu. Further information can be found online. 

Northern Illinois University will be a hub of robotics and STEM activity on Saturday, March 7 with the FIRST Tech Challenge Illinois Championship coming to campus.

Open and free to the public, the tournament is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the NIU Convocation Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Highway. The event blends creativity and science, as 7th to 12th grader students apply their technical acumen, teamwork and all-around tenacity.

NIU is excited to launch the NIU Advocacy Network, a new opportunity for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and university supporters to help advance the university’s priorities in Springfield and Washington, D.C.

The NIU Advocacy Network supports the university’s established advocacy priorities, messaging, and strategies, ensuring a consistent and coordinated institutional voice.

By opting in, you’ll receive:

Your voice makes a difference. Together, we can ensure NIU’s values and impact are reflected in public policy.

Join us from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6 in the Holmes Student Center for this dynamic conference that centers on intergenerational dialogue and the power of oral history. Through storytelling, shared experiences and meaningful conversations, participants will explore how the wisdom of the past can inform and inspire visions for a more just and connected future. Designed to bridge generational gaps, this gathering invites attendees to listen deeply, speak authentically and honor the voices that have shaped our communities across time.

The PCPD invites nominations for the Exemplary Advocate Award for Faculty/Staff, the Exemplary Advocate Award for Community Partner, and the Gregory Long, Ph.D., Award for Excellence in Service and Leadership. Please see the Presidential Commissions Award site for more information and to access the nomination form. Nominations are being accepted through Monday, March 2, 2026.

Join the Northern Ambassadors

Share your NIU story as a paid Northern Ambassador with the Office of Admissions. Lead campus tours, speak on panels, and welcome prospective students and guests while gaining leadership, public speaking and customer-service experience. Flexible hours and training are provided.

Responsibilities include leading tours, supporting events, assisting with outreach and front desk/call support, and attending trainings.

Benefits include paid, on-campus employment, leadership development, networking opportunities, résumé-building and flexible scheduling.

Northern Ambassadors Hiring Workshop: Feb. 21, 2026. Apply by Feb. 19 to be invited.

Application and more information.

Questions? Contact Ethan Wybourn at ewybourn3@niu.edu.

Help shape the next generation of Huskies and apply today!

Students taking 9 or more credit hours are automatically billed $1,378.00 for student health insurance for spring 2026. You can find more information regarding the plan on our Student Health Insurance website. 

If you have comparable insurance and would like to cancel the plan the Student Health Insurance Enrollment and Waiver site is open through Feb. 28, 2026.  You will find the link to Enroll/Waive in the blue box on our website.  This is an online process only.

Have any questions?  Email us at studentinsurance@niu.edu.  

The waiver deadline is firm; therefore, students who do not waive the student health insurance by Feb. 28 will be enrolled for annual coverage under the plan and no refund will be given.

NOTE: If you completed the insurance waiver for the Fall 2025 semester, you do not need to complete the insurance waiver for the Spring 2026 semester.

Planning to Graduate in May 2026? Apply by Feb. 15!

Feb. 15 is the final application deadline to be a candidate for spring (May 2026) graduation.  Log in to MyNIU, select the Academic Records tile and follow the application for graduation steps.