NIU Today

As a public university, NIU is committed to engaging with the wider community through programs such as the Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) – a series of workshops offered each year by the NIU Center for Governmental Studies to develop the leadership skills and practical knowledge of government and nonprofit professionals throughout the region. For nearly...

Are you ready to embrace the challenges of leadership and change? For the ninth consecutive year, NIU’s Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) is offering timely, in-depth workshops for civic leaders like you who aren’t afraid to tackle the challenges of a changing government environment. More than 400 government professionals, staff members, elected officials, educators, state administrators...

NIU’s Civic Leadership Academy will present a workshop Tuesday, March 13, on “Leadership Lessons: Trying Times Demand Sound Leadership.” The presenter is Craig Rapp, president of Craig Rapp, LLC and senior associate at the NIU Center for Governmental Studies. The workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at NIU-Naperville, 1120 East Diehl Road...

Debits, credits, revenues and expenses – it must be budget season again. NIU’s Civic Leadership Academy will host a workshop Thursday, Feb. 16, titled “Understanding Your Government’s Finances and Financial Position.” The workshop is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at NIU-Naperville, 1120 East Diehl Road in Naperville. Presenter Brian Caputo, director of finance for...

NIU’s Civic Leadership Academy will offer two workshops in December. “The Freedom of Information Act and What It Means for Your Organization” is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 6. “The Open Meetings Act and Roles of Public Officials” takes place Tuesday, Dec. 13. Both are half-day workshops held from 9 a.m. to noon. Each workshop will...

The 2011-12 Civic Leadership Academy kicks off  Tuesday, Oct. 25, with NIU’s own Gerald Gabris presenting “Strategic Planning: Now is the Time!” This workshop is a “guided tour” of the practical techniques and fundamental principles of the strategic planning process. Gabris will focus specifically on developing skills and understanding the power of analyzing current organizational...

NIU’s Civic Leadership Academy will present a workshop Thursday, April 7, on “Teamwork and Team Building: Trying Times Also Demand Teamwork.” As the old saying goes, the letters T-E-A-M stand for “together everyone achieves more.” The question is this, how do you build a sense of team? Does teamwork come naturally? What happens to the concept of team in...

NIU’s Civic Leadership Academy will offer a seminar Thursday, March 10, on “Understanding Your Government’s Finances and Financial Position.”

NIU’s Center for Governmental Studies Civic Leadership Academy and the Illinois City/County Management Association will host the third annual Illinois Financial Forecast Forum to discuss pertinent economic and financial issues affecting local governments in Illinois. The forum, “Private Sector Views that Will Impact the Public Sector,” is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28,...

NIU’s Civic Leadership Academy will present a workshop Tuesday, Dec. 14, on “Cultivating Innovation: How to Foster an Innovative Environment in Your Organization.” This workshop focuses on the meaning of innovation as a problem-solving tool for public organizations. Participants will learn how such organizations can create management practices that generate more frequent innovations that are also successful....

NIU’s Civic Leadership Academy will host a workshop Tuesday, Nov. 30, on “Home Rule: Unlocking the Structure and Impact.” This workshop will offer participants three unique and experienced views of local government Home Rule with particular emphasis on Illinois. The provisions of Home Rule in Illinois were established in the 1970 re-write of the Illinois Constitution. Home Rule gives units...

NIU’s Civic Leadership Academy will host a Nov. 4 workshop on “Strategic Planning: Yes, Now is the Time!” This workshop is a “guided tour” of the practical techniques and fundamental principles of the strategic planning process. It specifically focuses on developing skills and understanding the power of analyzing current organizational situations, laying out long- and...