The NIU University Honors Program, along with the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, has announced that its living-learning community, the Honors House, will move from Douglas Hall to the new residential complex when it opens for occupancy next August.
The formal announcement was made by Christopher Jones, associate vice provost for University Honors, at an alumni and prospective student reception held Wednesday, Oct. 12. Approximately 200 people attended the event at Cantigny Park in Wheaton.
At the reception, Jones thanked Brian Hemphill, vice president for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, for his strong support of the Honors Program. The event was sponsored by the NIU Alumni Association.
Since its inception more than 30 years ago, the Honors House has served as a home away from home for both NIU students in the University Honors Program and those who are Honors-eligible. The purpose of the Honors House is to provide students a stimulating environment in which to live, study, relax and have fun.
While Honors House residents share a commitment to their academic pursuits, they come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and their choice of study is just as diverse. The Honors House enjoys a unique atmosphere of respect and camaraderie. Past residents often choose to return after their first year, and many other students request the Honors House after they have experienced the warm, inviting feel.
The University Honors Program and Housing staffs believe the new state-of-the-art facility will help NIU recruit and retain the best and brightest students.
The new living complex will consist of two 500-bed, five-floor residential buildings and a centrally located community center.
The residential buildings will be identical structures featuring “cluster-style” living arrangements that house 12 students together. This type of set up enhances students’ privacy by offering 12 single bedrooms, six shared bathrooms with micro-refrigerators, and a common space that includes a furnished study area, living area and kitchenette as well as a washer and dryer all within the cluster.
The Honors House will occupy 200 beds in the East Residential Hall, which sits closest to Annie Glidden Road. The new residential complex will be air-conditioned, possess wireless Internet throughout and boast a plethora of movable furniture, including loftable beds.
The community center will feature an “all-you-care-to-eat” style of dining facility, offering a variety of food options, social lounge with a gaming area where students can socialize with fellow residents or community visitors, a fitness center equipped with modern workout equipment and meeting spaces.
Outdoor amenities will include a sand volleyball court, basketball half-court and bean bag courts grouped together with picnic tables. There also will be patios, benches, green spaces and 190 spaces for bicycle parking adjacent to each of the residential buildings.
Anyone interested in receiving more information regarding the new Honors House as it becomes available should contact University Honors Program Coordinator Emily Del Monaco to request inclusion on the program’s email list.
For more information, call (815) 753-0694 or email honors@niu.edu.
