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nirvana-posterStudent Involvement & Leadership Development (SILD) will sponsor a massive poster sale in the MLK Commons during the first week of fall classes.

Representatives from the poster company Beyond the Wall will sell posters from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, through Friday, Aug. 26.

Pick up decorative posters, vintage posters, movie posters and much more to decorate residence hall rooms, apartments, offices and elsewhere. The rain location for this event is the Promenade Lounge in the Holmes Student Center.

Proceeds go toward SILD leadership programming.

For more information, call (815) 753-6505 or email leadership@niu.edu.

Date posted: August 15, 2016 | Author: | Comments Off on Poster sale in MLK Commons through Friday

Categories: Digital Signage Events On Campus Students What's Going On

textbooksThe Reserves Unit of NIU Libraries reminds professors and instructors that classroom copies of textbooks can be placed on reserve for student use for the semester, which helps students save money and is greatly appreciated.

Bring extra textbook copies to Room 104 of Founders Memorial Library.

For more information, call (815) 753-5614 or email srichter1@niu.edu.

Date posted: August 15, 2016 | Author: | Comments Off on Library reminds professors, instructors of textbook reserves

Categories: Digital Signage Faculty & Staff Homepage What's Going On

DeKALB – The NIU women’s soccer team opened up its fall training on Aug. 3 and after seven training sessions and two intrasquad scrimmages, the Huskies will test themselves in an exhibition match versus Drake Wednesday night in Des Moines, Iowa.

Date posted: August 10, 2016 | Author: | Comments Off on Strong Team Chemistry Braces Huskies for Drake Exhibition

Categories: Sports

DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University football team wrapped up its second day of fall practice under blue skies and brilliant sunshine at Huskie Stadium Tuesday afternoon.

Date posted: August 8, 2016 | Author: | Comments Off on “Busy Summer” Continues for Drew Hare

Categories: Sports

NIU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will begin the 2016-17 academic year with new leadership in eight of its units.

Carl Campbell

Carl Campbell

Carl Campbell is returning as the chair of economics, a position he held from 2009-2012.

Before coming to Northern Illinois University in 1999, Professor Campbell taught at Mount Holyoke College, Colgate University, Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia. He served as the department’s assistant chair from 2000-2009 and 2014-2015. As a member of the faculty, Campbell teaches macroeconomics at the graduate and undergraduate levels and teaches a senior undergraduate research course.

In addition, he has supervised a number of undergraduate and graduate students in research projects. Campbell has published 17 referred journal articles, and his research is widely cited. His research has appeared on graduate reading lists of schools such as Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, the University of Chicago, Dartmouth, Stockholm University and Oxford.

He earned his M.A. and his Ph.D. from Princeton University.

David Changnon

David Changnon

David Changnon is the new chair of geography.

An atmospheric scientist specializing in climatological studies, he has been a faculty member in the department for 24 years, largely teaching and advising in the meteorology program. His major expertise rests in developing climatological information and models for use by weather-sensitive decision makers in agriculture, utilities, insurance and transportation.

He has served on various committees of two scientific societies and participated in the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and on a National Research Council (NRC) Panel titled “Estimating and Communicating Uncertainty in Weather and Seasonal Climate Forecasts.”

He has been awarded NIU’s Presidential Teaching Professorship (2008) and Board of Trustees Professorship (2010). Changnon earned his doctorate at Colorado State University.

Jon Miller

Jon Miller

Jon Miller will serve as the director of the Center for Secondary Science and Mathematics Education, one of the driving forces that keeps NIU among the top producers of new teachers in the math and science disciplines.

He taught high school biology, human anatomy and physiology, and chemistry for nearly 25 years before coming to NIU to serve as the Teacher Licensure director for Biology. In his role at CSSME, he works with colleagues, students, teachers and administrators to identify new ways to inspire excitement in the teaching and learning of science.

In addition to teaching courses related to science teacher education, he works with school districts on curriculum reform and implementation of the Next Generation science standards and Common Core state standards.

Miller earned his doctorate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Kathleen Renk

Kathleen Renk

Kathleen Renk will serve as chair of the Department of English.

She has taught at NIU since 2004, and served as director of undergraduate studies from 2008-2012. In addition to serving on the department’s undergraduate and graduate studies committees, she has served as a mentor to new faculty.

Prior to coming to NIU Renk taught at Indiana State University, University of Iowa, and Augustana College. She has authored two books and 17 articles in addition to presenting at national and international conferences. Specializing in 20th-century British Literature, Postcolonial and Women’s Literature, she has taught summer seminars at both Oxford and Trinity Colleges.

She earned her doctorate degree from the University of Iowa.

Scot Schraufnagel

Scot Schraufnagel

Scot Schraufnagel will serve in the top leadership position in political science.

Since coming to NIU in 2009, he has served as director of both undergraduate and graduate studies for the department and served as an interim associate dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His research and teaching specialties are the U.S. Congress, political parties, elections, and state government, with an emphasis on promoting a civil, representative, and effective legislative process in the United States.

His many published works have dealt with specific public policy innovations, institutional arrangements that promote effective elections, partisan difference in the U.S. Congress, and the factors associated with a productive U.S. legislature.

He earned his doctorate from Florida State University.

Ralph Wheeler

Ralph Wheeler

Ralph Wheeler comes to NIU after six years at Duquesne University where he served as chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Wheeler earned his doctorate from Cornell University. After working as an NIH postdoctoral fellow at the University of Houston, he taught in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Oklahoma for 20 years.  While at Oklahoma, he served as director of Supercomputing Laboratory for Electronic Properties of Materials, spearheading acquisitions and maintaining facilities.

In addition to mentoring 15 graduate students, he mentored 29 undergraduates who conducted research and co-authored five publications. In 2010, he was named a Fellow of the American Chemical Society. Wheeler has published more than 85 referred journal articles and edited volumes.

He currently serves as a governing board member of the Council for Chemical Research and chair of their Advocacy Task Force; councilor of the American Chemical Society Computers in Chemistry Division and editorial board member for the Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modeling.

Two other faculty members have been named to interim posts for the Division of Statistics and the Center for Non-Governmental Organization Leadership and Development (NGOLD).

Alan Polansky

Alan Polansky

Alan Polansky, associate professor of statistics, will serve as the interim director of that division.

A San Antonio native, he has taught at NIU since 1995 and served as director of graduate and undergraduate studies.

Prior to arriving in DeKalb, he held a combination of teaching and data manager/analyst positions at Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M, Cuplex and University of Texas at San Antonio. In addition to a large number of publications and presentations, he authored “Observed Confidence Levels: Theory and Application” in 2007 and “An Introduction to Statistical Limit Theory” in 2011. He is a senior member of the American Society for Quality and a member of the American Statistical Association.

Polansky earned his doctorate in statistical science from Southern Methodist University.

Anne Hanley

Anne Hanley

Anne Hanley, associate professor of history, is interim director of the Center for NGO Leadership and Development (NGOLD).

She has been at NIU since 1999, teaching courses on Latin America and Brazil and serving as affiliated faculty for NGOLD and the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies. Her research interests extend to economic, business and urban history.

In addition to authoring two books and several articles on Brazilian capital market development and public finance, she is working on a new book project centered around the year 1872 when Brazil conducted its first national census and introduced the metric system of weights and measures.

She has presented at a number of national and international conferences on the history of Brazilian and Latin American economics and finance. Fluent in Portuguese, Hanley earned her doctorate from Stanford University.

Date posted: August 8, 2016 | Author: | Comments Off on CLAS welcomes new chairs

Categories: Campus Highlights Faculty & Staff Homepage Liberal Arts and Sciences

DEKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry announced on Monday the addition of Phil Wollbrinck to the Huskie Track and Field staff as an assistant coach. Wollbrinck returns to NIU after previously working with the Huskies as a volunteer assistant in 2014-15.

Date posted: August 8, 2016 | Author: | Comments Off on Phil Wollbrinck Rejoins Huskie Track and Field Staff

Categories: Sports

A photo of six jars of colorful paintRegistration is now open for fall music lessons and classes at the NIU Community School of the Arts.

Children and adults of all ages will find something perfect: The CSA offers year-round programming for more than 500 students who come to DeKalb from nearly 50 cities, towns and suburbs to participate in classes, lessons and music ensembles.

The NIU Community School of the Arts is sponsored by the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University and is located in Room 132 in the NIU Music Building.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Financial aid is available for students age 18 or younger who want to pursue their study of the arts and need tuition assistance. Applications are available online and by calling the office at (815) 753-1450.

The deadline to submit an application for a need-based scholarship for fall 2016 is Thursday, Aug. 18.

MUSIC LESSONS

Traditional private music lessons are taught on a weekly basis and are available on all instruments. Music lessons using the Suzuki approach (combining private and group lessons) for young children are taught on violin, cello, piano and guitar.

Students have lessons weekly in the NIU Music Building and are invited to participate in recitals at the end of each semester. Registration for private lessons is due Monday, Aug. 22, and lessons begin the week of Aug. 29.

MUSIC CLASSES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

  • Prelude is a group music class with singing, dancing, and rhythm and music games for toddlers ages 1 to 3. Taught by Laurie Rodriguez, Prelude class meets Saturdays from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
  • Development, a group music class for children ages 3 to 5, builds upon the activities of the Prelude class with more music activities and some demonstrations of music instruments. Development class meets on Saturdays from 10:35 to 11:05 a.m. These classes begin Sept. 3 and meet for 12 weeks.
  • Piano Starter for Children meets on Tuesdays from 4 to 4:40 p.m. This small group class is limited to four children ages 5 to 7 and is ideal as a beginning class for children to prepare for private music lessons. Taught by piano and harp teacher Jaina Krueger, this class meets for 12 weeks. Once the fall class has filled, registration for the spring section will be open.
  • Group Guitar for Kids teacher Aerie Bernard introduces children ages 8 to 12 to guitar playing through a fun, song-oriented approach to learning. Exposure to music fundamentals such as scales, chords, rhythm, melody, harmony, and playing technique allows students to begin building their own toolbox of musical skills, promoting confident and comfortable playing. No previous guitar experience is required, and each student should bring a guitar to class. Class meets Wednesdays from 6 to 6:55 p.m. starting Sept. 7.

csa-violins

MUSIC CLASSES FOR OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS

  • Guitar Basics and Intermediate Guitar is taught Thursday evenings by guitarist and longtime teacher Quentin Dover. Guitar Basics meets from 6 – 6:55 p.m. and Intermediate Guitar meets from 7 to 7:55 p.m. Both classes are for ages 13 to adult, beginning Sept. 8 and meeting for 12 weeks.
  • Jaina Krueger teaches group piano classes for ages 13 to adult Monday evenings starting Aug. 29. Square One Piano: Group Basics Class meets from 6:15 to 7 p.m. and is for beginners. Piano Forte: Building Piano Skills meets from 7 to 7:45 p.m. and is for intermediate players.
  • Qi Gong (or Chi-Kung) is a precursor of Tai Chi. Students learn 24 postures divided into three sets. These exercises can be done at one time during the day, or interspersed amid music practice sessions or rehearsals, to renew energy and release tension, enable relaxation and concentration. Class meets from 5 to 6 p.m. for six Thursdays starting Sept. 1.

MUSIC ENSEMBLES

Musicians share a love of music with others through the ensemble experience.

csa-stageThe community school offers several music ensembles, some for young musicians and some for older children and adults. Every ensemble performs in concert in the NIU music building at the end of each semester.

  • CSA Symphonette is a string orchestra for ages 8 to 16 that rehearses on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Directed by Linc Smelser, this group plays lively and challenging music, and performs in concert twice during the year. The first Symphonette rehearsal is Sept. 20.
  • CSA Sinfonia is directed by Linc Smelser. This full youth orchestra meets from 7:390 to 9:45 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Sept. 7 for musicians age 14 to 20. CSA Sinfonia plays a wide variety of music and performs two concerts during the year. Call (815) 753-1450 to ask about openings; this is an audition-only ensemble.
  • CSA Chamber Music Intensive ia for ages 12 to 20. Director Linc Smelser coaches the chamber ensembles. Call (815) 753-1450 for more information or to arrange an audition.
  • NIUkulele Ensemble is fun for beginning and intermediate ukulele players ages 9 to adult, directed by CSA teacher Eric Schroeder. Beginners receive instruction and intermediate players are given more complicated parts to play. All types of ukuleles are welcome, and everyone must have an instrument. The group meets from 7:30 to 8:25 p.m. Mondays beginning Sept. 12.
  • CSA Guitar Ensemble meets from 8 to 8:55 p.m. Thursdays. Directed by Quentin Dover, beginning and intermediate guitar players age 14 to adult work on ensemble skills, build confidence and skill on the guitar, and perform two concerts during the year. The first rehearsal is Sept, 15.
  • CSA Steelband is a great way for people to experience the unique sound of the steelpan. Directed by Yuko Asada, CSA Steelband welcomes members age 12 to adult. No previous experience on the instrument is needed, but it is recommended that students be able to read music. The steelpan family ranges from soprano to bass and each student chooses an instrument. The group rehearses from 6:30 to 7:25 p.m. Mondays beginning Sept. 12, playing many types of music including calypso, classical, rock and rhythm and blues, and performing in concert several times during the year.
  • CSA Children’s Choir directed by Mary Lynn Doherty rehearses from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Sept. 7. Welcoming children age 7 to 15, the choir learns challenging and varied repertoire from all over the world and performs in concert in fall and spring. Children develop sight-reading and musicianship skills and learn to work together in a fun and dynamic atmosphere. Placement auditions for CSA Children’s Choir are Aug. 24 and Aug. 31; call (815) 753-1450 to arrange an audition time.

ART CLASSES

Art Express is for ages 4 to 12 and meets from 1 to 3 p.m. for six Saturdays beginning Sept. 17. Students learn about art and the world as they create original arts and crafts. Taught by NIU art education students supervised by an NIU School of Art instructor, the curriculum is new every semester and the classes are organized by age and limited in size.

Date posted: August 8, 2016 | Author: | Comments Off on Community School of the Arts opens fall registration

Categories: Arts Digital Signage Faculty & Staff Homepage Music On Campus Visual Visual and Performing Arts What's Going On

DeKALB, Ill. – The 2016 Northern Illinois University Huskies took the football field for the first time Sunday afternoon at Huskie Stadium as training camp got underway with a 1:40 minute practice in helmets and shorts.

Date posted: August 7, 2016 | Author: | Comments Off on Huskies Hold First Practice of 2016

Categories: Sports

rio2016Student Career Success – our keystone goal at NIU – is one of my favorite topics for a good reason.

Those three words reflect the transformative power of higher education to equip and elevate dreamers and doers into the places where they can make profound marks on the world. They reinforce our mission and remind us of why we’re here.

But, as educators, we know that every passion harnessed and nurtured and every goal accomplished is due in some part to the skilled faculty and mentors working behind the scenes.

Look at gymnast Simone Biles, who’s leading her team to the Olympics in Brazil while her face and image grace television screens, magazine covers and newspaper pages around the world. She has captured the hearts of a nation of fans rooting for gold medals.

With Simone in some of those triumphant pictures is her coach, Aimee Boorman, the woman who trained her since the first day she arrived at the gym at the tender age of 7 – the woman whose dedicated teaching and mentoring helped a little girl transform into a remarkable world champion at the top of her sport.

Aimee, I’m proud to say, attended NIU. And the head coach of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team is not the only Huskie thriving on an international stage in Rio.

Communication alum Patrick Sandusky, a member of the Class of 1998 and a center for the NIU Huskies football team, serves as the chief external affairs officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee.

He joined the USOC in 2009 after working on Chicago’s bid for these very games – and now is in Rio overseeing a communications staff that numbers around 80 while he also serves as chief spokesperson.

Dreams of a career in sports journalism took a turn when his football practice schedule prompted him to enroll in Public Relations 101. He liked the idea of working collaboratively to shape organizational messages.

Cori Frankenberg and Pat Sandusky at the USOC Training Center in Colorado Springs.

NIU women’s soccer alum Cori Frankenberg and Patrick Sandusky
at the USOC Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Meanwhile, his professor, the late Al Walker, enforced the value of getting outside the classroom, of making connections and gaining real-world experience – and Patrick listened. He worked seven or eight internships during his undergraduate days, forging professional networks that helped him race up the ladder to where he is today.

Such learning continues to be a strong predictor of Student Career Success.

That’s why we’re committed to making sure that any NIU student who wants an internship will get one. That’s why our future educators and health care professionals complete clinicals. That’s why our students in the arts perform in professional orchestras and theater companies or exhibit their works in professional galleries.

We’re also committed to the concept of mentoring, whether between alumni and students, professors and students and even students and students.

Patrick embraces this concept as well; he “paid forward” his own experiences with Professor Walker when former NIU women’s soccer player Cori Frankenberg scored an internship with the USOC media relations team.

Cori is now a baseball communications assistant with the Minnesota Twins, carrying the torch from Patrick while she blazes her own trail.

NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry, who competed for the United States in Atlanta during the 1996 games, is similarly able to mentor her athletes from the perspective of someone who’s reached that pinnacle.

As you enjoy the Olympic games these next few weeks, remember that NIU is playing a role in Rio through the hard work and talent of Aimee Boorman and Patrick Sandusky – and that they offer living proof that our mission matters.

baker_signature

Date posted: August 5, 2016 | Author: | Comments Off on Baker Report: Olympic Games, NIU Names

Categories: Homepage Latest News

Outlook logoNIU’s Division of Information Technology (DoIT) will begin Thursday, Aug. 11, to switch student email from Gmail to Office 365. During the week-long transition, students can receive email in either Gmail or Office 365 until the switch is complete.

Student Considerations

  • DoIT will not move student email and files from Google Apps to Office 363. To retain your data, follow these directions. This can be done through Dec. 16, 2016.
  • Students will have access to the entire Office 365 suite, including email, OneDrive, Skype and Office downloads for 400 days after graduation. After 400 days, the account will go through multiple states before data deletion. To keep an NIU email address after a year, consider joining the NIU Alumni Association.

Faculty Considerations

  • Because students will have diminished availability to their email during the days between Thursday, Aug. 11, and Thursday, Aug. 18, it is suggested to limit student email communications during the transition week if possible.

For information regarding calendaring, the discontinuation of Google Sites and other information about Office 365 for Education, see the DoIT website. For more information, or support, contact the DoIT Service Desk at (815) 753-8100 or servicedesk@niu.edu.

Date posted: August 5, 2016 | Author: | Comments Off on Student email switches August 11 to Office 365

Categories: Digital Signage Events Latest News Students

chairsNIU’s School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders is coordinating a support group for caregivers of children (from birth through age 22) with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) at the NIU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

This support group will provide caregivers a place to discuss their personal experiences and hear presentations from speakers on topics ranging from educational, legal, medical, mental, transitional and adaptive challenges for families of children with ASD.

Meetings are planned from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at 3100 Sycamore Road in DeKalb. The next meeting is Aug. 11.

Refreshments will be served. Childcare and activities will be provided; feel free to bring the whole family.

For more information, call (815) 753-1664 or email dfannin@niu.edu.

Date posted: August 5, 2016 | Author: | Comments Off on Support group for caregivers of children with autism meets August 11

Categories: Communiversity Digital Signage Events Faculty & Staff Health and Human Sciences What's Going On