NIU Today

Issues ranging from the use of social media to sharing confidential information with friends will be in question when the NIU College of Business puts students in the hot seat during its second annual NIU Ethics Case Competition from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 13. Hosted by the BELIEF Initiative (Building Ethical Leaders...

The NIU College of Law will welcome Michael A. Olivas, immediate past-president of the Association of American Law Schools, to present the Marla Dickerson Lecture on Public Interest. Professor Olivas will present his lecture at 3 p.m. Monday, April 16, in the Francis X. Riley Courtroom of Swen Parson Hall. Olivas’ lecture, “Lessons Learned about...

Every professor, every teacher, practices their profession according to a well-honed, learned-on-the-job personal code. This year’s Presidential Teaching Professors – Anne Britt from the Department of Psychology, James Johnson from the Department of Finance and Joseph Scudder from the Department of Communication – are no exception, of course. “I am dedicated to teaching … in a...

Anne Britt loves to challenge her students – and herself. Much of her teaching load is methods courses in research, thinking and statistics, which students often consider “dry and difficult.” “I view them as the most important classes that students can take. They help students to develop new ways of thinking about their world –...

“My ‘end game’ teaching goal,” says James Johnson, “is to put myself out of business. I believe I have been successful if I can help students learn how to engage and evaluate subjects on their own, no longer requiring or seeking my guidance.” The cornerstone of Johnson’s teaching methodology, honed through more than 40 years...

Call Joseph Scudder conflicted. All Posts He longs to embrace the Renaissance idea of higher education – that it affords the life fulfilled with curiosity, critical thinking skills and never-ending learning – but is cognizant of the money spent on tuition and the desperate need of students to find jobs after graduation. He knows that...

Four members of the Supportive Professional Staff (SPS) have been chosen to receive the university’s Presidential Awards for Excellence. The recipients are Todd Latham, assistant to the chair in the Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations; Michelle Pickett, director of the Academic Advising Center; Deborah Pierce, associate provost for International Programs; and Jason F....

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) awarded a $140,000 yearly grant to Paul Kelter, professor of Elementary Education in the Department of Literacy Education, and Jon Miller, professor of Biology in the Department of Biological Sciences. Grant funds will support the project “Integrating Math and Science with Content, Pedagogy, and Technology (IMSCPT).” IMSCPT has...

The elementary students ask their teachers weekly: “When are the ROAR tutors coming?” Project ROAR – Reaching Out Through Art and Reading has existed at NIU for 14 years. Its focus is to help students at the elementary level develop their vocabulary and love for reading. Over time, the project has become a way for bilingual...

In conjunction with the current Graphic Novel Exhibition Suite at the NIU Art Museum, four films and one discussion will be held at the Egyptian Theatre over the next few weeks. Each film was adapted from an original graphic novel or comic. Wednesday, April 11, 7 p.m. “Persepolis,” film and discussion led by Steven Torres-Roman...

Charles Walker, professor of history and the director of the Hemispheric Institute on the Americas at the University of California at Davis, will visit the NIU campus April 10 and April 11. Walker will deliver a lecture at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, on “Natural Disasters and Society: Some Lessons from the 1746 Earthquake/Tsunami in...

The National Black Graduate Student Association, Inc. (NBGSA) has announced the election of Jonique Childs as the historian during the organization’s 24th national conference in Philadelphia last month. Childs is a graduate research assistant in the Recruitment Services Office of the NIU Graduate School. As NBGSA prepares for an intense 25th anniversary year, Childs’ position is very...