NIU Today

On the road to success, that first step is often the most important. This past week, our campus community did a wonderful job of making sure that every new and returning Huskie got off on the right foot. And people noticed! This email from Alison Wilson, of Joliet, who dropped her daughter off Friday, is...

One year ago, as I sat on the Convocation Center stage during the Huskie Family Welcome, our insightful master of ceremonies said something that struck me. Alex Gelman, the director of the School of Theatre and Dance, told our new students and their families that they would all return to this building in three years...

As many as 150 leaders from across campus will join me Friday for a Strategic Plan Implementation Retreat. My directive for them – our shared mission – could not be clearer: We must control our own destiny. We must mobilize to amplify our recruitment efforts and thereby boost our enrollment. It’s up to us. Our...

NIU is far more than a resident of the City of DeKalb – we are an engaged and enthusiastic partner in making the city a great destination. We are woven deeply into the city’s fabric, just as the city is an inseparable part of who we are. Our institution and its hometown are inextricably linked,...

Prior to the Fourth of July holiday, I joined NIU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Chris McCord in China to sign a historic agreement with Nankai University. Two years in the making, this accord forms a partnership that creates the NIU-Nankai International College (NNIC), which initially will focus on economics and political science....

A 1992 memo from cigarette manufacturer Phillip Morris found that smokers working in places that prohibit smoking smoke 11-15 percent less than average and quit at a rate that is 84 percent higher than average. State lawmakers and health officials hope the Illinois Smoke-Free Campus Act, signed into law in 2014, will have a similar effect. On...

Given the continuing debate over the Illinois budget and the concern that we all share about how it will be resolved, I feel it’s an appropriate time to review the state of play in Springfield. At the end of May, the House and Senate delivered a budget to Gov. Rauner that is arguably as much...

Presidents, chancellors and board chairs from Illinois’ nine public universities converged on Springfield this week to lobby state leaders on both sides of the aisle to maintain a robust, sustained and predictable level of state support for our universities. NIU was represented by Board of Trustees Chair John R. Butler in this effort. Not only...

Commencement is among my favorite times of the year: This past weekend, NIU graduated nearly 2,800 students to the rank of alumni. When students come to NIU, they have the opportunity to build their future while they’re here, creating the foundation for achieving career success when they graduate. Commencement represents the culmination of years of...

As the academic year comes to a close and Northern Illinois University students depart campus, donating gently used furnishings and clothing on their way out, I want to wish everyone well and encourage them to make the most of their summer. Summer is a tremendous opportunity for students to gain valuable work experience, earn money...

May 1 is “Decision Day” for high school seniors across the country to choose where they will spend the next four years at college. Each individual student is unique, and factors in picking the right college depend on each student’s desired college experience, life goals and personality. When making their selection, I hope students consider...

Since the conclusion of our Bold Futures workshops a year ago, an analysis team submitted recommendations organized around three themes – process and administration, the campus environment and transportation. We then embarked on strategic planning exercises across campus to put the suggestions of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members into action. A number of...