NIU Today

Updates to the NIU.edu homepage rolled out today, featuring data-informed navigation changes and a new content strategy. “The navigation changes are a result of the website traffic analysis that we do on a quarterly basis,” said Jennice O’Brien, director of Creative Services. “We are also embarking on a new content strategy to drive traffic from...

Recruitment and retention took center stage Friday morning when nearly 150 NIU leaders gathered for President Doug Baker’s strategic plan implementation retreat. Participants, who ranged from department chairs and directors to deans and vice presidents, received a bird’s-eye view of NIU’s work to reverse declining enrollment and deal with diminished state funding. The first 60...

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. With websites playing a critical role in NIU’s initial communication with its many audiences, having a consistent university-wide message has never been more important. “The NIU website is a retention and recruitment tool for the university,” said Webmaster Jeannine East, of NIU’s Office of...

NIU’s website, www.niu.edu, is the first stop for many people seeking information about NIU, making it exceedingly important to provide a website that is informative, easy to navigate and aesthetically pleasing. With more and more student users viewing websites on their smartphones and tablets, the need for a stronger mobile presence for NIU is greater...

The NIU website debuted a new all-university calendar today, providing a one-stop shop to promote and discover campus events. “The calendar features a simple-to-use interface that makes it really easy for departments and organizations to promote their events,” said Jennice O’Brien, director of Web Communications. “It just takes a minute to log in and add...

Northern Illinois University launched a new social media initiative to provide timely safety information to the NIU community. Traditionally delivered in the form of SMS text alerts or email advisories posted to NIU Today, the new protocol still sends emergency alerts via text message and advisories by email, and now includes safety bulletins on the...

Just in time for the start of fall semester, version 2.5 of NIU Mobile is rolling out in app stores. The popular smartphone app adds additional campus-friendly features for students on the go. New modules include: eSuds – Look up the status and availability of the washers and dryers in the residence halls. Social Media...

Almost one year has passed since the university unveiled its new logo and tagline, “Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow,” to convey a unified and consistent visual identity for Northern Illinois University. The new logo debuted Aug. 15, 2011, on the NIU homepage, and has been almost completely implemented across all web pages using the NIU templates...

Version 2.0 of NIU Mobile hit Android and Apple app stores this week and adds some highly anticipated new features to the university’s free smartphone application. “One of the top requests we had is to bring the Advanced Geospatial Lab’s Huskie Bus Tracker to the app,” said Jennice O’Brien, director of Web Communications. “Now, with...

NIU is now as close as the nearest smartphone with the debut of NIU Mobile in app stores this week. The free mobile campus application brings an interactive campus experience to smartphone users. “We wanted to put useful, fun, interesting and dynamic information in the hands of our campus community,” said Jennice O’Brien, team leader...

A team of six NIU students had the unique opportunity to act as consultants by providing social media and marketing strategies and recommendations to the university in a semester-long project that started in January through the College of Business’ Experiential Learning Center (ELC). The project was designed to find innovative ways of enticing potential students,...

As the Internet and its applications continue to evolve at a dizzying speed, most websites now offer a veritable smorgasbord of tiny icons that link users to various social media pages. NIU now has risen above the din of square-shaped logos clamoring for attention. The university’s Web Communications Team this morning launched smashup.niu.edu, a one-stop...