NIU Today

NIU’s Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning has kicked off the fall semester with 14 Themed Learning Communities, representing four colleges as well as the Academic Advising Center, Athletics, CHANCE and PROMISE. Almost 300 first-year students are participating this year with a group of dedicated TLC faculty and staff. Peer leaders have been placed...

The NIU Department of Political Science is launching two new mentoring efforts. One reaches out to students before they ever arrive on campus; the other features prominent alumni among its mentors, including a congresswoman. The new “Diplomat Program” is perhaps the most unique to campus. Beginning this week, many of the department’s majors will begin...

NIU’s McKinley “Deacon” Davis CHANCE Program and the National Science Foundation PROMISE Scholars Program have implemented a new peer mentoring network for NIU freshmen. CHANCE’s mentoring program focuses on providing support to all students in any major. PROMISE’s mentoring program focuses on providing support to students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math. The goal of...

“…We know that students thrive when they have mentors to guide them.” (from President Doug Baker’s inaugural address, Nov. 13, 2013). Taking to heart President Baker’s words, First- and Second-Year Experience is looking for NIU faculty and supportive professional staff who are interested in volunteering their time to mentor new students during their transition to...

NIU has nearly 40 peer mentoring programs on campus, but participants rarely talk to each other to compare notes and successful strategies. That’s about to change, thanks to the efforts of NIU students Lauren Nale and Luis Lopez. The two honors students, who coordinate the University Honors peer mentoring group, are now spearheading a Peer...

The pilot alumni mentoring program just started in January. But word is getting out on the airwaves about its success. Lizzy de Guia, a junior in nursing, and a few other students went on the air last week on WREX, the NBC station in Rockford, to share how they are blossoming with the help of...

College can be a confusing time for some, and having a helping hand along the way can impact students’ overall success. Mentoring can have an important influence on students’ academic experiences as they explore different paths throughout their college journey. Students who might have felt lost a time or two can play an important role...

NIU President Doug Baker’s ambitious effort to offer peer or alumni mentors to all students is gaining big-time momentum. At least three new mentoring initiatives have sprouted up this semester. Inventories are being conducted of the many existing programs. And Baker is expected to talk about NIU’s efforts to expand mentoring and internship opportunities Thursday,...