Huskie Service Scholars

HSS is a program strives to develop a peer network and provide support that enables students to engage in service work on campus and in the community. First-generation or low income students entering NIU for the first time are placed into teams with an upper classmen mentor. Teams then work with a site supervisors to provide regular service to their campus partner. In addition, students will attend campus wide service events and collaborate to plan off campus service projects. Monthly meetings will provide collaboration, training and reflection opportunities for students. At minimum, students will dedicate 300 hours to service work, mentoring, reflection and training opportunities. Upon completion of 300 hours of service, students will receive a tuition waiver of $1,132.

Students who become engaged on campus during their first year are more likely to succeed in the university setting. The Huskies Service Scholars Program provides mentoring, training and funding to students to help them become engaged and be successful. The program aims to provide support to first generation and low income students. Mentoring is truly at the heart of this program.

In order to receive the tuition waiver, students must meet the following criteria:

• Students must earn a minimum of 12 semester hours each semester of attendance (both fall and spring semesters), excluding summer semester.
• Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or above in all NIU course work.  Students who fall below a 2.00 will have the tuition waiver immediately revoked.
• Students must remain in good academic standing and judicial university standing at all times.  A tuition waiver will be immediately revoked if a student is not in good standing, and will not be reinstated to the Huskie Service Scholars program.
• The tuition waiver is only available for one year and is not renewable.

Who can I contact for more information?

Please visit the links to the right. The student handbooks contain details regarding the program and eligibility. Interested students can contact the OSEEL office or one of our campus partners for more information:

Students may also contact the Office of Student Engagement & Experiential Learning for more information:

• Lucero Martinez at (815) 753-8159 or lmartinez4@niu.edu
• Julia Spears at (815) 753-8152 or jspears1@niu.edu

2013-2014 Application

• First Year Fellow Application

Program Information

• Fellow Handbook
• Peer Mentor Handbook
• Student Blogging Website
• HSS Facebook Page
• 2012-2013 Team Profiles