Academic Affairs Newsletter
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Dear Colleagues:
In recent weeks George Middlemist, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, and I have met with members of our campus community about strategies and progress toward addressing the budget deficit. Those meetings have included Faculty Senate and Academic Affairs Leadership, and we will meet this week with University Council.
In our discussions, we have presented NIU’s plan for addressing the deficit:
Increase Revenue
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- Generate new sources of revenue.
- Reallocate resources to grow revenue.
- Increase student recruitment and retention.
Reduce Expenses
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- Stop doing non-essential/non-priority tasks.
- Reallocate resources to decrease costs.
Here are some strategies we are implementing:
- Working with Illinois policymakers to increase the investment in NIU.
- Identifying new revenue streams, such as expanding our recruitment of adult learners.
- Focusing on increasing student retention.
- Looking at ways to improve academic efficiencies such as limiting the number of low enrollment courses and reducing curricular complexity.
All divisions at NIU are working on plans to address the budget deficit and will submit those to senior leadership in late December, and the university plan will be shared with campus in February.
To mitigate the budget deficit, we need your input and partnership so we can move NIU forward together. Many of you have first-hand knowledge of processes, procedures or services that are inefficient and may not add value. You may have thoughts on how we can better serve our students to help with enrollment and retention and innovative ideas we can implement to generate revenue.
Please share your ideas, suggestions and insights – all input is valuable.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to say thank you for all you do at NIU. I am thankful for the many ways you support student success, and please know that your dedication makes a positive impact on the NIU community every day. Wishing you a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving break!
Gratefully,
Laurie Elish-Piper, Ph.D.
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost
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Celebrating our Graduates! Commencement is right around the corner, and seeing faculty members in attendance puts a big smile on the faces of our graduates and their families. Faculty members, we look forward to seeing you at Graduate School Commencement Saturday, Dec. 16 and Undergraduate Commencement Sunday, Dec. 17!
We also would like to thank you for your valuable feedback. Some of your suggestions have already made it into the December commencement. Faculty members may enter through the faculty door and do not need a ticket, just their regalia; faculty-only parking will be available; and snacks will be provided before the start of the ceremonies.
Department Leaders Initiative Holds 2nd Session Members of the newly formed Department Leaders Initiative recently met and discussed how best to resolve conflict, especially in managing faculty. Department leaders from across campus evaluated various scenarios and learned practical techniques on how to manage difficult situations. One attendee said, “I will use the steps presented to assess the situation and think beneath the surface of the conflict.”
“Strategic Planning and Goal Setting” and “Building External Relationships with Various Stakeholders” are upcoming topics. Contact Ursula Sullivan at usullivan@niu.edu to learn more.
Refer a Huskie As a faculty member, your recommendation can make a huge difference to a prospective undergraduate student! Refer a future Huskie by filling out and submitting this form. The individuals you refer will receive NIU information and invitations to admissions events.
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Huskies Engage with Fall Career Fairs NIU Career Services is a one-stop place for students seeking internships, jobs and career advice for all majors and graduate programs across campus. This fall, Career Services kicked off the semester with two successful fairs where over 1,200 students connected with over 100 employers.
Check out upcoming events, drop in to the Career Services office in the Peters Campus Life Building, or schedule an appointment via Navigate. From day one to the first job, Career Services is ready to serve Huskies.
Nominations Open for 2023 EUTA and EUIA Awards This is a great opportunity to recognize an outstanding instructor! Nominations are now open for the 2023 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (EUTA) and Excellence in Undergraduate Instruction (EUIA) awards. The EUTA is available to tenured and tenure-track faculty. The EUIA is available to non-tenure track instructors. These longstanding annual awards recognize outstanding individuals who positively impact NIU’s student learning experience.
Nominations are due to departments Friday, Dec. 15. From there, departments will select nominees and send materials to colleges for review and, ultimately, submission to the Committee for the Improvement of the Undergraduate Academic Experience (CIUAE) by Monday, Jan. 29, 2024 for final selections. Nominees may not participate in the selection process.
Nominate someone for EUTA recognition. Nominate someone for EUIA recognition.
Supporting Students The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program is designed to increase retention and graduation rates, while providing assistance and resources to participating students. SSS recently hosted its annual open house after moving to the 3rd floor of the Health Services building. The new area offers extensive space for students to study and receive tutoring. It is also available for confidential one-on-one meetings between SSS students and program staff. For more information, contact our Student Success Coach Shakaria Smith at ssmith@niu.edu or 815-753-1867.
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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FACCE Explores Neurodiversity Students may experience trauma for a range of reasons. Mental health and neurodiversity have become central issues in classrooms since the pandemic, and by extension the promotion of trauma-informed practice has become a crucial aspect of effective and equitable classrooms.
Participants in the next session of the Faculty Academy on Cultural Competence and Equity (FACCE) on Friday, Nov. 10 will develop an understanding of the range of mental health challenges students face and how neurodiversity is both real and a potential asset in classrooms. The session will introduce participants to best practices in trauma-informed teaching. Sign up for this session, or one of several upcoming sessions.
GIVE Circles Consider signing up for the email list of Growing through Inclusive Vulnerability and Empathy (GIVE) Circles. We are excited to launch this new initiative across campus. GIVE circles are spaces that encourage authentic sharing of, and deep listening to, personal narratives to strengthen relationships and understanding of unique perspectives and experiences.
Goals:
- Bring the campus community together to explore common humanity as a step in the lifelong journey of uprooting the false belief in a system of human-value hierarchy.
- Help participants move along a continuum toward debiasing by replacing false, stereotypical narratives about the perceived “other” with more authentic engagements.
- Provide space to process harm, establish self-agency and create a space of belonging.
GIVE Circles will take place:
Students: Friday, Nov. 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Holmes Student Center Sky Room.
Faculty/Staff: Friday, Dec. 1 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Holmes Student Center Sky Room.
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Conversations with Purpose: Start to Finish Hosted by the Division of Student Affairs and TRIO Student Support Services, this networking dinner Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 5-7 p.m. at Holmes Student Center Capitol Room is an opportunity for first-generation college students to share their perspectives and experiences in a supportive and collaborative environment among peers, staff and faculty.
This event aims to foster meaningful dialogues on these critical topics, where you will have the opportunity to:
- Gain Insight: Hear from staff and faculty who were first-generation students themselves and learn how their experience shaped their careers and successes.
- Share Perspectives: Engage in open and constructive conversations to exchange ideas and viewpoints.
- Inspire Action: Learn about ways to individually and collectively make a positive impact and support fellow and future NIU first-generation students.
- Network: Connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about advocating for and supporting first-generation students.
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Become a Blackboard Ally Hero by Focusing on Accessibility NIU is full of diverse students with unique learning abilities. Providing more accessible original content means students can choose formats that work best, such as HTML for improved reading on mobile phones, electronic braille for the visually impaired, and audio for learning on the go.
Ally automatically scans original content and performs steps to make it more accessible by generating alternative formats for students, providing accessibility scores to help understand the accessibility of materials, and offering guidance on improving your accessibility score.
Are you passionate about accessibility? Become an Ally Hero! You may earn recognition for your important work to improve accessibility of course materials by achieving a digital badge. The badges are offered at multiple levels, whether you are getting started or already a champion for accessibility.
Prepare Your Nomination for the Excellence in Online Teaching Award Nominations are open for the 2024 Excellence in Online Teaching Award. This award recognizes NIU faculty and instructors whose performance exemplifies a commitment to excellence in online teaching, course development and student engagement. All who teach online or hybrid courses (tenured and tenure-track faculty members, instructors and teaching staff) are eligible. There is no limit to the number of nominees from any department/program or college, and self-nominations are allowed and encouraged!
Submit your nominations by Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.
Quality Essentials Course Review Now is a great time to submit your online course to be reviewed for quality, in preparation for the Excellence in Online Teaching Award nomination deadline. The Quality Essentials (QE) Course Review process enables faculty to conduct a detailed self-review of their own courses, then submit that review for additional review and feedback. Courses that meet all the Quality Essentials will be recognized as NIU quality online courses.
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Members of a PLEDGE Elementary Education cohort gathered in early May outside Elgin Community College to celebrate their upcoming NIU graduation. They completed all NIU coursework at ECC and all clinical and student-teaching requirements in Elgin-area schools.
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NIU College of Education’s PLEDGE Initiative Prioritizes Program Access
Our PLEDGE (Partnering to Lead and Empower District-Grown Educators) initiative combines innovative strategies, impactful programs and purposeful collaboration with our partners to expand and diversify the educator workforce. We deliver our programs in the communities where our students live – where they know and understand the culture, and where they want to work, and are likely to stay, upon degree completion. More than 200 new educators (elementary education, special education, early childhood education and principals) are in the workforce as a result and another 47 educators started their journeys this fall.
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Celebrate International Education Week! The Division of International Affairs and partners invite you to join in celebrating International Education Week at NIU, Nov. 13-17. This is an annual celebration during which colleges, departments and student groups plan events and activities to highlight NIU’s support of international education.
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This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education includes a wide range of fun and educational events celebrating the diversity of cultures and experiences on NIU’s campus.
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Graduate School Offers Professional Development Opportunities A variety of opportunities are available for graduate students, supporting their academic success and professional development:
- From video lessons on career exploration to interviewing and negotiating for the next career step, the innovative Beyond Graduate School career training platform provides assistance through each stage of career preparation.
- Monthly Graduate Student Professional Development lunch sessions feature timely career and professional development topic presentations, plus roundtable discussions with networking opportunities.
In partnership with the Office of Research Compliance, Integrity and Safety, the Responsible Conduct of Research Forum Series provides insights on ethical and professional standards while pursuing research and scholarly activities. Participating students can earn a Responsible Conduct of Research graduate transcript notation.
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UAP Task Force Process and Results Highlighted at Assessment Institute Carrie Zack, associate director for Accreditation, Assessment and Evaluation, Tawanda Paul, senior research associate for Accreditation, Assessment and Evaluation, and Dr. Ursula Sullivan, associate professor of Marketing and Provost Fellow presented “Using Data-Informed Decision-Making to Improve Faculty Experience with Assessment Reporting” at the 2023 Assessment Institute in Indianapolis Monday, Oct. 30.
The trio described the work and outcomes of the University Assessment Panel Task Force which include more focus on use of assessment data and use of Qualtrics to submit program Annual Assessment Updates. Visit with your college University Assessment Panel representative for more details.
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- Mid-semester feedback gives you the opportunity to use student feedback to tailor your course and your students’ needs. It also provides you with the opportunity to engage students in a dialogue about their feedback and what it reveals about their experiences in your course.
- The New Employee Huskies Welcome Event is a great opportunity to meet colleagues, learn about employee benefits and find out how to make the most of your Huskie experience. The university is offering release time for this event, but you are encouraged to speak to your supervisor before registering. Upcoming sessions are Monday, Nov. 13 and Monday, Dec. 11 at Holmes Student Center.
- The NIU Student-Athlete Academic Support Services office assists student athletes in a variety of ways, including: academic coordinating, tutoring and academic coaching. Several Huskies athletic teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation in 2023, academically. The women’s basketball team ranked third. The softball team ranked fourth. The gymnastics team ranked eighth. Congratulations to all on their academic accomplishments!
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Shout out to Ben Creed, Faculty Senate President, for always making sure faculty are front-and-center in all conversations and meetings he leads and attends.
Thank you, Tori Artman and Jeanie Sparacino for all the hard work for the Provost’s Office Homecoming decoration competition. Could not have done it without you – you rock!
Thank you, Joan Parrish for a heavy lift supporting the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs search. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Shout out to Mia Hannon for being a great source of information during the onboarding process. Thank you for all your help!
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Please email bwilliamsen@niu.edu to submit an item for possible inclusion in the monthly Provost Post newsletter, and please send along shout-outs celebrating colleagues who have earned accomplishments, gone above and beyond or simply made you smile!
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Northern Illinois University's vision is to be an engine for innovation to advance social mobility; promote personal, professional and intellectual growth; and transform the world through research, artistry, teaching and outreach. Learn more about NIU’s vision, mission and values.
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