University Services

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The Holmes Student Center located in the heart of NIU’s campus, offers lounge space, food options, and meeting rooms for students, student organizations, and the NIU community. It features the Duke Ellington Ballroom and Carl Sandburg auditorium and is the largest venue on campus for student events, meetings, and conferences. Wi-Fi is available throughout the building and an ATM machine is located on the main floor.

The Hotel at Holmes, with over 70 guest rooms, is the ideal place for family, friends, and visitors of the NIU campus and community to stay. It is also home to the Huskies Den, providing bowling, billiards, arcade games, and electronic gaming and Huskie Books and Gear, selling NIU spirit wear, school and art supplies, books, and textbooks.

Campus Living

NIU offers a range of on-campus living options for undergraduate students. Whether living in one of the five residence hall communities or in our apartment-style Northern View Community, on-campus housing provides NIU students with a supportive environment, which fosters personal growth, community connections, and academic achievement.

The university residence halls are a convenient and affordable option for undergraduate students. Residence hall rooms are furnished with a bed, desk, desk chair, dresser, and combination refrigerator/freezer; additionally, utilities are covered within the residence hall contract (including cable TV, Internet, heat, gas, water, garbage, and electricity). Each residence hall has computer workstations available to meet the needs of students. Lobbies and common areas are equipped with wireless Internet, and students can access an Internet connection in their residence hall rooms. Other amenities available to hall residents include quiet study lounges, community safety centers, on-site laundry, vending machines, photocopiers, and easy access to the Huskie Bus Line.

Residence hall contracts also include an unlimited meal plan. Residents can choose to eat in any of the four dining units in the halls. Dining hours and menus can be found on the Dining website at go.niu.edu/eat.

A unique aspect of living in the university residence halls is the supportive academic and social environment found on each floor. Residence hall staff, including community advisors who live on each floor, help students acclimate to life at NIU. Students can also take advantage of various support resources, including in-hall tutoring centers, computer labs, and specialized programs found in Living-Learning Communities and Special Interest Communities. These specialized communities are designed to strengthen the connection between students and faculty/staff within a chosen course of study or with a special interest. NIU offers the following Living-Learning Communities and Special Interest Communities: ACES House (Academic and Career Exploratory Scholars), Business Careers House, Esports Community, Fine Arts House, Health Professions House, Honors House, TEACH House, Foreign Language Residence Program, LGBTQA Community, ROTC House, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Careers House, Sport, Recreation and Wellness Community, and Transfer House.

Residence hall contracts are valid for the entire academic year (August to May). Optional winter break housing is available in select halls. Summer housing, as well as summer meal plans, is also available. Applications are available online at niu.edu/housing and at the Housing Office located in Neptune East 101. Housing and Residential Services can be reached at 815-753-1525 or by e-mail at housing@niu.edu.

The university partners with Northwestern Medicine, which operates and runs the on campus clinic. Health Services offers a wide variety of high quality, out-patient health care services to NIU students to assist with maintaining and improving their health. Health Services is available to all students who have been assessed on-campus student fees. There are no charges for physician or provider services, X-rays, most laboratory tests, and many other services. There are charges for medications, immunizations, specialized medical procedures and supplies, selected laboratory tests, and missed appointments. Health Services accepts most health insurance, including Student Health Insurance. Students may use Health Services without being enrolled in the university’s Student Health Insurance Plan.

Students who register for 9 or more on campus semester hours by the 10th academic day of the semester are automatically assessed the fee for student health insurance on their tuition account through the Bursar’s Office. The student health insurance plan provides coverage for hospitalization and/or medical treatment for injury and sicknesses 24 hours a day anywhere in the world. It is compliant with the Affordable Care Act.

Students who have been assessed the student health insurance fee and have comparable health insurance coverage may apply for a waiver by completing the on-line Waiver Process at www.niu.edu/shi on or before the 10th academic day of the semester. Student who successfully complete the waiver process are not assessed the student health insurance fee or covered by student health insurance for the following spring semester.

Reinstatement to the student health insurance plan is available during open enrollment periods or within 60 days of being removed from alternate coverage. Please contact the student health insurance office for more information.

Students who are insured for the spring semester, are automatically covered through the summer whether or not they enroll in the summer session.

Information concerning the student health insurance may be obtained from the Student Health Insurance office, Health Services, Room 101, 815-753-0122 or email to studentinsurance@niu.edu.

ACCESS Tutoring Programs

ACCESS provides campus-wide academic support and tutoring to undergraduates through Peer Assisted Learning (PAL), Supplemental Instruction (SI), and the A+ Program. PAL offers free, appointment-based tutoring in most 100- and 200-level general education courses. PAL also provides walk-in tutoring centers in several residence halls and the library. SI is an enhanced tutoring program offered in specific sections of some courses. Student tutors called SI leaders attend class with students and hold regular study sessions to help students learn more effectively. The A+ Program provides individual and small group instruction in effective college reading and study strategies.

Additional programs are offered each semester. For further information, contact PAL at 815-753-0203, and SI or A+ at 815-753-1141. Visit the web for more information about all programs, courses covered, and schedules at www.tutoring.niu.edu.

Asian American Resource Center

NIU’s Asian American Resource Center provides student-centered services to a growing Asian American student population, which is comprised of many ethnicities including, but not limited to, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Pakistani, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese. In support of the academic missions of NIU and the Division of Student Affairs, the center assists in the recruitment and retention of Asian American students and provides diverse educational, cultural, and social activities designed to raise awareness about Asian American heritage and culture. In particular, the center offers a Peer Mentor Program for first-year students designed to assist with their transition to college and their persistence to graduation. The center creates an inclusive and welcoming environment that intentionally enhances students’ learning experiences, leadership development, and career preparation. It also provides students with computer access, a resource library, meeting rooms, and extended hours during final examinations.

Campus Transportation

NIU maintains the largest student-run university bus system in Illinois. The 17-route system, governed by the director of Mass Transit and the Student Association Mass Transit Board, provides free transportation to all fee-paying students to campus, and inexpensive transportation for the DeKalb community. The Huskie buses are in operations seven days a week while school is in session during the fall and spring semesters, and for limited hours during winter and spring breaks, as well as during the summer session. Most Huskie buses are equipped with chair lifts to provide students easy access to and from campus, shopping and entertainment areas. For more information, call the Student Association at 815-753-0483.

On Fridays and Sundays, the Student Association also runs a shuttle running to and from the Elburn Train Station. This enables many students to take public transportation back to their homes and visit their families, and allows them to return easily as well. For more information about the Elburn Shuttle Routes call the ticket office at 815-753-3146.

In conjunction with the NIU Department of Police and Public Safety, the director of Mass Transit oversees Huskie Safe Line, which provides safe passage for students to their DeKalb-area homes. The service operates seven nights a week from 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and can be reached at 815-753-2222.

Through the director of Mass Transit and the Disability Resource Center, the NIU Student Association operates the Freedom Mobile, which provides transportation around the campus and vicinity for students with disabilities. During the winter months class-to-class transportation is available for students with a qualifying disability. For more information, call the Disability Resource Center at 815-753-1303.

Career Services

Career Services helps students identify and secure internships and full-time employment through a centralized department serving all academic programs. Career Services helps students connect their majors to careers. Drop-in services are available Mondays through Fridays, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., to help students with creating resumes and cover letters to connecting with employers.

In addition to supporting students in discovering their career paths, Career Services offers a range of resources and services to guide students at each stage of their career preparation, including the following services:

• Help with career decision making including a website for majors, with corresponding career options, at What Can I Do with My Major? (link to http://www.careerservices.niu.edu/careerservices/career-resources/what-you-can-do.shtml)

• Online postings for internships and full-time positions through the Huskies Get Hired system at www.gethired.niu.edu

• Drop-in and online resume and cover letter reviews

• Career testing

• University-wide career fairs

• Networking for students with employers

• Practice Interviews

Career Services staff members also assist students in their searches for internships, off-campus part-time and full-time employment. Visit our website at CareerServices.niu.edu.

Career Services is located in the Campus Life Building, Room 220, and is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More information about Career Services may be obtained online at www.niu.edu/careerservices or by calling 815-753-1642.

Child Development and Family Center

Campus Development and Family Center will be merging with the Child Development Lab to offer NIU students, faculty, and staff full- and part-time expanded child care for children ages 3 months - 5 years. These centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and have a Gold rating through ExceleRate Illinois, which serves as an indicator of a high-quality program. The centers are staffed with qualified teachers along with student workers, graduate students and students participating in their practicum experience. The center is open Monday through Friday, 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the fall, spring, and summer sessions. Full-time child care is also available between semesters for those who need year-round child care. Our preschool program is open to the community, no NIU affiliation needed. For more information, please call 815-753-0125 or visit niu.edu/ccc.

Counseling and Consultation Services

Counseling and Consultation Services provides comprehensive mental health support for currently enrolled students at Northern Illinois University. As a department in the Division of Student Affairs, CCS is the designated campus counseling center for NIU students. We are a team of trained professionals committed to improving the mental health of students as they work to achieve their academic and personal goals. 

Services include:

• Individual and Group Counseling
• Crisis Intervention and referral
• Substance Use Intervention and education programs
• Anger Workshops
• Advocacy and Referral Services
• Workshops on various topics (in residence halls, classes and other settings)
• Consultation (regarding mental health issues, programming, and organizational development)
• Training for graduate students

For more information, visit www.niu.edu/counseling, or call 815-753-1206.

Disability Resource Center

The Disability Resource Center has been designated by the university to determine appropriate disability accommodations for NIU students in consultation with several entities. Decisions for accommodations are based on the student’s clarification about specific needs and barriers to success as well as past history, and documentation as needed from a qualified care provider.

Students who are seeking resources to learn about campus access or to request reasonable accommodations related to academic or residential concerns, should contact the Disability Resource Center on the fourth floor of the Health Services Building. Staff at the DRC may be reached at: 815-753-1303; email: drc@niu.edu; or visit the website at www.niu.edu/disability.

By providing support services for students with disabilities, the University is in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008.

Gender and Sexuality Resource Center

The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) acknowledges the historical impacts of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer (LGBTQ+) identities and provides a home away from home for all persons, inclusive of sexual and gender identities, and all forms of masculinity and femininity. 

The GSRC serves as a central location for resources and support where acceptance of intersectional identities is encouraged and celebrated. Through student leadership development, advocacy, campus and academic engagement, and professional development opportunities, we collaborate with community, state, and national partners, alumni and other stakeholders to challenge societal constructs of gender and sexuality norms and promote social justice. The center offers a relaxing place to meet people, study, research, and get connected with supportive staff and peers. A lending library of books, on a range of gender and sexuality topics, computer stations for student use, and a variety of free brochures and handouts are available. Internships at the undergraduate and graduate levels are available.

Information Technology Services

AnywhereApps provides course-specific software for desktops and mobile devices, free of charge to students. AnywherePrints makes printing, copying, and scanning available at locations throughout campus. Students submit print jobs from anywhere they have an internet connection and retrieve them at a campus printer of their choice.

Currently enrolled students have a free subscription to Microsoft Office 365 and the full Microsoft Office suite including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more. The software can be installed multiple times on desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Statistical analysis packages such as SAS and SPSS and some curriculum-specific software are also available in all labs.

NIU offers wired data connections to all buildings on all campuses and wireless coverage on the DeKalb campus for both authenticated and guest users.

NIU students have access to computers for research, instruction, and individual use in academic departments, classrooms, and student computing labs. Depending on the department and the location, labs contain both Windows and Macintosh computers and many offer adaptive technologies for students with disabilities.

The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) Service Desk offers support for NIU’s network and student systems and is available 24/7/365 at it.niu.edu or 815-753-8100. The Technology Support Desk on the first floor of Founders Library provides walk-in assistance for computer virus removal, laptop and smartphone problems, password issues, email and enterprise application support, and many other technology-related questions.

For more information, visit DoIT.niu.edu.

International Student and Faculty Office

The International Student and Faculty Office provides a variety of services for international (foreign) students and faculty. For further information see the “International Affairs” section of this catalog.

Latino Resource Center

The Latino Resource Center (LRC) offers a variety of services to assist, encourage, and inspire NIU Latino students to engage and succeed in their pursuit of learning; and to grow as campus and community leaders. Some of the services available include retention programs such as De Mujer a Mujer: Latina Assistance Program (LAP), Adela de la Torre Honor Society (ATHS), Latino graduation ceremony, and Mentoring and Engaging thru Academic Success (METAS). The LRC also provides cultural and social programming and makes referrals to appropriate offices for information and assistance with academic, social, and career opportunities. The LRC houses a top-of-the-line computer laboratory (serving as an Anywhere printing site), wireless Internet connections, library, and meeting rooms for student use. For more information, visit www.niu.edu/lrc or contact the center at 815-753-1986.

Military and Post-Traditional Student Services

In October 2015, the offices of Military Students Services (MSS) and Off-Campus and Non-Traditional Student Services (OCNTSS) merged to create Military and Post-Traditional Student Services (MPTSS). Military and Post-Traditional Student Services is designed to support and enhance the educational, interpersonal, and social experiences of veteran, off-campus, commuter, transfer, and non-traditional students. The office aims to help support students on the path to graduation by providing educational and social programmatic support, individual and collective advocacy, and, in the case of veterans, processing federal and state benefits for those who served and their dependents. The office also has a lounge in the basement of the Holmes Student Center for students to come and relax between classes, have lunch, study, or chat with other students. The lounge space includes comfortable furniture, a microwave, a full-sized refrigerator, a television, and computers for students to use. The staff assists students in getting connected with necessary services or navigating particular issues. For more information about MPTSS visit http://www.niu.edu/mptss, call 815.753.9999/0691, or stop by Holmes Student Center 023K or Campus Life Building 240.

Office of the Ombudsperson

All members of the university community may consult the Office of the Ombudsperson for neutral and confidential assistance and advice regarding university-related concerns. The office provides assistance for any type of university matter, including academic, financial, housing, consumer, work-related, or interpersonal issues.

Members of the office staff will listen to concerns, discuss options, and offer suggestions and advice from an objective point of view that may assist in the resolution of the concern. Distinctive services of the office include clarification of university policies and procedures, advice regarding appropriate strategic approaches and specific direction, and referral to appropriate individuals and offices on campus.

As designated neutrals, staff members in the office are prohibited from advocating on behalf of any individual, but can suggest others who can serve as potential advocates if necessary. Due to the strictly confidential nature of communications with the Office of the Ombudsperson, disclosures to the office do not constitute notice to the university.

The Office of the Ombudsperson is located in the Holmes Student Center, Room 601. Services are free of charge and appointments may be made by calling 815-753-1414. Visit the office website www.niu.edu/ombud for additional information.

Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning

The Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning (OSEEL) provides undergraduate students with opportunities to engage in hands-on learning leading to the development of vital skills in critical thinking, communication, and decision-making. The OSEEL focuses on three areas: undergraduate research, service learning and engagement conferences. Research opportunities include Research Rookies, Student Engagement Fund, Undergraduate Special Opportunities in Artistry and Research, the Summer Research Opportunities Program and the Research, Engagement and Academic Diversity Grant. Service learning initiatives include Huskie Service Scholars, Huskie Alternative Breaks and the Service Learning Faculty Fellows Program. Engagement conferences include Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day, the Community Engagement Showcase, the Summer Research Symposium and the Undergraduate Student Engagement Travel grant. For more information about the OSEEL programs and initiatives, visit www.oseel.niu.edu/engagedlearning/.

Engage PLUS is also a program housed in OSEEL. Engage PLUS, part of the NIU PLUS program and provides students with an opportunity to earn transcript notation for rigorous experiences in the following categories: artistry, career related work experiences, experiential learning, leadership, service learning, and undergraduate research. To learn more go to www.niu.edu/plus.

Office of Testing Services

The Office of Testing Services provides a variety of services to students and faculty. This office administers many of the tests associated with undergraduate admissions, course placement , credit by examination, departmental qualification requirements, and admission to graduate and professional schools.

Testing Services maintains files of test scores and serves as the campus location to which scores on tests taken at other institutions or test centers may be directed. Included in this group are scores on the Advanced Placement Program examinations and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations.

Orientation and Enrollment

An orientation program is required of all new undergraduate students (first-year, transfer, and postbaccalaureate) enrolling in on-campus courses. These programs introduce students and family members to university programs, services, and facilities and describe some of the varied aspects of college life. Academic advising, and registration information are included as part of the program.

Off-Campus and Online Students. New undergraduate students (transfers and post-baccalaureate) who will enroll only in off-campus courses are not required to attend an orientation session, but academic advising is required prior to course registration.

Parking

Parking permits are required on campus unless pay parking is utilized. Parking facilities are limited and controlled. Parking lots are color-coded; all vehicles, including motorcycles and mopeds, must display an appropriate permit. Special parking privileges are extended to handicapped persons and to individuals who are temporarily disabled. For further information, contact Campus Parking Services, in the Duramad Building, 121 Normal Road, located on the corner of Normal Road and Lincoln Terrace at 815-753-1045.

Fifteen-minute loading and unloading spaces are located throughout campus and require no special identification other than the use of the vehicle’s emergency flashers.

Recreation Services

Fee-paying NIU students on the DeKalb campus are automatically members of Campus Recreation for that semester. Campus Recreation also offers affordable memberships for students who have not paid NIU DeKalb campus fees and students’ families and significant others. Current memberships with Campus Recreation include access to the Student Recreation Center, the Chick Evans Field House, Anderson and Gabel pools, the Outdoor Recreation Sports Complex, and New Hall and Gilbert Hall Fitness Rooms during Open Recreation hours. Within those facilities, members are able to take advantage of:

• Cardio and strength training rooms and equipment
• Exercise boxing area
• Racquetball/wallyball courts
• Multipurpose courts (basketball, volleyball, indoor tennis, badminton, floor hockey, indoor soccer, etc.)
• Indoor tracks
• Locker rooms with dry saunas
• Sports equipment check-out
• Open and lap swimming at pools
• One group cardio equipment orientation
• One group strength training session
• Nutrition consultations–healthy eating habits are critical to achieving wellness. Interns help determine calorie requirements needed to achieve an individual’s weight goal and assist with food planning.
• New Hall and Gilbert Hall Fitness Centers
• Outdoor basketball courts
• Natural and artificial sports fields to accommodate: softball, baseball, flag football, lacrosse, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, and Quidditch.

Campus Recreation offers numerous recreation programs and services at affordable rates:

• Group Fitness Classes–trained instructors offer over 35 classes weekly and incorporate a unique blend of strength and conditioning exercise to give participants workouts that creates results.
• Personal Training–nationally certified trainers design and implement a program to meet your needs.
• The Outdoor Adventure Center has a complete line of outdoor gear rentals such as canoes, kayaks, life-jackets, cross country skis, ice skates, tents, sleeping bags, roller blades, outdoor sport equipment, etc.
• Adventure trip leaders coordinate a variety of outdoor pursuits such as hiking, canoeing, backpacking, rock climbing, and caving.
• 31 sports clubs which practices and competes against other universities. 
• Aquatics–swimming lessons, stroke clinics, and lifeguard certification classes are offered.

For more information regarding employment, programs, and services please contact Campus Recreation at 815-753-0231, e-mail at CampusRecreation@niu.edu, or visit our website at www.niu.edu/campusrec/.

Students’ Legal Assistance Office

Two Illinois attorneys and their staff provide legal information, court representation, and assistance to eligible fee-paying NIU students. The office handles a large variety of cases including landlord-tenant, criminal misdemeanor, traffic, consumer, discrimination, personal injury, employer-employee, public benefits, and domestic relations. It is preferred that appointments be made. The office is located in the Campus Life Building Room 120 and can be reached by calling 815-753-1701 or by visiting www.niu.edu/legal and filing out the online intake form.

The office is funded by the NIU Student Association. The attorneys are prevented by their contracts and the Code of Professional Ethics from handling matters relating to NIU and matters between NIU students. Persons able to procure private counsel are not eligible for litigational representation.

In addition to its direct legal services, the lawyers have developed an extensive “preventative-law” program designed to prevent problems through community education. Handout materials include a Dispute Resolution Handbook, Landlord/Tenant Handbook, Used Car Buyer’s Guide, Traffic Ticket Handbook, Preventing Sexual Assault Handbook and various forms including an apartment condition report, subleases, and roommate agreements. There is extensive information regarding many legal issues on the website at www.niu.edu/legal.

Other Campus Human Service Agencies

The School of Family and Consumer Sciences Child Development and Family Center (CDFC) (Gabel Hall, Rooms 169-170, 815-753-1150) is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and is recognized by ExceleRate Illinois as a Gold Circle center, the highest level of quality. The CDFC provides high quality child care programs for children ages 8 weeks to 6 years. Enrollment in all programs is open to the university and DeKalb communities, with full-day enrollment throughout the year while NIU is open. Children are enrolled based on available space, time of request, and their age. Assessment of each child’s readiness for a group experience is made in early contacts. The facility is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for 44 children, and is a research and training facility for child development majors sponsored by the School of Family and Consumer Sciences. For more information, contact the Child Development and Family Center.

The Community Counseling Training Center (Graham Hall 416; 815-753-9312) is a counseling and training clinic, providing free counseling services to children, adults, couples, and families of NIU and the surrounding communities. Counselors are advanced graduate counselors-in-training working under the supervision of NIU Counseling Faculty, who are Counselor Educators and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors, Licensed Professional Counselors, or Professional Educator Licensed School Counselors. Counseling involves supporting clients in personal growth and the resolution of emotional challenges, as well as with academic and career concerns. Services provided include individual counseling, play therapy, couples counseling, family counseling, group counseling, and psychoeducational and career counseling. To request counseling services, you can visit their office or the Community Counseling Training Center website.

The Couple and Family Therapy Clinic (Wirtz Hall, Room 161, 815-753-1684) provides counseling for couples, families, children, and individuals to those affiliated with NIU and residents who live in the surrounding communities of Northern Illinois.  The therapists are graduate student therapists under the direct supervision of licensed marriage and family therapist faculty, who are also Approved Supervisors through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.  The graduate program in marriage and family therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. The facility and program are part of the School of Family and Consumer Sciences in the college of Health and Humans Services. For more information, visit our website: http://www.chhs.niu.edu/clinics/couple-family-therapy/index.shtml.

The Physical Therapy Clinic (Family Health, Wellness and Literacy Center, 3100 Sycamore Road, 815-752-2675, ptc@niu.edu) offers a comprehensive program of evaluation and treatment for individuals with acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions and balance/dizziness assessments and treatment. The clinic is a program of the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders and accepts most insurance plans.

The Psychological Services Center (Psychology Building, Room 86, 815-753-0591) offers psychotherapy and psychological evaluation services for individuals, couples, children and families from the general community as well as NIU. For full-time NIU students, therapy is free of charge; evaluations are at a reduced flat fee. For military-connected students, extensive assessment (e.g., disability claims, attention/learning issues) is available at very low or no cost.  Clients from the local community pay according to a sliding fee scale for therapy and evaluations. The center is staffed by faculty and doctoral students in clinical and school psychology in the Department of Psychology.

The Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic (Family Health, Wellness and Literacy Center, 3100 Sycamore Road, 815-753-1481, slhc@niu.edu) offers a comprehensive program of evaluation and treatment for individuals with a hearing concern, tinnitus, dizziness/balance or concussion-related issues, as well as speech, language, cognitive communication and swallowing disorders.  Hearing aids and cochlear implants, accessories, and repairs are available. The clinic is a program of the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders and accepts most insurance plans.

The university’s courses at regional sites are taught by university faculty and are available to students meeting the standards and prerequisites of courses taught in DeKalb. Baccalaureate degree completion programs are scheduled at regional sites at times and places convenient for adult students who generally are able to pursue degree work on only a part-time basis.

Northern Illinois University, in collaboration with regional community colleges, offers bachelor’s degree completion programs in high-impact disciplines such as applied management in public safety and computer science, business administration, education, health and human sciences, industrial technology, and nursing. Degree-completion opportunities are designed to articulate with A.A., A.S., and A.A.S. degrees. Affordable off-campus classes are offered evenings and weekends at NIU Outreach Centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Rockford; on the campuses of partner community colleges; and online; providing flexible options for working adults, regardless of where they earned previous college credit. Northern Illinois University has formal partnership agreements with the College of DuPage, the College of Lake County, Elgin Community College, Harper College, Rock Valley College, and Waubonsee Community College.

Students admitted to NIU as degree-seeking students as well as visiting students and non-degree students may enroll in courses offered at regional sites. Adult students who are exploring various disciplines and testing their resolve before formal commitment to a degree program are also welcome in these courses, as are adults who wish to pursue nondegree courses for personal and professional development. Courses are taught in several community college districts, including DuPage, Harper, Elgin, Joliet, Oakton, Rock Valley, and Waubonsee.

Rapidly developing technologies, new discoveries emerging from research, and expanding knowledge in every field make continuing education and development a necessity for professionals who wish to maintain competency on a level equal to that of their most recently graduated colleagues. The extending of university resources to public groups sometimes takes the form of providing updating and refresher courses to practicing professionals who want to stay current with the latest developments in their fields. Sometimes professionals in one field need the practical knowledge and informed theory of another field. To meet such diverse needs, outreach staff in the colleges and staff in the division of Outreach, Engagement, and Regional Development identify and consult with faculty to develop and present instruction in the format most appropriate to particular groups of professionals.

The university provides professional development experiences in a variety of appropriate formats such as one-day workshops, seminars, conferences, training programs, short courses, guided individual study courses, and consultations. Enlisting the instructional and research expertise of the diverse university faculty, the outreach and programming staff match these resources with the articulated needs of practicing professionals in Illinois. Many of these short courses are tailored to meet the professional needs of a particular agency or business. Others are offered more broadly, attracting participants from across professions, communities, and companies.

NIU Hoffman Estates, NIU Naperville, and NIU Rockford

The NIU Outreach Centers at Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Rockford function both as facilities for corporate clients and as after-hours locations for NIU programs for adult learners. All these facilities provide daytime space to businesses, organizations, and associations in a professional environment ideal for training sessions, meetings, and special events. As regional sites, the Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Rockford centers provide evening and Saturday classroom and computer laboratory space for NIU’s academic programs. The credit courses typically available at the centers are offered at the graduate level and the upper-division, undergraduate level.

Offices on NIU’s DeKalb campus handle all admissions, registration, advising, class scheduling, class materials, and specific information regarding classes offered at all regional site locations.

The Lorado Taft Field Campus

The 140-acre Lorado Taft Field Campus is located approximately 35 miles west of DeKalb near the city of Oregon, Illinois. This Field Campus, adjacent to the Lowden Memorial State Park, is nestled in a hilly and heavily wooded area on the east side of the Rock River, which was formerly the site of the Eagle’s Nest Art Association. The buildings in this scenic area are equipped for year-round use. The area is ideal for practical natural laboratory work and study of various aspects of environmental education not available in the traditional classroom. The facilities of the Lorado Taft Field Campus may also be used for meetings, conferences, workshops, and retreats by other university-related groups on a space-available basis at a modest cost.