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Join President Lisa Freeman, her leadership team and fellow colleagues for the Annual President's Holiday Gathering on Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Altgeld Hall Auditorium. Employees are granted release time to participate. .

Sponsored by the Division of International Affairs, International Education Week draws attention to Â鶹¾«Æ·â€™s increasing strides towards internationalization at Â鶹¾«Æ·. International Education Week (IEW) is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. Their goal is to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences.

We look forward to celebrating our graduates during commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 and Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 at the Convocation Center.

Please consider volunteering your time at these events to help make them successful for our graduates, families and guests. Volunteers are critical to creating fun, organized and celebratory events. If you are able to help, and are not already participating through your academic college, please sign up by no later than Monday, Nov. 24.

As part of our ongoing efforts to evaluate and support the most effective teaching and learning technologies at Â鶹¾«Æ·, the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) is conducting a review of three key platforms: Yellowdig, VoiceThread and Respondus.

Your feedback will play a vital role in this process. We want to understand how these tools are being used across courses, the benefits and challenges you’ve experienced, and how well they support your instructional goals. The insights you share will directly inform decisions about tool renewals, training and future technology support at Â鶹¾«Æ·.

On Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, faculty who have used Yellowdig, VoiceThread or Respondus in their Blackboard courses within the last year will receive an email invitation to complete our faculty tools user survey. This survey only takes a few minutes to complete — and your input will make a lasting impact on the tools and technologies available to support teaching and learning.

Thank you for helping us shape the future of teaching innovation at Â鶹¾«Æ·.

If you are a faculty member with regalia you no longer need, please consider donating it to the Huskie Closet this semester so other Â鶹¾«Æ· faculty members may borrow it for future commencement ceremonies.

You may drop off clean regalia in good condition at Huskie Closet, Chick Evans Field House, Room 102 during the following times: 

When dropping off, please include a note with your name and what degree and academic area your regalia represents; items will be organized and available for faculty to borrow for May 2026 commencement. Thank you!

Noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.
Join us for an interactive session to explore Quinncia, an AI-powered career readiness platform based on Applicant Tracking Systems. Quinncia is designed to help students build stronger résumés, practice interviews and improve their confidence when entering the job market. This session will provide an overview of Quinncia’s features, including its AI-driven résumé feedback, virtual interview tool and LinkedIn review, as well as best practices for integrating Quinncia into your courses or career development curriculum. Advance registration required.

Share your voice and vision at Â鶹¾«Æ·â€™s Real Talk Conference 2026: Stories of the Past, Visions for the Future on Feb. 6, 2025. We invite faculty, staff, students and community members to submit proposals that spark dialogue, inspire change and highlight diverse perspectives. Whether through research, creative projects, performances or interactive workshops, this conference celebrates authentic storytelling and courageous conversations that move us toward a more inclusive future. . Don’t miss your chance to contribute your insight and experience — submit your proposal today and help shape this year’s Real Talk Conference.

It’s that time of the semester: Course evaluations for 16-week classes are open. Keep an eye on your inbox for an email from BlueEvaluations@niu.edu with all the details. 

Pro tip: Want to boost your response rates? Set aside class time for students to complete their evaluations — it's a win-win.
Starting in November, you’ll be able to track response rates, so stay tuned and help us make every evaluation count.

For additional information about Blue Evaluations, please visit our website. 

The Retirement Research Foundation (RRF) limits the number of proposals an institution may submit to one letter of inquiry per college per grant cycle. Because the RRF operates three grant cycles per year, Â鶹¾«Æ· will have multiple opportunities to submit a LOI in a year but is limited to one LOI per college per cycle. The Office of Research Development (ORD) will coordinate an internal selection process to determine which proposals will move forward as Â鶹¾«Æ·-nominated (LOIs) to the foundation.

The Retirement Research Foundation supports initiatives that enhance the quality of life for older adults. The foundation awards five types of grants by funding research and projects that advance its : caregiving; economic security later in life; housing; social and intergenerational connectedness; organizational capacity building; and other promising projects through funding grants in the five pathways of , , ,  ²¹²Ô»å . Each pathway has distinct eligibility criteria. For more information, please visit the webpage for each key area. While the priority areas reflect the foundation's primary funding interests, it remains open to considering compelling applications addressing other topics on a limited basis, as long as they align with its core mission of improving the quality of life for older people. 

Interested applicants should read .

Summary of Process and Deadlines

Interested applicants must submit a notice of intent (NOI) to ord@niu.edu by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. Please include the following information:

Should interest exceed the limit of one proposal per college, ORD will conduct an internal competition to select which proposals will move forward.

ORD will notify individuals who submit NOIs of next steps by Wednesday, Nov. 26.

LOI due to the Retirement Research Foundation: 5 p.m. Feb. 1, 2026.

Â鶹¾«Æ· may not support or submit proposals from applicants who do not comply with this NOI requirement.

Huskie Trek Talks showcases the bold, interdisciplinary work of Â鶹¾«Æ· faculty and students who are driving innovation, research and artistry across campus. The proposal deadline for the 2026 Huskie Trek Talks has been extended to Monday, Dec. 1. This year, $80,000 in funding is available to support innovative projects. Whether your idea enhances forward thinking research, strengthens community partnerships or drives positive impact in other areas — we want to hear from you.

There’s still time to apply. Don’t miss the opportunity to bring your vision to life.

Do you lead or oversee a volunteer leadership group like an alumni council? Looking for ways to support their professional development? You and your volunteer leaders may be interested in the 2026 Volunteer Leadership Summit.

Hear from professional experts about key university initiatives, expand volunteer leadership skills and network with fellow volunteer leaders. Email volunteer@niu.edu before Friday, Nov. 28 for more information.

Â鶹¾«Æ· Recreation wants you to invest in your health. to help us find out how to make Â鶹¾«Æ· Recreation the best fitness membership choice for you.

Come join us in supporting Â鶹¾«Æ· students by volunteering at our Huskie Food Pantry. As faculty, staff, alumni or friends of the university, your time and energy can make a meaningful impact. This is a critical time for the pantry, and your support helps ensure students have access to essential resources.

Whether you're a returning volunteer or new to the pantry, we welcome your help. Available shifts include:

. Thank you and go Huskies!

Applaud a Colleague is a show of appreciation for those coworkers who go above and beyond. These are just a few of the employees throughout the university that go the extra mile:

Tip: Submit your event, lecture, training session or deadline to the to help inform Huskies about everything that is happening on campus.