DeKALB — The NIU Athletic Committee has opened applications for the new Huskie Fan Advisory Board that will begin its meetings in August.

The Huskie Fan Advisory Board is a volunteer-based group who hopes to improve fan experience as well as university-alumni relationships and increase attendance at NIU sporting events. The board will consist of a group of people who will provide feedback and present new ideas to NIU Athletics about how it could better interact with its fan base.

“This is a very important initiative that we believe will help increase fan engagement and attendance at all NIU athletic contests,” said Sean T. Frazier, associate vice president and director of athletics, according to NIU Media Services. “The concept has been used by a number of athletic departments across the country to address the attendance challenges many [universities] are facing. The Fan Advisory Board will enable us as a department to be more strategic in what we do to engage our fan base.”

Dennis Collins, men’s basketball season ticket holder, will co-chair the board with Ryan Sedevie, senior associate athletic director for external operations.

Applications are open to all with the goal to select a board with representation from current and former season ticket members, alumni, current NIU students, faculty and staff. The committee is unsure of how many people they will admit to the board at this time.

Go to https://bit.ly/2oN7zLz to apply. For questions about the Advisory Board, visit NIUHuskies.com or contact Associate Athletic Director Donna Turner at [email protected] or by phone at 815-753-7573.