Correction: The Northern Star mistakenly reported the human diversity requirement would require students to obtain one credit in a human diversity course. However, students would be required to take a three credit hour course.

DeKALB | A bill that requires students to obtain three credits in a course or non-course-based action for a human diversity requirement will seek its final approval from University Council.

The bill requires all undergraduate students enrolled after fall 2017 to complete a course- or non-course-based action in compliance with human diversity. Non-course-based actions allow students to receive credit for completing an activity outside of the classroom.

The Student Association Senate approved the bill during an Oct. 2 meeting after Chief Diversity Officer Vernese Edghill-Walden presented it.

“Since then, I’ve presented to the Baccalaureate Council, and they did approve the human diversity requirement,” Edghill-Walden said.

The bill will be put in front of University Council during a meeting 3 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Holmes Student Center, Sky Room.

Equity in Action

Edghill-Walden said she is also planning events for Equity in Action, an initiative that works towards making students feel they are part of a more diverse and inclusive NIU community.

“One of the things that I think is important about diversity and equity work is being able to not only interact with each other on campus, but to be prepared for when you leave NIU and to work in a global society,” Edghill-Walden said.

Reporting form

Edghill-Walden said she has also helped create a biased reporting form for students who would not feel comfortable reporting a non-emergency incident to NIU police.

The form was created for students who wish to obtain resource information that would not usually go through the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Student Conduct office such as an off-campus or non-urgent issue.

“We do want students to know that when things happen, they still have an opportunity to report it,” Edghill-Walden said.

MAP grant rally

SA Senate Speaker Christine Wang said the Monetary Award Program grant rally will be held at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 3 in the MLK Commons.

MAP grants are at risk for Fiscal Year 2017 because of a lack of funding given to NIU by the Illinois government. The last full allocation was $91.1 million in FY15.

Wang said about 37 percent of NIU’s undergraduate population receives MAP grants. Many of those students come from low-income families that cannot afford to lose those MAP grants, according to a Oct. 17 Northern Star article.

“We will have MAP grant recipients, NIU administrators and student body leaders who will be going and speaking,” Wang said.