Dear Students,

Welcome to Northern Illinois University! We are excited to have you joining our Huskie family, especially the nearly 6,000 of you who are living on campus. Starting college (or starting at a new college) is an amazing experience, and we have been planning your arrival for some time.

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight three important aspects of on-campus living. Living on campus will not only ease your transition to NIU, but also support your academic success and enable you to become involved in a variety of activities that will enhance your time in college.

Additionally, Housing and Dining staff members are resources to assist you throughout the year.

Housing & Dining is committed to providing you with an educationally empowering community.

Toward that end, the residence halls have many amenities to support your academic goals.

Collaborative relationships with ITS and First Year Composition enable us to offer computer labs that are open 24-7 in each complex, high-speed broadband connections in every room, wireless Internet in floor lounges and public areas, and a number of first year composition classes taught in classrooms in Lincoln, Douglas and Neptune. In addition, there are study lounges throughout the buildings, and a partnership focused on student learning with ACCESS allows us to offer tutoring services in Grant Towers and Lincoln/Douglas Halls. The University Writing Center, located in Stevenson Towers, is also open to all students.

Living on campus will provide you many opportunities to develop your leadership and organizational skills. Students who become involved in their community have more positive college experiences and are more prepared as they exit college. I encourage you to get involved — whether it’s volunteering to coordinate intramural teams for your floor or running for a position in the hall government. A few organizations you should consider are the Residence Hall Association (RHA), Hall Council and Believing in Culture (BIC). Our campus leaders go on to do great things, and it is never too early for you to get involved. Attend the organizational meetings that will be occurring over the next several weeks.

In the residence halls you will also find a number of staff who are eager to assist in your transition to NIU. You should have already met the Community Advisor (CA) living on your floor. This student leader is an excellent resource who will coordinate a variety of social and educational events for your floor. Be sure to get to know your CA. Additionally, full time professional and graduate hall director staff live within each of the halls. They are in a position to ensure the community is effectively serving your needs. Housing & Dining staff members are here to support you when you take on those important “first steps”— taking that first exam, going to the first Huskie football game or finding your first on-campus job.

If there is anything that I, or our staff, can do to make you feel more at home, please ask. Our mission is to provide a safe environment where you can learn, grow, and be successful; and we intend to do all that is possible to assist you in your new “home away from home.” Again, welcome to NIU, the residence halls and the Huskie Family!