On behalf of all the students, faculty and staff of Northern Illinois University, allow me to extend to you a warm welcome and best wishes as you begin your time here at NIU.

Throughout history, education has been the key to helping individuals gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in every type of economy. Toward that end, NIU puts at your fingertips an endless array of resources that can help you secure the knowledge and cultivate the skills needed to thrive in changing and uncertain times. However, it is up to you to make the most of those resources.

Take the time to get to know your professors outside of the classroom. I believe you will find them more than happy to act as mentors as well as teachers, providing you with an invaluable resource as you chart your course to a degree and a successful career.

Explore the many off-campus opportunities available to you. Internships, cooperative education, study abroad programs all can open doors to satisfying careers and exciting new experiences.

Pursue the many learning opportunities that exist outside of the classroom. Participating in any of the dozens of clubs and organizations available to you, from fraternal organizations, to student government to religious groups and intramural sports teams will involve you in the life of the university and help you learn more about yourself in the process.

Such a level of participation will greatly enhance the value of the time you spend here at NIU, and help you to become a well-rounded, more valuable member of society, one who is ready for whatever challenges await after graduation, and one whom we will be proud to claim as an alumnus.

John Peters

NIU President