It’s not all fun and games at NIU, but recent research projects conducted by mechanical engineering and business students might convince the 5,000 incoming students otherwise.

This year’s Academic Convocation, to be held Friday at 10 a.m. in the Convocation Center, is students’ official induction into NIU’s academic community. It will highlight the work of two student-faculty teams, one which used video-game technology and the other a popular television series to enhance learning.

Students and faculty from mechanical engineering will unveil their project, a video game designed to help students learn mechanical engineering practices. Also, a student-faculty team from the College of Business will present its Marketing Apprentice course, structured to mimic Donald Trump’s popular television series “The Apprentice.”

New students will also receive their official NIU pin in a pledge led by Student Association President DuJuan Smith. The convocation will include greetings from President John Peters, Provost Ivan Legg, and Vice President for Student Affairs Brian Hemphill. More than 120 faculty and staff members are expected to attend and participate in the event, which will be followed by the annual FridayFest celebration at noon on the Convocation Center east patio.

Buses will provide free transportation to the event from the residence halls and will return students to the halls following the FridayFest party. Free parking will be available to commuter students on the west side of the Convocation Center in lot C1. Doors will open at 10 a.m.