Greetings from the staff members in the Office of the Ombudsman!

The NIU ombudsman is a neutral party who provides any member of the campus community with confidential and informal assistance that may help resolve concerns related to the university, especially if the situation is not being addressed adequately.

The ombudsman is independent of the university’s formal administrative structure and will consider all sides of an issue in an impartial and objective manner. We cannot impose solutions or settle the matter for you, but we will identify options and strategies and provide advice that may help you resolve the matter.

We hope you all have a productive and successful academic year. To help students avoid problems that can occur at a large university campus like NIU, we offer the following tips:

· Familiarize yourself with university policies and procedures that are featured in publications such as the NIU catalog and the student handbook. Read and refer to them frequently.

· Complete university forms fully and accurately and submit them before any deadline to avoid delays in processing.

· Read and understand your course syllabus for every class. Make note of any changes announced in class, including the date of the change. Whenever questions arise, consult your instructor for clarification and assistance immediately.

· Save a copy of all your work or papers and retain all materials returned to you until you have received your final grade. It also is advisable to maintain receipts for purchases and for books returned to the library.

· Pay all university bills and fines in a timely manner; failure to do so can result in an encumbrance (hold) being placed on your records that would prevent you from registering for classes, receiving your grades and/or obtaining a copy of your transcript.

· Pay close attention to university deadlines printed in the “Schedule of Classes” booklet and in the graduate/undergraduate catalogs. These deadlines are strictly enforced.

· Academic misconduct (cheating) can result in severe sanctions including a failing grade and/or suspension from the university. Never assume that it is acceptable to work with others. Obtain the approval of your instructor prior to collaborating with a classmate on any assignment.

· See your academic adviser at least once a year to monitor your academic progress and degree requirements. Many students who fail to do so find themselves unable to graduate when expected due to unknown requirements.

· Do not sign any document, such as a housing contract, lease, rental agreement, group trip reservation or credit card application, without first knowing the legal significance of your signature. The Students’ Legal Assistance Office, located on the sixth floor of Holmes Student Center, can assist students with legal questions regarding such documents.

· Become involved in a campus student group whose activities are of interest to you. Research studies indicate that students who actively participate in at least one student organization have significantly higher graduation rates.

· Read the Northern Star daily for news regarding campus activities and for important information regarding changes in university policies and regulations that might affect you.

· And our last, but not least, piece of advice is that you treat others in our community with the same respect and dignity that you would like to receive.

We hope that you find NIU to be an open and welcoming community and that you enjoy your university experience.

There are many helpful resources and services available to you on campus. If you wish to contact the Office of the Ombudsman for assistance in resolving a concern that you have, you will find our office on the sixth floor of Holmes Student Center or call us at 753-1414 for an appointment.

You may wish to visit our Web site at www.niu.edu/ombud for more information. WELCOME to NIU!