NIU is combining several of its community service programs in an effort to improve its “extended mission,” said Anne Kaplan, NIU’s vice president for administration and University Outreach.

The new initiative, called University Outreach, will provide support services to NIU’s campus units that assist NIU’s surrounding regions.

“Many people are familiar with the concept at large, land-grant universities of ‘extension services,’” Kaplan said in an NIU press release about the formation of the unit. “NIU has been doing the same thing for years, and now we’ve simply reorganized to bring some cohesiveness and efficiencies to our outreach presence.”

University Outreach will combine the community service abilities of the Center for Governmental Studies, the Illinois Council on Economic Education, NIU’s e-Learning Services, the former Continuing Education unit and the Motorcycle Safety program.

The unit also will handle community services provided by the four regional campus sites in Rockford, Naperville, Hoffman Estates and Oregon.

John Lewis, the associate director of the Center for Governmental Studies, will lead the new unit as its associate vice president.

“Five years from now, I would hope that anyone in the region with a need for research, training, technical assistance or work force education would think first of Northern Illinois University’s Outreach program,” Lewis said.

Three other members of NIU’s staff will take on further responsibilities in an effort to make the program a success.

Kathy Gilmer, currently director of NIU-Hoffman Estates, will coordinate outreach services provided on the four off-campus sites.

NIU-Rockford’s current director, Greg Petty, will direct the support services for to the Outreach units.

Pete Trott, the director of the Center for Governmental Studies, will assist in the organization of the new unit.