Faculty Senate will continue its discussion of the operation and requirements of the Progressive Learning in Undergraduate Studies report today.Faculty Senate President Bill Pitney motioned to endorse the report Oct. 1, but the motion was postponed to...

Pass: NIU Plus has strong plansThe blueprint for the NIU Plus general education changes is a collection of ideas that need to be put into place soon.NIU has been undergoing a lot of changes to increase student retention and enrollment, improve student...

An editorial cartoon on March 31 depicted students confused about “NIU Plus” and other features of general education reform at NIU. We are delighted that students, and hopefully all constituencies of the of the NIU community, are becoming engaged...

Kim RandallAdding major-specific courses to NIU’s general education is key to enhancing the university’s curriculum and benefiting students.This change could make students more engrossed in their studies, boost grades and even increase participation...

Keeping freshmen enrolled for a full year — and past their first year — has proven difficult for NIU.NIU should focus on three issues that plague incoming freshmen: Tailoring general education requirements to majors, implementing effective financial...

The Northern Star Editorial Board asks, “Why can’t gen. ed courses teach information with real-life applications?” To answer I have to refute three common misconceptions:First, that classes should “teach information.” Gen. eds that only convey...

Gen. eds are the latest in a string of changes at NIU, and it is the program that needs the most help.If gen. eds are around to help students “attain a sound liberal education and to acquire sufficient general knowledge and intellectual versatility...

The General Education Visioning Task Force hosted a symposium to discuss general education reform, allowing student and faculty opinions to be heard.In early 2013 the task force began examining curriculum reform so students can take courses that will...

College is a time for connecting students to an entire world of opportunities, experiences and — most importantly — the chance to learn new things.The things students learn in college can be great tools for making it out in the world when they graduate.Most...