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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Michaela Holtz, executive director of Student Affairs Central, gives a presentation about the Huskie Vote Initiative at the Faculty Senate meeting Wednesday. The Huskie Vote Initiative encourages students to vote in elections. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

Huskies Vote Initiative discussed at Faculty Senate

By Emily Beebe, News Editor | September 4, 2024

DeKALB – The first Faculty Senate meeting of the 2024-2025 academic year occurred at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Altgeld Hall Auditorium. In March 2024, the Higher Learning Commission visited NIU for their 10-year evaluation. NIU received accreditation,...

Executive Vice President and Provost Laurie Elish-Piper (left) and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer George Middlemist give a presentation about NIU's deficit mitigation plan. NIU plans on reducing the deficit to $15.4 million by the end of fiscal year 2025 and to $0 by the end of fiscal year 2026. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU to decrease deficit to $15.4 million by FY25

By Olivia Zapf, Editor in Chief | September 2, 2024

DeKALB – As the academic year begins, NIU is staring down a roughly $32 million deficit, meaning finances will be lean; however, the university plans to decrease low-enrollment courses and advocate for additional funds from the state of Illinois. END...

John Acardo, chief human resources officer, gives a presentation about NIU’s budget during the Faculty Senate meeting Wednesday. NIU has a deficit mitigation plan to try and reduce the $32 million deficit. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

Deficit mitigation plan discussed at Faculty Senate

By Emily Beebe, News Editor | April 24, 2024

DeKALB – From 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Altgeld Hall Auditorium, Faculty Senate held their last meeting of the 2023-2024 academic year. Laurie Elish-Piper, executive vice president and provost, spoke about the upcoming commencement ceremonies...

State Representative Theresa Mah stands and gives a speech during the Asian American in Politics event. Mah spoke about her experience becoming the first Asian American elected to serve in the Illinois General Assembly. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

State Representative Theresa Mah visits NIU

By Emily Beebe, News Editor | April 24, 2024

DeKALB – In honor of Asian American Heritage Month, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Regency Room of the Holmes Student Center, the Asian American Resource Center hosted an Asian Americans in Politics event. State Representative Theresa...

Laurie Elish-Piper stands smiling. Elish-Piper has taken on the role of Executive Vice President and Provost at NIU. (Courtesy of Mia Hannon)

Laurie Elish-Piper aims for student success

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant News Editor | April 1, 2024

DeKALB – Laurie Elish-Piper is the executive vice president and provost at NIU, she spoke to the Northern Star about her experience at the university.    HOW DID YOU ORIGINALLY FIND YOURSELF IN THE ROLE OF THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT...

A mock-up single dorm in Neptune North sits with a bed, mini fridge and a desk. The Board of Trustees approved a funds request to convert 150 single beds into double dorms. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

Neptune to turn single dorms into doubles

By Gabby Crabtree, Former News Editor | March 21, 2024

DeKALB – The Board of Trustees approved Laurie Elish-Piper as the new executive vice president and provost. NIU had been searching for a new executive vice president and provost since the summer. Elish-Piper stepped in as the interim on July 1, 2023. President...

Rows of desks sit empty in a classroom on the third floor of Reavis Hall. NIU began reducing low-enrollment courses in July. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

$32 million deficit puts low enrollment courses at risk

By Brandon Clark and Rachel Cormier | December 6, 2023

DeKALB – NIU is reducing low-enrollment courses to help chip away at its $32 million deficit and optimize resources.  According to Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Laurie Elish-Piper, revising class offerings is a common collegiate practice...

Two J-term courses sit in an NIU class shopping cart. NIU is offering courses during winter break, including classes like Introduction to FinTech and History of Science. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

Pilot program brings NIU winter semester

By Brandon Clark, News Reporter | November 26, 2023

DeKALB – A pilot program that offers online classes during the winter break, a J-term, is making its way to NIU. The first winter term classes, J-terms, courses that run through the first few weeks of Jan., will primarily offer general education...

Slices of pumpkin pie sit ready to be plated by attendees of the International Thanksgiving Dinner event Monday. Instructors and their families were seated at tables, listening to the speakers within the Duke Ellington Ballroom within the Holmes Student Center. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU hosts 7th annual Thanksgiving with international community

By Gabby Crabtree, Former News Editor | November 21, 2023

DeKALB – International Student and Scholar Services hosted the International Thanksgiving Dinner which welcomed around 100 students and faculty along with their family members to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner. The seventh International Thanksgiving...

A person types on a laptop. NIU is beginning the process of developing a cybersecurity degree completion program. (Getty Images)

NIU develops new cybersecurity degree, looks for director

By Brandon Clark, News Reporter | November 19, 2023

DeKALB – NIU officials are helping students hack their futures with the development of a cybersecurity degree program. The university already has a cybersecurity certificate program at the master’s degree level, but according to Interim Executive...

Altgeld Hall sits under a cloudy sky. Faculty Senate met Wednesday to discuss the multi-year budget plan. (Northern Star File Photo)

CFO Middlemist: ‘The university must change in order to survive’

By Michael Mollsen, Former Written Managing Editor | November 3, 2023

DeKALB – NIU is making plans to cut its $32 million deficit in half by the end of fiscal year 2025. At Wednesday’s Faculty Senate meeting, George Middlemist, vice president and chief financial officer, and Laurie Elish-Piper, interim executive...

NIU provost Beth Ingram steps down from her role while the university's new CFO George Middlemist arrives in January

NIU gains new CFO, provost to step down

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | November 20, 2022

DeKALB – NIU hired George Middlemist as its new CFO, and Beth Ingram, executive vice president and provost, announced she will be resigning in June. NIU found its new chief financial officer in Middlemist, according to an NIU Today news release....