Northeastern Illinois University is the most culturally diverse educational institution in the Midwest.  As such, we are immeasurably enriched by the contributions from all members of our university community. Each year, the Office of Academic Development produces and coordinates a series of Annual Heritage Conferences that celebrate our collective cultural experience and heritage.  The focus of these conferences is to provide a forum to increase our understanding and appreciation of the influence and rich traditions of the many cultures that co-exist in our global community.  Panels, presentations and keynote speakers bring to light issues of relevant local and global importance, which are examined, as we explore the interconnectedness of our existence.  Our Heritage Conferences impart understanding, and implant lasting memories, ideas and concepts in the Hearts and Minds of our students and members of the university community.

Our Annual Heritage Conferences therefore offer a range of programming to support faculty, foster a supportive and collaborative environment in which to explore innovative approaches and enhance the success and satisfaction of students in the pursuit of their educational goals.  We believe that attending our conferences has a lasting significance for students and instructors as this type of engagement brings the written words of textbooks to life, thereby heralding a socially conscious message closer to home.  Our conferences enable students to find meaning in facts presented, and to identify their own important roles in building bridges of understanding that foster respect and appreciation of all, as we live and learn in an ever-changing global society.