An instructor stands at the head of a classroom addressing a group of students

Friday, March 4, 2022

Northeastern Illinois University’s El Centro location is hosting an Open House next week. Prospective students are invited to attend and learn about all the opportunities an NEIU education can provide. The 20th Annual Black Heritage Awards were awarded last week, and the University community mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus Dr. Henry Durward Hofler, who helped start our International Business Conference. Read about these stories, the latest COVID-19 updates and more in this week’s Noteworthy at Northeastern. 

Around the Commons

El Centro Open House

Northeastern Illinois University’s El Centro will host an Open House from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 9. This is a great opportunity for prospective students to learn about student success programs, which offer comprehensive support to help students thrive. Information will also be available about financial aid, scholarships, student clubs and organizations and other University resources. Take a look at the award-winning architecture of El Centro in the video above, which features Maria Luna-Duarte, who is now director of El Centro, then make plans to experience El Centro for yourself! 

Those interested in learning more about NEIU, but can’t attend the open house are invited to schedule a Main Campus or University location tour. Main Campus tours are currently available from 4-5 p.m. on Thursdays. Tours of El Centro, the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS) and the University Center of Lake County are also available by appointment. Contact elcentro@neiu.edu or (773) 442-4080 to schedule an appointment at El Centro.  To schedule a tour of CCICS, contact Alex Gonzalez at a-gonzalez55@neiu.edu or (773) 268-7500. For University Center of Lake County please contact tsteps@neiu.edu or (847) 665-4173. We also have a 360 virtual tour and photo tour available, so prospective students can visit us from anywhere with an internet connection. 

Black Heritage Awards

Eleven members of the Northeastern Illinois University community were honored during the 20th Annual Black Heritage Awards ceremony on Feb. 25 in Alumni Hall on the Main Campus. The Black Heritage Awards ceremony program was developed and planned by members of the Black Heritage Committee that included staff, faculty and students. 

Remembering Dr. Henry Durward Hofler

Henry Durward Hofler, who taught at Northeastern Illinois University for more than 30 years and helped create the College of Business and Technology’s (CBT) annual student-run International Business Conference, died on Feb. 19, 2022. He was 83 years old.

Application Assistance

At Northeastern Illinois University, our mission is you! That’s why, if you’re ready to apply, the NEIU Alumni Association wants to waive your application fee! Use code ALUMREF (all caps) to save $30. If you’re not ready to take that step just yet, that’s okay! Create a custom online viewbook, learn more about our programs and apply when you’re ready. Remember, if you’re a first-time, full-time student and meet eligibility requirements, you could receive four years of tuition assistance with the NEIU For You scholarship! NEIU For You also offers some tuition assistance for transfer students. With our more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and over 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs, there are a lot of opportunities for you to earn your degree. We aim to help you break barriers, not your bank account. 

And there’s more!

  • Applications are now being accepted for student presentations at the John Sargon Albazi Student Symposium, which will be held on the NEIU Main Campus on Friday, May 6. The deadline to submit abstracts for the Symposium is Wednesday, March 23, at 11:59 p.m.
  • Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 NEIU Alumni Awards. The nomination deadline is March 31. 
  • Registration for the Second 8-Week Term of the Spring 2022 semester runs through March 18. If you’ve already been admitted to NEIU, it’s not too late to complete your registration for the Second 8-Week Term of the Spring 2022 semester! 
  • Registration for Summer and Fall 2022 classes is now open. Current and admitted students interested in taking summer classes are encouraged to talk to their academic advisor or contact the Registration Office at registration@neiu.edu or (773) 442-4040, or by visiting Enrollment Services in Room D 101.

To do

Women’s History Month

The Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs invites the University community to celebrate Women’s History Month 2022 by participating in a series of  events. Next week’s events include the International Women’s Day Panel: Care, Culture and Community at 6 p.m. March 8.

To view the complete schedule and sign up for more events, visit the 2022 Women’s History Month webpage. 

Coming next week

COVID-19 update

From Feb. 23-March 2, 2022, two students and three employees reported positive COVID-19 tests. Two of the students and one of the employees were on campus. Since March 2020, a total of 134 employees and 411 students have self-reported to the University that they tested positive for COVID-19. Employees and students who feel sick should stay home. If you test positive for COVID-19, students should immediately notify Student Health Services, and employees should notify their supervisors and the Office of Human Resources. Additionally, faculty and staff are required to report positive and presumptive student COVID-19 cases and exposures to Student Health Services. When someone who has been on campus tests positive, Northeastern works with the Chicago Department of Public Health to determine the appropriate response, which differs greatly depending on the situation. We continue to follow Chicago Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines as we ensure proper protocols and preventative measures are in place for the health and safety of our students and employees. 

Student Health Services has verified the following COVID-19 vaccination rates for Spring 2022: 

  • 95% of NEIU employees are vaccinated; 77% of employees have received boosters
  • 88% of students are vaccinated; 23% of students have received boosters

It is expected that all students and employees will show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or testing in compliance with the current NEIU COVID-19 vaccination policy. Noncompliance may result in disciplinary actions.

Other COVID-19 updates

  • Face masks are still required in all indoor public spaces at all NEIU locations. 
  • The NEIU COVID-19 Interim Policy will remain in effect through the Spring 2022 semester.
  • Campus vaccination clinics and SHIELD Illinois COVID-19 testing are open and available for NEIU community members and the general public. 
  • The federal government is offering free at-home COVID-19 tests through the U.S. Postal Service. 
  • Free KN95 masks are available at City of Chicago alderman offices. It is recommended that residents call their alderman’s office first to ensure they have supplies. Walgreens and CVS locations will also begin distributing free N95 masks provided by the federal government. 
  • The Illinois Department of Public Health will also distribute 225,000 free at-home COVID-19 tests to residents in vulnerable communities through Project Access Covid Tests (Project ACT). Tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis to residents in specific Illinois ZIP codes. 
  • Northeastern has free surgical, KN95 and/or N95 masks available for students and employees. Masks have been distributed to offices and classrooms and are also available at the Welcome Desk at the Main Campus, the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies and El Centro. 

Stay up to date on everything regarding COVID-19 by visiting the Return to Campus website. 

Follow Northeastern on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter! Do you have a story tip? Let the Office of Public Relations know at public-relations@neiu.edu.