As an institution that is committed to the pursuit of social justice and equality, Northeastern Illinois University has announced the creation of the George Floyd Social Justice Scholarship. Northeastern also celebrated this week’s U.S. Supreme Court decisions to protect LGBTQ workers and DACA recipients. Read all this and more in this week’s Noteworthy at Northeastern.
Around the Commons
George Floyd Social Justice Scholarship
President Gloria J. Gibson has announced the creation of the George Floyd Social Justice Scholarship. The scholarship is one of the many ways Northeastern is demonstrating the University's investment in students who will become community leaders and promote social justice. “I am very proud of our students—many of whom are already engaged in activities to fight against injustice,” Gibson said. “Institutional racism continues to be excruciatingly painful, and the fight for justice must continue. And now, we add another name, Rayshard Brooks, to our cry ‘Black Lives Matter!’” Through contributions to the NEIU Foundation, the University will build an endowed scholarship with an initial fundraising goal of $50,000. The application process and applicant criteria will be developed and announced when they are finalized.
DACA and LGBTQ protections
On June 15, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal civil rights laws protect gay, lesbian and transgender workers. Three days later, the Supreme Court ruled that a rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) by the administration was unlawful, temporarily allowing for the continuation of DACA. “Northeastern stands alongside the undocumented and LGBTQ members of our University Community in celebrating these decisions,” Northeastern President Gloria J. Gibson said. “We also know there's a lot of work that must be done to protect vulnerable segments of our community where they live, learn and work. Our University remains committed to enabling the continued success of DACA students and to securing permanent relief for these aspiring Americans. I call on Congress to pass permanent protections immediately.”
College of Business and Management new concentration and minor
The College of Business and Management has added a Human Resources concentration to its Bachelor of Science in Management and created a minor in Data Analytics. Both will launch with the Fall 2020 semester. The minor will prepare students with the tools and skills to answer interesting data-driven questions in their field. The Human Resources concentration is an addition to an existing degree program and is designed for students who want to gain knowledge of a broad range of human resources principles and practices. Program updates for the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education and College of Arts and Sciences will be announced in the coming weeks.
Fall semester updates
The Fall Transition Steering Committee continues to discuss how to best approach instruction for the Fall 2020 semester. Face-to-face interaction will be kept at a minimum in accordance with federal, state and local guidelines. All instruction will be comprised of courses offered in remote, online, hybrid and, in some instances, face-to-face formats with appropriate safety precautions.
And there’s more!
- Assistant Professor of Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies Sunni Ali published a paper titled “Redefining Exceptionalism: The Importance of Removing Super Hero Language from Education” in the Journal of Education and Culture Studies.
- English student Katelyn Juerjens has published an article in the PopMatters Reading Pandemics series, which is being curated by Assistant Professor Ryan Poll.
- Social Work faculty member Judith Rocha gave an online presentation titled “Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving in the Latinx Community” for the Rotary Club of Chicago-O’Hare on June 18.
- Northeastern’s library is looking for student submissions for “Sheltering in Place: NEIU Archives COVID-19 Documentation Project.”
- Northeastern’s Bookstore is offering free ground shipping on domestic orders so students can still receive their books for courses, as well as order University-branded items such as notebooks and apparel.
- Many of Northeastern’s Community and Professional Education (CAPE) classes, including the new NEIU English Institute courses, are being offered remotely. Registration for many programs is now open.
- Ensemble Español is offering a variety of online dance classes this summer.
Events at home
Though most buildings are locked, Northeastern has adapted by creating remote events.
Ensemble Español
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater featured a performance “Mil Clavos” choreographed by famed choreographer Ron de Jesús this week. Combining flamenco and contemporary dance styles, Jesús collaborated with Ensemble Español, in residence at Northeastern, to create “Mil Clavos – One Thousand Nails” (a ballet in three movements) honoring the Ensemble and founder Dame Libby Komaiko. Ensemble Executive and Associate Artistic Director Jorge Pérez is scheduled to appear on the Auditorium Theatre’s #AudTalk series at 6 p.m. June 24.
Alumna webinar
Alumna Jacqueline Saper (B.S. ’94 Accounting) is scheduled to be featured on Jimena's Iranian Jewish Women's Series on June 23. Saper will discuss her memoir, “From Miniskirt to Hijab: A Girl in Revolutionary Iran.” She will also discuss her memoir on June 28 as part of Jewish Women's Theatre's Sunday Morning at The Braid.
View all of Northeastern’s future events at neiu.edu/events. Please email public-relations@neiu.edu to submit events for consideration in future editions of Noteworthy at Northeastern.
In the media
- Professor Emeritus of Economics Edward Stuart was a featured guest on the LIFE Edge podcast discussing inflation and investments in 2020.
Student Support Spotlight
Student Counseling Services
Students are welcome to contact NEIU’s Student Counseling Services to set up an appointment to talk, either by phone or using their online platform for video therapy. To access NEIU’s Student Counseling Services, call (773) 442-4650 or send an email to counsect@neiu.edu. The hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, students may also reach a counselor for more urgent consultation by calling the main number and pressing “2” during the outgoing message.
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