Academic Calendar

Fall Semester 2015

April-August
New student and family orientation sessions
August 17-21, Monday-Friday
Department, college, and university faculty meetings
August 24, Monday
Classes begin
August 30, Sunday
Last day for undergraduates to add or drop a first-half-semester or full-semester course via self-service in MyNIU
September 1, Tuesday
Last day to apply for Fall 2015 graduation via self-service in MyNIU
September 4, Friday
Last day for undergraduates to add a first-half-semester or full-semester course with approval of course department
September 4, Friday
Last day for undergraduates to drop a first-half-semester or full-semester course with approval of major college
September 7, Monday
Labor Day (university closed)
September 7, Monday
Last day for undergraduates to make up a mark of "I" (incomplete) from the Spring 2015 semester
September 11, Friday
Last day for undergraduates to change a full-semester course from credit to audit or from audit to credit
September 11, Friday
Last day for undergraduates to change a first-half-semester course from credit to audit or from audit to credit
September 18, Friday
Last day for undergraduates to withdraw from a first-half-semester course
October 16, Friday
Last day for undergraduates to withdraw from a full-semester course or from the university
October 18, Sunday
End of the first-half of the semester
October 19, Monday
Beginning of the second-half of the semester
October 25, Sunday
Last day for undergraduates to add or drop a second-half-semester course via self-service in MyNIU
October 26, Monday
Last day for undergraduates to add a second-half-semester course with approval of course department
October 26, Monday
Last day for undergraduates to drop a second-half-semester course with approval of major college
November 6, Friday
Last day for undergraduates to change a second-half-semester course from credit to audit or from audit to credit
November 13, Friday
Last day for undergraduates to withdraw from a second-half-semester course
November 13, Friday
Last day for undergraduates enrolled only in second-half semester courses to withdraw from the university
November 20, Friday
Last day to change or declare a major to be effective for the fall semester
November 25-29, Wednesday-Sunday
Thanksgiving break
November 30, Monday
Classes resume
December 5, Saturday
Classes end
December 7, Monday
Last day for undergraduates to make up a mark of "I" (incomplete) from the Summer 2015 session
December 7-12, Monday-Saturday
Final examinations
December 12, Saturday
End of fall semester
December 13, Sunday
Undergraduate fall commencement and degree conferral

The Hunting Ground screening and discussion

This fall, NIU will be hosting a screening and discussion of The Hunting Ground, an eye opening documentary about sexual assault on college campuses. Please consider incorporating this event into your course syllabi and/or encourage your students to attend.

This event will take place on Wednesday, September 2, at 6:00 p.m. in Holmes Student Center’s Carl Sandburg Auditorium.

According to a recent study, 1 out of 5 women experience an attempted and/or completed sexual assault during their college years. It was found that on college campuses, “sexual assaults were most likely to occur in September, October and November, on Friday or Saturday nights, and between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m.,” and freshmen and sophomores are at a much greater risk of being victims of sexual assault. On average, at least 50% of sexual assaults involved the use of drugs or alcohol. The majority of physically forced or incapacitated sexual assaults were perpetrated by someone the victim knew (79% and 88%).  [Krebs, C.P., Lindquist, C.H., Warner, T.D., Fisher, B.S., & Martin, S.L. (2007). The Campus Sexual Assault (CSA) Study. National Institute of Justice.]

Considering these statistics, it is vitally important that we teach students about the prevalence of sexual assault, as well as ways to reduce sexual assault on our campus. To that end, students who attend The Hunting Ground event are expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1.       Become more knowledgeable about campus policies related to sexual misconduct, as well as locate on and off-campus resources for survivors of sexual assault.

2.       Explain behaviors common to those who commit sexual assault.

3.       Identify the role that men play in ending violence against women.

4.       Discuss the role alcohol and substance use plays in sexual assault and misconduct.

5.       Describe strategies to reduce their own risk, as well as become active bystanders, in situations that may lead to sexual assault.

Following the documentary screening, there will be a panel discussion and Q&A session.

Please visit http://niu.edu/wgs/news/HuntingGround.shtml for more information about this event, or feel free to contact Rebekah Kohli directly at rkohli@niu.edu or 815-753-1044. I have attached a copy of the publicity poster for this event. For a list of other events sponsored by the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, & Sexuality, please visit http://niu.edu/wgs/news/FallCalendarOfEvents.shtml.

The Hunting Ground event is:
Presented by The Office of the President

In partnership with the Office of the Provost; Affirmative Action & Diversity Resources; Academic Diversity Programs; Student Affairs & Enrollment Management; Presidential Commission on the Status of Women; and Center for the Study of Women, Gender & Sexuality.

With sponsorship from: Advocacy Services; Counseling & Consultation Services; Department of Police & Public Safety; Safe Passage; Wellness Promotion; Women’s Rights Alliance.

Welcome Reception

Environmental Technician Job

Sustainability Communications Manager

You will have to go to this page<http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/careers/index.html>, click "external applicant," and then search "sustainability."

Northwestern University

Job Summary:

The Sustainability Communications Manager is responsible for developing and implementing the sustainability communications plan in support of the strategic plan for sustainability. This includes development and management of the website for the office of sustainability, developing written materials and digital copy and maintaining social media accounts.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Lead development and implementation of Sustainability Communications Strategy in support of the Strategic Plan for Sustainability.   
• Manage creation, launch, content development and support of new Northwestern 'SustainNU' website.       
• Lead creation strategy for SustainNU social media strategy including SustainNU twitter and Facebook accounts.
• Lead the creation, development, and distribution of sustainability print communications ' SustainNU Green Guide, Eco-Rep Handbook - and SustainNU newsletter.
• Manage SustainNU Eco-Rep Program (50+ students).
• Support additional NU programming including Green Cup, zero-waste events, sustainability in NU athletics, and STAR.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Completed or currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in related field: Journalism, media and marketing, PR, etc.
• Experience with Web development and maintaining digital tools and resources including HTML email campaigns and dedicated web pages
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects, work independently and in collaboration with team members
• Good analytical and technical skills, project and management skills, solid communication skills, creative, innovative thinker, action-oriented, versatile, ability to adapt in dynamic environment, resourceful and honest.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree with specialization in environmental sciences or energy.
• Computer software & hardware knowledge and proficiency, including: XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, web standards including accessibility and usability, content management systems, PHP, SQL, Subversion, FTP Clients, Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator, some Flash, MS Office.

As per Northwestern University policy, this position requires a criminal background check.  Successful applicants will need to submit to a criminal background check prior to employment.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes including veterans and individuals with disabilities.