Graduate School Mission

The Graduate School at Northern Illinois University partners with graduate faculty to provide leadership in the advancement of graduate education through strategic graduate enrollment management and student success initiatives.

Leadership In Graduate Education

• To foster and support high quality academic experiences and opportunities for students to engage in research, artistry and professional practice, including applied learning experiences.
• To collaborate with graduate faculty and staff to facilitate practices in graduate education that are equitable and support student success.
• To advance graduate students’ interests, raise the visibility of timely issues, and advocate for the value of graduate education.

Graduate Enrollment Management

• To steward evidence-based graduate marketing, recruitment, and admission practices.
• To facilitate intentional practices that support equitable access to graduate education through efficient and holistic admission review processes.
• To partner with graduate faculty and staff to welcome, orient, engage, and graduate a diverse student population.

Graduate Student Success

• To foster a vibrant graduate community that promotes graduate student academic success, engagement, and overall well-being.
• To nurture graduate student growth through career and professional development programming and resources.
• To enact policies, regulations and processes with integrity and responsiveness to graduate students, programs, faculty, and staff.