Popcorn with HASC and University Libraries 
April 8, 2:30 PM-4:30 PM 
NIU Founders Memorial Library, Room 152 

Come enjoy a bag of popcorn, coffee, and conversation as you connect with academic resources available to NIU graduate students, including academic coaching, writing consultations, and research support from library subject matter experts. Free givaways available, come learn about how we can help! 

Free Professional Portraits for Graduate Students 
Wednesday, April 9, Noon – 2 PM  
Glass Gallery, Holmes Student Center 

NIU Photography is offering FREE professional headshots for graduate students. Wear your best, take a few moments to capture the perfect image, and get access to a digital file that you can use for your professional website, LinkedIn profile, and more. Photographer will be available in the glass gallery in the Holmes Student Center.  

Chilling with Chase and friends! 
Wednesday, April 9, 2 PM to 3 PM 
Oasis Pit, Holmes Student Center 

Student Wellness presents an opportunity to restore peace and revitalize your spirit? Come take a break from your day and chill with therapy dog Chase and his friends!  

Virtual Trivia with the Office of Online Learning: Graduate Student Appreciation Week 
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 6 PM to 7 PM 

Join the Office of Online Learning in celebrating Graduate Student Appreciation Week on Wednesday, April 9th at 6pm for a fun, friendly trivia competition where you can test your knowledge on a range of NIU-themed questions. The winners will have the chance to select their prize from a variety of NIU swag! 🐾 This event is open for all current NIU graduate students. Register here: Graduate Student Appreciation Week: Virtual Trivia with the Office of Online Learning 

Lotería Game Night 
Thursday, April 10, 5 PM to 6 PM 
Latino Resource Center 

Visit the Latino Resource Center to play a game of Lotería and win some prizes — Millennial Edition. Lotería is a traditional card game similar to Bingo but using images. Free graduate school giveaways available!    

Graduate Student Bowling and Billiards Social 
Friday, April 11, 3 PM to 6 PM  
Huskie Den, Holmes Student Center 

Join us for a free bowling, billiards, and snacks social at the Huskie Den! Come to chat with graduate students from across disciplines, grab a bite to eat, and hit the lanes. The Graduate School and leaders from Graduate Student Organizations will be sharing information on how to get involved. Come by yourself or bring a group – including faculty, advisors, and other students. This is a family friendly event, children, spouses and partners are welcome! Enter a raffle to win Grad School gear!  

Getting It Write: Group Writing That Works 

April 1, 2025 4:30 PM –5:30 PM 
Virtual 

Collaborative writing projects do not have to be stressful. Join Ashley Bartelt from the HASC Writing Center for a webinar on group writing strategies that promote effective teamwork and clear communication. You will learn how to navigate the challenges of group writing—divide tasks, set goals and edit collaboratively—to create a polished and cohesive final product. This effort is sponsored by HASC; for more information, contact hasc@niu.edu. Register Now! 

Food Truck Wednesdays 

April 2,9,16,23,30 2025 11 AM to 2 PM 
MLK Commons 

Come out for lunch, meet-up with a friend or grab your afternoon pick-me-up from a variety of food trucks each Wednesday through the month of April. 

Local food trucks will line the street on Normal Road in front of the MLK Commons.  Participating Food Trucks include, Ka-Bao! The Press Box, Got Calzoni, Burritoville, Wild Fries, Litte O’s Frozen Treats, Main Squeeze Lemonade .  

What to do if you're getting interviews but no job offers 

April 2, 2025 1 PM to 1:30 PM
Virtual 

Have you been getting interviews but no job offers? Job searching is challenging, and we understand how frustrating it can be not to be selected to move forward in the process. Join the Beyond Grad School team for this webinar where we’ll walk you through what to do if you’re feeling stuck at the interview stage in your job search. You’ll learn effective job search strategies for master’s students, and what catches a hiring manager’s attention. Register to attend!  

Leveraging AI for Career Exploration and Resume Development

April 7, 2025 12 PM to 1 PM 

 Career Services is hosting NIU Career Readiness Week activities!  Intelligence (AI) is a powerful resource for career planning and job searching. Learn how to use AI tools to enhance your career exploration process and improve your career development. 

Documentation: APA Style (7th ed.) By Huskie Academic Success Center 

April 8, 2025 4:30 PM 

Among the 14 documentation styles actively used across NIU, APA (7th ed.) is the most common. Join Ashley Bartelt of the HASC Writing Center for an introduction to this author-date system for handling sources like journal articles, books, and web sites in text and in a references list. This effort is sponsored by NIU’s Huskie Academic Success Center; for more information, contact hasc@niu.edu. Register Now! 

Powering Through Papers: Finals-By Huskie Academic Success Center 

April 15, 2025 4 PM 

Do not let finals overwhelm you! Join us for "Power Through Your Papers," a mini writing group designed to help you make the final push toward completing your final writing projects. Hosted by the Huskie Academic Success Center (HASC), this event will provide structured writing time, peer support, and strategies (plus coffee and snacks!) for tackling your papers and writing projects with confidence. This effort is sponsored by HASC; for more information, contact hasc@niu.edu. Register Now! 

The Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program is giving graduate students an opportunity to advance their PhD thesis research while working at a Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratory. If you're in the following fields, you may want to consider this opportunity: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Planetary sciences, Mathematics, Computer/computational sciences, Engineering, Quantum Information Science, Microelectronics, AI, Data Science.  Applications to the program require a research proposal prepared by the graduate student under the supervision of their Ph.D. thesis advisor. The deadline is May 7, 2025.  

Spring 2025 Thesis and Dissertation Graduates: Oral defense results must be electronically approved and received by April 4, 2025. Properly formatted post-defense documents must be uploaded by that same deadline. Visit the Thesis and Dissertation Office website or contact Christine Holloway, Thesis and Dissertation Coordinator, at cholloway@niu.edu with any questions. 

I am finishing my degree this semester but forgot to apply for graduation. What do I do? 

Apply for Summer 2025 graduation in MyNIU with the degree you are completing (directions here). Then, submit a change graduation term request to be placed on the Spring 2025 expected graduation list. Once your request has been processed, you will receive an automated email notifying you of the change. 

If I apply for graduation late, can I still walk in the ceremony?  

Yes. After you complete the above steps, the Graduate School will reach out to you with instructions on how to RSVP to the commencement ceremony.  

When do I need to RSVP and order my regalia (cap, gown, and hood)?  

If you have received your email invitation to the ceremony and wish to attend, please RSVP by April 28, 2025. Doctoral and MFA students must provide the name of their hooder at this time. Orders for regalia (caps, gowns, and hoods) must be placed by April 18, 2025. More information about commencement can be found on the commencement website FAQ page. 

Kaitlyn Costello
Special education (orientation and mobility) graduate student

I finished my undergrad at NIU as a teacher for the visually impaired, and now I am starting my master’s in special education with a specialization in orientation and mobility, which is where you get to inform the visually impaired about travel safety. I chose this program because it goes hand-in-hand with being a teacher for the visually impaired, and you can provide students with different ways to get around that don’t include driving!