Responsible Conduct of Research Forum Series 

The Responsible Conduct of Research Series will help you learn about responsible and ethical conduct of research from NIU's research faculty and staff. Earn a transcript notation by attending 7 webinars in 2 years and participating in the blackboard discussion. Open to all graduate students from any discipline. Register here! All sessions will be held from 12-12:50pm. You will receive reminders of ALL sessions this fall. 

Dates: 

9/10 - Predatory Journals 
9/16 - Peer Review 
9/23 - Safe and Inclusive Research Environments 
10/1 - Human Subjects Research 
10/9 - Conflicts of Interest 
10/16 - Collaborative Research 

International and Graduate Student Welcome Back Social 
September 5, 3PM to 6PM 
East Lagoon  

 The International Student and Scholar Services and the Graduate School are hosting a welcome back social for international and graduate students! The event will be hosted at the East Lagoon and will include boat rides, yard games, and ice cream! This is an opportunity to meet and connect with other students and staff! Come on out and enjoy the outdoors! We look forward to seeing you there!   

Graduation Application Deadline 

 September 15 is the deadline to apply for Fall 2025 graduation. Please note there is a one-time fee of $55 for all graduates. If you need to defer your graduation, please follow this link. 

Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra  
September 2, 1PM to 2PM  
Virtual 

Blackboard Ultra Course View is modern and intuitive with streamlined workflows to improve your efficiency. If you are new to Ultra Course View, there are several ways to get started, including using CITL pre-built templates. In this online workshop, we will discuss practical strategies for building your course in Ultra Course View. Advance registration required. Register Now! 

Enriching the Design of General Education 
September 5, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM 
Virtual 

The Enriching the Design of General Education (EDGE) initiative supports excellence in general education teaching by fostering a thriving and supportive community of practice among faculty and emphasizing the unique philosophy and practices that define general education courses. This in-person brown-bag event will be informal - feel free to bring your lunch! To kick-off the second year of EDGE, Alicia Schatteman (Vice Provost for Academic Affairs) will provide an overview of the principles and structure of NIU's General Education program. Amy Buhrow (Associate Vice Provost for Assessment and Accreditation) will share the results from the first year of general education assessment in foundational studies courses. Register Now! For more programs, visit our Upcoming Programs webpage! 

Latin Chill and Latino Heritage Month 
September 2, 4-6PM 
Latino Center 

Meet the community, student organizations, and campus partners at the Latino Center Open House. Latino Heritage Month will begin September 11th with an opening parade! Check out all the events! 

Decolonizing Data: Power, Autonomy, and Research Sovereignty 
September 3, 11AM-1PM 
Holmes Student Center Sky Room 
In Person 

Zoë Harris is a community health sciences Ph.D. candidate at the UIC School of Public Health. She is a citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and has worked with her tribe as well as urban Native populations on topics related to Indigenous wellness. Harris is also a Jamaican citizen and has family roots in Selma, Alabama. Therefore, she strives to bring an intersectional lens to all her work. During her presentation, Harris will discuss how much of the data available regarding Native populations is outdated, and at times, incorrect. She will provide decolonizing methods for researchers who work with Native peoples so that they can conduct ethical research that benefits the communities with which they work. Please register here!  

Google Scholar: Advanced Searching Skills for Researchers 
September 3, Noon to 1 PM. 
Virtual 

Google Scholar: Advanced Searching Skills for Researchers will allow you to discover how to use Google Scholar effectively for academic research. Learn advanced search techniques, evaluate source quality, access full-text PDFs, and explore special features that enhance your research process. Register here!  

Introduction to Systematic Reviews 
September 8, 1PM to 2PM  
In Person 

Are you interested in learning more about systematic reviews? In this interactive workshop, you will learn about systematic reviews and how to evaluate them. Learning outcomes are: 

Please register here! 

Morning Brew & Write 
September 9, 9AM-11AM 
Founders Library-71 North-1st floor 
In Person 
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Build community and sustainable writing habits! Join fellow grad students and post-docs every Tuesday 9:00-11:00 AM at 71 North Innovation Partnership Studio (Founders Library basement). 

Schedule: 

Perfect for:  Dissertations, theses, literature reviews for comprehensive exams in certain disciplines, research papers, course papers, any writing project. 

Open to:  All graduate students and post-docs across all disciplines 

No editing or reading of each other's papers required - just keeping each other accountable, focused, and moving writing projects forward. Sponsored by NICCS. Contact Dr. Anna Klis (aklis@niu.edu) or Dr. Matthew Dietch (mdeitch@niu.edu). 

How to Navigate Career Fairs with Confidence Boot Camp 
September 8-11, 2025 1PM to 1:30PM  
Virtual 

Career-fair season is here, which means it’s time to prepare your pitch, write your resume, and start researching future employers.  

If you’re looking to stand out in your internship or job search, join Beyond Graduate School for “How to Navigate Career Fairs With Confidence,” an intensive boot camp designed exclusively for master’s students. This virtual boot camp will help you prepare for upcoming career fairs and meeting with employers. You’ll learn how to introduce yourself, communicate your value, craft standout applications, and build your network.  

During the week-long boot camp we’ll talk about:  

WELCOME VIDEO: How a Career Fair Fits into Your Job Search  

Take the guesswork out of career fairs and walk in with the confidence and strategy that get results. Register to attend! 

Thesis and Dissertation Forms and Deadlines 
September 9, 4PM to 4:45PM  
Virtual  

When should I turn in my committee approval form? How do I change my graduation term? What’s the latest I can defend if I want to graduate this fall? Get these answers and more in this short presentation about graduation deadlines and requirements for thesis- and dissertation-writing students. Register here!  

Thesis and Dissertation Formatting 
September 11, 4PM to 4:45PM 
Virtual  

All NIU theses and dissertations must be formatted according to the guidelines on the Thesis and Dissertation Office website. Attend this short virtual presentation to get an overview of the formatting requirements for these important documents. Register here!  

Career Success Clinic 
September 16, 5PM to 7:30PM 
Holmes Student Center; Capitol Room and Duke Ellington Ballroom 
In Person 

Career Services will host a Career Success Clinic. This is an interactive evening designed to help you feel confident and career-ready, no matter where you are in your journey.  

RSVP is recommended. Visit the calendar link for details and instructions on how to register for this event. 

Writing a Literature Review 
September 17, 4:30PM to 5:30PM 
Virtual  

This webinar will help graduate students move beyond summary and into synthesis as they build their literature reviews. Attendees will explore how to identify key themes, organize sources meaningfully, and engage critically with scholarship. Students will receive practical strategies and tools to build coherence across sources and clarify their scholarly voice.  

Recommended for students in the early stages of thesis, dissertation, or project research as well as those in courses that incorporate literature reviews into their curriculum.  

Includes examples from multiple disciplines and time to discuss source organization tools like reference management systems (RMS).  

This effort is co-sponsored by The Graduate School and the HASC Writing Center. Please register here! 

This effort is co-sponsored by The Graduate School and the HASC Writing Center. Please register here! 

Academic Deadlines 

Graduating this year? Don’t miss an important deadline, such as applying for graduation. Visit the Graduate School for a list of deadlines and contact gradrecords@niu.edu with questions. 

Deadlines for Thesis- and Dissertation-Writing Students 

September 15: Last day to submit Application for Graduation for Fall 2025 
October 10: Last day for Fall 2025 graduates to submit a Request for Oral Defense 
October 31: Last possible day for Fall 2025 graduates to hold an Oral Defense 
November 7: Last day for Fall 2025 graduates to have committee submit Results of Oral Defense 
November 7: Last day for Fall 2025 graduates to submit post-defense papers 

Huskie Food Pantry Fall 2025 Open Pantry Schedule  

August 27 – Dec. 11 
Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 – 6 PM 

The Huskie Food Pantry is open to all enrolled students. Please reserve a 10-minute shopping time with the online Huskie Food Pantry Shopping Reservation Form. We're open on Wednesday and Thursday from 4-6 p.m. You have the option of signing up for one of the two open pantry days per week. Online reservations can be made up to two days in advance of the open pantry day. 

 Do you ever procrastinate? If so, you are not alone! Procrastination is a common stressor and challenge among graduate students. Often, we procrastinate to avoid an uncomfortable task, situation, or negative feeling. As a result, we make a conscious decision to delay the responsibility even if it will cause stress later. Thankfully, there are strategies for tackling this procrastination habit. The best way to face procrastination is to just get started! Tell yourself that you are going to open your laptop and start working on that assignment for 5 minutes. Create these small-time-based initiatives and it will help your mind to slowly build momentum for working on that task. Want more tips and tricks? Join us at "Procrastination Café" every Tuesday from 5-7pm in Ellington's Restaurant at the HSC. Work on assignments in this dedicated space, get prizes for accomplishing your goals, enjoy a café beverage or treat, and discover new ways to tackle procrastination habits. Procrastination Café will start on Tuesday, September 9th. 

Nina Osborne
Higher education and student affairs graduate student

I’m pursuing an M.S.Ed. in higher education and student affairs. I decided to go this route because I was able to succeed with the aid of my academic advisors. Because of them I want to help the next generation of students. The work they do affects thousands of students. To all the academic advisors/counselors: You are appreciated, and your hard work does not go unnoticed.