Northeastern Illinois University has been named one of nearly 80 colleges and universities in the nation as a Lead Institution by NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the leading voice for the student affairs profession. This is the fourth year Northeastern has been selected to participate.
As a participating institution in NASPA’s initiative on civic learning and democratic engagement, Northeastern has committed to being a leader among American universities in encouraging students’ civic development through thoughtful community partnerships, engaging leadership opportunities and democratic participation.
“Northeastern Illinois University is thrilled to participate in NASPA’s network of institutions dedicated to developing students’ sense of civic identity,” Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Daniel Lopez said. “Our selection is a reflection of the quality of our commitment to inspiring students to take on leadership and service roles.”
Civic leadership and engagement are embedded in a variety of ways in the Northeastern Student Affairs Strategic Plan. Some specific successes are:
- Selected by the American Democracy Project as one of approximately 30 higher education institutions to participate in the Economic Inequality Initiative. Northeastern’s Division of Student Affairs is partnering with the College of Arts and Sciences to link in-classroom and out-of-classroom learning experiences to help students think about and take action to confront the complex causes of growing economic inequality.
- The NEIUGround partnership with the Peterson Garden Project.
- The TurboVote initiative to promote voter engagement among students.
- Awarded a grant by the Illinois Campus Compact and the McCormick Foundation to support the development of a stronger infrastructure for civic engagement.
- National days of service including 9/11, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Cesar Chavez Day.
- Alternative spring break programs sponsored by Student Leadership Development.
- Participated in a national study last year sponsored by the American Democracy Project.
