The first week of the fall semester is coming to a close, and Northeastern Illinois University is starting the school year strong. The University has been awarded a major grant to fund TRIO Student Support Services programs through 2025, and an additional $10,000 has been added to the General Scholarship Fund for students. Read about all this and more in this week’s edition of Noteworthy at Northeastern.
Around the Commons
$3.9 million for TRIO Student Support Services
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded three grants to Northeastern in support of TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS), a program that provides individualized academic and social assistance to students from their freshman year through graduation. The grants were awarded for TRIO’s Regular (Achieve), Disability (Access) and Teacher Preparation programs, and each will have an annual distribution of $261,888 through 2025, totaling $3.9 million. Northeastern is the only university in the state to be awarded more than two TRIO grants. Senior Psychology major Jacquanet Goggins is part of the TRIO SSS Achieve program. Goggins is a single mother with two small kids, one of whom is also learning remotely. She’s also working full-time. “With the support of my faculty advisor and the TRIO staff, I know that I can’t give up now because I have people cheering me on,” Goggins said. “That’s the difference between Northeastern and the other schools I’ve attended. TRIO makes Northeastern stand out.”
Goodwin Scholarship
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Northeastern will not host the Daniel L. Goodwin Distinguished Lecture Series event during the fall semester. Instead, Goodwin and the NEIU Foundation have agreed to redirect the $10,000 that would have been used for the lecture to the General Scholarship Fund. The funding is in addition to the endowed Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education Scholarship Fund that was established in 2015 as part of his historic $2.5 million gift. Students are encouraged to apply now for the additional funds by signing into NEIU Academic Works (located at the top right of the scholarship link).
The plan for Fall 2020
Last week, President Gloria J. Gibson shared a message outlining Northeastern’s plan for the Fall 2020 semester. The requirement to check in with University Police before entering a building has been lifted. Students and employees should enter through designated doors and abide by the directions provided in new health and safety signage. The move to Phase 4 of Northeastern’s custom Return to Work Plan still comes with strict policies and procedures that mean most students, faculty and staff will remain off campus. Northeastern’s Fall 2020 Operating Plan details the official approach to teaching, learning, student life, health and safety, and more.
Get your books
Despite the physical space being closed to the public, the NEIU bookstore remains open and committed to providing students with their required course materials for the Fall 2020 semester. The bookstore is accepting online orders for books and supplies, which can be placed online. The bookstore is currently shipping all online orders directly to students via UPS and is hosting limited-contact/curbside pickup for students who wish to pick up their items on campus. Pickup will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday until Friday, Sept. 4. Students who have Fall 2020 book vouchers may make online purchases through Wednesday, Sept. 2. In order to do this, students may select Financial Aid/Scholarship when choosing a payment method and enter their Student ID (without leading zeros) to charge purchases to a financial aid voucher. Financial aid funds are to be used only for books and approved supplies. Questions may be directed to the store at (773) 442-4990. Bookstore staff will be available 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
And there’s more!
- Change of registration ends Sept. 4.
In the media
- Professor of Education and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Erica Meiners had an excerpt of her book “The Feminist and The Sex Offender: Confronting Sexual Harm, Ending State Violence” featured in the Boston Review. The book was co-authored by Judith Levine.
- Professor Emeritus of Economics Ed Stuart was featured on Better Left Unsaid with Curt Jaimungal.
- Professor of Urban Community Studies Lance Williams was quoted in the Wall Street Journal about the discord between Chicago protesters and community residents regarding reallocating portions of police budgets.
- Associate Professor of Political Science William Adler was interviewed on WGN about the Democratic National Convention.
- Gerry Lekas (B.A. '72 Secondary Education-English Education; M.A. '98 History) published his first book, “Where the Tour Buses Don’t Go: Chicago’s Hidden Sites of the Mysterious, Macabre, Ghostly & Glamorous,” which was featured in the Chicago Tribune.
Student Support Spotlight
Study Spaces
For the Fall 2020 semester, the Student Union and Ronald Williams Library will offer students study spaces by reservation only. These spaces offer access to Wi-Fi, computers and copiers/scanner/printers. A color copier/scanner/printer will be available in the Ronald Williams Library only. Students may reserve a two-hour block for use of either the Student Union or Ronald Williams Library. Please note that there are limited spaces available in each building. The Ronald Williams Library continues to offer Grab & Go services for physical library items.
Student Counseling Services
Students are welcome to contact NEIU’s Student Counseling Services to set up an appointment to talk either by phone or their online platform for teletherapy. To access NEIU’s Student Counseling Services, call (773) 442-4650 or send an email to counsect@neiu.edu. The hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, students may also reach a counselor for more urgent consultation by calling the main number and pressing “2” during the outgoing message.
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