Dear Colleagues,

This entry represents the first in a series of occasional posts designed to better acquaint the world with Northern Illinois University (www.niu.edu) and our Division of Outreach, Engagement and Information Technologies (http://www.niu.edu/outreach/about).

Northern Illinois University (NIU) resides in a "global region," one of the few areas in the U.S. that impact international economics, politics, and the arts.  University programs and experts operate on a global stage as well as working directly with local and regional partners.

For the university, the area offers extraordinarily rich opportunities to share teaching and learning, advanced technologies, research, cultural artistry, and technical expertise and services. 

In 2008, the Carnegie Foundation recognized NIU for Community Engagement in Outreach and Partnerships.  We welcomed this designation as a validation of the university-wide commitment to outreach and engagement and the high impact of NIU’s extraordinarily diverse partnerships. 

The Carnegie designation highlighted the importance of engagement as a central university function, an integral part of teaching, learning, and research. 

At NIU, engagement means –

• Mutually beneficial exchanges of knowledge and resources
• Continuous, region-wide access to research, artistry, and scholarship
• Deeper civic and academic learning for both NIU and external partners and enriched scholarship in a context of reciprocity
• Enhancement of community well-being and of the future of the university

Established in 2001, NIU Outreach provides centralized support for outreach and engagement activities delivered by the seven NIU colleges and conducts its own programs in partnership with centers, institutes, and offices across the campus.  About 70% of our budget comes from external sources, reflecting our outward focus and our mission.

Please visit the two web-sites indicated above – wander around and please contact us at [email protected] if you have any thoughts, questions or suggestions.