NIU to Host 13th Annual Parade of Flags September 21

Nearly 500 local fifth-graders will carry the international flags of more than 100 nations during the 13th annual Parade of Flags, set to step off at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, from the east side of Huskie Stadium.

Parade of Flags 2011

Participants will march along Lucinda Avenue to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commons, where Pamela Rosenberg, business manager in the Division of International Programs, will lead the ceremony.

“This year we’re trying to help the fifth-graders enjoy the NIU experience, so we’ve invited the NIU Marching Band and the NIU cheerleaders to get the schoolchildren inspired about our university,” said Deborah Pierce, associate provost for International Programs at NIU.

“Hosting the DeKalb schoolchildren for this globally focused event emphasizes the strong partnership among NIU, the local community and our global environment.”

The students, their teachers, chaperones and other parade participants will enjoy a pre-parade luncheon on the grass near the stadium (rain location is the Convocation Center).

Also, prior to the parade, participating students from DeKalb-area schools will have an opportunity to meet with NIU international students and Study Abroad participants to learn directly from the NIU students about other countries where they have lived.

“Both the NIU students and the elementary school students really seem to enjoy this part of the parade because they’re learning from each other as they talk about other nations,” Pierce said.

DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 Superintendent James Briscoe will serve as grand marshal of the parade this year, while NIU benefactor Sally Stevens has been named permanent ambassador for the parade.

In the last academic year, NIU enrolled students from nearly 90 nations, with India, China and Korea sending the largest numbers. Other nations sending large numbers of students include Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam.

For more information, call (815) 753-9526 or email slindell@niu.edu.

ELS Host Families to be Compensated

Have you heard the great news?  The ELS Language Center at Northern Illinois University will compensate its Host Families with a stipend per 4 weeks to host an international student in their home!  

The ELS Language Center at NIU provides intensive English language courses for International students who are planning to go to an American university like NIU!  

Our students come from all over the world to enhance their study of the English language by living in an American home.  ELS Language Centers operates out of Northern Illinois University-DeKalb campus and is currently seeking new Host Homes to add to our expanding program!  Don’t miss out on this incredible culturally enriching opportunity! 

-Host Homes must be less than 45 minutes, preferably less than 30 minutes travel time from the NIU campus.

-Host Homes are compensated with a $600.00 stipend per 4 week session per student.  Maximum of 2 students per home at one time. 

-English must be the primary language spoken in the home.

-Students need to have their own bedroom.

-Host Homes are responsible for providing breakfast and dinner for the student. 

If hosting an international student in your home sounds interesting, or if you would like to learn more, please contact Elisabeth Wright, International Student Advisor/ELS, at 815-753-4600 or at ewright@els.edu.

Provost's Study Abroad Travel Grants Awarded for Summer 2012

In May 2012, 38 students were awarded Provost’s Study Abroad Travel Grants.  Eleven of these students are members of the University Honors Program.  These travel grants were established to enhance students’ opportunities to participate in NIU study abroad programs.  Upon returning from their study abroad program students will complete three hours of volunteer service related to promoting study abroad and give a video testimonial about their study abroad experience.  

 (Front L-R) Dr. Christopher Jones, Associate Vice Provost for the University Honors Program, Sarah Stuebing, Edona Ajvazi, Jennifer Puetz, and Dr. Deborah Pierce, Associate Provost for the Division of International Programs.

 (Back L-R)  Christopher Michels, Dalisa Barnes, Kasey Twine.

Students who received the travel grant for the summer session traveled to a wide variety of countries including Brazil, China, England, France, Malaysia, Peru, Russia, Sicily, Spain, and Thailand.  Recipients came from various majors and their study abroad programs focused on a variety of topics including Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Business, Communication, English, History, Language, Law, Political Science, Theater Arts and more.

The NIU Study Abroad Office offers semester, winter break, spring break and summer programs in over 80 different countries.  NIU's study abroad programs offer opportunities to students from any major.  One of the primary goals of the NIU Study Abroad Office is to help students integrate into the academic, social, and cultural context of another country or countries during their college career.

For additional information regarding study abroad opportunities at NIU or the Provost’s Study Abroad Travel Grants, please contact the Study Abroad Office at (815) 753-0700, niuabroad@niu.edu or www.niu.edu/studyabroad.

Chinese Delegation Visits NIU/ELS Center

On Monday, June 4, 2012, Northern Illinois University partnered with the ELS Language Center to host more than 60 university officials from China to build international partnerships.  The group was honored to meet NIU President John Peters who hopes to make even more connections and establish projects with China.  Wendi Raulie, ELS Language Center/NIU Directory said that 32 universities from various provinces in China were represented on Monday.    

NIU Board of Trustee Bob Boey poses with a visitor and President Peters.

Delegates from the China Education Association for International Exchange spent the last day of their weeklong stay in the US at NIU.  The program for the day included presentations from distinguished guests including President Peters, Associate Provost for International Programs  Deb Pierce, and DeKalb Mayor Kris Polvsen.  Following a welcome reception in the auditorium of Altgeld hall, the 60+ delegates had the opportunity to tour the College of Engineering and the College of Business and met with various faculty followed by a luncheon.  

Associate Provost Deborah Pierce chats with two visitors.

 

Please see the below link to an excellent article and video in NIU Today:

http://www.niutoday.info/2012/06/06/niu-els-partner-to-host-chinese-delegates/

ELS at NIU

International Pathways at Northern Illinois University

Over the past 50 years, ELS has helped more than 1,000,000 students from over 140 nations learn English at ELS Language Centers on University campuses and exciting cities in 11 countries and 87 different locations.   ELS Language Centers provide students with a wide variety of options ranging from intensive English programs and university placement assistance to executive business programs and vacation learning options using an exclusive curriculum developed by ELS including 12 levels of intensive English.  ELS educators are recognized throughout the world for their active participation in the global learning community.  ELS ensures student success through a personalized approach and commitment to student achievement.  ELS is also the leading provider worldwide of English programs offered on University campuses—including Northern Illinois University! 

The ELS Language Center at NIU opened in September of 2010 with a small first enrollment of about 12 eager international students.  Since the opening of the ELS Language Center at NIU, enrollment has increased to 90 international students studying English with top instructors 5 days per week on campus.   

The ELS certificate is respected by more than 650 colleges and universities around the world as fulfilling their English proficiency requirement for admission.  Since the Fall of 2011, almost 20 ELS students have begun their studies at Northern Illinois University in both undergraduate and graduate programs.  

Since the ELS Language Center in DeKalb opened, ELS students have participated in a number of exciting events including the 2010 and 2011 Parade of Flags, International Education Week 2011, and the 2011 Annual Christmas Party at Altgeld Hall bringing cultures from Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Chile, France, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, China, Turkey, Korea, and Gabon to the campus. 

Are you interested in getting involved?  Our ELS Center in DeKalb is always seeking both graduate and undergraduate students interested in becoming conversation partners for our international students, helping them to get involved in university life and practice their English skills.  We are open to collaboration on activities, events, and tutoring sessions. 

For more information about ELS/DeKalb, visit our website: www.els.edu/dekalb or stop by the ELS Language Center on campus. 

ELS Language Center DeKalb

NIU Health Services Building, 3^rd Floor

(815) 753-4600

ewright@els.edu

Dr. Pierce honored with NIU Presidential SPS Award

Congratulations, Dr. Deb Pierce! 

Dr. Deborah Pierce was honored with one of four 2012 Presidential Awards for Excellence given to Supportive Professional Staff at NIU. 

Dr. Pierce is the associate provost for International Programs (in case you didn’t already know!).

Dr. Pierce was honored with this award for her outstanding effort to engage NIU internationally. Her global perspective has been incredibly valuable to the faculty and staff of NIU, and her hard work is not without its rewards. NIU’s international students contributed more than 16 million dollars to the Illinois economy during the last recorded period (2009-10).  

International engagement at NIU gives local and international students the unique opportunity to collaborate and cooperate with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enriching their learning experiences with a global perspective.

The other recipients of the award were Todd Latham, assistant to the chair in the Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations; Michelle Pickett, director of the Academic Advising Center; and Jason F. Rhode, assistant director of the Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center.

We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Pierce for her tireless dedication to advancing the goals of GlobalNIU and pleased to see her receive recognition from NIU President John Peters.  

 Keep up the amazing work!

NIU's Zeta Gamma Chapter Brings Home National Awards from Annual Phi Beta Delta Conference

The Zeta Gamma chapter of Phi Beta Delta was honored at the international society’s annual conference earlier this month with two awards. The Yvonne Captain Faculty Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Education was given to J.D Bowers, associate professor of History, Coordinator of University Teacher Certification, and president-elect of Zeta Gamma Chapter.

 

L to R: Richard Deming, International President of Phi Beta Delta; J.D. Bowers associate professor of History, Coordinator of University Teacher Certification, and president-elect of Zeta Gamma Chapter; and Yvonne Captain, former Executive Director of Phi Beta Delta and the person for whom the award is named.

Congratulations Dr. Bowers, and thank you for your outstanding contribution to Global NIU!

 NIU’s Zeta Gamma chapter was also honored with the Eileen Evans Overall Outstanding Chapter Award. This award signifies the strongest contributions to international education by a Phi Beta Delta Chapter over the preceding year. According to Dr. Deb Pierce, Chapter Coordinator, “Zeta Gamma Chapter and Phi Beta Delta play a significant role in the comprehensive internationalization process at NIU, because through the Society we are able to recognize and thank those faculty, staff and students who make Global NIU a reality. It's wonderful to see these efforts gaining national and international notice.”

Congratulations Zeta Gamma chapter and especially to Christopher M. Jones, who was president of our chapter for the period of time acknowledged by this outstanding award!

L to R: J.D. Bowers, president-elect of Zeta Gamma Chapter; Christopher M. Jones, Associate Vice Provost for University Honors and Past President of Zeta Gamma Chapter; International President Richard Deming; Deborah Pierce, Associate Provost for the NIU Division of International Programs and Zeta Gamma Chapter Coordinator