Embracing Your Future: A Guide to Northeastern Illinois University

Congratulations on your acceptance to Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)! This article serves as a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the essential steps toward becoming a successful NEIU student. Whether you're a freshman, transfer student, graduate student, or returning after a break, this information will assist you in preparing for your academic journey.

A Warm Welcome and Confirmation of Enrollment

First and foremost, NEIU extends a warm welcome to all admitted students. To help the university prepare for your arrival and provide guidance through the next crucial steps, it's essential to inform NEIU of your intention to attend.

Essential Next Steps for All New Students

Regardless of your program (undergraduate, graduate, or returning student), several key steps apply to all new NEIU students:

NEIUport Activation: After activating your NEIUport account, you can access additional University accounts and Student Computing Services (SCS) computer lab workstations at all Northeastern locations.
N-Safe Registration: N-Safe is the university's system for providing students, faculty, and staff with security and school closure alerts.
Desire to Learn (D2L): Familiarize yourself with Desire to Learn (D2L), the online learning environment where you'll find syllabi, course materials, and communication tools for your courses. D2L also enables you to communicate with the faculty members teaching your courses and your classmates.
Immunization Records: All students must provide documentation of immunization/vaccination history to Northeastern Illinois University Student Health Services. It is highly recommended that all students receive their COVID - 19 vaccinations, including boosters.

Financial Aid and Tuition

Understanding your financial options is a crucial part of preparing for college. NEIU offers various resources to help students manage tuition and related costs:

Financial Aid Letter: Approximately two weeks after being admitted and receiving your financial aid application, NEIU will provide you with your Financial Aid Letter in NEIUport. Simply log into NEIUport and click the “My Financial Aid” link and then the link under "Financial Aid Awards" to view your information.
FAFSA: Domestic students pursuing a bachelor's degree can determine eligibility for federal and state student aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible, making sure to include Northeastern Illinois University school code 001693 on the application.
RISE Act and Alternative Application: The Illinois Student Assistance Commission states that the Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act allows eligible undocumented and transgender students disqualified from federal financial aid due to failure to register for Selective Service to apply for all forms of state financial aid. The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid provides a way for these qualified students to apply for the Monetary Award Program (MAP), the state's largest need-based grant program for low-income college students.
Tuition Rate Guarantee: Northeastern Illinois University offers a tuition rate guarantee for undergraduate students who are continually enrolled for four consecutive years.
In-State Tuition for Neighboring States: In-state tuition rates are extended to undergraduate and graduate students admitted from the neighboring states of Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students: Undocumented students may be eligible for in-state tuition. Complete the Affidavit for Eligibility for In-State Tuition form, available in your application status portal.

Academic Advising and Registration

Navigating course selection and degree requirements is made easier with NEIU's advising resources:

Placement Exams: After completing your placement exams, schedule your advising appointment. The first appointments for Fall registration will be on or after March 20.
Undergraduate Advising: During your meeting with a Major Advisor, you will learn about our majors' degree requirements, how to use the degree evaluation tool, and register for classes. View our Undergraduate Advisor Directory. Their contact info can be found here at the Advising Center. The Advising Center is located on the Main Campus, Lech Walesa Hall, Room 0027.
Graduate Advising: Make an appointment with your Graduate Advisor to discuss the requirements of your academic program and your plan of study, and to ensure you select the most appropriate courses for your first semester. The name of your Graduate Advisor is indicated in your admission letter.
NEIUStar Survey: Before you can meet with an advisor and select classes, you must complete the NEIUStar survey. This survey helps your academic advisor understand you better before you both meet, and helps select the right classes for your first semester. Plan to take your math and English placement tests before meeting with an academic advisor. Doing so will help your advisor guide you to the courses that best meet your needs.

Orientation

All new students must attend an orientation day at the main campus -- to sign up, visit neiu.edu/orientation. NEIU’s Orientation Program is designed to introduce you to all of the resources we have available on campus to help ensure your academic and social transition into our community is as smooth as possible. We want to make sure you have everything you need to be successful once you begin classes, including financial aid information, knowing what is expected of you as a community member, as well as all of the resources and tools available to you, so that you know exactly where to go for help when you need it. Additionally, all students must meet with an academic advisor before orientation, who will help them sign up for the session. To help you kick off your NEIU student experience, all undergraduate students must attend an orientation day at the Main Campus. Your new student orientation covers everything from financial aid to how to be an active member of our student community.

Campus Life and Resources

NEIU offers a variety of resources to support students' academic and personal growth:

Student Housing: New students are not required to live on campus, but limited space is available. June 1 is the priority deadline to have received a scholarship and have applied for housing (for students enrolling in the Fall semester). You may apply for a housing scholarship before applying for housing. Live where you learn! Student housing is limited. Need additional financial support for housing? The Nest: It is NEIU's residence hall.
Student Computing Services (SCS): After activating your NEIUport account, you can access additional University accounts and Student Computing Services (SCS) computer lab workstations at all Northeastern locations.
Ronald Williams Library: It is NEIU's Library.
El Centro: This campus is located in Chicago’s neighborhood of Avondale. The facility offers courses for four programs.
Jacob H. Carruthers Center of Inner City Studies (CCICS): This campus is located in Chicago’s neighborhood of Bronzeville. The center is the only facility that offers the Inner City Studies and Urban Community Studies programs.
Alumni Center: It is a meeting place and resource center for all NEIU alums.
Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh Servant Leaders Hall: It is located in the College of Business and Technology. The hall is the first and only hall in the world named after Mohammad Mossadegh, premier of Iran from 1951 to 1953.
Student Disability Services: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Northeastern Illinois University does not discriminate against persons on the basis of disability. In addition, Northeastern provides reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Students seeking reasonable accommodations in the classroom should contact Student Disability Services (Room D 104). Students seeking temporary handicapped parking permits should contact Student Health Services (Room E 051).
Northeastern Illinois University is committed to providing you with the information and materials you need to vote. Go to NEIU's Turbovote site and register online to vote in Illinois (you can also register if you live in another state - though online registration restrictions vary from state to state). You can do this all for free!

Safety and Security

NEIU prioritizes the safety and well-being of its community:

Reporting Crimes or Emergencies: This report contains information on: 1) the reporting of crimes or emergencies, 2) law enforcement authority and interagency relationships, 3) security awareness and crime prevention program, 4) maintenance and security of campus facilities, 5) access to campus facilities, 6) drug and alcohol policy, 7) crime statistics, and 8) policy and procedures regarding sexual assault (including prevention and awareness of sex offenses, procedures to follow if a sex offense occurs, procedures for on campus disciplinary action, possible sanctions, and distribution).

A Brief Overview of NEIU

Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) is a public university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1867 by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, it was established as the first teacher training school in Cook County. NEIU is both a Hispanic-serving institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution. The main campus is located in the Chicago area of North Park with two other additional campuses in Chicago. The university traces its history to Cook County Normal School to train elementary and high school teachers. It was founded in 1867 in Blue Island, Illinois as Cook County’s first teacher training school. In 1949 the Chicago Teachers College (CTC) separated into two branches with the north branch eventually becoming Northeastern Illinois University and the south branch becoming Chicago State University. In September 2016, Northeastern first began to offer on-campus housing for its students. Initial plans to expand and construct new dormitories on land seized through eminent domain from the neighborhood were delayed because of strenuous objections from the neighborhood, social activists, some of the faculty, students, and alumni. Beginning the pursuit of the neighborhood land in 2014, the properties were acquired by the University through eminent domain in 2016. Construction is still several years away due to decline in student enrollment.

A Look at NEIU's History

Northeastern Illinois University's journey has been marked by significant milestones:

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1867: Founded as Cook County Normal School in Blue Island, Illinois.
1896: Renamed Chicago Normal School.
1938: Became Chicago Teacher's College.
1966: Transitioned to Northeastern Illinois State College.
1971: Achieved university status as Northeastern Illinois University.
2016: Introduced on-campus housing.

Athletics

Northeastern Illinois competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for 20 years until joining the higher profile National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1988. The Golden Eagles played as independents until finding a place in the short-lived East Coast Conference for the 1993-94 season. Northeastern Illinois were then invited to join the Mid-Continent Conference, now known as the Summit League, where it would play for the next four years. Chief among the highlights of this era was the baseball team's 1996 Mid-Continent Conference championship and NCAA Tournament bid, where they beat Northern Illinois in a play-in series to reach the tournament. Men's basketball player Andrell Hoard won the ESPN National Slam Dunk Competition, but lost the conference championship to Valparaiso University by one point in a nationally televised game where ingloriously the Golden Eagle's Mascot committed a technical foul by body slamming the other mascot at center count like a linebacker on national TV, making ESPN's daily highlights. In 1977, a men's club soccer team was formed by students from local soccer organizations around Chicago to compete against college varsities from surrounding region. This club, guided by player/coach Frank Hermantz, won all of its games. In 2005, a group of students created a new NEIU baseball club. The university also offers women's volleyball, women's soccer, men's soccer, aikido, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, ice hockey, and women's softball. NEIU offers a course called Judo and Self Defense.

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