College of Education Team,
What an exciting start it has been to our fall semester! I can feel the energy, enthusiasm and commitment you bring to our college community, and I am grateful.
I thoroughly enjoyed attending our Week of Welcome events and seeing the excitement of students as they began their academic journeys. I wanted to again thank our Office for Student Success team for coordinating such an engaging welcome-back picnic for our students, faculty and staff. These events are critical to fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging connection, especially as we welcomed one of the largest freshman classes our university has enrolled in the past decade.
While overall enrollment is slightly down across both the university and our college, I remain optimistic and focused on the opportunities ahead.
Examples are plentiful!
This fall, we are advancing important partnerships that will strengthen our impact and expand pathways into the profession. I am particularly excited about finalizing our Memorandum of Understanding and launching our first Grow Your Own Northern contract cohort with DeKalb District 428. These initiatives represent the kind of innovative collaboration that aligns directly with our strategic priorities.
I was also honored to attend the Black Alumni Council Picnic in Chicago and to join local educators on Brigham Field during the first Huskie home football game last week. As a proud season ticket holder alongside my husband, it was especially meaningful to celebrate the important work of educators in such a public and spirited way.
As the semester continues, I encourage you to stay connected, share your ideas and engage with one another and with our students, many of whom are struggling with how to afford and complete their programs because of recent federal changes. Please refer them to our Financial Resources website for assistance. Our collective success depends on the strength of our community.
Thank you for all you do to make our college such a supportive and impactful place. I look forward to all we will accomplish this semester.
In appreciation,
Mary Earick
Dean, NIU College of Education
