Students talk to each other while seated on backless benches

Friday, December 2, 2022

天天吃瓜 is excited to announce the December 2022 Commencement speaker. We鈥檙e also gearing up for finals and a bit of holiday fun! Read about all this and more in the latest Noteworthy at Northeastern. 

Around the Commons

Senator Richard Durbin

Commencement speaker

U.S. Sen. Richard J. Durbin will be 天天吃瓜鈥檚 December 2022 Commencement speaker. 鈥淪en. Durbin has introduced and co-sponsored legislation that is in-line with the values of 天天吃瓜: integrity, excellence, access to opportunity, diversity, community and empowerment through learning,鈥 University President Gloria J. Gibson said. 鈥淕iven his leadership and proven commitment to serve the people of our state and our country with equity, I am confident that his address will resonate with our diverse population of students, faculty, staff and all who will celebrate our graduates.鈥 Commencement is scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at Credit Union 1 Arena (formerly UIC Pavilion), 525 S. Racine Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are required. The ceremony will be streamed live at neiu.edu.

The exterior of the blue and gold El Centro building

El Centro Open House

狈辞谤迟丑别补蝉迟别谤苍鈥檚 El Centro will host an from 4-7 p.m. on Dec. 7. Located in Chicago鈥檚 Avondale neighborhood, El Centro provides students from diverse communities with the academic support they need to thrive in the 21st century. In addition to general education courses, this Northeastern location offers courses in four majors: Special Education, Computer Science, Justice Studies and Social Work. In collaboration with community-based organizations, El Centro serves the community through outreach programs in the areas of citizenship, education, health, housing, and technology. All are welcome to experience the community of El Centro! 

Two students walk a path on the University Commons in winter

Winter Session

Catch up on earning credit or get ahead in completing your undergraduate degree by taking a course during 狈辞谤迟丑别补蝉迟别谤苍鈥檚 Winter Session. Sixteen courses across multiple disciplines are offered for these three-week intensive courses. Open Registration runs through Dec. 18. Students should direct questions to their academic advisor or contact the Registration Office at registration@neiu.edu

A hand selects a card from a display rack

Student Art Sale

If you鈥檙e looking for a unique holiday gift, look no further than the Department of Art+Design鈥檚 annual Student Art Sale in the Fine Arts Center Gallery, Dec. 5-9! Paintings, jewelry, mugs, holiday cards and more are available鈥攁ll handmade by Northeastern artists, designers and alumni. All proceeds go directly to students. 

And there鈥檚 more!

  • The Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs invites December 2022 graduates to receive recognition stoles and/or cords for Commencement. Please complete the by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 2. 
  • Nominations for the 2023 are open through Dec. 5. 
  • 狈辞谤迟丑别补蝉迟别谤苍鈥檚 McNair Scholars Program is accepting applications through Dec. 15. 

To do

A ballerina wearing a red tutu poses with one arm raised

Ruth Page鈥檚 鈥淭he Nutcracker鈥

Named a 鈥淏est Bet鈥 by , Ruth Page鈥檚 鈥淭he Nutcracker鈥 returns to 天天吃瓜鈥檚 Main Campus Auditorium Dec. 3-4. This production recreates Ruth Page's iconic and beloved original full-length staging. Featuring international guest artists, an elite company, exquisite dancing, stunning costumes and magical settings in the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of the Sweets, get your to experience 鈥淭he Nutcracker鈥 like never before!

Keith Henderson wearing a gray jacket and black shirt holding a gold-colored guitar

Jazzy Mondays

Join the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS) for their next Jazzy Mondays event from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5 in Donn F. Bailey Legacy Hall at CCICS, 700 E. Oakwood Blvd. This month鈥檚 featured performer is Chicago guitarist and musical director Keith Henderson. Jazzy Mondays at CCICS presents great music the first Monday of every month. The performance will be hosted by Joan Collaso and Iris Dunmore and presented by CCICS' Great Black Music Project. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is $15. Reservations are strongly recommended by emailing GBMPJazzyMondays@gmail.com. Cash at the door; admission is first-come, first-served. Food and soft drinks will be sold on the premises.

More to do 

In the media

World Cup 2022

Associate Professor of History Mateo Farzaneh was featured on regarding Iran鈥檚 participation in the World Cup given the women鈥檚 rights protests taking place in the country. 

Also in the media

  • Chair of the Departments of Earth Science, Environmental Science, and Physics and Professor of Physics Gregory Anderson was featured in for his 鈥減assion for paddling, physics, and their intersection.鈥 
  • Assistant Professor of Social Work Noe Mojica was interviewed by regarding opportunities and challenges in the profession as well as the future of social work. 
  • Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics Scott Hegerty was interviewed by about the number of banks that have closed in Wisconsin and its implications for the state鈥檚 residents.

COVID-19 updates

In accordance with guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Northeastern has adopted new strategies for mitigating COVID-19. Contact tracing will be conducted as needed. However, weekly reports of positive cases and vaccination rates will no longer be reported. If you test positive for COVID-19, students should immediately notify Student Health Services, and employees should notify their supervisors and the Office of Human Resources. Additionally, faculty and staff are required to report positive and presumptive student COVID-19 cases and exposures to Student Health Services. We continue to follow Chicago Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines as we ensure proper protocols and preventative measures are in place for the health and safety of our students and employees.

Stay up to date on everything regarding COVID-19 by visiting the COVID-19 Response website. 

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