NIU Volunteer Opportunities
Many of the volunteer opportunities to get involved with NIU are featured below. Simply click on each category to learn more about them.
If you'd like to receive information about new volunteer opportunities, and opportunities geared toward your specific interests, please remember to complete your NIU Nexus Volunteer Profile.
On Campus Volunteer Opportunities >
Huskie Hack (February 23-24, 2019)
Are you a skilled professional or academic in a field related to either computer science or social activism? We are looking for academic and industry folks who are interested in lending their expertise with the next generation. Join in a fun event that nurtures an encouraging culture around hacking for good. A hack is an event with many variations but is usually a multi-day event that brings together computer enthusiasts, programmers, coders, designers and subject matter experts to sprint design a software solution to a stated problem. You'll set up shop in our expert corner and our student teams will seek your advice based on listed skills to help troubleshoot when they reach a sticking point in their project. You can help with technical problems, frame questions and solutions, and enhance students’ communication skills. Experts will be available for students in shifts throughout the weekend and do not have to participate for the full 24 hours of the hack. However, all are welcome to stay the entire time if they are having fun! Sign up here.
First Impressions Count Networking Prep Workshop (Feb. 27, 2019)
During the First Impressions Count Workshop, NIU students mingle with volunteers to practice their communication and interpersonal skills. Volunteers listen to students’ elevator pitches and ask questions about their professional goals, then provide feedback on both their elevator pitch and networking skills. Students rotate around the room in five-minute intervals interacting with volunteers in a network-style setting. Additional information and instructions, which include conversation guides, will be provided to volunteers in advance of the event. Register here!
School of Health Studies: Public Health Alumni-Student Networking (March 2019)
Alumni from various public health fields are needed to join students from the chool of Health Studies for an evening of round-table discussions. Attendees are asked to speak about their journey since graduation, specifically related to their job search and career experiences. Alumni participants will also enjoy the opportunity to meet with program leadership before the experience. If you are interested in attending, please contact Rebecca Pritchard at rpritchard@niu.edu, or 815-753-1384.
NIU Cares Day (April 13, 2019)
NIU Cares Day is a campus-wide day of service that brings NIU students, faculty, staff, friends of NIU and alumni together to thank the community for their support of the institution and its mission. Alumni are needed for leadership roles as they volunteer alongside students on campus. Click here to register!
If you're not in the area, don't worry. You can volunteer to host a service project in your home community. Navigate to our off campus volunteer opportunities sections on this page to learn more.
Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day (April 17, 2019)
NIU’s annual Undergraduate Artistry Day (April 17) delivers a rare opportunity for close to 200 NIU students to showcase their research, putting their presentation skills to the test in a competitive public setting. Evaluating students’ presentation skills is a wonderful opportunity to support NIU students and their research. Click here to register!
NIU Esports: Volunteer Coaches and Content Experts Needed (Ongoing)
Get involved in esports at NIU! Our fast-growing esports club program needs knowledgeable volunteers to support coaching students, presenting in esports classes, and organizing esports tournaments. There are so many opportunities for students, alumni and community members to have fun, play video games and help build our exciting esports program. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Jeannine East or Aline Click at esports@niu.edu.
Department of Accountancy "Helping Huskies" Mentor Program (Ongoing)
"Helping Huskies" connects accountancy alumni with students for one-on-one conversations about careers, academics, business and start-ups. Set your availability and choose the areas you’d like to mentor in. Then you'll be matched with students looking for assistance in those areas. Matches don't always occur instantaneously, but your participation in the mentoring network will greatly enhance the department's ability to provide accountancy students with strong mentors. Click here to join.
Communiversity Gardens (Ongoing)
The NIU Communiversity Gardens are part of a community-wide approach to end food insecurity in DeKalb County by providing access to fresh organic vegetables that are locally grown for anyone in need. Volunteers have the opportunity to plant, weed and harvest for this cause while improving their gardening skills. Volunteers are typically needed for shifts a few days per week. Click here and sign up to volunteer for hours that fit your schedule.
Huskie Food Pantry (Ongoing)
The Huskie Food Pantry is an amazing NIU program that serves students who lack access to adequate food sources. The pantry is a nonprofit organization that relies on the support of generous donors, volunteers, interns and university partners to maintain the program. During the summer months, the pantry is in great need of volunteers to fill the roles left vacant by dedicated student volunteers who have gone home for the summer. Alumni volunteers can help by donating food, stocking shelves or serving on a pantry night. Click here and sign up to volunteer.
Off Campus Volunteer Opportunities >
-
National NIU Cares Day (April 13, 2019)
NIU Cares Day is a nation-wide day of service that brings NIU students, faculty, staff, friends of NIU and alumni together to show what it means to have Huskie Spirit. Volunteers can host a project in their own community. Want to sign-up with a team you know is in your area? Click here!
Please note that, if you live near campus, our greatest need is for alumni to volunteer alongside students on campus. 
Volunteer for Admissions (March - April, 2019)
Help NIU staff encourage prospective students in your community to take the next step in the Admissions process. Volunteers share their "NIU story" with students and their families at NIU Admissions recruitment events.Training is provided to volunteers after they sign-up for an upcoming event!
Become a volunteer advocate for NIU! (Ongoing)
Add your voice to the conversation and share NIU's legislative priorities with legislators in your district. Click here to learn more, or register for our advocacy platform and become an advocate!
Online Volunteer Opportunities >
University Honors Scholarship Application Review (Feb. 1 - 28, 2018)
Alumni are encouraged to apply to help University Honors staff award merit-based scholarships to deserving NIU students!
The NIU University Honors program is seeking alumni who are tech savvy to help review and score student scholarship applications through our online scholarship platform. This fantastic opportunity provides a unique window into life at NIU and is an excellent way for alumni to learn more about current NIU students. Click here to apply.-
Become a volunteer advocate for NIU! (Ongoing)
Add your voice to the conversation and share NIU's legislative priorities with legislators in your district. Click here to register for our advocacy platform and to become an advocate!
Graduate Career and Professional Development Connections (Ongoing)
The NIU Graduate School Career and Professional Development Portal provides professional development programming through use of educational strategies that engage graduate students in job discovery and diverse career opportunities. Alumni are key in helping students gain insight on what their field is demanding and how the job market is changing. To develop connections with alumni, workshops through the program show graduate students how to use LinkedIn as a networking tool to find alumni who have jobs of interest to them. Graduate students are then encouraged to conduct 15- to 20-minute online interviews with these alumni. Program staff seek alumni who are interested in participating in these interviews. Alumni can sign-up here to participate.
NIUniverse: A Social Media Ambassador Program (Ongoing)
Join the NIUniverse to share your Huskie pride through your social networks! NIU social media ambassadors have first-look access to exciting content, can share and recommend stories on behalf of the NIU Alumni Association and can win Huskie swag by participating in contests and challenges. All you have to do is join, take a few moments each week to share our stories with your networks and participate in our contests! The more you participate, the better your chances at winning awesome NIU swag. Sign up here.
Department of Communication Alumni: Share your Success Story! (Ongoing)
The Department of Communication, which includes Communication Studies and Journalism, seeks to celebrate their graduates' career accomplishments by featuring their success stories online. If you are an alumnus of the program who is interested in sharing their story, contact Laura Vazquez at lvazquez@niu.edu to have your profile added to the Department of Communication webpage.
Refer a Huskie (Ongoing)
Remember, you can always use the NIU Alumni Association's online form to refer a student that would make a great Huskie. Students referred this way receive a promotional code, which covers the application cost.