Classroom Equipment
NIU Outreach Center classrooms provide the following standard equipment and services:
If you would like to schedule time prior to the beginning of your class for an equipment orientation, please contact the evening site support staff where you will be teaching to arrange an appointment with them.
Computing Resources
The computer lab is open from 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Access on Saturdays is from 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. at NIU Hoffman Estates and NIU Naperville. Please contact NIU Rockford for Saturday hours. Computer labs may be reserved for instructional purposes for individual class sessions as needed. Lab reservations can normally be made for up to 1 ½ hour per meeting. To reserve space, please contact the AV/evening support site staff at the appropriate center. In addition to lab computers, there are computers available for use in the LRC during posted hours.
Faculty Working Area & Lounge
Access to computers and faculty workspace is available Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. 9:30 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Access on Saturdays is from 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. at NIU Hoffman Estates and NIU Naperville. Please contact NIU Rockford for Saturday hours.
Messages and mail for instructors may be left at the center front desks.
Vending machines for snacks and beverages are located at all centers and there is an in-house cafι at NIU Napervillle. All three centers have fast-food restaurants within close proximity.
Learning Resource Centers (LRC)
LRC staffed hours are 12:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The LRCs are open but not staffed on Fridays. Access on Saturdays is from 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. at NIU Hoffman Estates and NIU Naperville. Please contact NIU Rockford for Saturdays hours.Faculty may place teaching and resource materials on reserve for students by contacting NIU Outreach Center library staff listed below:
NIU Hoffman Estates .815.753.8830
NIU Naperville . .815.753.8986
NIU Rockford ..815.753,8760
Reference Assistance
If faculty requires in-depth assistance from a library subject specialist, they can use our Ask-A-Librarian service. Once there, a chat session can be opened with a librarian, you may e-mail your question, or look up the subject specialist librarian in many different areas of expertise. E-mail questions are routed to a subject specialist librarian who will respond within 48 hours, Monday-Friday.
Reserve Books & Library Service
NIU Students and faculty members may utilize the services and resources of other public university libraries in Illinois and at many private colleges and universities. Please encourage your students to contact university and public libraries directly to determine borrowing policies. Many area libraries, including NIU, are members of the Library Computer System (LCS), which provides full library services on a reciprocal basis.Students need to have a NIU OneCard in order to check out library resources whether from NIU or one of the consortium libraries. An online request for a OneCard can be found on the NIU Library website. Students may request the cards be delivered to one of the Outreach Centers (NIU Hoffman Estates, NIU Naperville, or NIU Rockford). In addition, those students who are part of a cohort group may select NIU Outreach as a delivery option.
If a student only needs access to online library resources to conduct research they can do this without filling out an OneCard request. For information they should go to the VPN authentication FAQ.
Faculty members may place books and other materials on reserve at the College of DuPage, and the NIU Outreach Centers. Requests to place materials on reserve should be submitted to any of the following places:
College of DuPage (630) 942-2342
Founders Memorial Library Reserves (815) 753-9847
NIU Hoffman Estates (815) 753-8830
NIU Lorado Taft Field Campus (815) 753-0205
NIU Naperville (815) 753-8986
NIU Rockford (815) 753-8760Faculty members and students may access library services, search for materials and reserve books via the University Libraries.
Parking
Parking permits are not required for center parking lots. At NIU Hoffman Estates overflow parking is available in the shared Searts Lot. Maps and instructions will be distributed to each Hoffman Estates classrooms at the beginning of each semester.
Proctoring Exams
If you have a need for a proctor for a make-up exam, please contac t the evening site support staff at the specific center to coordinate arrangements.