first generation - Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning

Students walking on campus in front of Reavis and DuSable Halls

What you didn’t learn in class: Revealing the hidden curriculum

June 17, 2025 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

For faculty, staff, and graduate teaching assistants at NIU, understanding the hidden curriculum can make a real difference. It shapes how students connect with their

Multiethnic and multiracial group of people sitting at table giving a group high-five

Supporting underprepared students

March 14, 2024 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Teaching, Tips

Two trends stand out about today’s college students: they’re more diverse than ever and many aren’t fully prepared for college. A range of factors, like the

Students huddled around a laptop, sitting at a table in a study room

Supporting first generation college students

February 9, 2022 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Workshop Takeaways NIU’s Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning recently hosted a workshop on Supporting First-Generation Students. The workshop featured Kimberly Shotick (Assistant Professor, Student