Northern Illinois University hosted a gymnastics meet at the Convocation Center on Sunday. School officials are seeking input on the facility’s mission and programs. (News Bulletin photo)

Center seeks input on mission, programs to offer 

The Northern Illinois University Convocation Center, in partnership with the NIU Center for Governmental Studies survey research team, is working to engage its many stakeholders in order to obtain input and insights into the types of programming the facility should offer.

Sean Frazier, NIU’s associate vice president and director of athletics, calls the Convocation Center a key community asset that serves the campus and the greater local and regional community. 

Programming and entertainment events at the facility should reflect the interests of various audiences.

“The goal is to provide our students and community with a wide variety of exciting activities and performances that encourage student attendance and regional visitors to NIU and the city of DeKalb,” he says, noting the facility is currently underutilized.

Plans are under way to provide a survey for such input that will inform programming and provide a better understanding of what the role of the Convocation Center should be in relation to student experience and community entertainment programming. 

The data obtained will then be compiled and serve to provide guiding principles for programming at the facility in service to NIU’s mission and keystone goals.

As one of the primary venues in DeKalb County, the 10,000-seat NIU Convocation Center is a $36 million multipurpose facility capable of hosting a wide variety of events. 

As the center for social, academic and athletic events on campus, it is the single venue that can bring the university and community together at one place and one time to share an experience – the very definition of community.

Essential to the goal of creating a vibrant campus living and learning environment and enhancing DeKalb’s reputation as a “college town” is the opportunity for NIU, its students, faculty, staff and neighbors in the community to enjoy a diverse set of cultural, entertainment and social options. 

NIU and the City of DeKalb are both beginning work toward master plans that ultimately complement one another and enhance the “communiversity” and improve the NIU student experience.

–News Bulletin news sources