At North Central College we believe that learning occurs both inside and outside of the classroom. In fact, our goal is to create an overall campus environment that encourages the engagement, growth and development of all students. The activities and services available on campus provide students with opportunities to practice classroom theories, to sharpen leadership skills and to learn problem-solving techniques.
Office of Student Affairs
The Office of Student Affairs plays a key role in supporting students throughout their experience at North Central College. The staff in Student Affairs coordinate programs designed to help new students make a successful transition to college. The Vice President for Student Affairs and the Dean of Students also provide advocacy, and referral service to students who may need assistance with personal or academic problems. Students are welcome to visit the Office of Student Affairs on an appointment or walk-in basis.
Residence Life
At North Central College, residence halls are more than a place to sleep. They are extensions of the classroom and develop friendships that will last a lifetime. Students develop an appreciation for diversity by living and working with people different from themselves. Students learn decision-making skills, they develop independence, they gain self-confidence and they learn to accept responsibility.
Residence halls are staffed by full-time professional hall directors and a team of resident assistants who are undergraduates trained to provide support to students living on campus. Student involvement and community engagement are key components in the Residence Life program.
Each room is furnished with a bed, dresser, desk, chair and closet space for each student. Residence halls have lounges available to students, soda and snack machines and laundry facilities with free laundry for residents. All residence halls include air conditioning, cable television and wireless internet access.
Faith and Action
The Office of Faith and Action provides resources and opportunities to guide students as they cultivate an ethical worldview, act purposefully and change the world for good. For more than 150 years, North Central College students from different faith traditions have united as a campus community where mutual respect produces vibrant discussion and collective action. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church and rooted in Christian tradition, North Central encourages students to ask questions and develop their personal faith during this spiritually pivotal time in their lives. Staff memebers include a director of ministry and service, a United Methodist chaplain and a part-time Catholic campus minister. This team oversees and advises several student organizations that provide a breadth of opportunities for students to gro spiritually.
Focus, a student-led, Christian interdenominational worship service fills Koten Chapel to capacity every Wednesday night with music, prayer and guest speakers. Focus also helps organize numerous buble studies, retreats and special events throughout the year. Other groups meet during the week for spiritual encouragement and outreach, including the United Methodist students, Catholic Cardinal, Young Life, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Muslim Student Association. Strong partnerships with local churches and their faith communities also provide outlets for students to connect to a faith community.
Some campus groups exist to offer students a chance to serve others, either as an expression or faith or out of humanitarian concern. Students and the community get involved with our annual Feed the Need mobile pack event, in partnership with Feed My Starving Children. In addition there are various opportunities to travel and serve domestically and internationally during breaks each semester.
Multicultural Affairs
North Central College is committed to recruiting, supporting and retaining students from underrepresented (African American, Latino/Hispanic, Native American and Asian American) and international backgrounds.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs seeks to promote a perspective that recognizes, understands, respects, appreciates and celebrates human differences within and between cultures. The office seeks to transcend barriers that often separate people and replace them with bridges of understanding. The fundamental aspect of this effort is a series of educational, social and cultural activities sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Students, faculty and staff are welcome to visit the Office of Multicultural Affairs and are encouraged to become involved in multicultural events.
Services and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
The disability support office provides a range of support tailored to meet individual student needs who have a documented physical, emotional and/or learning disability. The goal of these services is to provide access and support so students may pursue their educational goals and participate in the activities of the College. Services may include individualized support and consultation, coordinating academic assistance, processing accommodation requests, providing student self-advocacy training, consulting and coordinating with faculty and other college/community services, and providing referrals to private diagnostic evaluation services and/or the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS). Accommodations may include relocation of classes to accessible locations, access to alternate format textbooks, sign language interpreters, note taking assistance, testing accommodations and other reasonable accommodations determined by individual need.
Students must self-identify to the disability services office and complete the process of requesting/registering for accommodations before they are eligible for accommodations. While a student may request accommodations at any time, it is recommended that they do so as early in their academic career as possible as accommodations are not retroactive. Students should contact the Director of Student Disability Services with questions or to schedule a consultation.
Library Services
The mission of North Central College library services is to provide resources and services to meet the College community’s information and instructional media needs and to assist members of that community in developing skills for lifelong learning. To teach patrons how to access information, the library offers orientations, workshops and classes.
In addition to books, periodicals, instructional media and reference resources housed in Oesterle Library, the library’s webpage (http://library.noctrl.edu) offers access to online databases, the online catalog and online reference sources. Members of the College community may also borrow materials from more than 90 other academic libraries in Illinois, either in person, online or through Oesterle Library’s interlibrary loan service.
The North Central College Archives seeks to identify, preserve and make available the permanent records of the College and provide students with opportunities to use primary documents in their research. Housed in Oesterle Library, the Archives are open to the public. Two additional collections include the Suburban Studies Archives and the Harris W. Fawell Congressional Papers.
Center for Global Education
North Central College has made a firm commitment to ensuring that the College community develops knowledge and appreciation of cultural differences in both domestic and international settings. For students, an education at this institution includes a global dimension gained through proficiency-based language learning, course work, internships, person-to-person contacts, study abroad , travel and exchange programs.
The Center for Global Education provides vision and guidance for developing and implementing international programs. The director oversees international developments in academic programs (including study abroad and domestic programs), student affairs, faculty development, campus events and grant writing.
Career Development
The Office of Career Development assists students of all years and majors with identifying career goals and creating meaninful opportunities to succeed in academic, personal and professional goals. Students have access to a robust job/internship board, online tools, recruiting events, preparation workshops and individual appointments to support career development goals. Students can also work with career development to take on internships for real-world learning experiences.
Dyson Wellness Center
The Dyson Wellness Center offers free and confidential medical, counseling and interpersonal violence advocacy services as well as health education and prevention.
Medical services offered at the Dyson Wellness Center are provided by licensed healthcare providers. Services include evaluation and treatment of acute illnesses and injuries; medical consultation and referral to community resources; health education; and information regarding and administration of immunizations.
Counseling services are provided by licensed mental health counselors. Services include individual, group, sport and health psychology and couples counseling services, as well as referrals to off-campus resources and other professionals.
Advocacy services are available for students who have experienced secual violence, dating or domestic violence and stalking. Services include reviews of available resources on campus and in the community, assistance in making formal or confidential reports and accompaniment to any medical, counseling, legal or law enforcement proceedings.
Center for Social Impact
The Center for Social Impact provides opportunities for students to explore, experience and influence the issues and causes they care about most. Through five “Pathways to Social Impact” (Civic Engagement, Social Entrepreneurship, Advocacy, Service and Scholarship) students can find academic and co-curricular offerings, student organizations, major campus events, funding opportunities and mentorship that will prepare them to enter any community and career with a deep commitment to the common good and skills to lead change.
Through the Leadership, Ethics and Values curriculum students can enroll in interdisciplinary courses, minors and majors focused on Ethical Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship, Social innovation and Conflict Resolution. Students gain leadership skills through student groups includeing Students for Social Innovation, The Union (a student-run music venue), Break Away (alternative break immersion trips), Enactus (socially conscious free enterprise) and Cardinals in Action (community service). The campus and community benefit from events such as the annual Changemaker Challence (a social entrepreneurship pitch competition), TEDxNorthCentralCollege (a showcase of innovative ideas from students and alumni), Intersection (a community-wide day of service) and more. Students who want to take their socal impact ideas to the next level can apply and compete for funds for the purpose of exploration, project implementation or to support the launch of a social enterprise or non-profit organization.
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship aims to encourage and inspire students to dream big and gives them the resources to achieve those dreams. The Center helps students incubate ideas such as a new product or invention and help students scale and grow their businesses. Take advantage of educational programming like conferences, workships, a speaker series, networking and access to coaches and mentors. The Center also offers co-working space where students can build and run their businesses right on campus.
Dispute Resolution Program
The North Central College Dispute Resolution Center provides services, training and development opportunities to students in a variety of contexts. A comprehensive program provides the following services: resolution of non-disciplinary student disputes through peer mediation; training of students to mediate disputes; a variety of community service programs; and course work and academic minors in dispute resolution through the Leadership, Ethics and Values Program.
Food Service
The college dining facility, Kaufman Dining Hall, is operated cafeteria style so that students may have a choice in food selection. Several flexible meal plans which offer varying increments of snack money are available. Program highlights include self-serve entrees, salad bar and deli. Additional food service is available in The Cage at the Harold and Eva White Activities Center, in the new Science Center, in the Res/Rec Center and at the Roland Center Boiler House Café. All students living in college-owned residence halls or auxiliary housing units are automatically included in the meal plan. Students living off-campus may purchase a meal plan or pay cash at each of the food service venues.
Commuter Students
Commuting students are an important part of the North Central College community and the College is committed to helping them be successful. Commuter Assistants work with students who live off campus, maintain office hours on campus and work to keep students informed of academic and social programs on campus. Commuter Assistants also plan events to build a sense of community among commuter students.
Student Involvement
The Office of Student Involvement encourages students to gain valuable skills and experiences through participation in one or more of the many clubs and student organizations or co-curricular activities offered on campus. Student activities are planned and implemented through collaborative efforts of students and staff. In addition to working with registered student organizations, the Office of Student Involvement sponsors leadership programs (in conjunction with LEV), workshops and conferences.
Campus Organizations
Student Governing Association (SGA) — Students at North Central assist in the governance of the College community through elected representation to various committees within the governance structure. Through these elected officers and representatives, SGA shares student attitudes and opinions on issues that affect the quality of student life with faculty and administrators.
Weekend Programming Board (WPB) — WPB is a student-directed organization which is responsible for meeting the programming needs of students by providing a variety of social, educational and cultural programs. Included among these programs are Homecoming, Springfest, various popular singers and comedians, dances and off-campus outings to sporting events and theatre performances.
Black Student Association (BSA), Latinx, Asian Student Konnection (ASK), and OUTreach (GLBTQIA and Allies) — These organizations provide support to students from underrepresented and/or ethnic minority backgrounds and opportunities for majority students to learn about other identities and cultures. Much of their work is accomplished through social events, guest speakers and student leadership conferences.
Publications — The Chronicle (campus student newspaper), 30 N. (literary magazine) and The Kindling (humor magazine) are the major publications on campus. Students are encouraged to create pieces for inclusion in all student publications, and a full-time instructor is assigned to each as an advisor.
WONC-FM (89.1) — North Central’s powerful, student-staffed radio station broadcasts to a potential audience of more than 3.5 million listeners. Formatted as an album-oriented rock station, WONC offers four state-of-the-art studios for on-air and audio production work. WONC has been honored with 20 Marconi Awards; no other college or university radio station in the country has won more. WONC has also been honored by the Collegiate Broadcasters Inc., the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Illinois Broadcasters Association, and in 2015, the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System named WONC The Best College Radio Station in the Country. Students who staff the station are supervised by a professional general manager.
Cultural Events — The mission of Cultural Events is to provide the campus community with a variety of speakers and programs that will enrich their academic experience and broaden their cultural outlook. The Cultural Events committee invites speakers like ethicist and novelist Lori Andrews, NBC journalist Ron Allen and Lincoln scholar Douglas Wilson. In addition, Cultural Events works with Anderson’s Bookshop to bring authors to the North Central campus, and Pfeiffer Hall has seen journalists Tom Brokaw and Tim Russert, Life of Pi author Yann Martel, The View’s Barbara Walters and former Happy Days star Henry Winkler, now a children’s book author. Cultural Events also partners with Multicultural Affairs to sponsor the Martin Luther King Day speaker and International Programs to sponsor a Film Festival.
Some of the many other organizations which are active on campus are the American Marketing Association, Impressions (art club), International Club, Math Club, NAfME (student chapter of The National Association for Music Education), Residence Hall Association, Enactus, the United Methodist Student Organization and the Cardinal Cheerleading and Dance Team. In addition, many academic departments have active honor societies.
Performing Ensembles
The Department of Music features several large and small, instrumental, jazz and choral performing ensembles. Choral ensembles include: Concert Choir, Cardinal Chorus, Women’s Chorale, Chamber Singers, Opera Workshop, Naperville Chorus and various smaller chamber ensembles. Instrumental ensembles include: Concert Winds, Symphonic Band, Chamber Winds, Cardinal Athletic Band (marching and basketball band), Percussion Ensemble, Chamber String Ensemble, Flute Choir, Woodwind Quintet, Brass Quintet, Small Brass Ensemble and Saxophone Quartet. Jazz Ensembles include: Big Band, Vocal Jazz Ensemble and several combos. Ensembles perform regularly on and off campus and some tour regionally, nationally and internationally. Explore the Department of Music website (www.northcentralcollege.edu/music) for director names and contact information.
Theatrical Productions
The North Central College theatre department presents numerous productions annually in various fine arts venues, giving students opportunities to gain valuable production experience on stage and off. A typical season will include: two to three musicals (one of which is student-directed), four plays and several student-directed plays. The student theatre organization, The Company, organizes trips to professional theatres in the Chicago area, produces sketch comedy shows and sponsors events throughout the year. Many students find work and internships at such prestigious theatres as the Goodman, Steppenwolf, American Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier, Greenhouse Theatre Company and About Face Theatre.
Recent guest artists include: JC Clementz, Larry Yando, Caroline Neff, Leah Karpel, Jacob Harvey, Jason Gerace, Becca McCracken, Carrie Lee Patterson, Sheri Sanders, Kieran Campion, Noelle Humbert and Will Allan. Explore the Department of Theatre website (https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/college-arts-sciences/theatre) for more information.
Intercollegiate Athletics
Athletics play an important role in campus life at North Central College and in the personal development of the student-athletes who participate in the 26 intercollegiate sports offered by the College for men and women.
North Central women compete in basketball, bowling, cross-country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), triathlon and volleyball. The men’s athletic program includes baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball and wrestling.
North Central athletic teams, known as the Cardinals, compete as members of Division III in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and as members of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, considered by many sportswriters to be the best small college conference in the country. The athletic teams have won 33 national championships including championships in men’s track and field, men’s cross country, women’s basketball and men’s swimming.
Individually, 127 North Central student-athletes have won national titles through the years along with 12 relay teams.
Recreational Sports
RecSports has a variety of recreational opportunities and we strive to offer something for everyone. Our program areas include intermural sports, group fitness classes, informal recreation opportunities, outdoor adventure programming and club sports. Besides our weekly programming of intramural contests and group fitness classes, like Zumba or yoga, we offer equipment that can be checked out at the Res/Rec front desk for your pickup game needs. Our office also facilitates adventure programming throughout the semester like rock climbing, heading to the Great Smoky Mountains for a back packing trip, learning how to build a fire in a fire pit on campus or kayaking down the DuPage River with friends.
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