What We Do

We want you to have the opportunity to show yourself and the world what you can do. We want you to triumph.

Students in the CHANCE program are given academic, social, financial and organizational guidance through a unique campus-wide support system. As coaches and personal advocates, student success counselors stand by their students on their best and worst days and make sure students are seen and heard. The CHANCE office is always available to students, with welcoming lounge spots for them to hang out or study between classes.

Among the services provided are:

• One-on-one support every step of the way – beginning with enrollment through graduation – from a student success counselor. This is in addition to the academic counselor assigned to each student admitted to NIU.
• A personal introduction to resources, such as those offered at the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, the Office of the Bursar, Housing and Residential Services, tutoring and more.
• A thorough orientation experience, including a leadership conference where students enrolled in the program hear from speakers on topics, such as career advice, managing stress, time management and negotiating campus.
• Peer mentoring and support. Mentors help students in the program adjust not only to the academic environment, but also the social environment on campus.

CHANCE was the program that provided me, and others like me, the opportunity to attend NIU. I am forever grateful for the CHANCE program. It has been the consistent engine for enrollment for the last 50 years.