The Huskie Academic Success Center (HASC) serves as NIU’s central hub for academic support to enhance student persistence, retention and achievement through collaborative programming, innovative services and equity-focused initiatives. Recent updates have increased the impact of this valuable resource for students.
Jennifer Salmon
Beginning in fall 2025, Jennifer Salmon served as interim director of HASC and her previous role as director of the Disability Resource Center. As of January 1, 2026, Salmon assumed the permanent role of executive director of Academic Success and Support Programs to oversee both units.
“HASC supports NIU’s Strategic Enrollment Plan 3.0 Goal 3 to support access, opportunity and success for all students by enhancing student persistence, retention and achievement through collaborative programming, innovative services and equity-focused initiatives,” Executive Vice President and Provost Laurie Elish-Piper said. “Integrating both units more closely ensures that all students receive coordinated, high-impact support to promote their success.”
Part of that support will focus on increasing interaction with students with disabilities, who previously were not utilizing HASC services.
“During the fall 2024 semester, not a single student with disabilities utilized HASC services. This past fall, we had 144 students with disabilities engage in 459 appointments over all services, including 99 appointments with an academic coach, 214 appointments with a tutor, and 146 appointments with a writing consultant,” Salmon said. “I am looking forward to working collaboratively to increase student success in this role.”
Salmon plans to focus on expanding best practices in peer-led learning and assessment, deepening partnerships across NIU’s campus and the community, increasing access through flexible program delivery, and responsibly integrating generative AI into academic support, among other initiatives.
Also new this semester, HASC has moved all its services to Founders Learning Commons on the first floor of Founders Memorial Library – a location where students can borrow laptops and calculators, find a comfortable place to study or do group work, and grab a snack. This move strategically locates HASC services alongside the Mathematics Assistance Center, DoIT Technology Support Desk and Research Help Desk, all helpful resources for students.
“By bringing academic support services together in one convenient location, we can better support our Huskies,” student success librarian Kimberly Shotick said. “It’s common to see a student visit the Writing Center to strengthen a paper, stop by the Research Help Desk to find additional sources, and then head to the Technology Support Desk to print their final draft. Co-location also makes it easier for us to coordinate programs and activities that promote student success and well-being.”
During more than 2,100 appointments throughout the fall 2025 semester, HASC contributed to significant positive outcomes for NIU students, including:
- Academic Coaching: 248 one-on-one appointments supported study strategies, test preparation and academic recovery. This represents a 245 percent increase in number of students returning for additional appointments since fall 2024.
- Content Tutoring: 897 appointments across 26 disciplines assisted with coursework, with expanded support for student-athletes.
- Supplemental Instruction: 183 students during a total of 594 visits were served during interactive out-of-class study sessions through structured peer-led sessions.
- Writing Center: 1,063 appointments supported helped students become stronger, along with workshops and presentations offered on writing topics.
Students can schedule an appointment with HASC, contact hasc@niu.edu or call 815-753-6636 for assistance.
