Northeastern Illinois University

El Centro Campus The university traces its history to Cook County Normal School to train elementary and high school teachers. It was founded in 1867 in Blue Island, Illinois as Cook County’s first teacher training school. [ 14 ] In 1949 the Chicago Teachers College (CTC) separated into two branches with the north branch eventually becoming Northeastern Illinois University and the south branch becoming Chicago State University . The school relocated to the present site at North Park, Chicago in 1961 and changed its name in 1965 to Illinois Teachers' College: Chicago North when control of CTC passed into the hands of the State of Illinois . In 1967, the Illinois Legislature acted to remove the title of “teachers college” from all state colleges and universities and the college became Northeastern Illinois State College. In 1971, the school became Northeastern Illinois University after it was granted university status and was given a mandate by the Illinois Legislature "to offer such courses of instruction as shall best serve to qualify teachers for the schools of the State; and to offer such other courses of instruction, conduct such research and offer such public services as are prescribed by the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities or its successor." In January 1996, Northeastern Illinois University established its own board of trustees. In 2014, NEIU was censured by the American Association of University Professors for violating a professor's academic freedom in a tenure denial case. [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] In September 2016, Northeastern first began to offer on-campus housing for its students. It was constructed on land that was formerly a University parking lot. Initial plans to expand and construct new dormitories on land seized through eminent domain from the neighborhood were delayed because of strenuous objections from the neighborhood, social activists, some of the faculty, students, and alumni.

Beginning the pursuit of the neighborhood land in 2014, the properties were acquired by the University through eminent domain in 2016. Construction is still several years away due to decline in student enrollment. In the meantime, long time residences and businesses have been displaced, and the affected buildings sit empty. [ 18 ]

Bernard J. Brommel Hall Undergraduate and master's degrees are offered in four colleges: College of Arts and Sciences College of Business and Technology [ 19 ] Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education College of Graduate Studies and Research [ 20 ]

NEIU comprises the following instructional buildings: Lech Walesa Hall: It has the College of Education, Graduate College, and the International Programs of the university. Bernard J Brommel Hall: It has the College of Arts and Science departments. Salme Harju Steinberg Fine Arts Center: It has the Communication, Media & Theatre, and Music & Dance departments. The Nest: It is NEIU's residence hall. Inside the residence hall students have access to a fitness center and a study area. Ronald Williams Library: It is NEIU's Library. The library consists of five floors with multiple computer labs, audio labs, and a cafe. El Centro: This campus is located in Chicago’s neighborhood of Avondale. The facility offers courses for four programs. It accommodates a student lounge, study spaces, meeting rooms, gathering spaces, computer labs, and a library resource center. Jacob H. Carruthers Center of Inner City Studies (CCICS): This campus is located in Chicago’s neighborhood of Bronzeville. The center is the only facility that offers the Inner City Studies and Urban Community Studies programs. Additionally it offers courses for five other programs. Alumni Center: It is a meeting place and resource center for all NEIU alums. The center has pictures and memorabilia from famous alums. Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh Servant Leaders Hall: It is located in the College of Business and Technology. The hall is the first and only hall in the world named after Mohammad Mossadegh , premier of Iran from 1951 to 1953. This hall was named and established on October 5, 2013. [ 21 ]