Viking Preview Days offer you a firsthand taste of the 蹤獲扦 experience by allowing you to connect with our community and learn about our vibrant student life. Viking Preview Days are an ideal opportunity for students to take the next step in their college journey and discover what makes North Park special.

Highlights:
-Attend “Coffee with Coaches” and learn more about Viking Athletics (optional)
-Explore our campus oasis on a tour led by North Park students
-Get all your questions answered about your admissions application and financial aid

蹤獲扦 has launched the Center for Civic Engagement, an outgrowth of its Catalyst 606 program in which the university’s faculty and students will work with community leaders to strengthen the important work they’re doing in Chicago’s泭neighborhoods. As part of the initiative,泭North Park will also offer a Public Policy major beginning in fall 2023.

“The main idea is to build more of a city-centered ethos on campus, and to augment North Park’s commitment to the just flourishing of cities by honoring the work that is going on in neighborhoods,” said Richard Kohng, assistant vice president for the Center of Civic Engagement.

The center enacts this mission through four core divisions: the Catalyst Hub; the Community Assets and Program Evaluation Consortium; the Community Development Hub; and through public policy engagement.

“The Center for Civic Engagement elevates泭North Park’s unique distinctives as a Christian, city-centered, intercultural university,” North Park泭捩娶梗莽勳餃梗紳喧泭Mary K. Surridge said. “Faculty and students learning and working alongside community leaders across Chicago泭is yet another example of泭North Park living into its mission of preparing students for lives of significance and service.”

As part of the center, faculty will provide their specialized expertise to community groups for a reduced fee. For instance, Assistant Professor of Psychology Amy Governale will provide at-cost guidance on program development for organizations that lack the resources to do so themselves.

“A lot of locally led groups don’t see the money they should from grants or philanthropy,” Kohng said. “This will help level the playing field.”

Students will be involved as well, via the Catalyst Hub. Since 2017, students have participated in a designated civic engagement block every Wednesday afternoon. The schedule allows immersive learning experiences to be incorporated into classes across the curriculum, Kohng said.

Building on Catalyst’s success, the new program will incorporate a consortium that allows students to work on real-time projects that benefit community groups. For example, a business class might work on a marketing campaign for a fundraising drive, or a math class could analyze data related to program participants.

The center will be led by a board of community leaders from across the city, and with the guidance of partner Transform Capital���a nonprofit lending initiative cofounded by Paul Hawkinson, a professor in泭North Park’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management.

Learn more about the Center for Civic Engagement

North Park students all have different experiences while moving in. As part of North Park culture, all of your RAs and some other current students will be on the curb to greet you with sweaty t-shirts and smiling faces. They���re just as excited about moving in as you are, and they’ll help you get all of your things into your new room.

Here are some comments from people around campus who recall the first time they moved in and want to give you an advantage they didn���t have before moving in:

• ���Get a mini-fridge. It will keep your drinks cold and give you more versatile options for snacking.��� ��� Male, Class of 2019
• ���Don���t over-pack; and be nice to your parents, they���re really trying to help.��� ��� Female, Class of 2018
• ���Box fans, box fans, box fans.��� ��� Male, Class of 2018
• ���Organize your belongings in boxes while moving out of your house, that way you know where everything is once you move in.��� ��� Female, Class of 2018
• ���You don���t need everything you think you need.��� ��� Male, Class of 2018
• ���Don���t be afraid to leave your door open to invite people in.��� ��� Male, Class of 2019

Learn More

8 am: Alarm

It���s the second day of class. We had our introduction exercises in our first class, and the syllabus was presented too. We won���t be wasting any more time; the real deal starts today. My roommate comes in sweaty; of course, they woke up to meet the gym as it opened. Maybe you���ll get a roommate like that too.

10 am: Coffee

Starbucks or Einstein���s Bagels & Co.? Luckily neither is a difficult choice as the former is across the street and the latter in the Johnson Center. I prefer the snack variety at Einstein���s.

12 pm: Lunchin���

I ordered ahead of time to get my pack lunch at Einstein���s, it does cost a meal swipe, but this way I can sit outside or find a quiet spot in the Johnson Center to call my family, because they call. Every. Single. Day.

2 pm: Catalyst 606__

Some of my friends already have their Catalyst class session now. There are two every semester per afternoon class. I���ve got one of mine next week. We���ve got U-Passes, that means we have unlimited travel on the CTA, Chicago���s train and bus systems, so Millennium Park here we come. We can still explore the city without the class.

6 pm: ARA

Back on campus, everyone calls the campus dining hall ���ARA���, it���s infiltrated my use as well. It takes up almost the entire second floor of Magnuson.

8 pm: ���Pogo if you love North Park���

Yep, that���s one of the chants at the men���s soccer game. The stands are full and everyone is jumping on one leg with a shoe raised in the air. There are some people at the base of the stands shouting and heckling the other team, in good fun; we joined them for a bit. Why not?

10 pm: Cookie Monster

Some of the returning students want to take us to Insomnia Cookies. It���s off the Fullerton stop and, apparently, the North Parker place to go on a weeknight. There is sleep, but this is college, so���

Learn More

Sarah Hawkinson is a history and secondary education major. She is also a desk attendant, writing advisor, participates in the women���s chorale, and tutors students from Peterson Elementary school.

“North Park went from being my last choice to the perfect choice for me. My family has a lot of history and connections at North Park, so it had been in my life so much already and for a while, I was dead-set on moving away. Then I attended a scholarship event; it was my first time visiting as a prospective student. I had fun meeting other people I would potentially go to school with, and the idea of coming to North Park began to feel more real. That was when I realized that I could make my own experience here and do my own thing.

The interactions I had with professors, even before attending North Park, were really encouraging because it seemed like they already wanted to be invested in their students���to be more than just professors but mentors who are there to help you make choices. That���s what I love about North Park now. Having the opportunity to get coffee with my professors and take extra time outside of the classroom is something that I feel my friends at other schools don���t get. And now that I am getting to the core of what I want to study, my professors are ready and eager to challenge me, especially when I���ve shown that I���m invested and interested in their class.

Another aspect of North Park that I���ve grown to appreciate is its location in the city, which has helped me to continue in my faith life by learning more about cultural and religious diversity. I���m definitely growing and having positive and new experiences in this city setting. It has been important for me to get to know others and hear about a variety of experiences; it’s enhancing my faith-life and the way I see the world.

I���ve realized being close to home has more benefits than drawbacks. I can go home every weekend or once a semester. 泭I���ve been very happy with my decision to go somewhere which happened to be close to home, but really my decision was more multi-faceted than that. It was the opportunity to grow at泭a school where professors and students encourage faith, growth, and learning. Plus, I get to keep my winter clothes at home during the spring.”

The Career Development and Internships Office (CDIO) is a resource for every student throughout and after they complete their studies at North Park. The CDIO泭helps undergraduate students match their vocation to major, develop critical work skills, master professional branding, engage in a job search, and network with alumni and professionals.��� CDIO staff walk alongside students from their prospective visits, throughout college, and into the workplace.

NP: Who does the CDIO serve?

Bozeman:泭The CDIO serves all undergraduate students as well as North Park’s graduate students and alumni.��� We focus on professional coaching, career mapping, advanced networking strategies, and simple financial planning related to salary negotiations.

NP: When should students connect with the CDIO?

Bozeman:泭We make every effort to connect with students as soon as they arrive to campus.��� We know that our high-performing graduates complete hundreds of hours of volunteer service, internships, career research, professional development, and financial planning.��� To inform and support students about best practices, we created the Career Advantage program.��� The program lists critical activities for each year of study at North Park, and includes an easy tracking system to help students articulate their accomplishments.

Pamela Bozeman,泭Senior Director of Career Development and Internships

NP: What is “Career Advantage” and why should students participate?

Bozeman:泭Career Advantage is a four-year plan, fully on-line, connected to employers and campus activities, incentivized, and is what employers want to see.

NP: Why should students seek internships and jobs during their studies?

Bozeman:泭According to an on-line source��浚areerUp, ���If you have a��胼�留isplayed on your resume, it will give you a competitive advantage over all the candidates applying for the same position. Employers understand that graduates that do not have any practical experience may lack the skills required to excel on the first day of their employment. Employers value internship experience because they provide students with skills that they cannot acquire in a school setting.���

NP: Does the CDIO have a job or internship finder for students and alumni?

Bozeman: Yes, Carer Hub. CDIO staff assist students looking for internships and jobs using several search engines, professional contacts, off-site job fairs, and our own on-line job directory – Career Hub.

NP: What do you wish students knew about your office?

Bozeman:

• The CDIO staff have a cumulative total of 20 years of experience in higher education, 20 years of experience in college admissions and career readiness, and more than 10 years in workforce development.
• We serve our students and alumni for as long as they need us, free of charge.

Learn More about CDIO