Located on the 2nd floor of the Holmes Student Center, the Conference Office coordinates use of facilities and services for groups bringing their events to Northern Illinois University's main campus at DeKalb. The Conference Office works with a wide range of on- and off-campus clients who either require a one-time concurrent use of multiple campus facilities or an on-going use of one or several facilities over consecutive days or weeks. The Conference Office offers clients “one-stop shop” service when arranging campus meeting space and audiovisual equipment, housing, food service, recreation, security, parking and transportation for events like: large and small conferences, camps, seminars and live entertainment. Our customer-oriented approach to planning allows more individual attention in assessing clients’ needs, and enhances communication when coordinating university resources to achieve client goals. The Conference Office also markets the meeting facilities and services of the NIU-DeKalb campus to prospective clients.

As a department within the Holmes Student Center (HSC), under the division of Finance and Facilities, the Conference Office does not work directly with the clients holding events solely within the HSC. These clients are referred, instead, to the HSC General Office (815.753.1743) for assistance. The Conference Office will, however, coordinate events as required for groups using the HSC concurrently with other campus facilities. For these and other clients, the Conference Office also generates and distributes contracts and initiates the post evening billing process.

To plan an event at the NIU-DeKalb campus, or for more information about using the conference and event facilities at Northern Illinois University, please contact the Conference Office through our website at Conference/Catering Information Request. You may also contact us directly at 815.753.1586, via email at conferenceoffice@wpo.cso.niu.edu, or by mailing our office as follows:

The Conference Office
Northern Illinois University
Holmes Student Center, 253
DeKalb, IL 60115