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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions that we answer in the Office of Student Life & Athletics (OSLA). If your question isn't answered here, please feel free to stop by, call 219-980-6746, or e-mail us.

The Basics

• What does the OSLA actually do?
• Where can I get a copy of the IU Northwest Student Handbook?
• So what's the difference between the OSLA, Student Support Services, and the Student Services Administration?
• Where can I get a student ID?
• Do I really need a student ID?
• IU Northwest has a Fitness Center?
• How do I join?
• What does the fitness center offer?
• What are the hours?
• Is it just for students?

Clubs & Organizations

• How do I join a club or organization?
• How do I start my own club or organization?
• What's a Standing Student Organization?
• Where can I contact other IU Northwest clubs and organizations?
• Our club wants to have an event but we don't have much money. What do we do?
• Our club is having an event and we need to advertise. Any suggestions?
• We're going to post flyers for our event on campus. Where can we post them?
• Our club needs a room or an area to hold our event. What do we do?
• Our club is listed on the Office of Student Life web site and other clubs have homepages. How can we get a homepage for our club?
• Can our club have its own e-mail address?
• Can our club have a regular, snail-mail mailing address?

RedHawks Athletics

• IU Northwest has collegiate athletic teams?
• What's the NAIA?
• Can anyone try and make a team?
• What are the basic eligibility requirements?
• When are the tryouts for teams?
• Are there athletic scholarships available?
• What conference does IU Northwest belong to?
• What division is IU Northwest in?
• How much does a ticket cost?
• Can I get a season ticket?

The Basics

• What does the OSLA actually do?

The Office of Student Life & Athletics works with over 60 student clubs, standing organizations, fraternities, and sororities in encouraging student participation in campus events, the development of leadership skills, and interest in community involvement. All student publications, such as the Northwest Phoenix newspaper and the award-winning Spirits literary magazine, publish through Student Activities. Student Government, Student Activities Board, Student Publications Board, and the Student Activities Fund Trustees operate from this office. Student ID cards are given out daily. Finally, the office organizes all NAIA-affiliated athletic teams, club teams, intramural teams, and College Bowl teams.


• Where can I get a copy of the IU Northwest Student Handbook?

You can stop by the OSLA and pick up an actual hard copy of the student handbook or you can look at it right now by clicking here. (Note: As of now, this is working on the PC platform only. I'm working on it -- thanks for your patience.) Please DO NOT print handbook off in the computer labs. If you want a hard copy, please stop by OSLA Office in Savannah 217. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the handbook on-line. All of the lab computers have this but if you are off-campus and the machine you're using doesn't have it, click the logo to download -- it's free!).



• So what's the difference between the OSLA, Student Support Services, and the Student Services Administration?

Here's the link for information on Student Support Services. Here's the link for information on the Student Services Administration. For information on the OSLA, see above.


• Where can I get a student ID?

Just go to the ticket booth located at the north end of Savannah Center near the main entrance to the gym. One of our student workers will be able to help you.  A replacement ID is $5.00.


• Do I really need a student ID?

That depends on what you plan to do while here at IU Northwest.

Do you ...

Plan on checking out any books from the library?
Plan on checking out any items your instructor has placed on reserve in the libary?
Plan on using any of the Savannah Center fitness facilities?
Plan on attending any IU Northwest events that offer a discounted price for students?
Want to receive a discount on movie passes at participating area theatres?
Want to purchase selected Microsoft software at huge price reductions at the IU Northwest Bookstore?


If you answered "Yes" to any one of these questions, then you need a student I.D.
FYI: The first one is free; a replacement is $5.



• IU Northwest has a Fitness Center?

Yes, we have a Fitness Center. It constitutes a substantial percentage of the Savannah Center.


• How do I join?

Personnel in the ticket booth have all the information you'll need. The ticket booth is located at the north end of Savannah Center near the main entrance for the gym.


• What does the fitness center offer?

Available facilities include the gym, a fitness/weight room, locker rooms, and a walking track.


• What are the hours?

Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Not all facilities may be available at all times due to various scheduled events. If you have a question about availability, please call the ticket booth at 219-981-4299.)


• Is it just for students?

No, but prices vary. Please check with the ticket booth personnel for information.

Clubs & Organizations

• How do I join a club or organization?

Look on this website or in the IU Northwest Student Handbook, find the club and call the advisor. They will be able to provide you with all the information you need.


• How do I start my own club or organization?

Pick up a Club Registration Form in the OSLA, Savannah Center, Room 217.


• What's a Standing Student Organization?

A Standing Student Organization is a permanent student organization. Standing Student Organizations include the Student Government Association, Student Activities Board, The Northwest Phoenix, Spirits Literary Magazine, Publications Board, Student Activities Fund Trustees, and the College Bowl Team.


• Where can I contact other IU Northwest clubs and organizations?

Look on this website or in the IU Northwest Student Handbook, find the club and call the advisor. There are also mailboxes for every club and organization in the OSLA, Savannah Center, Room 217, where you could leave a note of inquiry.


• Our club wants to have an event but we don't have much money. What do we do?

Stop by the OSLA, Savannah Center, Room 217, and pick up a Student Activity Fund Trustees application. An OSLA staff member will be able to provide any additional information you need.


• Our club is having an event and we need to advertise. Any suggestions?

How about hanging some flyers around campus? This is still perhaps the cheapest and most reliable form of advertising among the student body. Click here for the rules and regs.

The student newspaper -- The Northwest Phoenix -- is also another option. Please contact the paper for advertising rates, deadlines, etc.

Don't forget that the website for your club or organization is also a good place to post the most up-to-date information on events you are organizing. Don't have a website for your club? Contact the OSLA.

You may also contact the OSLA to have your event posted on the Events Update page of this website. Stop by, call 219-980-6792, or e-mail.


• We're going to post flyers for our event on campus. Where can we post them?

Click here for the Display of Material Rules & Regs.


• Our club needs a room or an area to hold our event. What do we do?     UPDATED

You want to contact the Special Events Coordinator for the campus.  If you want a room for a club meeting, or a place to store club materials, we now have Club rooms available for just that purpose.  Please call the OSLA office at 980-6746 for more information.


• Our club is listed on the OSLA web site but we don't have a homepage like some other clubs. How can we get a website for our club?

You want to contact the OSLA.


• Can our club have its own e-mail address?

Yes. You must first be approved through the OSLA (see question above). Once your club or organization is official, you'll need to contact Carrie Greer in the Office of Student Life to get an email address set up.


• Can our club have a regular, snail-mail mailing address?

Certainly. If you are an official student club or organization, you have a mail box in the OSLA. The address would be:

Your Club Name
Indiana University Northwest
c/o Office of Student Life Savannah 217
3400 Broadway
Gary, IN 46408

Please check your mailbox once-a-week. They can get very full very fast at certain times during the year. You also run the risk of missing important, time-sensitive information that could benefit your club.

RedHawks Athletics

• IU Northwest has collegiate athletic teams?

Yes -- click here to find out more.


• What's the NAIA?

It's the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Visit the NAIA homepage to learn more.


• Can anyone try and make a team?

You first must be academically eligible (see next Q&A). All tryouts are open to all academically-eligible IU Northwest students. Call-outs will be posted on the homepages of the various sports as well as in many very conspicuous places around campus.


• What are the basic eligibility requirements?

Visit this link at the NAIA web site to find out more about basic eligibility requirements.


• When are the tryouts for teams?

Call-outs will be posted on the homepages of the various sports as well as in many very conspicuous places around campus.


• Are there athletic scholarships available?

There are a limited number of scholarships available, contact the Athletic Director for more information..


• What conference does IU Northwest belong to?

None -- IU Northwest is an independent.


• What division is IU Northwest in?

Division II


• How much does a ticket cost?

$2 for students (with student ID) and $3 for the general public (for basketball).


• Can I get a season ticket?

  Yes, season tickets (for basketball season) are available and are currently priced at $30. This will get you into every RedHawks and Lady RedHawks home games.