AU Today - Academics

Academic stories
students in science lab
June 25, 2024

In a move to spark excitement and creativity around the sciences, Aurora University moved all of its science courses under one roof into high-tech, open classrooms that give students hands-on experi­ences in cutting-edge labs. AU designated John C. Dunham Hall as the home of its new...

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
June 18, 2024

Recreational therapy (sometimes called therapeutic recreation) is an expanding field that uses activity-based interventions to help people with physical disabilities, sensory disorders, or mental-health needs fully participate in life. About 17,000 professionals work as recreational therapists,...

nursing students in VR lab
March 15, 2024

Nursing students are getting their first taste of virtual reality in the classroom. The School of Nursing at Aurora University introduced VR into its curriculum earlier this year, giving students a chance to practice realistic scenarios for a diverse population of patients where...

social work students receive scholarships
February 1, 2024

Aurora University has awarded 25 social work students $520,000 in scholarships and other support to pursue their substance abuse counselor credentials, as the demand rises for social workers trained to address the ongoing overdose crisis in Illinois. The scholarships are funded by a grant from...

graduate education student in meeting
January 5, 2024

The nationwide teacher shortage has been making headline news for the past several years. In Illinois, there were over 7,100 unfilled positions at the start of the 2023 school year, including almost 50 open positions for principals and assistant principals across the state.1 In response,...