In my last blog post, I outlined some of the ways we are focusing on student retention, including our efforts to provide early connections, specialized support and a robust campus life. Here are some other attributes that contribute to student retention. Hands-on learning and research sets SIU apart One of our defining features as a…
I recently wrote about the myriad ways we are working to recruit more students to SIU Carbondale. These efforts are paying off. Our number of transfer students is up as is our yield rate for getting admitted students to register for classes. For the second year in a row, our freshman class had the highest…
Recently, I shared the many strategies we are implementing to recruit new students, from more on-the-ground outreach to use of innovative technology tools. We are doing as much in retention, as well, including enhanced academic advisement; implementation of an early warning system to identify students who may be struggling; hands-on learning experiences through research, creative…
We have had a very successful start to the academic year. From the opening of the eSports facility in the Student Center to Watermelon Fest to the first week of classes, the campus has been busy and productive. We continue to work collaboratively on academic reorganization, and we have held several successful off-campus events engaging…
The last couple of years have brought a lot of change for SIU Carbondale, and we have seen many positive developments. For instance, last year, we welcomed our strongest class of new students in recent history, with the highest average ACT score in the last 20 years. And those students have made SIU their home-away-from-home,…
The Illinois Board of Higher Education’s approval of a nursing program at SIU Carbondale is a major achievement. It speaks not only to the hard work for which we are known, but also to many of our priorities. Here are a few: Enrollment: We anticipate that the nursing program will enroll 300 students by its…
One of the great benefits to working on a college campus is the opportunity to expand our horizons by taking classes. For SIU employees who are completing a degree or simply seeking personal growth, the price is right: tuition and most fees are waived for those taking SIU courses on campus or online. I’m personally…
Guest Blog by Meera Komarraju Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs On July 1, SIU Carbondale launched seven new schools as part of our ongoing academic reorganization. One of the first steps in creating a new school was to identify its leadership. Faculty in the schools determined whether they wanted to move forward with…
The new state budget passed by legislators and signed by the governor contains a lot of good news for Illinois colleges and universities in general and for SIU specifically. The budget for the 2020 fiscal year includes a 5 percent increase in general operating funding for each institution plus increases in funding for MAP grants,…
I recently had the pleasure to present our annual Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards. Each recipient has made significant contributions to SIU through outstanding teaching, meaningful research and strong leadership, both at SIU and throughout the community. The recipients — Sukesh R. Bhaumik, Ken B. Anderson, Farhan Chowdhury, Nilanjana Bardhan, Jeff McGoy and Timothy Lyle…