Posts by Chancellor Carlo Montemagno
This weekend’s commencement ceremonies serve as our semiannual reminder to take a breath and reflect on the great things SIU is doing for its students and the community. To all of our graduating seniors, congratulations and good luck. I hope that you leave us with a sense of purpose and fond memories. We look forward…
At commencement, our graduates celebrate their success and thank their families, professors and friends for making it possible. Another group of people deserves thanks, as well: the alumni and donors who give back to the university. Among them are a very special group of volunteers. Over the last two weeks, I have had the pleasure…
Ask any member of our faculty what they love about teaching at SIU, and I guarantee you’ll hear about their connection with students. Professors here have the immense advantage of working at a major research institution, and yet still having intimate classes that allow them to really bond with their students. The result is amazing…
In the wake of all of the noise, it might be easy to miss hearing about all of the great things happening at SIU. Here’s a sampling of good news from the last week alone. Last weekend, we wrapped up a multi-day, student-led event hosting 400 engineering students from 15 universities for the Midcontinent Student…
As a comprehensive research university, we are tasked with offering a well-rounded education to all of our students. But our commitment goes beyond just our students to their families and the entire Southern Illinois region. We are not only an economic engine that provides jobs and attracts people to shop at local businesses, but a…
Guest blog post by Meera Komarraju, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, SIU Carbondale On most campuses, faculty members welcome alumni to their classes to talk with students about their careers and expertise. At SIU, alumni also regularly volunteer to serve as mentors to our students in multiple ways. Sometimes these…
As we focus on recruitment, we must think about the product we deliver. Of course, education is not a product like a cell phone or a can of vegetables on a grocery shelf. It is a valuable service we offer to people who have many other choices. Our “product” is the Saluki experience. When people…
Earlier this month, six faculty members took a field trip to Arizona State University to learn first-hand about the transition of many of its departments into schools. There, at the invitation of ASU President Michael Crow, they met with academic and administrative leaders to gain a better understanding of the possibilities and the process –…
Following are brief updates on the status of academic reorganization. Votes so far So far, 12 departments have voted on proposed schools. Overall, about 65 percent of the votes have been “yes,” 29 percent have been “no,” and 6 percent have been “abstain.” Here’s a breakdown: School of Biological Sciences Microbiology: 4 yes, 0 no,…
The recent board vote defeating a proposal to transfer $5.1 million in state appropriations from SIU Carbondale to Edwardsville has led to a call from Edwardsville-area legislators to separate the system. I understand that this is not the first time this discussion has been raised. The renewed call for separation is a disappointing response to…
