Since I started at SIU Carbondale in July 2020, we have made strides to increase our visibility through marketing and outreach in many places, including the Southern Illinois region. We are proud to call this area home, and we want students from this region to imagine themselves achieving their goals on our beautiful campus. We…
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A team effort to enhance our partnerships in Chicago
Earlier this month, a large delegation from SIU Carbondale traveled to the Windy City for the Saluki Takeover Tour: Chicago. Representing many colleges and units, we had one goal in mind: building and enhancing partnerships, one of the pillars of our Imagine 2030 strategic plan. To position SIU Carbondale as a first-choice institution, we must…
Our hope for an in-person fall 2021
As I continue to meet with people, the overwhelming desire I hear is to return to having most classes be face-to-face this fall. Right now, our leadership team is working with faculty, staff and students on a comprehensive Saluki Safety plan that has us returning to normal, provided that we continue to test, wear masks,…
Reflections on six months as chancellor
As I reflect on my first semester and first six months at SIU Carbondale, words that characterize the university and its people come to mind. Authentic. Remarkable. Passionate. Determined. Resilient. From my first interactions with the campus community during the interview process, I found everyone to be authentic. They were welcoming, straightforward and true to…
Plans for spring semester take shape
With fall semester well underway, it is time to look forward to spring. Our goal for the spring semester remains the same: provide a quality education in a safe environment. Based upon what we know about COVID-19 today, we anticipate that we will need to take all of the same precautions in the spring that…
Listening and learning
As a new chancellor, I know that I need to listen more than talk. I don’t assume I know everything, and I don’t have all of the answers. SIU Carbondale has its own culture and history. Our many stakeholders have their own, differing perspectives about what we do well and what we could do better….
Rankings and the company we keep
The 2021 U.S. News and World Report rankings were released today, and SIU Carbondale is ranked 258 among all national universities. Among public universities in the same category, we are ranked at 126. Of course, a number doesn’t tell the story. A ranking is simply a snapshot of a university at a point in time…
Fall 2020 enrollment and beyond
Today, we released our official enrollment for fall 2020. As I hinted earlier, we have a lot to brag about. Enrollment of first-time college students is up 31.2%, enrollment of new students from Southern Illinois is up 32.9%, and our freshman-to-sophomore retention rate has increased to 80.6%, the highest in 20 years. This is higher…
Welcome to the fall semester!
I am excited to get started on my first semester as chancellor, and I am eager to connect with new and returning faculty, staff and students. While this will be a fall semester unlike any other, our commitment to providing a high-quality education in a safe environment remains our top priority. I am deeply grateful…
A game-changing resolution
Last week, the Faculty Senate made a commitment that will benefit everyone associated with SIU Carbondale. The Resolution to Charge Faculty Senate Standing Committees to Address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is noteworthy because it acknowledges that we have work to do to provide a “safe, diverse, welcoming, and inclusive academic environment.” More importantly, it charges…