Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Established	1957
Type	Public
Chancellor	Vaughn Vandergrift
Admin. staff	2,437 total; including 1,003 Faculty
Students	14,235
Undergraduates	11,428
Postgraduates	2,807
Doctoral students	518
Location	Edwardsville, Illinois, United States
Campus	Suburban, 2,660 acres (1,076.5 ha)
Colors	Red and white
Nickname	SIUe, The e
Mascot	Eddie the Cougar
Website	www.siue.edu

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, commonly abbreviated SIUe, is a four-year coed public university in Edwardsville, Illinois, United States about 20 miles (32 km) from St. Louis, Missouri. SIUe was established in 1957 as an extension of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is the younger of the two largest institutions of Southern Illinois University. The University offers graduate programs through its Graduate School.

In fiscal year 2011, SIUe faculty and staff received more than $34 million in grants and contracts for research, teaching and service initiatives--- which ranked 6th among the 53 comparable public and private universities. "A significant portion" of these funds was for work done through the East St. Louis Center. Otherwise, over $6 million was awarded for 115 research grants from agencies that included the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Offering comprehensive programs, services and training to more than 6,000 people annually, the SIUe East St. Louis Center is dedicated to improving the lives of families and individuals in East St. Louis and surrounding urban communities.

History

During the Post–World War II economic expansion, a lack of public higher education was noticeable in the growing Metro-East area. Organizations from across the area took it upon themselves to relieve such a lack. Southern Illinois University, over 100 miles (160 km) to the region's south, opened a residence center in Belleville in 1949. In 1955, the Edwardsville Chamber of Commerce founded the Southwestern Illinois Council for Higher Education, tasked with creating a more permanent solution to the problem. SWICHE and the SIU Board of Trustees met and stated their agreement in goals in 1956, and, that same year, an Executive Committee from the Board of Education in Alton invited Dr. Alonzo Myers, Chairman of the Department of Higher Education for Higher Education at New York University, to perform a study of the need for higher education present in the Metro-East.

Dr. Myers's 1957 report, The Extent and the Nature of Needs for Higher Education in Madison and St. Clair Counties, outlined the precise need: the 1950 census showed that students in the region in question were half as likely as others in the nation to finish a four-year degree program (owing specifically to the lack of a closer university and the financial nonfeasibility of going to school away from home at other state universities). Businesses in the area were in need of college-trained employees, but were forced to opt for hiring outside of the area, especially in the fields of business administration, nursing, education, and industrial technology. Myers concluded that, rather than more residence centers, private schools, or junior colleges, a branch of a four-year public university would best serve the needs of the area. He recommended SIU, the closest large public university, as the best candidate.

Acting on the report, SIU purchased both a former building of East St. Louis High School and the campus of Shurtleff College in Alton as temporary facilities in 1957. Even with all of the research and planning that had gone before, the true need had been underestimated. When the new school opened, officials planned on having about 800 students; 1776 enrolled, and enrollment doubled within two years.

The dual campus solution was temporary mostly because of lack of room for expansion: both facilities were in urban areas with little breathing room even at the time of purchase. Land for the current campus was purchased in 1960--- 2,660-acre (1,076.5 ha) of farmland. Money for the purchase came from contributions from individuals, businesses, corporations, civic organizations, labor unions, corporations, industries, and PTAs; from loans from 14 Metro-East banks; and from allocated state funding. The location, west of Edwardsville, was chosen due to its accessibility via highways, its usability as an educational campus, and its proximity to major urban areas in the Metro-East.

A bond issue was voted upon by the citizens of Illinois in 1960: the measure passed by more than 100,000 votes, providing funds for the construction of the campuses of SIUe and the University of Illinois Chicago. A conference entitled Environmental Planning-Edwardsville Campus (EPEC) took place in 1961, highlighting the architectural and spatial design of the future campus. The campus was designed by architects Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum. Ground was broken in 1963 and, with the first two buildings (Peck Hall and Lovejoy Library) completed, classes in the Edwardsville campus started in fall 1965. A series of dedication ceremonies from 1966 to 1967 highlighted the constant construction and growth of the campus.

Soon, the school became increasingly independent of its parent school in Carbondale. In 1971, the SIU Board of Trustees made official the campus's name as Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Academics

Total enrollment in fall 2011 was 14,235 (undergraduate and graduate), the largest overall enrollment in the University's history; the new freshman class of 2,070 is up from 1,748 in 2005, representing the largest group of new freshmen in SIUe’s history. The average ACT Score for SIUe’s fall 2010 freshman class was 22.5; the national average freshman ACT score is 21.0. There are more than 86,000 living alumni. The student body in the Fall of 2011 came from all 102 Illinois counties, 42 states, and 41 foreign nations. The international student population exceeds 300. The top five countries represented on campus are India, Turkey, Iran, China and Nepal.

• College of Arts and Sciences
• School of Business
• School of Education
• School of Engineering

• School of Nursing
• School of Dental Medicine
• School of Pharmacy
• Graduate School

National recognition

In spring 2009, the SIUe School of Pharmacy received full accreditation status from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). In May 2009, the School graduated its first Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree class.

SIUe has been recognized by U.S.News & World Report among 68 schools nationwide as an “up-and-coming school firmly focused on improving the job they’re doing today.” Washington Monthly, a national political magazine, ranks SIUe among the Top 50 master’s granting private and public colleges and universities in the nation; SIUe is 14th among public institutions on that list. Ratings are based on institutions’ commitment to the public good in three broad categories: Social Mobility, Research and Service.

U.S.News & World Report Best Colleges 2011 edition recognizes SIUe for numerous achievements, including being cited for the second consecutive year by its peers and recognized as an “up and coming school;” listed as one of 68 national universities and one of only three Midwestern regional universities for recently making “innovative changes in the areas of faculty, student life, campus life or facilities;” being listed for the sixth consecutive year in the capstone experience category, among 15 universities – including Brown, Princeton and Stanford – for its comprehensive Senior Assignment program measuring the competency of graduating seniors; and being among the top 20 public universities in the best Regional Universities Midwest (master’s granting) category for the seventh consecutive year. The overall scores are based on the academic preparedness of students, graduation rates, faculty characteristics and the reputation of SIUe in higher education.

The nationally recognized online news magazine, The Daily Beast, ranks SIUe 21st in the nation among its Top 50 Safest Colleges. SIUe police officers are academy trained and engaged in a Community Policing program. Under the SIUe Campus Violence Prevention Plan, there are more than 80 emergency phones on campus.

GI Jobs Magazine, a comprehensive guide for people transitioning out of the U.S. military, named SIUe a Military Friendly School for 2012. This honor places SIUe in the top 15 percent of all schools nationwide in offering programs and support for veteran and active duty military personnel.

A total of 2,152 SIUe students engaged in 23,019 hours of community service through volunteer efforts during 2009. The students’ commitment earned them a spot on the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

SIUe's School of Business has been ranked as a Best 310 Business School in the 2010 edition of the Princeton Review. SIUe is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Only 15 percent of business schools worldwide are accredited by the AACSB, which is considered to be the premier accrediting body for business education; SIUe is one of four schools in the St. Louis area to be accredited as such.

The university is also accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, the American Council for Construction Education, the American Dental Association, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council on Accreditation of Nursing Anesthesia Education Programs, the Council on Social Work Education, the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, the National Association of Schools of Theatre, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. In addition, the American Art Therapy Association and American Chemical Society have formally reviewed and approved SIUe's programs as meeting their standards.

The "e"

In 2005, at the direction of Chancellor Vandergrift, SIUe initiated the “e” brand--- the letters SIU followed by "a bold, edgy, vibrant and energetic red" lower case e. This contemporary branding was done to tie into SIUe's quest for and commitment to excellence. The school thus urges people to experience or to discover "...the power of e!" and boldly proclaims, "We are the e!" at "SIUe, where the e equals excellence."

Campus

Bridge over Turtle Pond in The Gardens at SIUe. Fall 2005.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located on 2,660 acres (1,076.5 ha) of beautiful trees and lakes (one of the largest campuses in the U.S. by land area). The campus is composed of several halls, multiple service facilities, and recreational areas.

Academic buildings

• Student Success Center, opened in 2009, houses academic and personal support services all in one convenient location. Study lounge, meeting rooms, and a Mac computer lab are available to students 24 hours a day. The building features a coffee shop and the offices of student government, disability support services, academic advancement, health services, a career development center, and international programs.
• SIUe School of Pharmacy building began offering courses to students admitted to the SIUe doctor of Pharmacy program in August 2005. The building is located in SIUE's University Park, which is a 330-acre (133.5 ha) technology park providing a unique opportunity for private sector emerging industries and businesses to enhance their competitive positions through beneficial relationships with the University.
• SIUe School of Engineering building, opened in 2000, includes classrooms, laboratories, and offices for Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Construction Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
• Alumni Hall, opened in 1976, encompasses the School of Nursing and the departments of Speech Communication, Art Education, Art Therapy, Geography, and Public Administration and Policy Analysis.
• The Art and Design Building, opened in 1994, contains art classrooms and studios.
• Dunham Hall (named after Katherine Dunham), opened in 1966 and added on to in 1995, houses the departments of Music, Mass Communications, and Theater and Dance.
• The Theater Department also uses the Metcalf Experimental Theater, a separate building named after James F. Metcalf (father of actress Laurie Metcalf) that opened in 1984. This facility was a replacement for an old Quonset hut that was used for productions.
• Founders Hall, opened in 1976, is home to the schools of Business and Education as well as the Dean's College.
• The Lovejoy Library (named after Elijah Parish Lovejoy), opened in 1965, holds over 800,000 volumes of almost 600,000 titles in book form plus over 1,670,000 titles on microfilm across its four floors.
• Peck Hall (named after John Mason Peck), opened in 1965, houses the departments of Anthropology, History, Sociology, Literature, Social Work, English, Foreign Languages, Political Science, and Philosophy.
• The Science Building, opened in 1966, contains the classes, labs, and offices of the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Physics. An $80 million project to build a Science Laboratory Building and renovate the existing Science Building is underway. The College of Arts & Sciences also has a construction webcam on its website.
• The Vadalabene Center (named after state senator Sam M. Vadalabene), opened in 1983, is the focal point for SIUe athletics, containing a majority of the university's sports facilities. The Center was expanded in 1993 with the addition of the Student Fitness Center, which was improved in 2009. It was further expanded in 2008 as SIUe's athletics began the transition from NCAA Division II to Division I. Among the changes were an increase in the arena seating from c.2400 to c.4000.

Other University Buildings

• The B. Barnard Birger Hall contains the offices of the SIUE Foundation and the SIUE Alumni Association.
• Korte Stadium (named after Ralph Korte) and its Bob Guelker Field opened in 1994 and serve the university's athletics, mainly soccer and track and field.
• Morris University Center (named after former SIU president Delyte W. Morris), opened in 1967, is the central hub of student activity, containing dining halls, ballrooms, conference rooms, and the university bookstore. The Student Success Center was added onto the complex in 2009.

From 1969 to 1980, the SIUe campus hosted the Mississippi River Festival (MRF), a summer outdoor concert series that featured performances by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and high profile jazz, folk, pop, and rock artists including The Who, Yes, Chicago, Joan Baez, The Eagles, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and The Grateful Dead. The MRF stage was beneath a large tent which also covered the reserved seating section, with lawn seating outside on the grass of the large natural amphitheater. The MRF attracted crowds of upward of 30,000.

• The Religious Center, completed in 1971, is located near the Art and Design Building. It is topped by a plexiglass Geodesic dome which resembles a globe with Edwardsville oriented at the top. The center was designed and dedicated by R. Buckminster Fuller, who was a visiting professor at SIUe at the time. The 90th Meridian runs through the building.
• Rendleman Hall (named after former SIUe president John S. Rendleman), opened in 1969, is the main administrative building and houses admission review and processing, bursar’s office, and housing office.

Additional facilities

• University Park is a 330-acre (133.5 ha) mixed-use technology park located in the St. Louis metropolitan area on the SIUe campus at the I-270/I-55 corridor in the city of Edwardsville. It is home to 22 business, industry and state tenants classified as agricultural-biotechnology, professional services, health sciences and information technology. The Park has direct access to more than 900 faculty members and more than 14,000 students on SIUe's campus, fully developed sites with utilities at lot lines, detailed site information - including soil type and environmental reports, and includes featured properties for lease.
• The Southwest Illinois Advanced Manufacturing Center (SIAM) was launched in 2005, performing applied and basic research for product/process development and improvement. The center is funded by the U. S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. The Hoffman Center on the N.O. Nelson Campus of Lewis and Clark Community College in Edwardsville provides over 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m²) of space for SIAM.
• The Environmental Resource Training Center (ERTC) is designated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) as the State of Illinois' center for continuing education of personnel involved in the operation, maintenance and management of drinking water and wastewater treatment systems. The ERTC is located on the north side of the campus along New Poag Road.
• The Gardens at SIUe are being developed as a 35 acre botanical garden that is also a living laboratory in support of the educational and research missions of the University and a place of beauty for the university community to share with the general public. The Gardens are located off Cougar Lake Road, near the Cougar Lake Recreation Area and the Cougar Village apartments.
• The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center located in University Park is the world's only facility dedicated to researching the ways and means of converting corn (maize) to ethanol. Using emerging technologies, the NCERC contains an analytical lab, a fermentation lab, and a pilot-scale production plant for performing research and training future workers.

Housing

Housing consists of several residence halls and Cougar Village, which are the university's on-campus apartments. All campus student accommodations are suite-style and furnished. Each contains social lounges and multiple service units such as computer labs and Learning Resource Centers.

• Evergreen Hall is the newest residence hall, opened in 2007, and houses about 500 students. Designed for upper-class residents, it features apartment and suite-style living. Students are able to choose from multiple floor plans. The hall also has multiple service facilities, such as fitness center and meeting rooms.
• Bluff Hall opened in 2001 and houses 500 freshmen students. Freshmen Focused Interest Communities (groups based on common interest or academic majors) are spread out between the three freshmen residence halls, including Bluff.
• Prairie Hall opened in 1998. It houses 500 freshmen students. Prairie Hall contains meeting rooms and a computer lab. Freshmen Focused Interest Communities (groups based on common interest or academic majors) are spread out between the three freshmen residence halls, including Prairie.
• Woodland Hall is the oldest residence hall (opened in 1994) and houses 500 freshmen students. The hall is multifunctional and contains conference and meeting rooms. Woodland Hall has a small student cafe, Woodland Cart, which provides students with a with meal items during the week. Freshmen Focused Interest Communities (groups based on common interest or academic majors) are spread out between the three freshmen residence halls, including Woodland.
• Cougar Village is a group of student apartments which opened in 1970. Composed of 62 buildings that house approximately 1500 undergraduate students, graduate students, and family residents (family of professional students or staff). The village was originally called Tower Lake Apartments, after the man-made lake on the north side of campus located behind the water tower and the heating and refrigeration plant; the "400" side of the village lies along the eastern shore of the lake. Tower Lake is now called Cougar Lake. Freshmen cannot seek housing in Cougar Village. Apartments provide multiple floor plans and are a short walk or shuttle ride from campus.

Student activities

Student newspapers

The school newspaper, The Alestle, is named for the school's three campuses: Alton (the location of the dental school), East St. Louis and Edwardsville. The Alestle is a member of the Illinois College Press Association, the Associated Collegiate Press and UWIRE. The Alestle is published exclusively online on Tuesdays and in print on Thursdays during fall and spring semesters, and on Wednesdays during summer semesters.

Athletics

Main article: SIU Edwardsville Cougars

Cougar Mascots SIUe once housed two live cougar mascots. From 1968 to 1985, the female cougar, Chimega (an Apache word for cougar), was the official mascot. On March 18, 1985, Chimaga died of old age. In July 1982, Kyna became the second official mascot of SIUe. After only five years at SIUe, Kyna was sent to a wildlife preserve in Southern Illinois near Metropolis. SIUe no longer houses live mascots.

The university is a member of the NCAA and competes at the Division I level in the Ohio Valley Conference (also competing in the Missouri Valley Conference for men's soccer and the Southern Conference for wrestling). Until 2008, SIUe competed in Division II as a part of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).

The SIUe teams are nicknamed the Cougars, and Cougar athletic teams have won 17 NCAA National Championships.

The school mascot was Cory the Cougar until 2010, when the school decided to get a new mascot. Eddie debuted his new name and a new jersey wearing the number 57 during a men's basketball game January 24, 2011 against UT Martin. The number 57 on Eddie's jersey is in honor of the university's founding in 1957.

Student government

The SIUe student government is a combined undergraduate and graduate student senate. The student government at SIUe is composed of two branches. The legislative branch consists of twelve senators elected by the student body every year. The Executive Board consists of the Student Body President, Student Body Vice President, and Student Trustee who are also elected by the student body. The Executive Board also consists of four officials: Financial Officer, Internal Affairs Officer, Organization Relations Officer, External Affairs Officer and School Spirit & Pride Chair. The officials of the Executive Board are appointed by the Student Body President which needs to be confirmed by the Senate. The primary function of the student senate is to serve as an advocate on student issues and voice students' concerns about campus issues.

Greek Life

Greek Life allows students to make friends, enhance academic skills, develop leadership skills, and have fun. The Greek community at SIUe has 19 fraternities and sororities and four governing councils who have a rich tradition of campus leadership and community involvement.

In December of 2009, the SIU Board of Trustees approved the "Greek Learning and Living Community," authorizing the renovation and conversion of eight buildings in Cougar Village to a Greek Village so as to provide fraternity and sorority houses on-campus as a part of the university's housing program.

Volunteer service

Volunteer programs through the SIUe Kimmel Leadership Center’s Volunteer Services allow students to help others, while having a lasting, positive impact on their lives. Students at the University also can take part in the Student Leadership Development Program, which consists of 60 hours of volunteer service and attending a structured reflection session. Half of the volunteer hours must be completed in the community. Participants can receive credit toward a leadership transcript by documenting service hours and by providing an account of skills obtained and duties performed.

Student leadership

The Student Leadership Development Program offers a wide variety of opportunities that complement the classroom experience. These opportunities can give you a competitive edge as you enter the work force, or apply for scholarships, or Graduate School. All enrolled SIUe students may participate in the program regardless of academic major or class standing.

Notable alumni

In the Fall of 2011, SIUe had 86493 living alumni. Among the notables are:

Name	Class year	Notability	References
Fernando Aguirre	1980 BS	President, Chiquita Brands International
Mike Banner		Central midfielder for the Chicago Fire in the MLS
Jenny Bindon		goalkeeper for the New Zealand Women's Football Team at the 2007 Women's World Cup and 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing
Margaret Blackshere	1965 BS	President, Illinois AFL-CIO
Pete Delkus	1990 BS	Meteorologist, WFAA (Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex)
William L. Enyart	1974 BS	Major General, Adjutant General Illinois- directs the Illinois Department of Military Affairs & is the senior officer in the Illinois Army and Air National Guard
Ken Flach		2-time Wimbledon and US-Open doubles winner, Olympic gold medalist, three-time NCAA Division II tennis singles champion
Paul J. Galeski	1983 BS	Chairman & CEO, Maverick Technologies
Dave Glover	1987 BS	Radio talk show host, KFTK (Greater St. Louis)
Gavin Hamilton	2005	News Producer
Thomas Holbrook	1971 BA	Illinois State Representative, 113th District
Ralph Korte	1968 BS	Chairman and former president, The Korte Company
Gary W. Kronk	1981 BS	Noted amateur astronomer & Journalist
Walter Kross	1974 MS	Retired General USAF, Former Commander of Scott Air Force Base
Gail Lininger	1968 BS	Co-Founder, RE/MAX
Megan Lynch (Née Beljanski)	1992 BS	Reporter, KMOX (Greater St. Louis)
Kathleen Madigan	1988 BA	professional comedienne
Peter Maer	1970 BA	White House correspondent, CBS News in Washington
Ty Margenthaler	1997	Head coach of the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks women's basketball team
Patricia Mercurio	1972 BA	President, Bank of America, Missouri
Bill Plaschke	1980	sports writer for the LA Times and regular on ESPN's Around the Horn
Phillip J. Rarick III	1965 BA	Former Justice, Supreme Court of Illinois (2002-2004)
Joe Reiniger	1994 BS	Retired St. Louis Steamers and Ambush Soccer Player
Paige St. John	1986 BS	Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting
Gary Schroen	1968 BA	Former CIA agent, who was stationed in Iran and Afghanistan. He was also assigned to capture Osama Bin Laden. Author of First In.
Robert Seguso		2-time Wimbledon and US-Open doubles winner, Olympic gold medalist, NCAA Division I tennis doubles finalist
John Shimkus	1997 MBA	R-IL 19th District, U.S. House of Representatives
John Simmons	1991 BS	Founder, SimmonsCooper
Joyce Slocum	1978	interim president and CEO of National Public Radio
Dewayne Staats	1975 BA	television broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Rays
Shelby Steele	1971 MA	Author and Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Randall E. Thomas	1973/80 BS/MS	Major General Ret. former Adjutant General Illinois
Jeff Tweedy		lead singer of the Chicago based band Wilco
Stephnie Weir		Comedienne and Actress
Dennis Werth		former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder
Milton Wharton	1969 BS	Circuit Court Judge, 20th Judicial District, Illinois
Paul Wight		professional wrestler known as "The Big Show"
Clay Zavada		Major League Baseball Relief Pitcher and 2009 Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year award from the American Mustache Institute

Notes

A.^{^} 2004 & 2005 NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Champion 2006 GLVC Regular Season and GLVC Tournament Champions

B.^{^} 2006 GLVC & Great Lakes Regional Champions; finished fourth in the 2006 U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup, 2007 NCAA Division II Champions in the longest championship game in NCAA Softball history- 12 innings.

C.^{^} NCAA Division II Champions 1978 - 1984 (Men's Tennis); NCAA Division II Champions 1986 - 1989 (Women's)

D.^{^} 2005 & 2006 Outdoor GLVC Champions, 2006 & 2007 Indoor GLVC Champions

E.^{^} 2005 & 2006 Indoor and Outdoor GLVC Champions, 2007 Indoor GLVC Champions

F.^{^} 2005 GLVC Champions

G.^{^} American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) - Division II

H.^{^} Midwestern Club Football Conference

External links

General

• www.siue.edu — Official SIUe web site
• [1]-- Best Colleges of 2010
• Campus map at siue.edu
• [2] The Alestle—Student newspaper

Program-specific

• Southwest Illinois Advanced Manufacturing Center at siue.edu
• SIUE School of Engineering at siue.edu
• SIUE School of Pharmacy at siue.edu
• SIUE School of Nursing at siue.edu
• SIU School of Dental Medicine at siue.edu
• SIUE School of Business at siue.edu
• SIUE College of Arts and Sciences at siue.edu

Athletics

• www.siuecougars.com --- Official SIUe athletics web site
• www.siueclubfootball.com --- club football web site
• SIUE roster at American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)
• www.ncaa.org --- National Collegiate Athletic Association
• www.ovcsports.com --- Ohio Valley Conference