Dean’s List sees slight decrease

For the fall 2011 semester, 3,359 of the 15,000 undergraduates at SIU made the Dean’s List, or 22 percent of the undergraduate population.

Students who make the Dean’s List meet or exceed the standards set by their specific college while taking at least 12 credit hours. The minimum standard could vary from a grade point average of at least a 3.25, at the College of Engineering, to a minimum of…

Online classes begin to show prominence

The number of students enrolled in online classes increased 11.5 percent from last spring despite the university’s overall enrollment decline.

While some in the university community think online courses lack many positive aspects of the classroom experience, the university promotes taking the classes to stay competitive with other universities.

Chancellor Rita Cheng said she considers online courses to be an important component of any higher learning institution.

“Our competitors are embracing technology,…

Changes to consolidate ceremonies

While changes to graduation commencements were made to improve the celebrations, some students said they prefer the events remain the same.

Some major changes to be implemented this spring include the elimination of the August commencement, and ceremonies will no longer be held at individual colleges but rather take place in three different commencements at the SIU Arena. The purpose of the adjustments,…

10-day enrollment figures released

After the first 10 days of the semester, SIU spring enrollment is at 18,442 students.

While the enrollment number is 322 less than spring 2011 enrollment, Chancellor Rita Cheng said the figure was still higher than expected.

“We expected to get about 360 less than last spring based on our smaller class in the fall, and we have turned the number into a positive with 38 more students than we expected…

Programs could face consolidation

A state-mandated review of academic programs could mean a consolidation or cuts of programs in the university.

The provost’s office put together a committee in the fall semester to complete a review of all academic programs on campus. The review is a state requirement for all public universities in Illinois to complete. The act requires universities to send the report to the Illinois Board of Higher Education on degree programs…

Polar Bear rages through Carbondale

A lot of things were thrown from the balconies of Creekside Apartments Saturday.

As the day waned and the hundreds of partiers who’d spent the better part of the day drinking headed into the warmth of crowded apartments, the throb of dubstep and the smell of beer as well as the shattered glass of smashed TVs strewn on the sidewalk caught the last rays of the sun.

It was the end…

Student workers bring in donations for university

In an isolated, windowless room of the Student Center’s basement, SIU students are raising money for the university almost year-round.

The SIU Foundation, which was established in 1942 to solicit gifts and donations from private sources for the university, uses the gifts for educational purposes such as scholarships, according to the foundation’s website.

Annually, the foundation brings in a value of about $20 million in donations each year, while the student…

Students and staff share thoughts on campus improvements

Although many campus changes happen during summer months, most of the planning stages begin much earlier in the spring or even fall semester.

Chancellor Rita Cheng said there are planned improvement projects for the campus in the process.

There will be carpet replacements in Faner, as well as new paint jobs and window blinds in all the offices and classrooms. The French Auditorium in Lindegren Hall will undergo a remodeling project…

Policy may interfere with Faculty Association’s contract

Some teachers believe the finals week policy being enforced by Provost John Nicklow may contradict the Faculty Association’s collective bargaining contract.

The policy, which dates back to before 1981, states teachers should not distribute final exams before finals week. Nicklow sent out a memo to deans, chairs and directors before the semester began as a reminder to relay the policy to teachers.

Nicklow’s secretary said he would not be available for…

Two-week MLK celebration kicks off at Grinnell

A crowd of about 50 people chanted “Because of King, we all have a dream,” at the Freedom for All March Saturday at Grinnell Hall as they celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Starting Sunday, the two-week homage to King heightened the anticipation for the beginning of the MLK events. Planned since last September, the themed commemoration, “Live Your Dream,” was planned to help raise awareness of…

University Housing to get new look

The university’s housing plan will include new residence halls on the east side of campus within the next 10 years.

Chancellor Rita Cheng proposed the updated plan at the SIU Board of Trustees meeting Dec. 8, which includes demolition of the Brush Towers after construction of dormitories nearby, renovation of Thompson Point, and rebuilding Greek Row and graduate housing.

“I think it is widely recognized that our housing is aging, and…

Faculty Senate approves committee to study NTTF titles

Faculty Senate members will consider the addition and change of the promotion lines and titles of non-tenure track faculty.

The senate approved a resolution to study promotional lines and title of Non-Tenure Track Faculty at its meeting Tuesday. Senators will recommend faculty who will serve on a committee to conduct the study and bring recommendations back to the senate.

The SIU Board of Trustees and NTTF Association requested the Faculty Senate…

Dead Week would help some, hurt others

Some universities have named the week before finals “Dead Week” with no scheduled classes or assignments, so students can have more time to study.

Many students at SIU say they wish the university would implement the same practice.

Coleman Cromwell, a sophomore from Millstadt studying industrial design, said he thinks dead week would be a great idea.

[caption id=”attachment_64437″ align=”alignright” width=”300″ caption=”Kevin Ortega, a senior from Glen Ellyn studying mechanical engineering, studies…

Her first 556: Cheng gets mixed reviews

SIU President Glenn Poshard knew what he was looking for in a new chancellor — someone who could make tough decisions and wouldn’t settle for the status quo.

He found her in Milwaukee, where Rita Cheng was serving as provost at the University of Wisconsin.

When Cheng became SIUC’s eighth chancellor in 11 years in June 2010, she faced a daunting charge. Poshard and the SIU Board of Trustees wanted to…

Committee looks closer at state-funding measures

The way universities are paid by the state may be affected by input from SIU faculty and administrators.

After Jan. 1, 2012, universities will receive state funding based on numbers of enrollment, retention, and graduation rates thanks to legislation signed into law in August.

The Illinois Board of Higher Education Steering Committee is designing new measurements for how much money universities receive from the state. The committee members met Wednesday at…

Students view university in different light because of strike

As the administration and faculty work through labor disputes, some students say the strike has not only changed their perception of the university but also their perception of life.

As more than 100 professors stand on picket lines rather than in their classrooms, Chancellor Rita Cheng said she hopes students still confide in the university during these difficult days. She said some students have been affected, while others have not.

Anthony…

University, student relations hindered during rocky times

The recurring theme at the university recently hasn’t been one of inspiration, or one encouraging of all that higher education stands for.

Daily Egyptian reporters were repeatedly told at the beginning of the academic year that if they wished to speak to an SIUC employee, they must first speak with Rod Sievers, university spokesman. In some cases, interview questions were requested beforehand for Sievers’ approval. Some of us were…

Social networking policy in the works after Facebook comment controversy

While stationed in Los Angeles for an internship, Brandon Allen commented on SIUC’s Facebook page with a question for the university about the labor negotiations.

Ten minutes later, his comment was gone.

Comments from Allen, a junior studying advertising, along with many from alumni, parents and students disappeared from the university’s Facebook page late Wednesday. The deletion of comments followed a posted…

Unions say strike not about money, Cheng begs to differ

Editor’s Note: The following story discusses issues affecting two unions negotiating its contracts, the Faculty Association and the Association of Civil Service Employees. Tuesday’s edition of the Daily Egyptian discussed two other unions, the Non-Tenure Track Faculty Association and Graduate Assistants United.

While administrators say a majority of the items being negotiated in the unions’ contracts concern money, union leaders insist the issues do not.

Four unions representing students, faculty and…

Unions’ leaders say negotiations continue without progress

Editors Note: The following story covers bargaining issues for two of the four unions in contract negotiations, Graduate Assistants United and the Non-Tenure Track Faculty Association. A story focused on the remaining unions, the Faculty Association and the Association of Civil Service Employees, will appear in Wednesday’s edition of the Daily Egypitan.

With an impending strike date set for Thursday, details of union contract negotiations…