August 15, 2013
Media Advisory – ‘Mobile Dawg’
With classes set to begin at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Monday, Aug. 19, student move-in, which includes the largest freshman class in two decades, is underway, and provides reporters, photographers and camera crews numerous opportunities to meet with students and their families.
Chancellor Rita Cheng will visit with students and their families on Friday, Aug. 16, as the students receive their Dell Lattitude 10 tablets, which include digital textbooks the students need for some of their classes. The tablets, part of the University’s initiative known as “Mobile Dawg,” also include a variety of applications that will better connect the students to campus events and organizations. The lunch and tablet distribution is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Trueblood Dining Hall on campus.
The initiative follows a Mobile Dawg pilot program in January where 300 students received tablets. The University partnered with Microsoft, Dell, Intel, and Internet2, an e-textbook portal, to create and customize the program for SIU students. SIU is one of the first public research universities in the nation to undertake the initiative and fully integrate the tablets into campus life.
Chancellor Cheng will also tour east campus residence halls from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday to talk with parents and students. The annual Chancellor’s New Student Convocation is at 5 p.m. at Saluki Stadium, and a Southern Social and Saluki Pride Pep Rally follows from 6 to 8 p.m., also at the stadium.