ribbon cutting

Chancellor Austin Lane (center) and others opened a new faculty and staff lounge space in the Old Main Room in the Student Center on Tuesday. (Photo by Russell Bailey)

September 09, 2021

Chancellor’s Faculty and Staff Lounge at Old Main opens

As a way for faculty and staff to get to know one another across departments, some space in the Student Center will be set aside from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Made possible with a donation from the SIU Foundation, the university opened the Chancellor’s Faculty and Staff Lounge at Old Main. 

Chancellor Austin Lane said that during his Listening and Learning tour he heard faculty and staff express a desire to better connect with each other. 

“This is an opportunity to have an informal space for conversation. It’s conducive to finding common ground,” he said. 

Next Wednesday, Sept. 15, the chancellor will host the room from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and invite people to bring their lunches and informally visit with him and colleagues. The room can also be used for meetings between faculty and student leaders, donors, emeriti faculty and programs of interest to employees across campus. Upcoming events will be announced.