Grey Dawg poses with a fan during the eclipse in 2017

October 04, 2023

SIU’s plans for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

The message below was sent by the Eclipse Steering Committee on Oct. 4 to the campus community. 

On Monday, April 8, 2024, SIU Carbondale will be in the international spotlight once again, thanks to the second total solar eclipse in seven years. In fact, our region is the only location in the world to be the site of both eclipses! Check out the award-winning documentary, “In the Shadow,” about the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse on campus. 

This is an outstanding opportunity for our campus community to showcase what Saluki Nation means to the world.  We anticipate thousands of visitors to the campus and region from Friday, April 6, through Monday, April 8, and millions more to see SIU in the news and live broadcasts from campus.  In fact, SIU will partner with NASA EDGE to host a live simulcast eclipse show from campus, and Chicago’s Adler Planetarium will host activities on campus as well. 

As we look ahead to this historic event, we are writing to share some information that will be helpful as we plan for activities that weekend: 

  • Classes on Monday, April 8, 2024, will be canceled, but the university will be open. Students will not be in class that day and are encouraged to participate in the exciting events and activities we have on campus. All offices are expected to be open throughout the day to serve our students and the community. Administrative/professional (A/P) and civil service staff members may request to use personal leave time if needed. As always, supervisors have the discretion to approve or deny leave based on office and campus needs. We highly encourage all employees and students to get out, volunteer, and experience the eclipse on campus that day.
  • There will be a lot of exciting and engaging events on campus. SIU will feature a variety of events as a part of the Southern Illinois Crossroads Eclipse Festival, including talks and presentations; an arts and crafts fair; an astronomy, science, and technology expo; and an area dedicated to eclipse citizen science. We will provide a unique, family-friendly experience rich with activities centered on the arts and sciences. Here are some of our event highlights.
    • Into the Darkness: Celebrating the Eclipse with Music – Friday, April 5 (Shryock Auditorium)
    • Saluki Con Presents “Eclipse Con Strikes Back” – Saturday, April 6 - Sunday, April 7 (Student Center)
    • Crossroads Eclipse Research Workshop - Saturday, April 6 (Student Center)
    • Eclipse Eve Live: Sky Observers Hangout with Michelle Nichols, Adler Planetarium – Sunday, April 7 (Shryock Auditorium – outside)
    • Crossroads Astronomy, Science, and Technology Expo – Sunday, April 7 - Monday, April 8 (Banterra Center)
    • Crossroads Arts and Crafts Fair – Sunday, April 7 - Monday, April 8 (north of Banterra Center – outside)
    • Eclipse Day at Saluki Stadium - Monday, April 8 (Saluki Stadium) 

Please continue to visit the festival page of our webpage for further updates and more information about events: eclipse.siu.edu/festival. 

  • Volunteers are needed. Faculty, staff, students, and community members are welcome to volunteer. There will be a variety of volunteer roles in the days leading up to the eclipse and on Monday, April 8, 2024. Volunteers will be needed in many roles, including hospitality, information stations, check-in, setting up and tearing down, ticketing, and more. Volunteer opportunities will include a variety of locations (indoor and outdoor), days, and times. Students can track hours via the Saluki Volunteer Portal. Please visit eclipse.siu.edu/volunteer-with-the-eclipse for more details and to sign up to volunteer.
  • Call for programs: We welcome additional eclipse programming! Have a program idea? Visit eclipse.siu.edu/program-submission to submit your idea.
  • Campus information sessions: Have questions? We will host three campus information sessions in October and November for faculty, staff, and students to learn more about events, programs, and the campus plans for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. Info sessions will be on the following dates and times:
  • Additional Information
    • Parking plan: There will be ample parking on campus for faculty, staff, and students. Certain lots will be designated for visitors. Information about changes to parking during the event will be distributed to the campus community closer to the event.
    • Eclipse glasses: There are ample glasses available for the campus community. Glasses will be distributed to colleges and units prior to the eclipse. If you need additional glasses for an outreach opportunity, please email eclipse@siu.edu.
    • Merchandise: The university bookstore will have SIU and eclipse-branded merchandise available for purchase later in the fall semester. We also anticipate hosting several pop-up stores for eclipse apparel. Stay tuned. 

There will also be an annular solar eclipse event on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Saluki Stadium, which will be a wonderful complement to the coming total solar eclipse. Please join us in celebrating that event, too. For more information, read the press release. 

The eclipse will provide national and international visibility for the university and region. We are excited you will be here to be part of it. We will provide additional information as the date gets closer. Meanwhile, you may visit eclipse.siu.edu regularly for updates.