Large SIU letters stand in front of the Tedrick Welcome Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The facility will serve as the home of the SIU Foundation and a gateway for prospective students, alumni and visitors. (Photo provided)
April 23, 2026
Tedrick Welcome Center grand opening set for May 1
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the SIU Foundation will celebrate the grand opening of the Tedrick Welcome Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 1, at the university’s main entrance off U.S. Highway 51.
The event recognizes the leadership and vision of the SIU Foundation Board of Directors and honors the generosity of Roger and Sally Tedrick, SIU Foundation emeritus board members, and donors whose support made the welcome center possible. The 44,000-square-foot facility is funded entirely through the SIU Foundation through a combination of Foundation reserves, fundraising and borrowing. No taxpayer dollars, tuition revenue, student fees or state funds are being used to construct the welcome center.
The Tedrick Welcome Center will serve as the home of the SIU Foundation and include a 14,000-square-foot welcome center designed as a central hub for campus engagement. The space will anchor campus tours, open houses, orientations, alumni and donor engagement, and special events, providing a welcoming introduction to SIU for prospective students, families and visitors.
“This building is going to blow students away and help us seal the deal,” SIU Chancellor Austin Lane said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
The southern wing of the building houses the SIU Foundation, creating a centralized home for fundraising and alumni engagement efforts. The main visitor center will be capable of hosting conferences, lectures, seminars and catered events for up to 300 people. Interactive exhibits throughout the facility highlight SIU’s academic programs, research and campus resources.
“Having a dedicated space for the SIU Foundation within the Tedrick Welcome Center strengthens how we engage alumni and donors on campus,” Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation, said. “It allows us to better share the impact of philanthropy, deepen relationships, and create more meaningful connections between our supporters and the students they help make successful.”
Guests attending the May 1 ribbon-cutting celebration will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar while commemorating this milestone and touring the new facility. An open house will follow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, where visitors can experience the space, interact with its features and enjoy food trucks on site. All are welcome to attend both events.
Located on the former site of McAndrew Stadium, the Tedrick Welcome Center represents SIU’s first major on-campus construction project in more than a decade and reflects the university’s continued investment in recruitment, engagement and student success.
For more information about the grand opening and public open house, visit siuf.org/events.
For more information about the Foundation and the event, contact Britni Bateman, SIU Foundation assistant vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and chief marketing officer at britnib@foundation.siu.edu.