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SIU Today - December 08, 2025

SIU Carbondale to honor about 1,550 grads at fall 2025 commencement 

The academic achievements of about 1,550 SIU Carbondale students will be celebrated at fall 2025 commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Banterra Center. Commencement begins at 9:30 a.m. There is no limit to guests, and all seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis with no tickets required. 

SIU students earn 3rd berth at national tax competition with regional victory 

SIU Carbondale students have taken top honors once again in the recent 2025-26 regional Deloitte FanTAXtic tax case competition, punching its third ticket in the last four years to the nationals in January. 

Viewing party for Geminids at their peak is this weekend

Stargazers can get one of the best views of the Geminid meteor shower at its peak, thanks to an event sponsored in part by SIU Carbondale. See the Gems at Giant City will take place from 9:30 p.m. Dec. 13 to 1 a.m. Dec. 14 at Giant City State Park.

SIU senior 2025 student art exhibition begins Tuesday 

An exhibition this week will highlight the creative work of eight graduating seniors in the School of Art and Design. The works will be on display from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, Dec. 9-12, in the Surplus Gallery. A reception in the gallery is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, after commencement exercises. 

SIU will pin new teacher candidates Wednesday 

The Teacher Education Programs (TEP) will recognize 26 graduating teacher candidates during a special pinning ceremony at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in Shryock Auditorium.

SIU President Dan Mahony: “The Power of Agriculture + Universities” 

SIU System President Dan Mahony’s latest “Office Hours” podcast is “The Power of Agriculture + Universities.” The podcast focuses on agriculture connections, programs and research within the SIU System. Mahony talks with Illinois Department of Agriculture Director and SIU alumnus Jerry Costello; Kristina Boone, dean of SIU Carbondale’s College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences; Lahiru Jayakody, assistant professor of microbiology in the School of Biological Sciences and the Fermentation Science Institute; Yanhong Zhang, interim executive director and director of research at SIU Edwardsville’s National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center; Karen Stallman, program coordinator of the Farm Family Resource Initiative at the SIU School of Medicine, and Gracie Murphy, an SIU Carbondale agriculture student who spent a year as a national FFA officer. 

Reminder: SIU Today holiday schedule   

The last SIU Today issue before winter break is Thursday, Dec. 11, with a submission deadline of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. SIU Today will resume in January.