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SIU Today - December 04, 2025

Board of Trustees approves honorary degrees, Distinguished Service Awards 

Senior U.S. District Court Judge J. Phil Gilbert and SIU Carbondale Saluki men’s basketball Hall of Famer Mike Glenn will receive honorary degrees, following approval by the SIU Board of Trustees today, Dec. 4. They are two of five individuals recommended by SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane for honorary degrees and Distinguished Service Awards.

Holiday Craft Sale to feature more than 75 unique vendors

The 47th annual SIU Carbondale Holiday Craft Sale is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday, Dec. 4-5, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Student Center’s first floor Art Gallery and Renaissance Lounge.

U.S. Navy Band Great Lakes wind ensemble to perform Monday

The U.S. Navy Band Great Lakes wind ensemble will give a free, public performance on Monday, Dec. 8, in Shryock Auditorium. The holiday concert will begin at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are not required. The SIU School of Music is sponsoring the event. 

Sharp Museum to open exhibition featuring sculptor Preston Jackson

SIU’s Sharp Museum will open “Here We Are,” an exhibition highlighting works by nationally acclaimed sculptor and SIU School of Art and Design alumnus Preston Jackson. An opening reception and gallery talk is 4-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5.

Simon Institute hosts Pulitzer Prize-winning scholar on nation’s political contradictions

Paul Starr, a Pulitzer Prize-winning scholar at Princeton University and the founding co-editor of The American Prospect magazine, will join the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute for a virtual conversation at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9.

SIU Carbondale police earn law enforcement accreditation

The SIU Carbondale Department of Public Safety recently earned accreditation from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).

Deadline extended for new life insurance with long-term care benefit  

The open enrollment deadline from MyBenefitsPlus for current SIU Carbondale employees who are state of Illinois members to enroll in a new voluntary benefit — life insurance with long-term care — has been extended to Friday, Dec. 12. Visit the HR announcements page for more information on the program and how to enroll. 

Reminder: Mandatory annual Title IX training due Dec. 19 

SIU Carbondale employees are reminded to complete mandatory training on new Title IX regulations before Dec. 19. Employees should have received an email on Oct. 15 from Vector Solutions with training information for “Preventing Harassment and Discrimination: Gateway (Illinois).” The link to the training is also available on the Office of Equity and Compliance website. Training should take about one hour.

Workshop on building an organic farm fertility system is Sunday 

A free, public workshop on whole-farm fertility systems design and management will be from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center. Registration is required. 

Reminder: Micro-Grants available for Saluki women 

There is still time to apply for an SIU Foundation Women’s Leadership Council 2026-27 WLC Micro-Grant Award, a funding opportunity available exclusively to SIU women faculty, staff and students. The application deadline is Friday, Dec. 12.

Reminder: Encourage fall semester graduates to complete survey 

The Career Development Center asks faculty and staff to remind students of a survey for undergraduate and graduate students who are planning to graduate Saturday, Dec. 13. 

Track and field, basketball highlight Saluki athletics

Saluki fans have a few chances to catch SIU athletics on campus this week and next. The men’s and women’s track and field teams open the indoor season with Saluki Fast Start, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6, at the SIU Recreation Center. The women’s basketball team hosts Southeast Missouri State at 2 p.m. Saturday at Banterra Center, and the Saluki men’s basketball team hosts UT-Martin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Banterra Center. Be sure to check team schedules at siusalukis.com.

Illinois Ethics Matters newsletter is available

The latest Illinois Ethics Matters newsletter for November 2025 is available. The Office of Executive Inspector General publishes the newsletter to allow state employees to stay informed of current issues relating to ethics. The SIU System Ethics Office website is siusystem.edu/ethics.

SIU Today holiday schedule

The last SIU Today issue before winter break is Thursday, Dec. 11. The submission deadlines remain the same. Today at 4:30 p.m. is the deadline for the Dec. 8 edition. The deadline for the Dec. 11 edition is 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. SIU Today will resume in January.