SIU Today | SIU News

SIU Today - May 01, 2025

Nearly 2,000 students will be honored at SIU Carbondale’s commencement exercises 

The academic achievements of nearly 2,000 SIU Carbondale students will be celebrated during spring 2025 commencement exercises May 9-10.

Benefit Choice open enrollment underway until June 2 

The deadline for the State Employees Group Insurance Program Benefit Choice open enrollment for all eligible employees is June 2. Employees can review the Benefits Choice Booklet for details on all changes, benefit enhancements and premium costs. An on-campus Benefits Choice Fair is May 20 in the Student Center.

Saluki Pride: Shari Garnett wins SIU’s Civil Service Staff Excellence Award

Shari Garnett has dedicated more than three decades to SIU, serving in a variety of capacities before being promoted to her current position as business/administrative associate for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. For her efforts, leadership and hard work, Garnett is the 2025 winner of SIU’s university-level Civil Service Staff Excellence Award.

School of Media Arts students to showcase ‘On Slippery Grounds’

A unique blend of multimedia and performance art by undergraduate and Master of Fine Arts students in the School of Media Arts will be featured from 6-9 p.m. Friday, May 2, in the Communications Building. The event is intended for mature audiences.

Campus collaboration sought for STARS sustainability initiative

SIU’s Office of Sustainability is collecting data campuswide in an effort to once again receive the coveted STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) program rating, administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Faculty invited to join the Online Course Reboot this summer  

SIU Online and Extended Campus, in partnership with the Center for Teaching Excellence, invites online and hybrid faculty to a virtual professional development event from 12:30-4 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, designed to elevate your online teaching. Apply by Friday, May 9.

Paul Simon Institute hosts State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

Illinois State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe will join the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at noon Monday, May 5, for a discussion with SIU students and the public. The session is in the institute lobby, where LaPointe will discuss her background, career in politics, legislative priorities and the legislative agenda in Springfield with John Shaw, institute director.

Two SIU seniors share 2025 Rickert-Ziebold art award

Lukas Kohler and Enan Chediak are winners of SIU Carbondale’s most prestigious art prize — the Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award. The exhibition continues through Saturday, May 3, in the SIU Surplus Gallery, with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Finding her voice: SIU School of Music’s Carley Jo Goggans sets career path

School of Music student Carley Jo Goggans’ journey that started with thoughts of working in international affairs and possibly the U.S. Department of State ultimately led to a different path. Goggans will receive her Master of Music in choral conducting during 9 a.m. commencement exercises on Saturday, May 10.

Busy working mom finds new accounting career through SIU Online

Jennie Snyder is able to transition from a forestry career, and researcher for the Universities Council on Water Resources on campus, into an accounting career by earning her accounting degree on May 10 through SIU Online.

Communication disorders master’s program earns perfect accreditation score

SIU Carbondale’s communication disorders and sciences master’s degree program recently received the maximum 8-year continuing accreditation by the Council of Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, and SIU earned a perfect report of verification.

SIU pinning ceremony for new teacher graduates set for May 7 

A special pinning ceremony on Wednesday, May 7, at 5 p.m. in Ballroom B at the Student Center will recognize the nearly 100 Teacher Education Programs graduates.

Reminder: SIU Today begins summer schedule May 15

After the spring semester ends on Saturday, May 10, SIU Today will begin its summer schedule and come out once a week, each Thursday except for holidays, beginning May 15. Submission deadlines will remain the same. May 6 is the deadline for the May 8 edition.