Any faculty members wishing to participate in the Spring 2024 Commencement ceremonies should fill out the form below. This will help us prepare for seating arrangements and allow for reserved parking.

Online Form

Commencement is Saturday, May 4 - Groniger Arena

• 10 a.m. – Undergraduate Degrees in the College of Education & College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• 1:30 p.m. – All Graduate Degrees
• 5 p.m. - Undergraduate Degrees in Lumpkin College of Business and Technology & College of Health and Human Services
  

Anyone needing to order commencement regalia, please do so at https://colleges.herffjones.com/college/_eiufaculty/.

For any additional questions, please contact Koty Gough at dlgough2@eiu.edu.

Congratulations to the eight departments who are the recipients of the DWF Collaborative Redesign Initiative Grants! 

BIO 1001G

• Dr. Thomas Canam, Chair
• Dr. Eden Effert-Fanta, Redesign Lead

CHM 1310G 

• Dr. Edward Treadwell, Chair
• Dr. Tiffany Pellizzeri, Redesign Lead

CMN 1310G

• Dr. Matt Gill, Chair
• Dr. Nora Heist, Redesign Lead

ENG 1001G

• Dr. Angela Vietto, Chair
• Dr. Timothy Taylor, Redesign Lead

HSL 1800

• Dr. Jill Bowers, Chair
• Dr. Christopher Maniotes, Redesign Lead

MAT  1160G

• Dr. Marshall Lassak/Dr. Andrew Mertz, Chair
• Dr. Amanda Welch, Redesign Lead

MUS 2555G

• Dr. Shellie Gregorich, Chair
• Dr. Magie Beck, Redesign Lead

PUBH 2200G

• Dr. Julie Dietz, Chair
• Dr. Aimee Janssen-Robinson and Ms. Emma Noble, Redesign Leads

The DWF Collaborative Redesign Initiative is a strategic effort aligned with Activity 1.22 of Plan 2028, which aims to improve retention and graduation rates for all EIU learners. These grantees will receive $5,000 in collaborative redesign grants to support efforts during Summer 2024, a total of 0.25 CUs for a faculty redesign leader or leaders, and direct consultation and support from the FDIC. 

This initiative is innovative and novel both through its collaborative design and strategic planning. A full evaluation of the initiative is also underway as we launch the initiative on April 15, 2024. For more information, please visit: https://www.eiu.edu/fdic/dwfredesign.php.

From Christiane Eydt-Beebe:

Herb Breidenbach, Professor of German and Latin, was the Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages at EIU from 1989 until his retirement in 2000. He passed away on March 29, 2024. His obituary is available here.

Congratulations to the following individuals who have been elected to Staff Senate, with terms beginning July 1, 2024:

• Jordan Jenkins - AFSCME 981
• Amy Morris - Non-Negotiated Civil Service
• Tony Craven - Non-Negotiated Trades

~Staff Senate Election Committee

Joseph Heumann (Emeritus Professor School of Communication-Journalism) and Robin L Murray (Emeritus Professor Dept of English) have been informed that their book length manuscript, Eco Teen Films, has been accepted for publication by Routledge Press (New York, London) and will appear in print in the Fall of 2024.

As outlined in IGP 19, employees, whose work assignments allow, to compress their normal five-day workweek into a 4.5-day workweek. Please be sure to turn off computers, lights, and personal air conditioning units if you have them to help improve our energy efficiency.

Campus-wide summer office hours will be in effect from Monday, May 6, through Friday, August 9. This year, flex schedules will be honored during the holiday weeks as well. Please ensure the work week consists of at least 37.5 hours of work hours, vacation and/or sick leave. Supervisors are responsible for accurate recording of time.

When summer office hours are in effect, all offices must be open Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. until noon. 

Due to ongoing operational needs, offices including, but not limited to, University Police, Booth Library, and the Renewable Energy Center, will keep regular business hours and remain open on Friday afternoons.

Holidays will be observed on Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day, Wednesday, June 19 for Juneteenth, and Thursday, July 4 for Independence Day.

Classes scheduled to meet on Friday afternoons will be relocated to buildings where the air conditioning will remain on.

Employees are to work with supervisors to ensure that a 37.5-hour workweek is accomplished. Each office is to change voice mail, signage, and other public communication to reflect its summer hours. Regular business hours will resume on Monday, Aug. 12.

If you need to complete your flex schedule, please visit webappsprod.eiu.edu/flexschedules/login.  This link allows employees to complete a request, obtain supervisor's approval, and submit documents and requests to Benefits for final approval. 

Questions may be directed to Human Resources at benefits@eiu.edu or by calling 217-581-5825.

Thank You!

Human Resources

Student Insurance is available for the Summer 2024 term. The coverage effective dates are 5/13/2024-8/11/2024. The cost for the coverage is $87.45.

Students who are insured in Spring 2024, who desire Summer coverage and will not be enrolled in the Summer Term, may obtain coverage by submitting the Summer 2024 Enrollment Form available in their PAWS account, under the MyHealth tab prior to 5/12/24.

Students who enroll for 5 or more hours for the Summer Term may obtain coverage by submitting the Summer 2024  Enrollment Form available in their PAWS account, under the MyHealth tab prior to 5/21/24. Coverage is effective upon receipt of the enrollment form.

Student Insurance provides the student worldwide protection 24 hours a day.  The Plan has a $100 deductible per diagnosis and pays up to 70% of eligible expenses for physician and hospital expenses, lab and x-ray, surgery, ambulance transport, physical therapy, maternity expenses, mental health and substance abuse issues. The Student Insurance Plan also reduces copays for prescription medications at the Health Services on campus. 

Unlike an HMO or PPO, the Plan does not have a network, giving students a choice in their care and provides coverage for treatment the student receives while they are at home, at school, and wherever they may travel. 

Student Insurance is an economical way to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket expenses when family health plans do not cover 100% of medical costs because of deductibles, co-payment amounts, limitations on specific benefits, and out-of-network penalties.  The Student Insurance Plan complements the family health plan.  Most students find it beneficial to carry both, particularly if the family plan has a deductible and/or coinsurance.

You can find more information about the Plan at www.eiu.edu/studentinsurance or by contacting our office at 217-581-5290. There are 2 short videos on the website that do a nice job of explaining all about the Plan.

Student Insurance provides the student worldwide protection, 24 hours a day. The Plan has a $100 deductible per diagnosis and pays up to 70% of eligible expenses for physician and hospital expenses, lab and x-ray, surgery, ambulance transport, physical therapy, maternity expenses, mental health and substance abuse issues. The Student Insurance plan also covers prescriptions at the Health Services on campus.                                   

Unlike an HMO or PPO, the Plan does not have a network, giving students a choice in their care and provides coverage for treatment the student receives while they are at home, at school, and wherever they may travel. When you have other insurance, the Plan coordinates with the primary carrier. Student Insurance is an economical way to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket expenses when family health plans do not cover 100% of medical costs because of deductibles, co-payment amounts, limitations on specific benefits, and out-of-network penalties. The Student Insurance Plan complements the family health plan. Most students find it beneficial to carry both, particularly if the family plan has a deductible and/or coinsurance.

You can find more information about the Plan at www.eiu.edu/studentinsurance or by contacting our office at 217-581-5290. There are 2 short videos on the website that do a nice job of explaining all about the Plan.

The Summer 2024 Student Insurance fee will be automatically assessed to students enrolled in an on-campus program taking 9 or more hours; graduate assistants under contract to the University; and international students enrolled in an on-campus program taking 3 or more hours.

Students wishing to waive the Student Insurance Plan must complete the Waiver Form available in their PAWS account, under the MyHealth tab. The deadline to waive coverage for the Summer 2024 semester is May 21, 2024. 

Applications are being sought at this time for the Non-Negotiated Civil Service Council scholarship.  This scholarship was started to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the EIU Civil Service Council.

Applicants that receive financial assistance or tuition waivers are encouraged to apply.  The scholarship is intended to assist with tuition, fees, or other costs associated with attending EIU 9such as housing, supplies, daycare, gas, etc.).  The award is payable in Fall 2024 to your student account, and any remaining amount will be dispersed to the recipient.  Fall 2024 enrollment must be verified before the scholarship is awarded.

The recipient must:  1) be a former, current, or retired Non-Negotiated Civil Service Employee; or a child or grandchild of a former, current, or retired non-Negotiated Civil Service Employee; 2) be a current or incoming freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or Graduate EIU student at enrolled in a minimum of 6 semester hours; 3) maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and in good academic standing; high school seniors accepted to EIU shall enroll in a minimum of 6 semester hours of coursework and be ranked in the top 25% of their class.  Financial need shall be the determining factor if all other qualifications are equal.

Please apply online at https://eiu.academicworks.com/opportunities/15788

The deadline has been extended to May 1, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact EIU Civil Service Council President, Michelle Morgan at (217) 581- 6025 or email mlmorgan@eiu.edu.

The Marketing & Communications web team are thrilled to share that the EIU Events Calendar can now feature non-EIU events too! Our aim is to strengthen the bond between the EIU campus and the surrounding community, providing everyone at EIU the chance to engage in local happenings.

Community businesses and organizations holding events that could appeal to the EIU community are welcome to submit their event through this form. Our team will evaluate the details and if suitable, we'll feature them on the calendar. This way, your event can reach out to EIU students, faculty, staff, and annuitants.

Please share this update with your community associates and let them know about this exciting opportunity!

go.eiu.edu/communitycalendar

Faculty/Staff Yoga is back! Join us in McAfee North Gym Mondays and Fridays at 12:05 for yoga with Raven. All levels welcome, from beginner to advanced, just bring your mat and water bottle!

Registration appreciated, but not necessary: CLICK HERE to register.