May 26, 2013

 

News from Old Main

CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR'S DAY HOLIDAY INFORMATION
The university will be closed in observance of Christmas and New Year's on Eastern's four official holidays: Tuesday, Dec. 24; Wednesday, Dec. 25; Tuesday, Dec. 31; and Wednesday, Jan. 1. Employees may use accrued leave or leave without pay, with supervisor approval, from Wednesday, Dec. 18, through Friday, Jan. 3.

Employees who are in probationary status will be allowed to use any available accrued leave or take leave without pay during this time. Probationary employees who wish to use accrued leave during the holiday period must complete the Civil Service Employee Request for Accrued Leave During Probation form available in the Benefits Office. Supervisors are encouraged to approve such time-off requests unless the employment is required for essential duties during that period. Should an employee choose to take leave without pay, please note that accrued leave, sick leave and service credit will not be earned.

Please note that the following eligibility rules apply for holiday compensation. Employees must be in an approved pay status, with or without pay, on the last scheduled work day before the holiday and the first scheduled work day following the holiday in order to receive holiday pay. Employees who are subject to the provisions of a prevailing-rate area agreement or a collective bargaining agreement will be paid according to the terms of the respective agreement.

In order to conserve energy, building temperatures will be reduced Saturday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 1.

Inquiries regarding this information may be directed to the Benefits Office at 581-5825.

WILLIAM WEBER , Vice President for Business Affairs
Posted: May 22, 2013

JG-TC SPECIAL SECTION -- 'DISCOVER EIU' -- NOW FOUND ONLINE

The JG-TC special section on EIU research and creative activity is now available online here. The special section was published in early May.

JANICE HUNT, Media Relations
Posted: May 14, 2013

 

Meetings/Events

SUMMER BOOK SALE
The Union Bookstore will have a weekly summer book event starting Monday, May 27. The first week's specials are $1 paperbacks. Limited selection. Go to our Facebook page (EIU Union Bookstore) for all our announcements.

LAURA A. SEVERSON, University Bookstore
Posted: May 23, 2013

RETIREMENT RECEPTION HONORING DIANE INGLE
Diane Ingle is retiring after 26 years of service to EIU! Please join with friends and co-workers for an informal reception in honor of her service -- complete with cake and punch -- to be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, in the Dean’s Office at the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences (Room 4800 – Lumpkin Hall).

JONATHAN R. MCKENZIE, LCBAS, Office of the Dean
Posted: May 22, 2013

EIU LGBTQA AlUMNI GROUP TO HOST CHICAGO RECEPTION
The EIU LGBTQA Alumni group will host a reception in honor of Chicago's Gay Pride Event from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28, at Art de Triumph, 2938 N Clark, Chicago.

For further information or to RSVP that you will attend, please email EIU alumnus Rick Ingram at ingram1309@gmail.com.

JOHN D. SCHMITT,
Posted: May 22, 2013

THE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS CENTER'S CAMP E3 RETURNS JUNE 23-26
CAMP E3 2013 -- ENERGIZING EMERGING ENTREPRENEURS

The 2013 EIU Camp e3, sponsored by First Neighbor Bank, is a three-night, four-day camp that will be held on the EIU campus from 5:30 p.m. June 23 to 1:30 p.m. June 26. Registration with lodging is $395; the non-lodging option is $370. Information can be found here. A limited number of scholarships are available. Please register online here.

If paying by check, please send to BSC, Eastern Illinois University, 3011 Lumpkin Hall, Charleston IL 61920. If paying by credit card or if you have questions, please contact Jennifer Garren at 217-581-2913 or jegarren@eiu.edu.

JENNIFER E. GARREN, Business Solutions Center
Posted: May 21, 2013

NEW FACULTY ORIENTATION 2013
New Faculty Orientation 2013 will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14.

For information, please contact the Office of Faculty Development at 581-7051 or facdev@eiu.edu.

WANDA KAY ROBINSON, Faculty Development
Posted: May 20, 2013

TARBLE ARTS CENTER OFFERING CLASSES FOR YOUTHS
The Tarble Arts Center is offering classes for children ages 4-14 beginning June 10. Offerings include “Summer Art Investigations I” for ages 4-6, “Summer Art Investigations II” for ages 7-9, and “Explorations in Painting” for ages 10-14. For complete information, visit here and click on Education, or contact the Tarble at tarble@eiu.edu or 581-2787.

KATHRYN MORICE, Curator of Education, Tarble Arts Center
Posted: May 20, 2013

RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR DEAN HINE
After 27 years at EIU, William Hine, dean of the School of Continuing Education, will retire on June 30, 2013. Please join us from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 6, in the 1895 Room, MLK Jr. Union, to wish him the best in his retirement!

PEGGY A. HICKOX, School of Continuing Education
Posted: May 16, 2013

CREATIVE WRITING CAMP
The Summer Creative Writing Camp at Eastern Illinois University is an intensive four-day adventure in the writing of fiction and poetry for high school students and advanced middle school students. Each day will include various writing exercises to excite creativity and develop skills, as well as free time to write and meet individually with the instructor for specific guidance.

The camp takes place June 3-6 (Monday through Thursday) and meets from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a break for lunch. Cost is $60. Scholarships are available. Registration information can be found here.

DAIVA MARKELIS, English
Posted: Apr 29, 2013

HISTORICAL ADMINISTRATION GRADUATE EXHIBIT AT TARBLE ARTS CENTER
The Tarble Arts Center will host an exhibit titled "Experiences of the Illinois Civil War Soldier: Reflections through Art and Artifacts." This exhibition utilizes illustrations, photographs, paintings and other artifacts to explore the journey of the Illinois Civil War soldier. The exhibit is on view April 12 through July 7 in the Tarble’s eGallery.

Eastern’s current Historical Administration Graduate Program class curated this exhibition for the Tarble as part of a year-long practicum project. A website shows how the exhibition was developed.

MICHAEL WATTS, Director, Tarble Arts Center
Posted: Apr 05, 2013

 

Professional Development

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION -- MAY 30
Lack of effective communication is often the number one complaint among employees and managers alike. Effective communication takes a lot of thought and effort. Join us for the workshop, Effective Communication, from 8 a.m. to noon May 30 in the Rathskeller Loft (MLK Jr. Union), as we explore why we have so much trouble giving or following simple instructions. We will examine how to design our messages to be more effective and how to minimize errors or confusion blamed on poor communication as individuals and as a team.

Reserve your seat by registering here. Contact Julie Benedict, Training & Development, at 581-8415 or jabenedict@eiu.edu for information.

JULIE A. BENEDICT, Training and Development
Posted: May 20, 2013

 

Human Resources

WEB TIME ENTRY FOR MEMORIAL DAY
All bi-weekly employees should have Monday, May 27, recorded in the Holiday Hours section of their time sheet. The Holiday Day Off section is only used when a holiday falls on the employee's scheduled day off. Please make sure to record the holiday for each status employee. If you need assistance, please contact the Payroll Office at 581-5510.

MARSHA D. GRAY, Payroll
Posted: May 20, 2013

ANNOUNCING NEW LOOK FOR OUR EFT FORMS
Anyone who will be receiving an EFT (direct deposit earning statement) for the May 31 pay day will see our EFT's new look. We hope your experience will be a positive one. We welcome your feedback regarding improvements to the form. Please send constructive feedback to payroll@eiu.edu.

MARSHA D. GRAY, Payroll
Posted: May 20, 2013

CHANGE IN POLICY REGARDING FINAL PAYOUTS
Please note that an internal departmental policy has changed regarding final payouts to employees separating from the university.

Beginning June 1, 2013, payroll checks issued as a result of a final payout due to an employee separation from the university will be processed on the payroll immediately following the payroll period in which the employee separates employment.

LINDA C. HOLLOWAY, Payroll and Benefits
Posted: May 20, 2013

SURS COUNSELOR ON CAMPUS JUNE 20
SURS will have a retirement counselor on campus Thursday, June 20. If you wish to speak to a SURS representative on this date, they are now accepting appointments. Please call 1-800-275-7877 to obtain the necessary forms for your appointment or log into your member account here to complete the form online and return to SURS via fax or mail. Once the completed forms have been received by SURS, you will then be able to contact them again at the above number to schedule your appointment.

Appointments will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Returning the forms in a timely manner will help ensure an appointment time. These forms can be faxed to 217-378-9800 or mailed to the address that is provided with the forms.

To schedule an individual counseling session, you must be within four years of retirement eligibility:
-- Age 55 with eight or more years of service;
-- Age 62 with five or more years of service; or
-- 30 or more years of qualifying service at any age.

An eligible employee is entitled to an appointment or estimate every 12 months.

Please follow this link for additional information.

LINDA C. HOLLOWAY, Benefit Services
Posted: May 07, 2013

BENEFITS CHOICE PERIOD MAY 1-31
A reminder that the month of May is designated as Benefits Choice period. During this period, benefit-eligible employees may make changes to their benefit selections.

During Benefits Choice, employees may change health care providers, add/re-enroll in MCAP or DCAP plans, make changes to life insurance (add/reduce optional coverage or add/drop dependent coverage), drop or add dental insurance, and opt out/waive health insurance.

A special note regarding the MCAP/DCAP accounts: With the switch to WageWorks, re-enrollment forms will not be sent to currently participating employees as they have in the past. If an employee wishes to re-enroll in this program, forms can be found on the Benefit Services website.

In addition, during Benefits Choice period, employees should take the opportunity to review other coverage that may be of interest, including enrollment in long term disability insurance, enrollment in EIU’s sick leave bank and/or contributing to a 403b/457 supplemental retirement plan.

Finally, a reminder that Central Management Services will be conducting a dependent eligibility verification audit during FY14. Employees will be required to provide verifying documents in order to determine if dependents are eligible for continued coverage. If an employee is found to be covering a non-eligible dependent, there could be harsh financial consequences. During the Benefits Choice period, employees may drop dependents without a qualifying event.

To evaluate your current benefits, now is a great time to review your benefit statements through CMS (see here).

If you wish to make any changes, please visit the Benefit Services website or CMS for forms and/or information. You may also visit the Benefit Services Office in Old Main, Room 2031, or call 581-5825. During this period, appointments are encouraged to reduce waiting time.

LINDA C. HOLLOWAY, Benefit Services
Posted: May 06, 2013

 

Employment Opportunities

IT MANAGER - ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
Assistant to the Dean for Academic Technology (Instructional Support Specialist)



LCBAS SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR ASSISTANT TO DEAN POSITION
The Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences seeks applicants for the position of assistant to the dean. For a complete job description, please visit here.

JONATHAN R. MCKENZIE, Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences
Posted: May 20, 2013

SUPERINTENDENT OF GROUNDS
Superintendent of Grounds, Facilities Planning and Management



 

Research and Creative Activity

EIU FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF PHILANTHROPY AWARDS
Since its inception in 1953, the EIU Foundation has been dependent upon the generosity of its members and volunteers to fulfill its mission of support to the university.

And, since 1993, the foundation has formally presented the Outstanding Philanthropist Award. In 1997, this award was renamed the Burnham and Nancy Neal Philanthropy Award in appreciation of the Neals' leadership, support and dedication to Eastern and the foundation.

Carl Mito of Arlington Heights and Julie Nimmons of Litchfield have been named the EIU Foundation's Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year for 2012. See here for details.

VICKI SHAW WOODARD, Media Relations
Posted: May 21, 2013

BARTA NAMED 2012 ANNUITANT AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR
Richard Barta of Charleston has been recognized as the EIU Foundation’s 2012 Annuitant Ambassador of the Year.

Many EIU annuitants (retirees) serve as volunteer ambassadors at the Neal Welcome Center, assisting visitors, guests and students who come in to complete scholarship paperwork. In recognition and appreciation of those who show exemplary service and dedication to the effort, the EIU Foundation Board recognizes one annuitant ambassador annually.

Staff members who work with the Annuitant Ambassadors on a daily basis overwhelmingly recommended Barta as this year’s recipient.

“Dick is warm and helpful to those who come in, volunteers extra time when needed and has a great sense of humor,” said Foundation staff members. “He is very respectful and gracious to the students and the staff, and is a joy to be around.”

See here for more on the story.

VICKI SHAW WOODARD, Media Relations
Posted: May 20, 2013

SUMMER WRITE-ON-SITE WEDNESDAYS
Move your writing projects along this summer! Join the "write-on-site" group that meets in the Faculty Development Office every Wednesday from 9 to 11 a.m.

What does it mean to write on site? The term was coined by Kerry Ann Rockquemore (president and CEO of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity) and describes people coming together to work on their particular projects for two hours at least once a week. Although people are working on their own projects, writing together in one place can provide the accountability of showing up, cultivate the sense that we are part of a community of writers and help create that energy buzz that comes from being around others who are doing the same thing. Please join us. Bring your laptop to the Faculty Development Office (in Booth Library basement below the north entrance), check in, grab a cup of tea or coffee, and start working. For further information, contact the Faculty Development Office at 581-7051.

WANDA KAY ROBINSON, Faculty Development
Posted: May 13, 2013

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES 2014 SUMMER STIPEND
The NEH has announced the 2014 Summer Stipend grant competition. Detailed information can be found on the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs website.

BOB CHESNUT, Director/Research and Sponosred Programs
Posted: May 06, 2013

WEIU NEWS WATCH PLACES FIRST
WEIU News Watch was recently awarded first place for best newscast in The Society of Professional Journalists' 2012 Mark of Excellence Awards from Region 5. The Mark of Excellence Awards honor the best of collegiate journalism from a calendar year.

SPJ’s Region 5 comprises Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. Honorees received award certificates the weekend of April 26 at the Regions 5 and 7 Spring Conference in St. Louis. First-place winners now move on to the national Mark of Excellence competition among category winners from the 12 SPJ regions.

National winners will be notified in the late spring, and will be recognized at Excellence in Journalism 2013 in Southern California, Aug. 24 to 26. The awards are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience.

The awards honor the best in student journalism. As such, judges were directed to choose only those entries which they felt were outstanding work worthy of such an honor.

Congratulations WEIU and the News Watch team!

KE'AN S. ARMSTRONG, WEIU
Posted: May 06, 2013

 

Miscellaneous

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
In July of each year, we are requested to post a public notice called the Consumer Confidence Report. It is a report concerning the quality of drinking water used on campus during the previous year (for the period of Jan. 1-Dec. 21, 2012), and is required by the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996.

One way to serve notice is posting on the Web. There are two reports that need printed -- the EIU Consumer Confidence Report and the Charleston Consumer Confidence Report. You can access both reports here. If you would like a copy of these reports, please go to the link to print.

We are emailing all building coordinators to ensure that all buildings connected to the campus water distribution system have a paper copy of both reports available for the building occupants to review. You will not receive a paper copy in the campus mail. The notice will be posted for public viewing in the same manner that other announcements are posted within your building. Also, a copy will be made available to any occupant who may request one.

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Al Haga, plumber foreman, FPM, 581-7212.

DAVE CROCKETT, Interim Director of Facilities Planning and Management
Posted: May 21, 2013

UNIVERSITY-OWNED CELL PHONES
Attention all university-owned cell phone users: Please note that all phones will be red tagged by the Telecommunications Office in the department's inventory. Any questions, please call Telecommunications at 581-5951.

CLAY HOPKINS, Director, Telecommunications
Posted: May 20, 2013

SUMMER HOURS FOR UNION METERED PARKING LOT
The MLK Jr. Union metered parking lot will be monitored by the University Police Department for parking violations beginning Monday, May 20. Meters will be enforced while classes are in session during the summer. Thank you.

TED E. HART, MLK Jr. Union
Posted: May 16, 2013

1,800 NEW ITEMS ADDED TO BOOTH LIBRARY COLLECTIONS
During the month of April, Booth Library acquired and cataloged 1,800 new titles. The list can be viewed here. The list is arranged by location: Ballenger Teachers' Center, Books, Electronic Resources, Illinois and Federal Documents, Maps, Media, Reference Collection, Special Collections and University Archives. The titles are listed by call number within each location. Please contact Karen Whisler, head of Collection Development, at 581-7551 or klwhisler@eiu.edu if you have any questions.

DAVID S. BELL, Booth Library
Posted: May 06, 2013

INSTRUCTORS: INACTIVATE SPRING COURSES AND ACTIVATE SUMMER COURSES IN D2L
As an instructor, you control student access to your course in Desire2Learn. When you no longer want students to have access to your Spring 2013 course, you need to make the course inactive. When you want students to begin accessing your Summer 2013 course, you need to make your course active. Student access is not automatic and is not controlled by the semester start and end dates. The course start date and end date noted on courses in the "My courses" widget is for information purposes only. Student access is basically an on/off switch controlled by the instructor. Directions for making your course inactive/active can be found in the news widget in D2L.

If you have questions or need assistance, contact the CATS Training Center at 581-8452.

JULIE A. LOCKETT, Director of Instructional Technology Services, CATS
Posted: May 06, 2013

FACULTY APPLICATION FOR THE WRITING FELLOW PROGRAM
This fall the Writing Center and WAC will begin its Writing Fellow Program. A writing fellow is a writing consultant who attends a faculty member's class every day, meets with that professor on a regular basis, and provides feedback about writing assignments. The writing fellow's main charge, however, is consulting with the professor's students while they are in the process of writing and revising their writing assignments. The writing fellow does not grade assignments—the consultant simply acts as an important middle person in the writing process to offer feedback and different set of eyes on students’ writing in a coordinated manner.

To learn more about the Writing Fellow Program and to receive a faculty application, please contact Tim Taylor at tntaylor@eiu.edu. The deadline (for fall) for the faculty application is Monday, June 17.

TIMOTHY N. TAYLOR, Director of the Writing Center, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum
Posted: Apr 30, 2013

WAC HANDBOOK AVAILABLE ON THE NEW WAC WEBSITE
The 2012-13 Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Handbook and Appendix is now available on the redesigned WAC website.

The handbook provides guidelines, recommendations and ideas for assignments and activities that all faculty members can use. In addition, the appendix provides sample assignment sheets and writing-related handouts that you are welcome to use in your classes.

In the coming years, the WAC committee plans to solicit more sample assignments and activities to showcase in subsequent WAC Handbooks. If you are interested in sharing any documents that facilitate a process approach to writing in your classes or if you have any sample writing-to-learn activities that work for you, please send them to the director of WAC (tntaylor@eiu.edu).

This year, we will collect assignments and activities for the 2013/2014 edition of the EIU WAC Handbook. As in this edition, contributors' names will be noted in the table of contents.

TIM N. TAYLOR, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum
Posted: Jan 08, 2013

WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM HANDBOOK
This fall WAC produced a Writing Across the Curriculum Handbook that provides guidelines, recommendations and ideas for assignments and activities that all faculty members can use. In addition, the appendix provides sample assignment sheets and writing-related handouts that you are welcome to use in your classes.

Until the WAC website moves to a newer template, the director of WAC will disseminate the handbook via email. If you're interested in getting a copy of the WAC handbook, please email Tim N. Taylor (tntaylor@eiu.edu).

In the coming years, the WAC committee plans to solicit more sample assignments and activities to showcase in subsequent WAC handbooks. If you are interested in sharing any documents that facilitate a process approach to writing in your classes or if you have any sample writing-to-learn activities that work for you, please send them to the director of WAC (tntaylor@eiu.edu).

We will collect assignments and activities this year for the 2013/2014 edition of the EIU WAC handbook. As in this edition, contributors' names will be noted in the table of contents.

TIMOTHY N. TAYLOR, WAC
Posted: Nov 16, 2012

 

Especially for Students (Official Notices)

DOES YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE CHANGE DUE TO GRADUATION?
Many family health plans terminate or significantly increase premiums for dependent coverage upon graduation. If you previously waived the student insurance, you may be eligible to reinstate your coverage. Reinstating spring semester coverage provides eligibility to purchase summer insurance. For complete information, contact the Student Insurance office at 581-5290.

KERI J. MARTI, Student Insurance
Posted: Apr 08, 2013

PART-TIME STUDENT INSURANCE
Summer Semester 2013 students who are registered for six, seven or eight on-campus hours may purchase student insurance for the semester by obtaining an application from the Student Insurance Office and making payment prior to 4:30 p.m. June 17, 2013, in the Student Accounts Office. The cost is $87.45. If necessary, payment can be made at the Student Insurance Office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday–Thursday or 8 a.m. to noon Friday. Students enrolled in a combination of continuing education and regular on-campus classes should contact the Student Insurance Office at 581-5290 for coverage eligibility, prior to the deadline.

KERI J. MARTI, Student Insurance
Posted: Apr 05, 2013

STUDENT INSURANCE WAIVER
The Summer Student Insurance fee will be automatically assessed to students enrolled in nine or more on-campus hours, graduate assistants under contract to the university, and international students who are enrolled in a minimum of three on-campus hours. Students who meet eligibility criteria and can show proof of having health insurance equal to or better than the EIU Student Insurance may request the Waiver Form from the Student Insurance Office. The Waiver Form can also be downloaded from the Student Insurance website. A copy of your insurance company's outline of coverage or a copy of your medical ID card MUST be attached to the completed Waiver Form. June 17, 2013, is the last date these forms will be accepted for the summer term 2013. For more information, call 581-5290.

KERI J. MARTI, Student Insurance
Posted: Apr 05, 2013

STUDENT INSURANCE SUMMER 2013
Students who will not be enrolled in the Summer 2013 term are eligible to extend student insurance provided that the student was insured under the Student Insurance Plan for the Spring 2013 semester. The premium for Summer 2013 student insurance is $87.45. Coverage effective dates are June 10 through Aug. 13, 2013.

Students who do not intend to enroll for a minimum of nine on-campus hours in the summer term may obtain coverage by submitting a completed enrollment form and making payment on or before June 7, 2013. Enrollment forms are available in the Student Insurance Office, second floor, east wing, Student Services Building, or by calling 581-5290. Please note: Offices at the university close at noon on Fridays during the summer; therefore, a completed enrollment form and payment of $87.45 must be received in our office by noon Friday June 7, 2013, to meet the published deadline.

KERI J. MARTI, Student Insurance
Posted: Apr 05, 2013

STUDENT INSURANCE RE-ENROLLMENT
Students who have an approved EIU Student Insurance Waiver and wish to re-enroll in the Student Insurance program for Summer 2013 may do so by completing a re-enrollment form and making payment of $87.45 by June 17, 2013, before 4:30 p.m. A minimum of six on-campus semester hours, or a graduate assistantship, is required to qualify for re-enrollment. The insurance will become effective when the application and the required premium are received by the university within the deadline of June 17, 2013.

For more information, contact the Student Insurance Office at 581-5290. Students enrolled in a combination of continuing education and regular on-campus classes should contact the Student Insurance Office for coverage eligibility prior to the deadline.

KERI J. MARTI, Student Insurance
Posted: Apr 04, 2013

 

EIU in the News

MAY 2013
From the JG-TC -- "High School Students Get Start on Their Own Businesses via ClassE" -- May 9, 2013

From the JG-TC -- "Grado Praises 'Foundation' EIU Offers as He Addresses New Graduates" -- May 6, 2013

From the JG-TC -- "Windsor Native Starts, Ends Army Career at EIU" -- May 4, 2013



APRIL 2013
From the JG-TC -- "Celebration Brings Out Smiles, Memories, Too" -- April 22, 2013

From the JG-TC -- "EIU Anti-drunk Driving Group to Honor Police" -- April 8, 2013