University Newsletter, Home Page

Please submit evaluation forms for the vice president for university advancement candidates as soon as possible, but no later than Dec. 1, 2009. It is indicated on the evaluation forms that they are due by Dec. 4, 2009.

Evaluation forms for the final candidate, Keith Carver, will be collected at the end of each session on Nov. 30.

The search committee will need a summary of evaluations sooner than earlier anticipated.

There is no truth to the rumors that the Eastern Illinois University campus will close due to H1N1. All classes and activities are being held as scheduled, and commencement plans are proceeding as usual.

As of Nov. 11, there had been approximately 400 confirmed cases of H1N1 among EIU students, meaning about 3 percent of the student body has had the virus. Because most people with H1N1 are sick for about a week, the percentage of students affected at any given time has been minimal. While the number of students affected is significant and continues to rise, it is not large enough to consider closing the campus.

On-campus schedules and short vitae for the candidates for the vice president for university advancement position are available for review here.

Please note that the first interviews begin Friday, Nov. 13.

Meetings/Events

The University Union Bookstore's fall semester clearance sale starts Monday, Nov. 30, and ends Saturday, Dec. 19. Don’t miss out on great EIU apparel and EIU novelties for family and friends.

Get all of your holiday baking done at once for the holidays! Join us as we make eight types of dough for holiday cookies. This cooking class will be a team effort; at the end of the evening, you’ll have eight types of holiday cookies ready to take home, freeze and bake when you need them.

The class (6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, Klehm Hall, Room 1411) will be taught by Kathy Rhodes from Eastern's School of Family and Consumer Sciences. The cost of the class is $40 and is for adults ages 18 and older.

For information and/or to register for the class, contact the School of Continuing Education at 581-5114.

Please join the staff of the Information Technology Services Department as we gather to honor Connie Manes for her many years of service to EIU. A retirement reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, in Room 5041 of the Student Services Building. Please stop in and give Connie your best wishes as she enters the exciting world of retirement.

Being a caregiver is mentally and physically taxing. With the serious issues ahead, being able to care for your loved one and still maintain a good attitude and humor is sometimes difficult. Please join us from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, in the Oakland Room, MLK Jr. Union, as Jason Gowin, Gowin Park, will present on ways to keep humor and fun while being a caregiver and learn to “just go with it.”

Please register here. Contact Julie Benedict (581-8415, jabenedict@eiu.edu) for further information.

The 23rd annual Holiday Art Sale will be held at the Tarble Arts Center (corner of South Ninth Street and Cleveland Avenue), with the opening from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, and the sale continuing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

Holiday shoppers can choose from hundreds of one-of-a-kind original works of art handcrafted by local artists and EIU faculty and students. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Art Department's Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact the Art Department, 581-3410.

A New Employee Orientation Program for faculty and staff is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 10, in the Arcola/Tuscola Room, MLK Jr. Union. The program is designed to acquaint new employees with EIU and show how each plays an important role in furthering the “I am EIU” philosophy. The program identifies the various guidelines that determine how we operate and provides presentations that will help employees in their daily responsibilities such as computer usage, probation and life after, and development opportunities. A campus tour and lunch are included.

The program is designed for the new employee; however, anyone interested is welcome to attend. Seats are limited. Please reserve your seat by registering here. Contact Julie Benedict, Training and Development, at 581-8415 or jabenedict@eiu.edu for information. Visit this Web site to view the planned agenda.

The second general meeting of ATAC (Academic Technology Advisory Committee) will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in the TITLE Room (1205 McAfee). Future meetings will be held at the same time and location on Feb. 19 and April 16.

Anyone from the campus community is invited and encouraged to attend these ATAC meetings. Other information about ATAC is available here.

The Office of Student Community Service is proud to encourage the university community to attend "G.I. Jukebox - A 1940's Musical Revue," running Nov. 19-22. All tickets are $10. Performances will be at the Praise Assembly of God, 1300 Osage Road, Charleston (north side of Route 16, conveniently located between Charleston and Mattoon).

The Central Illinois Stage Company (CISCo) is hosting this event, and is a partner in the "30 Days of Change: EIU Fights Hunger." Audience members are encouraged to bring a canned good to show their support for the Charleston Food Pantry.

Enjoy a show and make the difference! For ticket information, please call 217-218-9954.

The following new exhibit is on display at Booth Library:

Abraham Lincoln in Film and Television. In conjunction with the Embarras Valley Film Festival, Booth Library has mounted an exhibit titled “Abraham Lincoln in Film and Television.” Included in the exhibit are images showing various actors portraying Lincoln throughout the decades in feature films and television productions -- both serious and comedic in nature. Also included are documentary treatments of Lincoln, and artifacts relating to Lincoln and the Civil War. Curated by Robert Hillman, David Bell and Carl Lorber, the exhibit will run through November 2009.

"Identifying Pattern Glass" will be taught by Charles Eberly from 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Dec. 3, in Blair Hall, Room 2116. The cost of the workshop is $15 for academy members and $35 for non-members.

For more information or to register for workshops, contact the School of Continuing Education at 217-581-5114.

Candidates will be on campus for the Bachelor in General Studies Degree Program academic adviser position starting Nov. 12.

To access schedules and short vitas, please go here.

Attention EIU faculty, staff and students: From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, the Education Scholars Program will host a Kid's Afternoon Out for children in grades pre-kindergarten through four. Have your child(ren), grandchild(ren) or other relatives spend an afternoon on campus with EIU teacher education candidates while you gain a few minutes during this hectic season to grade papers, Christmas shop or anything else you might need to do. It will be tons of fun with crafts, board games, movies, computer activities and more.

To register your child for this free event, send an e-mail to Doug Bower (djbower@eiu.edu), with the child's name and grade, and your name, phone number and e-mail. The deadline to register is Tuesday, Dec. 1; however, space is limited, so do not delay.

"Almost Alice: New Illustrations of Wonderland by Maggie Taylor" is on exhibition Oct. 24 through Dec. 20 in the Tarble Arts Center Main Galleries/East.

These fantastic, surreal digital prints were made using sources ranging from snapshots to 19th-century daguerreotypes to illustrate the book "Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland: Illustrated By Maggie Taylor" (2008, Modernbook Gallery). Taylor holds a BA in philosophy from Yale University and an MFA in photography from the University of Florida. Her images are in numerous collections, including The Art Museum, Princeton University, and the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University. This exhibition was organized by the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida. See here for more information.

Professional Development

The TECnet schedule includes the following:
WebCT CE 8 "Getting Started," 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1
WebCT CE 8 "Getting Started," 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1
WebCT CE 8 "Gradebook," 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2
WebCT CE 8 "Gradebook," 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2
WebCT CE 8 "Filemanager," 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 3
WebCT CE 8 "Filemanager," 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3
WebCT CE 8 "Communication Tools," 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4
WebCT CE 8 "Communication Tools," 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4

For locations and/or to register, go online here. For information, call Antoine Thomas at 217-581-8397 or e-mail arthomas@eiu.edu. TECnet workshops are intended solely for EIU faculty, staff and graduate assistants. (Graduate students: Please note restrictions here.)

John Allison, UPI chapter president, and Jeffrey Cross, associate vice president for academic affairs, will conduct a portfolio preparation workshop for tenured/tenure-track faculty applying for retention, tenure, promotion or a professional advancement. Faculty are invited to attend the workshop from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the Effingham Room of the MLK Jr. Union.

The Office of Faculty Development is pleased to announce that Tesa Leonce (economics) and Kiran Padmaraju (early childhood, elementary and middle level education) have been selected to attend the 29th International Lilly Conference on College Teaching at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Please join us in the next opportunity to support colleagues for the advancement of our institution and the students we serve. The deadline for applications for the 2010 Teaching Professor Conference will be announced during the month of March. For information, please contact our office at 581-7051 or visit here.

The purpose of the Study Abroad Program Development Grant is to provide travel funds for faculty and staff to develop new and innovative education abroad programs for students. The types of program may be vast and varied: exchange, one-way, faculty-led, teaching, internship, field study, etc. EIU faculty and staff interested in applying for this grant will need to submit a complete proposal package to the director of Study Abroad, 1178 Blair Hall, no later than Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, simultaneously with a faculty-led study abroad program proposal form (if for a faculty-led program). The Office of Study Abroad has allocated $10,000 for these awards each year. For more information, download an proposal package here.

Campus Technology 2009 will host a FREE virtual conference on Thursday, Dec. 3. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. It will include (1) expert speakers sharing their views in an effective, interactive way; (2) a virtual exhibit hall with demos of technology products and services; (3) a live virtual networking lounge to reconnect with colleagues and make new contacts; and (4) free content downloads and presentations-to-go.

The best part is no travel expenses, no conference fees and no lines! To register, visit here and include the special promo code AX0Z03.

This workshop is presented by Research and Sponsored Programs from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, in the Greenup Room, MLK Jr. Union.

Eastern's internal funding for research and creative activity is awarded on a competitive basis by the Council on Faculty Research. There are two rounds of funding -- one in the fall and one in the spring. This presentation will include suggestions for making a proposal competitive, as well as examples of recent funded proposals.

Registration is required here.

Human Resources

Spring registration is in full gear. With that said, please remember to submit your tuition waiver(s) to the Benefits Office in a timely manner! Timely submission ensures quick turn-around time and credit of any tuition waivers on your student account.

Many questions have arisen as to whether or not a second Benefit Choice period will be offered this year. As to the current knowledge of the Benefits Office, no, this will not be presented as an option. Benefit selections will remain in effect until the Benefits Choice period of May 2010, with changes during this time taking effect July 1, 2010.

The assignment of a proxy for timesheet approval is an important aspect of an approver’s role in managing the review and approval of employee timesheets. With the flu season in full swing and the holidays just around the corner, setting up proxies allows others to act on the behalf of the approver to process department time entry. Put simply, designating one or more proxies becomes a back-up plan for timesheet approval. For step-by-step instructions on how to set up a proxy, visit here.

The IRS has issued contribution limits for 2010 and there has been no change in the maximum amounts. However, now is a good time to evaluate any changes you may wish to make to your 403b plan contributions for the upcoming year. To make contribution changes, please complete the form from this link and forward to the Benefits Office for further processing.

Students and grad assistants report address changes to the Records Office, located on the first floor of Old Main. Faculty and staff report address changes to the Employment Office, located on the second floor of Old Main. Keeping your address updated will assure that you receive all of your important mail, including your W-2, at the correct address. You may also give Employment your campus address and phone number so the online directory will be correct.

The Benefits Office has been notified by Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital that doctors formerly affiliated with HealthLink’s Tier II network are now Tier I providers. The change was effective as of July 15, 2009. Please see PAGE 9 at this link for a summary of Tier I benefits. If you have questions or would like further explanation, please call our office at 581-5825.

Please remember to sign up for the option to print your own W-2 online. The new year is fast approaching and once again it's time to start thinking about taxes. Employees of EIU will again have the option of receiving their W-2 forms online. By completing an online consent, employees will have online access to their W-2s 24 hours a day (with a few exceptions), and will no longer have to be dependent on the mail.

An electronic consent to receive your W-2 online must be done through PAWS (Panther Access to Web Services). PAWS can be accessed by going to EIU's home page and following the links, or going directly to the PAWS sign-on page. Once in PAWS, click the "Employee" tab at the top of the page, click on "Tax Forms," and finally click on "Electronic W-2 Consent" in the Tax Forms menu. Read the explanation of electronic consent and then check the box under "My Choice." Electronic consents will remain in effect unless revoked. Employees who provided consent last year for electronic W-2s are already set up.

Remember, the quickest and easiest way to receive your 2009 W-2 is to access it online. Employees who do not have a sign-on for PAWS can contact the Information Technology Help Desk at 581-HELP to get set up. Contact the Payroll Office at 581-2214 or 581-5510 for questions concerning electronic W-2s.

Employment Opportunities

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science is soliciting applications for one full-time or more than one part-time positions. Candidates should have a master's degree in mathematics or a closely related field. Duties include teaching general education and/or service courses in mathematics at the freshman or sophomore level. This is a non-tenure track position replacing a retirement. Continuation of this position beyond the Spring 2010 term has not been established at this time. An application will consist of a cover letter and a current resume including a description of teaching experience and a list of at least three references. Materials should be sent to Peter Andrews, Mathematics and Computer Science, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Ave, Charleston, IL 61920.

Community Health/School Health, Health Studies

Assistant Professor, School Psychology, Department of Psychology

Assistant Professor, Special Education

Assistant Professor, Sports Management, Kinesiology and Sports Studies

Coordinator of Clinical Education, Athletic Training Program, Kinesiology and Sports Studies

Research and Creative Activity

Robert C. Wiseman, Booth Library, presented a paper and session at the Four-State Regional Technology Conference held on the campus of Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan., on November 12 and 13. The presentation and paper was on the subject of photographic exposure in digital photography.

Proposals for the 2010 Summer Research and Creative Activity Grant competition are due in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, 1102 Blair Hall, by noon Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010. All tenured/tenure-track faculty in Bargaining Unit A are eligible to apply. If you have any questions, please call the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at 581-2125 or e-mail bjgreen@eiu.edu. Application materials and guidelines are available on the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs' internal forms page.

Miscellaneous

Do you know families who are searching for infant, toddler, preschool or school-age care in Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Edgar, Moultrie or Shelby counties? We can help! Our comprehensive database of child care providers can give families the extra help they need in locating QUALITY child care. We also have EIU student providers who are willing to watch children so parents or caregivers can get some holiday shopping done or even enjoy a child-free evening out. Just call our office at 581-6698 or stop by 1325 Klehm. We can help!

Neither flood nor earthquake has ever claimed the lives of 217,000 children in a single week, but malnutrition has. And does. Please join EIU’s fight against hunger!!! For information, please visit here. (Facts taken from here.)

There will be intermittent access to specific servers during the Thanksgiving break. With maintenance and a scheduled power outage, CATSWS1, WINKEYAPPS and UNIPRINT will have minimal accessibility.

During the Thanksgiving break, Booth Library will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 23 and 24. On Wednesday, Nov. 25, the library is closed to the general public; however, faculty can call the Dean’s Office at 581-6061 for admission to the collection.

The library will be closed on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21 and 22, and Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 26-28. Normal hours of operation will resume on Sunday, Nov. 29.

Five talented new freshmen from other states are attending EIU at the in-state tuition rate. EIU now welcomes out-of-state new freshmen with a minimum 26 ACT and 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average, to attend at this new reduced rate.

Qualifying students need only to submit their application documents. There is no additional information required. Please encourage academically talented students to consider this opportunity. Questions should be directed to Brenda Major, director of Admissions, at bmajor@eiu.edu.

The following lists the hours for the GTC for the remainder of the Fall '09 semester and winter break:

Nov. 21 and 22 -- Closed
Nov. 23, 24 and 25 -- 7 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Depends on maintenance schedule. See posting on door.)
Nov. 26, 27 and 28 -- Closed
Nov. 29 -- 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Back to normal hours)
Dec. 5-18 -- Open 24/7. We will open at 2 p.m. on Dec. 5 and not close until 10 p.m. on Dec. 18.
Dec. 19 and 20 -- Closed
Dec. 21, 22 and 23 -- 7 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Depends on maintenance schedule. See posting on door.)
Dec. 24 through Jan. 3 -- Closed

The Office of Academic Assessment and Testing will be closed from 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23. The night drop in Room 2024 is now open for any instructors who need to drop off a test during that time.

The Alpha Phi Omega National Co-ed Service Fraternity is donating stuffed animals, crayons and coloring books to children at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. We are asking for your help to obtain these items. Anything that you are able to give to support our cause will be greatly appreciated. If you are making a monetary donation, please make your check payable to Alpha Phi Omega-Delta Psi and note that it is a hospital donation. Please send or bring all donations to Alpha Phi Omega, MLK Jr. Union, Room 2070, by Nov. 30.

The following stipulations apply:

Cardinal Glennon cannot accept the following -- No used toys or gift-wrapped items. No products containing latex, toxic/lead-based paints or glass. No stuffed animals (unless they are brand new and in a sealed package). No religion-themed items.

Cardinal Glennon will accept the following (* denotes items that are most popular with the patients):
For All Ages -- *anything Cardinals; *"I Spy" books or anything similar; jigsaw puzzles for toddlers to teens; board games for toddlers to teens; *books for toddlers to teens; and
School Age -- *coloring books; action figures; crayons, markers and/or colored pencils; construction paper/sketch pads; stickers; and books that make sounds; and
Teens -- *paint-by-numbers; gel pens; journals; wood crafts to paint; and scrapbooking materials.

Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center: Accepting non-toxic crayons, coloring books and stuffed animals (no choking hazards such as removable eyes and noses)

Facilities Planning and Management will perform upgrades to the campus chilled water loop and, as a result, air conditioning will be unavailable Nov. 16, 2009, through April 1, 2010, in the following buildings: Booth Library, Buzzard Hall, Doudna Fine Arts Center, Douglas Hall, MLK Jr. Union, Lantz Gym, Life Science, Lincoln Hall, McAfee Gym, Physical Science, Stevenson Hall, Klehm Hall, Thomas Hall, Andrews Hall, Taylor Hall, Lawson Hall, Coleman Hall and Human Services.

The chilled water loop upgrades are part of a campus-wide energy efficiency project. Building occupants could experience discomfort during possible warm periods this winter. We thank you for your patience during this energy efficiency upgrade.

During the month of October 2009, Booth Library acquired and cataloged 1,223 new print titles. A list of these titles may be reached here, or start on Booth's home page, click on Books, Videos and More, and choose the New Title List link from that page. The list is arranged by location within the library, and 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 questions.

Pantera, EIU's student-run restaurant, is now taking reservations for November 3, 10, 17 and Dec. 1. Unfortunately, due to construction of the commercial kitchen, these are the only dates available for this semester. In Spring 2010, however, Pantera will be in full swing! Pantera discount cards will be accepted again this semester.

We look forward to seeing you. For reservations, contact Kathy Rhodes at 581-6677 or krhodes2@eiu.edu.

Nominations for honorary degrees are being accepted by the university's Honorary Degree Committee. Honorary degrees may be awarded to persons who have achieved a record of major distinction at the state and/or national level in such areas as education, public service, research, humanities, business or the professions, or those who have made a contribution to the university or higher education. Individuals may or may not have completed a degree(s) in higher education.

Nomination materials may be obtained by contacting the Office of External Relations, Old Main, Room 1031, or on the following Web site. Competed nominations should be returned to the Office of External Relations no later than Monday, Dec. 7, 2009.

Especially for Students (Official Notices)

Students enrolled in nine or more on-campus hours during Spring Term 2010, graduate assistants, and international students will be assessed the Student Health Insurance fee along with tuition and fees. Students who can provide evidence of having health insurance equal to or better than the EIU Student Health Insurance may request the Waiver Form from the Student Health Insurance Office, located in Financial Aid in the Student Services Building, east wing. International students must contact the Office of International Students and Scholars. The Waiver Form can also be downloaded from the Financial Aid Web site here.

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. Jan. 25, 2010, is the last date these forms will be accepted for Spring Term 2010. For more information, call 581-5290.

Students who have an approved EIU Student Insurance Waiver and wish to re-enroll in the Student Health Insurance Program for Spring 2010 may do so by completing a re-enrollment form and making payment of $109.95 by 4:30 p.m. Jan. 25, 2010. 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 Jan. 25, 2010.

For more information, contact the Student Health Insurance Office, second floor, east wing, Student Services Building, or call 581-5290. Students enrolled in a combination of continuing education and regular on-campus classes should contact the Student Health Insurance Office for coverage eligibility prior to the deadline.

Spring Semester 2010 students who are registered for six, seven or eight on-campus hours may purchase student health insurance for the semester by obtaining an application from Student Health Insurance, located in the Student Services Building, east wing, and making payment prior to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 25, 2010, in the Student Accounts Office. The cost is $109.95. If necessary, payment can be made at the Student Health Insurance Office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students enrolled in a combination of continuing education and regular on-campus classes should contact the Student Health Insurance Office at 581-5290 for coverage eligibility prior to the deadline.

All student teachers are required to have a TB skin test prior to student teaching. EIU Health Service will hold a special TB Testing Clinic for student teachers who will be teaching in the Spring 2010 semester. Dates are as follows: Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2009 (test is given); Dec. 2 and Dec. 3, 2009 (test is read). Location: EIU Career Services (walk-in). Times are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Students must attend a meeting to formally apply for University Admission to Teacher Education and to initiate the selection process. The College of Education and Professional Studies schedules meetings each semester. The required formal application form is distributed and collected at the meetings and the rules and regulations concerning selection, admission to and retention in teacher education are explained. Students who have not previously applied must attend a meeting.

The following meetings are available during the Fall 2009 semester to initiate the selection process: 6 to 6:50 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10; 5 to 5:50 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5; 5 to 5:50 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18; and 7 to 7:50 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8. The meetings will be held in the Buzzard Hall Auditorium (Room 1501). The next opportunity to initiate the selection process and apply for University Admission To Teacher Education will be during the Spring 2010 semester. Registration is NOT required.

News from Old Main