If you are a faculty or staff member who is a parent or guardian of a student who will be participating in the commencement ceremony and you would like to present their diploma to them on stage at the Spring 2026 ceremony, please fill out this form. If you have questions, please reach out to Megan Morecraft at mamorecraft@eiu.edu. 

Commencement could not be made possible without the dedication of volunteers, as they play an essential role in creating a smooth and memorable experience for our graduates and their families! If you are interested in volunteering for this special day for our graduates, please fill out this form. Any assistance is greatly appreciated! 

Saturday, May 9 - Groniger Arena

• 10 a.m. – Undergraduate Degrees in the College of Education and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• 1 p.m. – All Graduate Degrees
• 4 p.m. - Undergraduate Degrees in the Lumpkin College of Business and Technology, College of Health and Human Services, and Interdisciplinary Studies. 

Please contact Megan Morecraft at mamorecraft@eiu.edu with any questions. 

Thank you for your consideration! 

Planning to participate in the Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies? Please complete this form. This will help EIU prepare for seating arrangements and allow for reserved parking. 

Saturday, May 9 - Groniger Arena

Panthers in the Effingham area, we’re bringing Eastern to you! Join us for EIU Night Out in Effingham at the Gabby Goat, located at 303 E. Fayette Avenue, for a fulfilling evening of connection, conversation, and Panther pride. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30; advanced registration is required.

Enjoy great food, refreshing drinks, and plenty of time to network with fellow EIU alumni and friends. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with classmates, expand your professional circle, or simply enjoy an evening out with fellow Panthers in the area, this event is the perfect opportunity to strengthen your ties and find new Panther pals.

We hope you’ll join us for an energizing evening of alumni camaraderie in Effingham!

Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing accessible experiences for all guests. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact University Advancement at alumeiu@eiu.edu.

Register here!

Booth Library is accepting submissions for an Anime-Style Character Contest to find the face of 2026 EIU Comic fest. The Library is looking for an anime-style character in three related poses to license as its official 2026 Comic Fest mascot. The 2026 EIU Comic Fest Contest is officially OPEN, and the winner will take home a $300 prize!

Contest information:

• Submissions must come from current EIU students.
• The student artist must create an anime-style character in three related poses:
  • Directional Gesturing
  • Speaking
  • A third pose of the artist's choice
• Characters must be original artwork. No copyrighted images will be accepted. Final production submissions must be original artwork, not AI-generated.
• At least one pose should translate well for printing in single-color on EIU Comic Fest 2026 t-shirts.
• Entries are due Wednesday, April 29.

Submit a character here.

• Remember to submit your character in all three poses. The winning design will be the official face of the 2026 EIU Comic Fest!
• The winning submission will be licensed to Booth Library for usage related to 2026 EIU Comic Fest in perpetuity; however, the copyright for the character will remain with the submitting artist.

For more information about EIU Comic Fest, visit https://thekeep.eiu.edu/eiu_comic_fest/ or email comicfest@eiu.edu.

An in-person MHFA course will be offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 23 in the Arcola/Tuscola Room in the MLK Jr. Union. 

Those interested in registering should complete the registration/interest MACHFORM found at https://www.eiu.edu/mentalhealth/mentalhealthfirstaid.php  Individuals should be registered no later than April 16.

Any staff and faculty member who provides academic, professional, and/or personal support to students or advises a student recognized organization is highly encouraged to complete this training. 

Mental Health First Aid teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to mental health and substance-use issues. Participants will learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn to for help. Topics covered in this course include depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, on-campus resources, and intervention strategies.  This training is not intended to help one become a counselor, but to help provide early intervention and encourage those in need to seek appropriate assistance and help. 

More information about the program, other available dates, and sign-up machform may be found at: https://www.eiu.edu/mentalhealth/mentalhealthfirstaid.php

Funded in whole or in part through a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

This presentation by the HERC will discuss how alcohol and cannabis affects the body. Join us on Wednesday, April 22 from 4 to 5 p.m. in the MLK Jr Union's Charleston/Mattoon room (3rd floor).

TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING - EIU's Spring Festival 2026, the event will be April 23, 24, and 25. Hayes Street (aka Doudna Circle) and the North Buzzard Parking Lot will be closed beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, and will remain closed throughout the festival weekend. Hayes Street and the North Buzzard Lot will be available Sunday, April 25, beginning at midnight. Any vehicles remaining in the closed lot will be cited and relocated at the owner’s expense. Festival planners and UPD appreciate everyone's support and understanding during this temporary inconvenience.  Thank you.

The Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Mobile Mammography Bus will be on EIU's Campus Tuesday, April 21.

  -  Who: All Women age 35 and over
  -  When: Tuesday, April 21
  -  Where: Between the Alumni Clock Tower and Lumpkin Hall
  -  How to schedule your appointment: Call 1-800-639-5929

Join us for an unforgettable evening in Groniger Arena of entertainment, dining, and philanthropy at the 2026 EIU Rhythm & Blues Spring Fling, a premier Panther Club event benefiting Eastern Illinois University student-athletes. This high-energy celebration brings together alumni, donors, community leaders, and Panther fans for a night that makes a meaningful impact for our student-athletes and department as a whole. The evening will include dinner, music, entertainment and a silent and live auction.  

Purchase tickets online or call/email Amber May at (217) 581-6425 or ammay@eiu.edu.  

Join the HERC for the return of our popular Self-Care corner series! Join our Mental Health GA for check ins on how to help improve your mental health and take care of yourself during stressful times. We will be located in the Taylor Hall Breezeway April 17 from 11 a.m. to noon!

The Office of Leadership and Engagement is excited to announce that we have expanded Panther Service Day. We are hoping that staff/faculty may be able to join us this year.

Dates

• Friday, April 17 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Project details can be found on the Panther Service Day webpage.

NOTE: Faculty/Staff who choose to participate on Friday afternoon and who are eligible to do so may use their community service leave hours. Find information about that program at Community Service Leave Information

Please contact Crystal Brown with questions.

Get comfortable in the kitchen with Baking 101! We’ll learn essential baking skills as you make blueberry muffins and banana bread.
*Note: Vegetarian

Date:         4/15/2026
Time:         5 p.m.
Location:   Klehm Hall 2309   

Sign up here!

No worries about inclement weather this time!

Booth Library Spring Annual Book Sale will be in the library's Atrium from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at the center of the library's main level, regardless of weather conditions outdoors! To find the Media Sale in the library’s Atrium, enter the building at the north or south entry, and take the 3000 level concourse to the central elevator or Atrium stairs, then proceed downstairs to the 1000 level.

Take note, we're spinning a different tune this time, and hosting a Book Sale without the BOOKS.

Instead, we’re rolling out the VINYL and other media collections that don't tolerate heat, moisture and outdoor conditions at our traditional sale events! Look forward to browsing classical, jazz, and popular music:

• More than 800 LPs
• More than 700 DVDs
• More than 2000 CDs
• Audiobooks
• Sheet music, too!

No reading required. Just press play. Browse our Vinyl, DVDs, CDs, including audio books, all at bargain basement prices! Pre-sale browsing, holds and purchases will not be permitted. All items have been donated by the campus and local communities. The proceeds from the sale are used to enhance library programs and services. For the latest information, check the library website, www.eiu.edu/booth/booksale, or find Booth Library on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Come table with us to learn about our next Healthy Cooking event titled Baking 101! Get comfortable in the kitchen with Baking 101! We’ll learn essential baking skills as you make blueberry muffins and banana bread. We'll be at Taylor Hall Breezeway from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14.

Greek Week is entering its Y2K era, and EIU hopes that you will join them! 

EIU is also giving a heads-up to the campus community that Tugs will start Monday, April 6, at 4 p.m., and the event coordinators will use a very loud train horn to signal the start and end of each Tug. 

Tugs will also take place on Wednesday and Friday April 8 and April 10 at 4 p.m,, and then Tugs Finals on Saturday , April 11 at 11 a.m.!

EIU hopes that you can join in the festivities as Eastern celebrates its 72nd Annual Greek Week! 

A friendly reminder to emplyees to submit their monthly leave reports before noon on the 10th of each month or at the time designated by your department approver. In addition, all approvers must have all time/leave approved prior to noon on the 10th of each month as well. To fill out a leave report, please log-in to PAWS from this link: http://bannerssb.eiu.edu.
 
Log-in using your EIU provided user name and password.

1. Click on the EMPLOYEE tab
2. Select PAWS9 EMPLOYEE DASHBOARD
3. Select ENTER LEAVE REPORT (blue box, right side of screen)
4. Select the correct reporting period
5. Select ADD EARN CODE and enter hours

For additional information concerning Positive Time Reporting/Leave Reporting, please click on the following link to the FAQs:
http://www.eiu.edu/~humanres/payroll/forms/Positive_Time_Reporting_FAQ.pdf and log in using your EIU provided user name and password.

• Olivia Bennett of Charleston is a junior at Eastern Illinois University majoring in broadcast journalism. She has worked as a Gray Television fellow for WOIO-TV in Cleveland; a producer, anchor and investigative reporter for TruBlu Crime Streaming; and managing editor, anchor and reporter for WEIU-TV News Watch. With this year’s award, Benett is now a three-time INBA scholarship winner. She will be taking home INBA Fred “Fritz” Sorenson Scholarship. Sorenson was a longtime reporter and anchor for WKRS radio in Waukegan and WCIA-TV in Champaign.
• Andrew Spaid of Lake in the Hills will graduate this spring from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in TV and video production. He has worked as a sports and news anchor, producer and sports director for WEIU-TV and was an on-air DJ for Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU. He also is a host and producer of the Anytime Sports Podcast, worked on the live sports production crew for ESPN+ and was a freelance camera operator for WQAD-TV. Andrew is the winner of the INBA Don Brown Scholarship. Don Brown is the namesake for the INBA’s first-ever scholarship, given in 1963. He worked for radio stations in Iowa and taught at the Universities of Iowa, Illinois, and Arizona State and was instrumental in forming the INBA in 1955.

• Devin Brooks, reporter/anchor, WQAD-TV, Quad Cities, a multi-time INBA scholarship winner himself and INBA board member.
• Jenna Dooley, news director, WNIJ in DeKalb, and INBA past president
• Rachel Lippmann, justice reporter, St. Louis Public Radio, and INBA past president
• Emily Manley, former Missouri capitol bureau reporter for Nexstar and former INBA vice president

Student Insurance is available for the Summer 2026 term. The coverage effective dates are 5/11/2026-8/16/2026. The cost for the coverage is $95.40.

Students who are insured in Spring 2026 who desire Summer coverage and will not be enrolled in the Summer Term, may obtain coverage by submitting the Summer 2026 Enrollment Form available in their PAWS account, under the MyHealth tab prior to 5/11/26.

Students who enroll for five or more hours for the Summer Term may obtain coverage by submitting the Summer 2026  Enrollment Form available in their PAWS account, under the MyHealth tab prior to 5/27/26. 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 eiu.edu/studentinsurance or by contacting our office at (217) 581-5290. There are two 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 and Counseling Services center 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 two short videos on the website that do a nice job of explaining all about the Plan.

The Summer 2026 Student Insurance fee will be automatically assessed to students enrolled in an on-campus program taking nine or more hours; graduate assistants under contract to the University; and international students enrolled in an on-campus program taking three 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. Student-athletes and members of the Cheer Team are not allowed to waive the Student Insurance. The deadline to waive coverage for the Summer 2026 semester is May 27, 2026. 

Check out these upcoming events at the Doudna Fine Arts Center!

Reflections: An Evening of Song
Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna Recital Hall
Free for All Audiences
Join EIU's Dr. Rebecca Von Kamp, soprano, and Ethan Hayward, piano, as they perform works by Massenet, Poulenc, Mozart, Sandheim, and more. There are also special guests!

Koresh Dance: Masquerade
Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Doudna Theatre
$30 General Audiences, EIU Employees, Seniors (62+) | $15 EIU Students & Youth (<18)
Masquerade is a collaborative and theatrical work incorporating multiple artistic mediums and elevated by the element of live singing and dance. Audience members will be immersed in an unpredictable environment of new, electronic symphonic music, and movement, encapsulating the liminal space of reality folding in on itself. The line between reality and fiction no longer exists. Truth belongs to the imagination of the beholder. Masquerade is an intra-active contemporary operatic dance performance choreographed by Roni Koresh and performed by the Koresh Dance Company with original music composed and sung live by American soprano and composer Sage DeAgro-Ruopp.

EIU Choral Concert
Sunday, April 12 at 4 p.m. at the Dvorak Concert Hall
$10 General Audiences, EIU Employees, & Seniors (62+) | $5 EIU Students & Youth (<18)
For their final concert of the Spring 2026 semester EIU Choral Ensembles present David Lang's poor hymnal, Alex Berko's Sacred Place, and mid-century popular music.

The following internal governing policies were recently updated with approval by the President. Please take time to review the changes to these policies:

• IGP #72 - Grant-In-Aid Awards (nomenclature change only)
• IGP #86 - Sports and Recreation Board  ELIMINATED
• IGP #88 - University Union Board ELIMINATED
• IGP #102 - University Accounts
• IGP #145 - Use of University Facilities and Grounds - Lantz Building
• IGP #146 - Use of University Facilities and Grounds - Usage Charges
• IGP #156 - Campus Safety Responsibilities (nomenclature change only)

EIYOU (EIU 1111) Seeking Fall 2026 Instructors 

The Student Success Center is seeking energetic, innovative, and engaged individuals to teach EIU 1111: EIYOU The Panther Experience, Eastern’s first-year seminar, for Fall 2026.

Please consider bringing your passion, experience, and expertise to our newest students welcoming them to campus and to their new adventures at EIU. 

What is EIYOU: The Panther Experience?

EIYOU is designed to help you make the most of your Panther experience! EIYOU is the first-year experience course that provides the building blocks for academic excellence at EIU.

Students actively participate in areas of student success including navigating the university, building college success skills, creating college support networks, finding your future path and career, financial wellness, academic technology, and student social, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

EIYOU is required for all incoming full-time on-campus students with less than a 3.00 high school GPA, but open to all incoming full-time on-campus freshmen, transfer, and returning students.

In addition, instructors will be expected to attend immersive training on the newly designed course and its implementation. 

Other guidelines for the course: 

• EIU 1111 is now a (1) credit hour course, and the class meets one day a week. Applicants will identify days and times that fit their schedule. 

• Incoming first-year students with under a 3.00 High School GPA will be required to take this course; incoming freshmen with a GPA above this can elect to take the course, including as part of their Freshman Connection experience. 

• Course text: Connections Are Everything: A College Student's Guide to Relationship-Rich Education

• Instructors may teach up to (2) course sections. 

For more information about the course, as well as the instructor application, please visit the EIYOU website. The application for new instructors is available Applications are due by the end of the day on April 15, 2026. Instructors will be notified of their acceptance by April 30, 2026, and at that time the day and location of the instructor training session will be provided.

Questions may be directed to Dr. Michael Gillespie at mgillespie@eiu.edu.

Did you know as an EIU employee, you have access to thousands of discount through Working Advantage? Visit the EIU Benefits site for details, and check out the Working Advantage website for more information as well. 

Eastern Illinois University is making important investments to improve our campus.

To help keep the campus community informed, we’ve launched a dedicated construction updates page. Visit the site for the latest information on active projects, timelines, impacts to campus access, and more: go.eiu.edu/construction.

Beginning March 16, 2026, parking lots between the Student Services Building, the Old Steam Plant, and south of Blair Hall will be closed as part of a comprehensive upgrade to EIU's campus infrastructure. NOTE: ADA parking spaces immediately south of Blair Hall will remain open, and an ADA‑compliant ramp will be installed to accommodate east–west pedestrian traffic at the northwest corner of the Student Services Building.

Please review a map of the parking lot availability HERE, noting the additional details below.*

Per IGP#19, campus-wide summer office hours will be in effect from Monday, May 11, 2026, through Friday August 14, 2026. When summer office hours are in effect, all offices must be open Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. All administrative offices (and others where possible) will remain open during the lunch hour, Monday through Thursday.

Each office is to change voice mail, signs, and other public communication to reflect its summer hours. Regular business hours will resume on Monday August 17, 2026. Please contact the Human Resources office with any questions.

Holiday Weeks

• Memorial Day: Monday, May 25, 2026
  • Employees will record Holiday 7.5 hours and then work 30 hours between Tuesday – Friday. If you still want to leave at noon on Friday May 29, 2026, you may use accrued leave time off or work the additional 3.5 hours between Tuesday and Thursday (this would not be overtime, it would be considered flex time).
• Juneteenth/National Freedom Day
  • The week of June 15, 2026, employees will work (4) 7.5 hour days Monday – Thursday and record Holiday 7.5 hours for Friday June 19, 2026.
• Independence Day
  • The week of June 29, 2026, employees will work (4) 7.5 hour days Monday – Thursday and record Holiday 7.5 hours for Friday July 3, 2026.

In an effort to strengthen campus safety and emergency communication, the University is offering campus training opportunities and updating its alert procedures.

All employees and students who have a cell phone number on record will automatically receive emergency text alerts. This replaces EIU's previous opt-in system. Anyone who does not wish to receive text alerts will now need to opt out. If the University does not have your current cell phone number, you may add it (along with up to three additional numbers) by logging into Alert EIU. 

The campus emergency management team will also offer three additional upcoming A.L.I.C.E. training sessions. Participants in A.L.I.C.E. sessions learn about the actions that everyday people can take to survive a dangerous encounter with a violent intruder.

Upcoming A.L.I.C.E. Sessions

• Tues., Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union, Arcola/Tuscola Room 
• Wed., Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union, Arcola/Tuscola Room 
• Mon., Feb. 16, 3 to 4:30 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union  Greenup Room 
• Fri., Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union, Arcola/Tuscola Room 
• Tues., Mar. 3, from 2-3:30 pm | MLK Jr. Union  Charleston-Mattoon Room 
• Wed., Mar. 11, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union  Charleston-Mattoon Room 
• Wed., April 8, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union  Charleston-Mattoon Room 
• Fri., April 17, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union  Charleston-Mattoon Room 

Register for A.L.I.C.E. sessions here.

If your office, department, or organization would prefer an individualized session, please contact the Eastern Illinois University Police Department at (217) 581-3213 or police@eiu.edu to schedule.