Eastern Illinois University Homepage

My Eastern Ways blog is one way I will informally notify you of the ways EIU values and supports excellence, personal relationships, service, and opportunity. Within this blog, you'll hear about examples of EIU students, faculty and staff getting involved in academic programs, student life, and community engagement. I hope the things you read here will motivate you to learn more about EIU, where we expect greatness of ourselves in our mission to provide a second-to-none higher education. Read More

At Eastern Illinois University, we take pride in our ability to provide our students a top-notch education at an affordable price. A significant factor in that affordability is our Textbook Rental Service. Compared to the expense of buying the same books, our rental program saves the average student $800-$1000 every year. That kind of annual savings over a college career undoubtedly makes EIU a viable choice for students who otherwise may not have been able to attend. Read More

Move-in day! It's always one of the best days of the year. Faculty, staff and students help all the new students and families: unloading cars, carrying belongings up to the rooms, taking people around campus in golf carts. It's all part of our commitment to service and personal relationships -- embracing the newest members of the EIU family -- and I'm proud to be in there helping, meeting new students, and just being a part of it. Read More

Lunch . . . what a great way to meet people! With Move-In Day yesterday and the welcome lunches today, I've met students from all over the place; from Chicago to Metropolis, from St. Louis to Marshall, and from South Korea, Belgium and India. Our mix of students from communities of all sizes in Illinois, other states, and other countries makes for a diverse campus and enriching experiences -- not only for our students, but also for our faculty, staff and community. Read More

Our students involved with National Pan Hellenic Council, Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity supported EIU's Sunday evening 9/11 memorial service with organizational help and attendance at the event. Their participation was very much appreciated. Attendance by local fire department ... Read More

Last weekend, I received an email from a community member expressing appreciation for our university's service to Habitat for Humanity. Student-athletes from our intercollegiate swimming, cross country, and basketball programs were all involved. Volunteerism and community service -- a great way for EIU to be a part of the wider community! Read More

Last Saturday, over 700 EIU students volunteered for the Special Olympics Family Festival in nearby Mattoon. I was proud to be present and see our students serving as buddies for the Special Olympians on a day of fun activities for them. Read More

Last Wednesday, I had lunch with several of our graduate students who received the president's and provost's assistantships this year. They are involved in and excited about their research with Eastern faculty members. Read More

This fall, I would like to "escape" from Old Main and turn the whole campus into my office. In order to do so, however, I'll need the help of Eastern Illinois University's students. Read More

The weather for Homecoming weekend was perfect! Alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members all came together to enjoy that weather and celebrate this "family reunion" for EIU. This celebration of the personal relationships our alumni have maintained for so many years makes Homecoming one of the most ... Read More

This past Saturday was a day of great joy and celebration for the EIU community as we held our annual fall commencement ceremony. As the graduates crossed the stage, the look in their eyes and spring in their step showed resolve and optimism in facing the future. As I congratulated each graduate and they voiced their thanks, I thought of how our newest alumni will make the most of their educations in changing society for the better ... Read More

Service is one of the most important ways we can connect with our communities. On Saturday, April 21, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Panther Service Day with more than 600 students getting involved in community service projects both locally and in other communities ... Read More

After commencement, we get a chance to catch our breath and reflect on how our students excel in many ways at the national level. A recent example is this team of EIU health studies majors: Emily Schumacher, Caitlin Clancy, and Ericka Duncan. The trio took first place in the American Association for Health Education's ... Read More

I am proud to see EIU undergraduates will make 34 presentations at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) this April ... Read More