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A ceremony at the Southern Illinois Research Park at SIUC on Tuesday, Sept. 27, celebrated an expansion of the University’s support of research and business initiatives.  A ribbon cutting and groundbreaking officially opened a new entry road and marked the start of construction on a new building to house research park tenants.  The ceremony, led by Chancellor Rita Cheng, officially opened the roadway connecting the Southern Illinois Research Park to the SIUC campus.  The ceremony also served as the official groundbreaking for construction of a new building on the site.  The University received a $475,000 appropriation from the U.S. Small Business Administration to bring a new 15,000-square-foot structure to the research park.  With construction beginning this fall, completion is set for summer 2012.  The university owns and manages the research park, home of the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center and its Small Business Incubator.  Adjacent is the multi-tenant One Enterprise Place.  The University owns the facility and the Southern Illinois Research Park Corp. manages it.  The new building will similarly house tenants developing, launching and expanding new businesses.

Telling the story of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s route to national recognition through its important achievements and milestones, SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift delivered his annual address September 28th and ended it by announcing his intent to retire at the end of the 2011-2012 fiscal year.  Though many are surprised by this announcement, SIU President Dr. Glenn Poshard pointed out that Chancellor Vandegrift has accomplished much of what he was hired to do, including achieving national recognition for the University, moving Intercollegiate Athletics to NCAA Division I in the Ohio Valley Conference, and numerous construction and infrastructure projects improving the current campus climate and paving the way for the future at SIUE. In addition to prestigious recognitions by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges of 2012 listing SIUE as a top 15 master’s comprehensive public institution in the Midwest region and one of 46 “up-and-coming” institutions in the entire country for innovative changes in academics, faculty, student life, campus and facilities, the University has gained national recognition through many rankings and acknowledgments — among them the 2011 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with distinction by the Corporation for National and Community Service; and a ranking among the Top 50 by Washington Monthly among 553 master’s universities nationally.  The University will now embark on the difficult challenge of finding a new chancellor to continue the quest for excellence. Vandegrift indicated his retirement will be effective July 1.

An event later this month at SIUC will help young women explore careers in science and mathematics.  The annual “Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics” conference is set for Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Student Center.  The 21st annual event provides girls in grades 5-9 with workshops, networking and hands-on experiences aimed at increasing their awareness of careers in such areas as science, technology and engineering.  The event also provides young women with opportunities to meet and interact with role models who are active in math- and science-related careers. Organizers expect up to 150 participants this year, along with teachers and parents from throughout Southern Illinois.  For more information call (618)453-5302.

Vicky Dean, assistant director of Residence Life for Residential Education at SIUE, was awarded the regional National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Faculty/Staff Of The Month award for August. Dean was nominated by Zachary Sanderson, a University Housing resident assistant (RA). After being recognized as the campus winner, a second nomination was submitted regionally. The region includes campus winners from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. The nomination will now be submitted at the national level. The NRHH is the recognition branch of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls. NRHH supports monthly recognition of student staff, programs, professional staff, faculty and more through “Of The Month” (OTM) awards. Sanderson’s nomination focused on Dean’s leadership among various academic initiatives within housing; involvement with Safe Zone, a campus organization; and overall dedication to the department throughout the month of August. “Vicky Dean is always giving her best not only to the housing community, but our campus as a whole,” Sanderson said. “August is easily one of the busiest times of the year and she accomplished so much during this time. Vicky’s commitment to student success and her spunky personality easily qualify her for the Faculty/Staff of the Month award.”

Saluki Cares, a University-wide care and support system at SIUC, recently began its third year helping students reach their academic and personal goals and handle the challenges they encounter along the way.  Launched in 2009, Saluki Cares offers assistance to students in a variety of ways, giving them the answers and help they need on campus or beyond.  The University created Saluki Cares to give students and their families answers and assistance in a prompt, coordinated way and to help students with issues and during crises situations.  The Saluki Cares program connects undergraduate and graduate students to the numerous resources in place to help them deal with virtually any issue they may face.  Homesickness, loneliness or other adjustment issues, physical or mental health concerns, financial worries, academic anxieties and off-campus housing disputes are among the many situations for which students have received help.  Faculty, staff, parents, other students or even a student himself or herself can make a referral to Saluki Cares.  To make a referral to Saluki Cares visit the website, call (618)453-5714 or email siucares@siu.edu.

In recognition of Day of Service, SIUC is having a canned food drive and can castle building contest.  The Student Programming Council and Residence Hall Association are collecting canned goods and non-perishable food donations from now until Oct. 12.  There are donation boxes at Trueblood, Grinnell and Lentz halls and at the SPC Office in the Student Center.  Students, faculty, staff and community members can help in collecting food items for those in need.  Organizers recommend those who aren’t students drop off donations at the Student Center location.  The charity drive wraps up with a contest on Oct. 12 in which University Housing’s Area Councils will compete against each other to build magnificent can castles.  They’ll be stacking the metal sculptures between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Trueblood and Lentz halls and the lower level of Grinnell Hall.  Judging is at 6 p.m. and the winners get prizes.  For more information, contact SPC at (618)536-3393 or the Residence Hall Association at (618)453-5950.

A team of researchers headed by SIUE School of Engineering Assistant Professor of Computer Science Gary Mayer has been awarded a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant to study the effects of mentoring related to student interest in pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. The effort is a collaborative enterprise between SIUE and the University of Southern California. Mayer will work closely with the SIUE Center for STEM Research, Education and Outreach to promote outreach initiatives through rural school districts to attract new teams of students to participate in STEM activities. Introducing the popular Botball robotics competition to communities unfamiliar with the program from the Southern Illinois and Southern California areas, 50 middle-school teachers from each area will be prepared as mentors using four different techniques. About 500 students from diverse backgrounds will be coached by mentors. The student participants’ expectations of success will be surveyed before and after the program and the results, along with feedback from the mentors, will enable researchers to examine the effectiveness of the different mentoring techniques.

For a third year, students in SIUC’s School of Journalism will rise early, stay up late and work hard later to capture the essence of three Williamson County communities.  In addition to presenting what “A Weekend in Tri-C” is like for residents of Carterville, Crainville and Cambria, students will also gain greater insight into the communities and hone their skills with help from some of the nation’s leading photojournalism professionals and editors.  Students in advanced journalism classes will chronicle the three communities — all which send kindergarten through high school students into the Carterville school district.  Students will use digital still photography, sound and video to document the communities.  Students will bring their work for editing to the conference room at Carterville City Hall.  The students will also have a chance to bring in their work for review.  In some instances, the visiting professionals will offer suggestions on how to improve the photographs and have students return to the project. The visiting professionals will also go out with students on assignments to give the students some hands-on instruction and coaching.  The workshop will culminate in a book. There might also be a website depending upon the amount of content and other factors.

For the 3rd consecutive year, SIUE has been cited by its peers and reported in U.S. News & World Report as an “up-and-coming school.” SIUE was listed as one of seven Midwestern regional universities — one of three public institutions — for recently making “innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus life and facilities.” The listing is in the magazine’s Best Colleges of 2012 issue that recently hit newsstands. Also, according to the recently released U.S. News rankings, SIUE is in the best Regional Universities Midwest (master’s granting) category for the 8th consecutive year, and among the top 15 public universities in the category. The overall scores are based on the academic preparedness of students, graduation rates, faculty characteristics and the reputation of SIUE in higher education. The “Up-and-Comers” category includes a total listing of 46 colleges and universities (17 public institutions) throughout the country.

Cancer treatments can cause a variety of side effects, including a loss of strength and energy.  SIU’s Simmons Cancer Institute is offering a new exercise class to help cancer patients minimize side effects of treatments and improve strength. The free classes will be offered on Tuesdays and Fridays beginning Tuesday, October 4. Tuesday classes will be held from 7:15-7:45 a.m., and Friday classes (starting October 7) will be held from 12:15-12:45 p.m. All classes will be held at Simmons Cancer Institute, 315 W. Carpenter St.  The equipment will be provided, and the exercises will be customized to meet the ability of participants.  For more information, call (217)545-0798 weekdays. The mission of the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU is to serve the people of central and southern Illinois by addressing their present and future cancer care needs through education, research, patient care and community service.

The SIUC softball team has earned the second highest GPA in the country among Division I teams for the 2010-11 season announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Wednesday.  The Salukis earned a 3.611 GPA in the 2010-11 season, just eight one thousandths behind leader Tennessee Tech who came in with a 3.619 GPA on the Division I All-Academics list.  This is the second time in five years that the Salukis have been ranked in the top 10 academically. They also came in second during 2006-07 season when they earned a cumulative GPA of 3.557.  The Salukis also saw a huge increase in GPA from 2009-10 to the 2010-11. In 2009-10, the Salukis held a 3.35 GPA and placed 31st in the the NFCA standings. But in just one season, the Salukis were able to increase their team GPA back to a 3.65 to earn their second, second place finish in just five years.