The first EIU Comic Con will be held at Booth Library on Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities being planned include an Artists Alley, workshops, trivia contest, escape room, cosplay, displays and more. All events will be free and open to the public.

EIU students, staff, faculty, and registered student groups are encouraged to participate. More information about the Comic Con can be found at https://eiu.edu/comiccon.

A logo contest for EIU Comic Con has been opened. It is a great opportunity for students to get involved and showcase their creativity. The winning logo will be awarded a prize of $300! Entrants must be a current Eastern student and the logo must be original artwork that in no way uses copyrighted images. Information on the contest and the submission form are available at https://www.eiu.edu/comiccon/logo.php.

The Civil Service Council serves as the voice for all civil service non-negotiated employees at Eastern Illinois University. Now is your chance to get involved and represent your colleagues!

We are seeking dedicated individuals to fill two-year terms for the following districts:

·         District I: President, VPUA, VPAA, and VPEM areas

·         District III: VPSA area

We are also seeking to fill a one-year term for one alternate from the District II: VPBA area.

Term Duration: June 1, 2025 – May 30, 2027

Eligibility

You must meet the following criteria to run:

1.      Be a permanent, non-negotiated employee

2.      Hold a continuous non-union position

3.      Be a non-academic employee

4.      Not hold an off-campus contract appointment

Key Dates

·         Nominations Deadline: April 30, 2025

·         Election Date: May 15, 2025

·         Notification of Results: May 16, 2025 or shortly thereafter

How to Apply

If you’re ready to represent and advocate for your peers, submit your nomination form by April 30, 2025 using the link below. You will need to use your EIU network ID to access the.

Nomination Form

More information about the Civil Service Council can be found on our website: https://www.eiu.edu/council/.

Be the voice of your district. Step forward and make an impact!

Celebrate your hard work with an Employee Appreciation Picnic! Join us at the Campus Pond Pavilion for a meal and a well-deserved break.

11:30 am - 1 pm, Wednesday, May 14

On the menu:

• Lawn games!
• Hamburgers / Cheeseburgers / Vegan Burgers!
• Hot Dogs!
• Chips!
• Cookies!
• Soda & Water!

Rain location: Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. University Union

The Inaugural 2025 PANTHER FUND RUN/WALK to benefit Eastern Illinois Student-Athletes will take place Saturday, April 26, 2025:

Location:
EIU Football Stadium Parking Lot

Schedule:

• Registration: 9:00 a.m.
• 5K Fun Run/Walk: 9:45 a.m.
• Mile Fun Run/Walk: 10:00 a.m.
• EIU PANTHERS Spring Football Game: 11:00 a.m.

Registration Fees:

• Adults: $30
• EIU Students: $15
• Ages 12-18: $15
• Ages 11 & under: Free
• Non-Competitor Lunch: $10 
• Non-Competitor T-Shirt & Lunch: $20

Race Includes:

• T-Shirt
• Entrance to post-race tailgate with complimentary lunch
• One complimentary general admission ticket to the EIU season opener (August 28 vs Dayton)
• Note: There is no admission to the Spring Football Game; feel free to invite friends and family to join us!

Fun Activities:

• Bounce House and Obstacle Course (open during the race and football game)
• Post-game autograph session with EIU Football players

Course Details:

• The course will take you through the EIU Panther Athletics facilities, starting and ending in the EIU Football Stadium parking lot.
• This is a non-timed race
• Strollers are welcome
• No pets allowed

We look forward to seeing you at this fun-filled event supporting the Panther Club and EIU student-athletes!

Register today! https://commerce.cashnet.com/eiuathl21

The Office of Leadership and Engagement (OLE) and the Student Life Office have an annual awards program to recognize the outstanding achievements of individual students, registered student organizations, and EIU Faculty/Staff advisor of the year. Depending on the award, students can self-apply or be nominated. Previous PLA winners are not eligible to win the same award for consecutive years in a row.

The Panther Leadership Awards will be announced in April each year. We will invite all nominees, the EIU community including student groups, faculty, administration, local community members, and parents to celebrate these accomplishments. Keep an eye on our social media as we recognize our winners!

Application process: All awards may either be nominated or self-nominated. The application deadline is March 3, 2025.

Panther Leadership Awards

https://www.eiu.edu/mentalhealth/mentalhealthfirstaid.php

An in-person MHFA course will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14 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 March 12.

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.

The College of Education will have an in-person and virtual fundraiser in March to support the College of Education Student Assistance Fund. This fund assists students with the outside costs of attendance in times of emergency. Both will include various silent auction items including Cardinals Game Tickets, Holiday World Passes, Theatre Tickets, EIU Athletics Season Passes, and More! 

• The in-person event will be Wednesday, March 12 from 6  to 8 p.m. at the Tarble Arts Center. Join us for an evening of food, drinks, a silent auction, student piano performances, and more! We kindly ask that guests RSVP by Wednesday, March 5.  Please use this link to purchase an event ticket:  https://commerce.cashnet.com/eiucoled
• The virtual auction starts Thursday, March 13 at noon and will end on Sunday, March 16 at 5 p.m. To participate in the virtual silent auction: https://COE2025.givesmart.com

Please email habrickey@eiu.edu or call 217-581-7823 with questions. 

The Women Up Conference at Eastern Illinois University is an empowering event dedicated to celebrating and inspiring women in all aspects of life. This conference brings together thought leaders, professionals, and students for an afternoon of insightful discussions, skill-building workshops, and networking opportunities. Participants will gain valuable insights on leadership and personal growth. Focusing on empowerment, education, and mentorship, the Women Up Conference aims to inspire attendees to rise above challenges and unlock their full potential.

Women Up Registration Link

This presentation discusses how alcohol affects the body. Topics that are discussed include, but are not limited to, the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol and common alcohol misconceptions. Join us in the Stevenson Hall Lobby from 5 to 6 p.m.!

Join HERC staff as we educate on how to be safe should you choose to party. Ask HERC staff about upcoming programs and questions about what you can to to take care of yourself. We'll be at the EIU Recreation Center from 9 a.m. to noon on 3/4 and 1 to 4:30 p.m. on 3/5!

Join HERC staff for our Mindful U programming! Learn tips and tricks to be more mindful and take care of your mental health. We will be in the MLK Jr Student Union Effingham Room from 5 to 6 p.m. March 3. 

The system EIU staff use to update websites (Modern Campus/OmniUpdate) will be down for maintenance starting Friday, March 28, at 7 p.m. This update may take 24 to 48 hours.

If you need to make changes to your site, please do so before Thursday, March 27, or plan to update it after the maintenance is complete.

Thank you for your patience!

The Doudna Fine Arts Center has scheduled HVAC repairs that will impact areas with rooms starting with 1700, 1800, 1900, 2700, 2800 and 2900. Please see below for details and time. 

DATE/TIME: Thursday, February 27, 2025 – Friday, April 11, 2025
PURPOSE OF OUTAGE: Repair HVAC System
CONSIDERATIONS: During the outage there will be no temperature controls. Rooms may feel a bit cooler or warmer than usual depending on ambient temperatures.  Building will remain operational, but please plan accordingly. 

EIU Marketing & Communications built a URL shortener accessible to any EIU student or staff member to use to craft friendlier URLs to share! Visit go.eiu.edu where you can make your custom short URL and download EIU-branded QR codes. The university URL shortener and QR code maker is easier and more secure than third-party generators, so check it out before you share your stuff!

The Department of Biological Sciences has a number of events coming up that to celebrate the Department's 25th Anniversary! See below for a list of events:

• 5/1: Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Fair – The campus and local community are invited to attend as undergraduate students in Biological Sciences showcase their research and creative works. From 5 to 7 p.m. on the 2nd floor of the Life Sciences Building.
• 5/2: Cosmic Bowling Night – Students, faculty, emeritus faculty, and alumni are welcomed to Cosmic Bowling night at EIU Lanes, sponsored by The Department of Biological Sciences. Food provided. 7pm-9pm at EIU Lanes University Union.
• 5/2: 51st Annual Scholarship and Recognition Banquet – Current students, current and emeritus faculty, and alumni will be presented with various awards. The banquet will be held in the University Ballroom at 6:30 p.m.
• 5/3: Celebration Brunch – The Department of Biological Sciences will close out its 25th Anniversary Celebration with a Family Brunch at Sister City Park in Charleston. Students, Alumni, as well as past and present faculty, annuitants are invited to share in this final activity for 2025. A bike ride, a walk on Charleston’s newest trail with local flora and fauna shown by Barb Carlsward and Tom Hu, and other light fun are planned. Start time is 9 a.m.

Through a new Illinois state-wide partnership, Eastern Illinois University students will now receive free access to Kaplan’s industry-leading test prep resources for graduate admissions exams, licensure, and credentialing exams, as well as skills development courses.

This new program, called "Prepare for Illinois' Future Powered by Kaplan's All Access License,"  is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). These educational tools are here to augment our existing resources and help prepare students to take the next step in their career journey after graduation. This program will provide our students with free access to  40+ courses; equipping them to take required exams such as the GRE®, GMAT®, MCAT®, LSAT® and more.

What test prep courses are included?

The course options available will vary depending on their degree level. See the full list of courses offered at go.kaplan.com/illinois.

How much does it cost students to participate?

Nothing, it’s free to students.

When does the free access start?

The portal to enroll and begin courses is available now. Students can enroll whenever they are ready by visiting go.kaplan.com/illinois.

Where should I direct students to learn more?

Learn more at go.kaplan.com/illinois where students will be directed with further instructions to sign up through our school portal. Students must sign up using their school email address to get the free resources.

Further communications are planned to spread the word across campus. We appreciate your collaboration in ensuring students are aware of this new offering and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact this will have on their success. 

Booth Library’s collections are continually growing to meet the research and information needs of the EIU community. During January 2025, Booth Library acquired and cataloged 482 physical items (books, DVDs, government documents, archival resources, and more) and 10,980 electronic resources (including ebooks, ejournals, digital audiobooks, and streaming videos). Individual issues of current periodicals are excluded. All items are discoverable through the library’s online catalog.

New acquisitions include items selected for purchase by Booth’s subject librarians, donations, re-cataloged library items, freely available government publications, and consortium-wide purchases.

• New physical items for January 2025
• New electronic resources for January 2025

Please contact your subject librarian with any questions.

The Facilities Reinvestment Committee has released its final report outlining a multiyear, phased approach to enhancing EIU’s facilities. Additionally, the external assessment conducted by Cordogan Clark is now available for campus review.

As part of Plan 2028, EIU’s strategic plan, this reinvestment initiative aligns with the "Create" theme, emphasizing the need for comprehensive campus-wide facilities and capital planning. The last campus Master Plan was commissioned in 2010, and in the past 15 years, EIU has undergone significant changes in student and employee demographics, population and space utilization. However, campus facilities and landscapes have seen minimal updates. This reinvestment plan is designed to address these evolving needs and align with EIU’s long-term strategic goals.

You can review the full Facilities Reinvestment report here.

Many of the identified action items will require further campus engagement, with opportunities for input in the coming months. Please watch for additional updates soon.

If you have any questions about Facilities Reinvestment, please submit them using the following form: EIU Facilities Reinvestment Question Form.

Thank you for your engagement in shaping EIU’s future.

Special Notice for Availability of Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Data

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER:

Availability of Monitoring Data for Unregulated Contaminants for Eastern Illinois University
Our water system has sampled for a series of unregulated contaminants. Unregulated contaminants are those that don’t yet have a drinking water standard set by EPA. The purpose of monitoring for these contaminants is to help EPA decide whether the contaminants should have a standard. As our customers, you have a right to know that these data are available. If you are interested in examining the results, please contact Plumbing Foreman, Aaron Kemper at 217-581-3520 or 408 W Hayes, Charleston, IL 61920

This notice is being sent tby Eastern Illinois University. State Water System ID# IL0295500 // Date distributed: 2/3/2025

Please join the Civil Service Council; in cooperation with the EIU Grounds Department, the Central Illinois Master Gardeners, and the EIU Staff Senate, in our efforts to create the Larry Shobe Memorial Garden.  The garden will be located between Old Main and Blair Hall and will provide a welcoming space for visitors and the campus community to gather.  Larry Shobe, EIU Alum and 27-year EIU Groundskeeper passed away in July of 2023.  In addition to his work in the Grounds department. Larry was a botany expert and served as a master gardener on the Illinois Public Media produced program Mid-American Gardener that airs on WEIU TV. He loved EIU and enjoyed providing tours of the beautiful gardens he created and cared for on campus.

At this time, we are seeking donations to reach the expected cost of around $7000.  Any amount you can give is appreciated.  If you wish to donate plants or volunteer time to help maintain the space, just e-mail one of the commttee memebers listed below.  

To Donate:

1. Mail checks made payable to “EIU Foundation” to EIU Foundation, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920.  Please make a notation in the check's memo line or attach a note stating it is for the “Larry Shobe Memorial.” Checks can also be brought to the Business Office, Attention Trisha Fritts.  
2. Online gifts can be submitted at https://www.eiu.edu/giving.php.  Select an amount, then click on the box “Please select the Designation for your gift.” In the drop-down menu, select “Other Gifts” and then type a short note in the Special Instructions box “Larry Shobe Memorial,” then complete the remaining payment options and submit.
3. Employees can also drop off donations or authorize a monthly payroll deduction.  To do so, contact Tisha Fritts (trfritts@eiu.edu) in the Business Office.
4. For more information about the project, visit our website at https://www.eiu.edu/council/shobegarden.php.

If you have questions, contact:

• EIU Foundation - 217-581-3313
• Shobe Memorial Garden Committee Members
  • Michelle Morgan (mlmorgan@eiu.edu)
  • Ke’an Armstrong (ksarmstrong@eiu.edu)
  • Arlene Brown (aebrown@eiu.edu)
  • Tony Craven (jacraven@eiu.edu)
  • Jonathan McKenzie (jrmckenzie@eiu.edu) 

Do you have a child or grandchild who is a current student at Eastern Illinois University? The EIU Annuitant Scholarship Committee invites you to ask your student to apply for the Annuitants Association Scholarship. Following is the scholarship criteria:

1. The recipient(s) may receive the scholarship one time only.
2. The recipient(s) must be a full-time undergraduate at Eastern Illinois University and have completed at least twelve (12) semester hours at the time the award is selected.
3. The recipient(s) must be the child or grandchild of a current Eastern Illinois University employee with five or more years of service to the University OR the child or grandchild of a retired Eastern Illinois University employee with five or more years of service to the University.
4. The recipient(s) must have a minimum EIU GPA of 3.0.
5. Applicants must submit a written statement listing career goals and financial need.
6. Applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from Eastern Illinois University advisor or faculty member.
7. In the event that there are several suitable applicants, preference will be given to the recipient(s) with financial need.

To apply for the scholarship, sign onto the EIU Scholarship Search on the University web site. The link to the search can be found at http://eiu.academicworks.com. When completing the information requested, please make sure that the question regarding “child or grandchild of an EIU employee or annuitant” is completed correctly.

The application deadline is March 15, 2025.

Kathy Reed, EIUAA Scholarship Chair

Applications are being sought for the EIU Civil Service Council scholarship established to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the EIU Civil Service Council. 

Applicants that receive financial assistance or tuition waivers are encouraged to apply.  The scholarship is intended to assist with tuition, fees, or other costs associated with attending EIU, such as housing, supplies, daycare, gas, etc.  The award is payable in Fall 2025 to your student account, and any remaining amount will be dispersed to the recipient.  Fall 2025 enrollment must be verified before the scholarship is distributed.

The recipient must:  1) be a former, current, or retired Non-Negotiated Civil Service Employee; or a child or grandchild of a former, current, or retired non-Negotiated Civil Service Employee; 2) be a current or incoming freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or Graduate EIU student at enrolled in a minimum of 6 semester hours; 3) maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and in good academic standing; high school seniors accepted to EIU shall enroll in a minimum of 6 semester hours of coursework and be ranked in the top 25% of their class.  Financial need shall be the determining factor if all other qualifications are equal.

Please apply online at https://eiu.academicworks.com/opportunities/15788

The deadline to apply is March 15, 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Morgan, EIU Civil Service Council President at (217) 581- 1107 or email mlmorgan@eiu.edu.