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

TEMPORARY LOT CLOSING - Due to Special Olympics Illinois - Spring Games 2025 this event will be on April 25th and the Stadium, and J-Lots will be closed beginning at 5:00pm Thursday, April 24. These lots will remain closed throughout the event ending Friday night. Please find an alternative parking lot that is designated for your parking permit. Special Olympics planners and UPD appreciates everyone's support and understanding during this temporary inconvenience.  Thank you.

Sarah Bush Lincoln Mammography Services will once again have their mobile mammography van on campus, providing digital mammograms.  The van will be on campus Thursday, April 17 at 9 a.m., located in the drive between the Alumni Clock Tower and Lumpkin Hall/Library Quad.  This service is available to all women aged 35 or older.  Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins will be accepted as time permits.  Please call 1-800-639-5929 for more information or to schedule an appointment.  

And remember... Early detection saves lives!

Learn tips and tricks to practice self-care and take care of your mental health! Join us at the Taylor Hall Breezeway fron noon to 2!

In this event, learn what food dyes are, what they do within our food and the health facts behind them. Look to make spring pasta and mug cake! Please be aware of the following allergies: nuts, wheat, soy, egg

Date: 4/1/2025 
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Klehm Hall 2309    

Sign up form: https://www.eiu.edu/herc/machform/view.php?id=104854

Learn tips and tricks to practice self-care and take care of your mental health! Join us at the Doudna Overhang from noon to 2 pm!  *weather pending

Don't stop stressing! Stress is a part of our everyday lives. Come learn skills and strategies to help you manage your stress levels. We'll chat about time management, self-care, mindfulness, and much more! Join us in the Effingham Room in the MLK Jr Student Union from 5 to 6 p.m. 

Don't stop stressing! Stress is a part of our everyday lives. Come learn skills and strategies to help you manage your stress levels. We'll chat about time management, self-care, mindfulness, and much more! We'll be in Taylor Hall from 5 to 6 p.m. March 31!

Please join HERC staff as we raise awareness about Bipolar Disorder. Learn about resources here on campus and in the community, as well as information about screening tools. We will be in the MLK Jr. Student Union from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 28.

EIU’s 18th annual Student Research and Creative Activity Conference will be held on Friday, April 25, 2025. All students (graduate and undergraduate) from all disciplines are invited to share their work.

Deadline for submissions: Thursday, March 27, 2025

Link: https://www.eiu.edu/studentresearch/

Students from all disciplines! Share your research, scholarship, case studies, or creative work with the EIU Community at our annual Student Research Conference. Posters, presentations, panels, artworks, and performances are all welcomed.

All current EIU students - graduate and undergraduate, are invited to present. Students will have the opportunity to hone their skills as presenters and to talk about their work with fellow students, faculty, and staff from across the university. Build your resume by being part of this culmination of the academic enterprise.

This presentation will teach you the history of mindfulness and a few skills to get you started in your practice! Skills will involve making students more aware of their mind, body, and surroundings. Please sign up using the link below:

https://www.eiu.edu/herc/machform/view.php?id=98815

Discover What’s New at Booth Library: Collaboration Expo on March 26

Library Collaboration Expo
📅 March 26, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Drop-in event)
📍 Booth Library — Pizza & prizes!

If you haven’t visited Booth Library lately, now’s the perfect time to stop by! Join us for a drop-in event designed to spark ideas, foster connections, and show you how the library can support you and your students.

Whether you're redesigning a course or looking for innovative ways to engage students, we’re here to help.

At the Library Collaboration Expo, you’ll learn about:

• Enhance your teaching with customized instruction, research skills workshops, and embedded learning resources.
• Strengthen student research skills with information literacy, AI literacy, and digital scholarship.
• Engage in active learning with collaborative spaces and technology-integrated coursework.
• Explore digital & multimedia projects, creative assignments, and faculty-led research initiatives.
• Showcase your research through The Keep and gain scholarly recognition.
• Uncover rare materials and primary resources on a behind-the-scenes tour of the University Archives.

What will you leave with?

• New ways to integrate technology into your classroom.
• Fresh ideas to collaborate with the library to boost student success.

Stop by for pizza, prizes, and engaging conversations — and discover how Booth Library can be your partner in teaching and research. We’d love to collaborate with you!

Booth Library’s collections are continually growing to meet the research and information needs of the EIU community. During February 2025, Booth Library acquired and cataloged 356 physical items (books, DVDs, government documents, archival resources, and more) and 3845 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 February 2025
• New electronic resources for February 2025

Please contact your subject librarian with any questions.

The annual Staff Senate election will be held online on April 23, 2025 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Any employee interested in running for a position as Staff Senator may fill out the Staff Senate Nomination Petition. The deadline to submit a petition is April 2, 2025 at 3 p.m.

Staff Senators shall be elected for a term of three (3) years and are eligible for re-election. The term for all positions is 7/1/25-6/30/28. Eligible candidates must be permanently employed at EIU for one (1) year and must not be a member of President’s Council, Provost’s Advisory Group, or be represented by Faculty Senate.

Employee categories eligible for election this Spring:

• 1 position from the Administrative & Professional group
• 2 positions from the AFSCME 981 employee group
• 1 position from the Negotiated Trades employee group
• 1 position from the Non-Negotiated Civil Service employee group
• 1 position from the University Police Department group

If you have any questions or need information on your category, please contact:

• Kim Pope | ktpope@eiu.edu | (217) 581-3328 | CLAS Dean’s Office
• Jordan Jenkins | jpjenkins@eiu.edu | Residence Hall Operations
• Mary Brown | mlbrown2@eiu.edu | South Quad Dining

The logo contest for EIU Comic Fest is open. This 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/comicfest/logo.php.

EIU Comic Fest will be held at Booth Library on Saturday, September 27, 2025. EIU students, staff, faculty, and registered student groups are encouraged to participate. More information about Comic Fest can be found at https://www.eiu.edu/comicfest/.

All full-time employees with at least one year of full-time service are eligible for this recognition. Nominees should embody the EIU brand and exemplify what makes EIU a distinctive and outstanding place to live, learn, and work. The President’s Council will review the nominations and make recommendations to the President. Up to five awards will be granted annually and announced at the President’s Fall Update in September/October. Each Service Award recipient will receive a commemorative plaque.

Please SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS by 11:45 pm, Friday, March 28, 2025.

Radio/TV Center Advisory Board Meetings (Open to Public)
WEIU Conference Room, Buzzard Hall - 1521
12 p.m. | Thursday, April 3, 2025 

Thanks to Booth Library’s new Read & Publish agreement with Cambridge University Press, EIU faculty and other campus authors can publish articles Open Access (OA), if accepted, in hundreds of Cambridge’s journals at no charge.  Please see more details on our agreement at the Cambridge website and their step-by-step guide for authors, and visit their Eligibility Checker tool to see the list of journals available for free OA publishing.  As an added benefit of this agreement, everyone at EIU now has access to the Cambridge University Press 2025 full collection of over 400 journals, including leading titles across the humanities, social sciences, and science, technology, and medicine.

Open Access (OA) is a set of principles and practices designed to make scholarly materials freely available.  OA publishing allows for greater visibility and accessibility, allowing scholars worldwide to discover relevant articles and read them without paywalls.  Academic libraries promote OA to ensure equitable access to scholarly research, breaking down financial and legal barriers that restrict knowledge sharing.  For additional OA publishing opportunities for EIU researchers through Booth Library’s agreements, and other information on how Booth is supporting publishers’ OA initiatives, see our LibGuide.

For questions, please contact your subject librarian or Sarah Johnson, Head of Collection Management (sljohnson2@eiu.edu).

Nominations are being sought for Eastern Illinois University's 2025 Faculty Laureate. Each year, this award recognizes a faculty member for excellence in teaching general education classes. Nominations and supporting materials should be submitted to Patty Watson pawatson@eiu.edu, VPAA Office. The deadline for submitting nominations and supporting materials is 4 p.m., March 27, 2025.

Part of your responsibility in driving a university owned vehicle is to report any accidents involving that vehicle to Mike Hutchinson the University Risk Manager. You will need to come to Old Main - Room 1140 within 48 hours to fill out a claim report. If there is a police report, please bring it with you. Incidents involving damage to university property must also be reported. If you are unable to come into the office, call (217) 581-2921.

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 Friday, March 28, 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. 

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.