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 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

SURS representatives will be on campus Wednesday, March 5 to conduct face to face retirement counseling sessions with eligible employees who schedule an appointment.

The schedule is now open and will close Friday, February 21, 2025.  Sessions will begin at 8 a.m. and run through 4:30 p.m.  Sessions will be held in the MLK University Union, Casey and Greenup rooms. Appointment requests will be taken on a first come/first served basis.  Please call early to reserve your desired time!

Please see the following for more information on SURS counseling sessions, and to register.

Scheduling a Counseling Session or Written Estimate with SURS

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. 

Learn tips and tricks to practice self-care and take care of your mental health! Find us at the Union Food Court table from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.!

This presentation goes over important and essential health topics for women. Topics that are discussed include but are not limited to breast and vaginal health and PAP tests. Join us in Blair Hall Room 2165 from 5 to 6 p.m.!

Join HERC staff as we cover different types of contraception methods that individuals can use. Ask HERC staff about upcoming programs and questions about the different contraception methods. We'll be at the MLK Jr Student Union's Food Court Table from 9 a.m. to noon on 2/26 and 1 to 4:30 p.m. on 2/27!

Join us on February 24 for our special Rainbow Rubber Lovers! In this session we cover the same topics as we do in our traditional rubber lovers presentation with a special focus on those who are LGBTQ+ and how these topics affect them. All are welcome to attend! This event starts at 6 p.m. in McKinney Hall!

TEMPORARY LOT CLOSING - Due to the Special Olympics Illinois hosting the EIU Glow Polar Plunge on February 23, the Stadium lots will be closed beginning at 8pm Saturday, February 22 and will remain closed throughout the event ending on Sunday night. Please plan to park in an alternative lot valid for your permit. Any vehicles that remain in the lot will be cited and relocated at the owner’s expense. Special Olympics planners and UPD appreciates everyone's support and understanding during this temporary inconvenience.  Thank you!

Booth Library and The FDIC invite faculty to explore the potential and the pitfalls of text-generative AI in higher education. Through demonstrations and discussion, we will examine some chatGPT-based tools as applied to academic work. Participants are encouraged to bring their own successful and unsuccessful attempts at research and pedagogical applications. Join us to shape the future of AI as a support for writing and teaching.

• Tuesday, February 18, 4 to 5 p.m. CSI Landing
• Wednesday, March 12, 4 to 5 p.m. CSI Landing
• Thursday, April 17, 4 to 5 p.m. CSI Landing

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.

Following user feedback, Facilities Planning & Management with the help of ITS has revised the process for key requests to better streamline the input and approval operations.  A maintenance work order will still be needed prior to the key request form being submitted, as well as the Key Code and Keyway; the programming will not allow it to go through until this information is entered.

Key Request Instructions:

1. Go to the Maintenance Work Order.
2. Click on the three dots next to "Request Type" and click the check mark next to "Keys".
3. Fill out all the required boxes, indicated by a red asterisk.
1. Requester Name: Who is entering the request into the system or manager name
2. Requester Email: the email address of the person who will receiving notifications of the work order status
3. Phone #: Contact phone number in case of questions
4. Building Name: The drop-down menu includes all buildings on campus. Select the correct building.
5. Building Floor Code: Sorted by room number per floor.
6. Room #: Room number.
7. Action Requested: Enter the name and E# of the person who needs the key(s).
4. Click "Submit Request".
5. Complete this key request form.

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

For a more visual PDF listing these events, click here. (larger file)

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.