EIU ABC's
A
Academic Area vision statement: EIU provides the best undergraduate education of any public university in the state. This tradition of excellence is continued in high-caliber master's and post-baccalaureate programs appropriate for the region it serves. EIU’s strengths are evidenced by a general education program grounded firmly in the traditional liberal arts and sciences, by excellent teacher-preparation programs, and by an array of professional and liberal arts and sciences programs appropriate for the region. Above all, EIU is committed to providing a superior learning environment for all students.
Alert EIU: Alert EIU is a text-messaging system that alerts subscribers, via their cell phones, to emergency situations and (if needed) advises students to take action. The messages are short no longer than 160 characters. Messages will focus on possible threats on EIU’s main campus. All EIU students, faculty and staff are able to sign up to receive the alerts. www.eiu.edu/alerteiu
Eastern Illinois University’s Alma Mater:
For us arose thy walls and towers;
Their beauty, strength, and grace are ours.
The hills and prairies at thy feet
For us in lovely landscape meet.
So must our hearts remember thee,
So may our lives a tribute be;
Strong, true, and beautiful and brave and free,
So shall our hearts, our hearts, remember thee.
Alumni Clock Tower: The Alumni Centennial Clock Tower was a gift from the Alumni Association in 2005. Located south of the library, the 30-foot tall tower, made of gray steel, has clock faces on four sides, with the words “Alumni Centennial Tower 2005.” A large bell hangs in the center of the tower, and an electric carillon has the ability to play over 200 songs, including EIU’s Alma Mater.
B
Billy Panther: Billy is EIU’s mascot who attends sporting events to cheer on the Panthers to victory!
Panther Express/Union Bus Service: Is a campus shuttle which takes students around campus as well as to Wal-Mart, County Market and the Charleston square. Eastern also offers a Union Bus Service, which leaves from the MLK University Union on weekends and takes students to the Chicago-land area for approximately $40 round trip. www.eiu.edu/stuaff/shuttle https://www.eiu.edu/union/ticketoffice.php
Black Student Union (BSU): BSU students of all races rejoice in African American culture, lifestyle, history, and activities. A few activities that the BSU has brought to Eastern Illinois University are the Annual Miss Black EIU Pageant where women accept the challenge of competing for a crown and honor of representing Eastern's black population, the Annual Spring Fashion Show where both male and female students show off today's latest fashions, Union Parties that happen throughout the year allow students a clean environment to dance and socialize, and the BSU's Forum where students speak on everyday situations and circumstances. https://www.eiu.edu/slo/rso/rso_info.php?id=229
C
Campus Computer Labs: Booth Library operates an open computer lab on the fourth floor of the building. The Gregg Computer Lab is an extended-hours computer lab located near Booth Library next to Ford, McKinney and Weller residence halls. Other computer labs on campus may be open to all students during specific hours depending on the building or department.
Campus Employment: Student employment assists students in finding work at the University and in the community. A listing of on and off-campus opportunities is available in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and online at: https://www.eiu.edu/finaid/workoncampus.php. Students may also apply directly to any department on campus for student employment consideration.
Campus Ministries: The Association of Campus Ministries represents the majority of religious groups on campus. Campus Ministries have challenged students to take on service as an important part of college life. Over the course of the academic year, many religious groups on campus sponsor speakers or programs that help students to integrate faith and reason. www.eiuministries.org
Cash-to-Chip Machine: Smart chip technology brings the convenience of electronic cash for on-campus purchases. To add money to the Panther card, visit one of 16 cash-to-chip machines located throughout campus. Money from the chip can be used to do laundry, buy something from a vending machine or to purchase items at different stores in the Union. Panther Card Equipment Map
Civil Rights and Diversity: The Office of Civil Rights and Diversity is responsible for the effective organization, implementation and administration of the University's overall civil rights, affirmative action, and diversity program and monitors the employment policies and processes for faculty and administrator positions. www.eiu.edu/civil
Class Size: The average class size at EIU is 23. 92% of the classes have less than 40 students. The faculty/student ratio is 1:16. 98% of the classes are taught by a professor, which means a small amount of courses are taught by teacher assistants or graduate assistants.
Panther Print and Copy Center: Located in the University Union, Panther Print and Copy Center offers resume paper, colored paper, transparencies, binding and a fax machine for students to purchase or use. https://www.eiu.edu/union/pantherprintandcopycenter.php
D
Daily Eastern News (DEN): EIU’s newspaper is printed daily Monday through Friday with student articles about what’s going on around campus and within Charleston. Eastern is one of the smallest universities in the country with a daily newspaper. This insures ample opportunity to work under the stresses of real life deadlines. The DEN maintains and runs its own Goss Printing Press, located across the hall from the newsroom. https://www.dailyeasternnews.com/
Debut Leaders (DLs): When students arrive for their Debut Day (orientation), Debut Leaders are the first face they see. Debut Leaders serve as a resource for students and families. By facilitating Debut Day activities, Debut Leaders are able to answer any questions about life at EIU for incoming students.
Dining Centers: EIU offers four different on-campus dining centers for students to eat in. With a meal plan, students can eat at any of them. Each serves something different to cater to what students want. Hours of operation and weekly menus can be found on the Panther Dining website at https://www.eiu.edu/dining/dining_menu.php.
Dining Dollars: Different amounts of Dining Dollars are included with each meal plan or they can be purchased separately. Students can use their Dining Dollars to purchase meals/items in any of the four Panther Dining Centers, Carman & Thomas Convenience Centers, the food court, and Java Bean & Bakery. Dining Dollars are good for the entire academic year. More Dining Dollars can be purchased as needed. https://www.eiu.edu/dining/dining_dollars.php
E
Electronic Writing Portfolio (EWP): Effective writing is a goal of EIU’s undergraduate program, and the EWP allows the University to assure that its students are effective writers. Completing the EWP is a graduation requirement of all undergraduate students. www.eiu.edu/assess/ewpmain
F
Family Weekend: Sponsored by the Parents Club, Family Weekend is held each fall and is a time when families are invited to share different campus activities with their students. Bingo, movies, dinners, a football game and a concert are just a few of the activities held throughout the weekend.
Famous Alumni: EIU has over 70,000 alumni across the nation. Some famous alumni include actors Burl Ives, Jerry Van Dyke, Joan Allen and John Malkovich; former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar; CNN sports anchor Larry Smith; UFC champion Matt Hughes; former professional athletes Kevin Duckworth, Marty Pattin, Kevin Seitzer and Jeff Gossett; and animal advocate Joan Embery. Also, EIU has a strong presence in the National Football League, including Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo; two head coaches, Sean Payton (New Orleans), Brad Childress (Minnesota); several assistant coaches; and former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan.
Final Exam Schedule: Final examinations are scheduled on the basis of the first class-hour meeting of the week. This is irrespective of whether the first hour is a lecture or a laboratory. The schedule can be found every semester on the Office of the Registrar’s Web site at https://www.eiu.edu/registra/finals.php
Fight Song:
We are loyal EIU
We’re loyal and true
Though the odds be great or small
We’ll still be cheering you (Rah Rah!)
So fight you Panthers for the glory of our dear name
Fight on for Eastern, come on Panthers win this game!
First Night: Held annually on the Sunday night before the fall semester begins, First Night is a chance for students to get together and gear up for the new semester. Students are also given the opportunity to meet others from different organizations throughout campus.
G
Greek Life – Sororities and Fraternities: Being a part of a Greek lettered organization is a once in a lifetime experience. Friends for a lifetime will be made who will be a family away from home. Becoming a part of EIU's Greek community will provide many leadership opportunities, along with many scholarship and community service opportunities. Greek life is one of the best ways to get involved both within the University and within the community. www.eiu.edu/grklife
Greek Week: Held every spring, Greek Week is a week when all Greek organizations get together to work on philanthropies. In addition to philanthropies, many different competitions between the Greek organizations are held, including Air Band, Greek Sing and a tug-of-war contest held over the campus pond. www.eiu.edu/grklife/greek_week
H
“Helicopter parent”: It can be really hard, but it’s best to aspire not to be one of these. ‘Hovering’ over your son or daughter ready to ‘swoop in’ at the least sign of trouble is no longer a part of your role as family member of a college student! Help them by encouraging them to do things for themselves.
Homecoming: Homecoming is held for a week every fall and is a time for current and past students to get together and chat about their time at EIU. Different competitive events are held throughout the week. Campus organizations, Greek organizations and residence halls compete against one another in these events. At the beginning of the week a Homecoming king and queen are crowned and the week concludes with a football game on Saturday afternoon. www.eiu.edu/homecoming/
Homesickness: Some is to be expected, but if you feel your son or daughter is showing signs of simply not adjusting to the transition, or if schoolwork is suffering because of it, encourage him or her to seek assistants from various on or off campus resources such as the counseling center, academic support services & their residence assistant.
Honors College: The Jack & Sandra Pine Honors College was founded to meet the needs of academically talented students. Honors classes are small course sections taught in a colloquium style format by professors who are distinguished in their field. The honors program offers enriched and rigorous alternatives of general education courses and a limited number of other courses outside of general education. www.eiu.edu/honors
Human Services: This building houses Clinical Services, Health Services, Career Services Center and the Counseling Center. Clinical Services is also home to Communication Disorders and Sciences major. In Health Services, doctors and nurses are available for students. There is also a pharmacy where prescriptions can be filled for a minimal fee. Career Services helps students find internships and jobs, and work on resumes, cover letters and interview skills. The Counseling Center is staffed with professional counselors to help students deal with personal problems.
I
Intramural Sports: EIU offers over 90 different intramurals. The Intramural Sports program offers students, faculty, and staff participation opportunities in structured team sports; sport-related special events, and racquet/paddle sports. Many tournaments are conducted yearly in these activities. Independent, Resident hall, and Greek organizations compete in league play. https://www.eiu.edu/campusrec/intramurals.php
Inclusion & Academic Engagement: Originally the Office of Minority Affairs, it was created in 1990 to coordinate a variety of minority programs and to deal with the concerns of a diverse student population. The staff offers personal support, answers questions, provides information on special scholarships and internships, dispenses relevant academic information, and provides general information on campus life and social activities. In addition, the office monitors campus climate, collects data, and acts as general ombudsman for minority student problems. The office has developed different programs to enhance the attainment and success of students. www.eiu.edu/oiae
L
Lantz Arena: Lantz Arena contains the basketball gym, a six lane Olympic-size indoor pool, an indoor track and field house, 5 tennis courts, 5 racquetball courts, a weight room; and a 70,500 square foot Student Recreation Center. It also houses Health, Physical Education and some Recreation classes and offices.
Laundry Facilities: Washers and dryers are located within each residence hall. There is no cost to students to use the washers and dryers. Students use cash-to-chip machines (located throughout campus) to put cash onto the chip built into their Panther Card. Machines in each laundry room then take money off of the chip to activate the washing machines.
M
Majors: EIU offers 90 majors and 90 minors through it's academic colleges. The academic colleges are: Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, Education, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Health & Human Services, and Jack & Sandra Pine Honors College. www.eiu.edu/majors
Mary J. Booth Library: The library has 934,699 volumes of books, 1.5 million microtexts, over 3,000 periodicals, and a computerized card catalog. If the library does not have a book a student wants, Booth Library offers an inter-library loan to request books from other libraries. www.library.eiu.edu
Martin Luther King, Jr. University Union (The Union): The University Union is centrally located on campus. Students are often seen browsing the bookstore or grabbing a bite to eat at the food court. The Cyber Lounge features couches, big screen televisions and computers for students to use during classes. And in the Union you can even bowl, or play some pool! www.eiu.edu/union
Minors: EIU offers 90 different minors. Choosing a minor gives students the opportunity to study something outside of their major, or to complement their major. www.eiu.edu/majors
N
Napoleon: Napoleon was a golden retriever who “owned” the campus. He wandered in and out of classrooms and the campus community took care of him, fed him, and made sure he went to see the vet. He was part of the campus for nearly 15 years before his death in 1960. In 1947, Napoleon was adopted as the official mascot for the school. He would occasionally sleep at the feet of students in classrooms, wander onto the stage during a performance, participate in the Homecoming parade, and even attend graduation ceremonies. His burial place is marked by a bench behind Old Main.
NetID: The student’s NetID is used to access the PAWS system. Every student is assigned a NET ID when they are first admitted. The student’s NET ID is the same as their EIU email address without the @eiu.edu
O
Old Main: Completed in 1899, Old Main is the castle you see when you pull into town as well as Eastern's flagship campus building. It’s currently home to the math and computer science departments, the Office of Admissions, Office of the Registrar, Cashier/Business Office, Affirmative Action & Diversity, and the president’s and three vice presidents’ offices. Old Main is a registered historical landmark.
P
Panther Ambassadors Club (PAC): The Panther Ambassadors are highly motivated volunteer student leaders who serve as the face of the Eastern student body at numerous high profile campus events. They provide personal interaction with the EIU community and friends of the university. The Ambassadors make appearances at various campus events. Through service to the institution, the Panther Ambassadors provide personalized interaction to the Eastern community which allows them to build valuable relationships with faculty, administrators, trustees, and friends of the university.
Panther Card: A panther card is an EIU student’s identification card. The EIU ID number provides a common means by which departments can identify individuals. It is also used for student billing instead of your social security number. The "E" number is your own personal identification number. The Panther card can double as a debit card, holds the meal plan and dining dollars, is a library card, and is used for doing laundry. The panther card is a student’s free pass to all sporting events! www.eiu.edu/campusid
Panther Club: The Panther Club is a people oriented organization which aids the intercollegiate athletics program at Eastern Illinois University. This group of individuals has a genuine interest in the welfare of EIU student-athletes’ academic and athletic success. Your Panther Club membership means: student-athlete support, providing opportunity, community involvement, premier Panther Club membership benefits, believing in blue, tax deductible donation, carrying on a winning tradition, showing Panther Pride, giving back, and changing lives. To join the Panther Club call (217) 581-2310 or donate online at https://www.eiupanthers.com.
Panther Pals: Panther Pals play a key role in the transition of over 3,000 new students and families by guiding and leading during move in day at EIU. On move-in day, Panther Pals help students and families carry things from their cars to the students’ rooms. Panther Pals also attend the New Student and Family Picnic and recruit and encourage new students to attend Prowl events. https://www.eiu.edu/nsp/volunteer.php
Parents Club: The EIU Parents Club was formed in 1974 to improve university-parent communication, provide a sounding board for the University President on selected University policy, and give parents a vehicle to increase close personal ties and friendships to the University. The EIU Parents Club endeavors to put information in the hands of parents and families in a timely manner. Members of the Board of Directors are parents of EIU students and are available to provide assistance on University-related matters.
PAWS: PAWS (Panther Access to Web Services) is an online system which enables students, faculty, and staff to access personal, student, financial and employee information via the Internet.
Pemberton: Opening in 1909, Pemberton was the first female residence hall in the state of Illinois and is a historical landmark. It still currently serves as a female residence hall. Pemberton has its own service fraternity, Phi Epsilon Mu.
Prowl: Prowl provides ongoing orientation and transition programming for new students. The objective of Prowl is to provide educational and social opportunities for students to understand community standards/expectations and to make connections to EIU, providing them with a solid foundation. Prowl begins the Friday prior to the first class day and will continue for the first six weeks of the fall semester. Events fall into five categories: Civics & Citizenship, Academics, Personal Wellness, EIU Traditions & Culture(s), and Social Connections.
Prowl Leaders: At the beginning of the fall semester, Prowl Leaders play a key role in the transition of over 3,000 new students and families by guiding and leading them through their first week at EIU. Prowl Leaders assist with moving new students into their residence halls, greeting families, answering questions, providing directions and directing traffic. They also interact with University faculty, staff and administration to help facilitate Prowl Week Programs.
Q
Quincy V. Doudna Fine Arts Center (Doudna): Home to art, graphic design emphasis, music and theater majors, this building opened to classes in fall 2008. Dvorak Concert Hall, a theatre arts center, more than 35 practice rooms, and several teaching and listening studios can also be found in this building. www.eiu.edu/doudna
R
Resident Assistant (RAs): A resident assistant lives on each floor in every residence hall on campus. RAs serve as a resource for everyone on the floor and are knowledgeable about EIU services, personnel programs, policies and procedures. They help build the floor as a community by holding programs for the floor and encouraging residents to attend the programs to get to know who they are living with for the next year.
Residence Hall Association: RHA is an on-campus organization which represents all 12 residence halls. The organization serves as a voice for living on campus. Meetings are held every Thursday at 5 p.m. in a different residence hall every week. RHA holds events to bring those who live in the residence halls together. On of the biggest events held is Residents On Campus (ROC) Fest in the fall. ROC Fest is a competition between all 12 residence halls and includes events such as relay races, a dance and a cardboard boat race. www.eiu.edu/rhaorg
Red Brick Building: The Student Service building, also known as the red brick building, is home to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Health Education Resource Center and Telecommunication office. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships contains the Student Employment Office to help students find jobs while in school and assists students in their endeavor to gain financial assistance through both grants and loans. The Office of Telecommunication is where students pick up their panther card or get a replacement if they lose or break theirs.
Residence Halls: EIU has 12 on-campus residence halls, 11 which freshmen can live in, for students to live in and call a home away from home. Students must live on campus as a freshman and are welcome to live in the halls after their first year. Nearly 4,500 students live in residence halls. All of the halls offer front desk services where residents can check out vacuums, pots and pans, or board games. Mail boxes are located in each lobby as well as tables, chairs and couches for students to hang out or study. www.eiu.edu/housing
Registered Student Organizations (RSOs): There are over 150 Registered Student Organizations all throughout campus. There is an RSO for just about any interest. For a complete listing of all of the RSOs or to create a new one, visit the Student Life Office in the Union. www.eiu.edu/slo/rso/rsoList
Reservation Only Dining (RO): Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Stevenson dining offers Reservation Only. Students go online to make reservations and when they arrive they are served as if the dining center was a restaurant. The meal starts off with the choice of soup or salad. Steak is always a main course option along with two others, including a vegetarian option. After the main course, dessert is served which can be anything from a cookie sundae to a slice of cookies and cream pie. RO dining doesn’t cost anything more than a meal swipe!
S
Senior Prowl Leaders: Senior Prowl Leaders serve as a resource during the first weeks of school for new students and families. They supervise a group of Prowl Leaders on move-in day and help assist families move in.
Spring Prowl: Prowl provides ongoing orientation and transition programming for new students. The objective of Spring Prowl is to provide educational and social opportunities for students entering EIU during the spring semester.
Student Accounts: Students may view information about their student account and bill through PAWS. Student’s Account issues bills for tuition, fees, housing & miscellaneous items. www.eiu.edu/busofc/bursar_cashier.php
Student Government: Student Government represents the EIU student body and strives to promote diversity, leadership, service and integrity. There are different committees that students can get involved with to get their voices heard. Meetings are held weekly, please contact Student Government for more details at 581-5522 or visit the website at www.eiu.edu/stdtgov.
Study Abroad: The Office of Study Abroad fosters affordable, high quality international academic opportunities that enable students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for leadership in an interdependent world. https://abroad.eiu.edu/
T
Textbook Rental: Eastern is unique in that there is only one other school in the state of Illinois that offers textbook rental, and there are approximately only 20 schools in the nation that do so. This service has a student cost of $9.95 per credit hour and is a mandatory fee. Students have the option to buy a book at the end of semester, but are not required to. www.eiu.edu/textbks
The Writing Center: The Writing Center at EIU is a place where students can develop as independent writers and thinkers. The center recognizes that student writers come to the center with individual needs and individual writing processes, and consultants are committed to helping students from all disciplines, majors, and academic backgrounds at any stage of the writing process. The center offers different writing workshops for students to attend. www.eiu.edu/writing
U
University Board (UB): University Board is an organization that puts on events for all students. Every Friday and Saturday night UB hosts a free movie in Buzzard Hall Auditorium. These movies are ones that are just out of the theater, but not yet out on DVD. UB also holds Up-All-Nites which are usually held in the Union. Different activities are held multiple times throughout every semester. Bouncy inflatables, sketch artists and eating contests have been some of the most popular events.https://www.eiu.edu/slo/ub.php
Volunteering: EIU's office of Civic Engagement and Volunteerism coordinates the many different ways for EIU students to reach out to the campus as well as the Charleston community. Volunteering gives students the opportunity to connect with the community, share skills, gain new skills, feel needed and valued, and experience something new. www.eiu.edu/volunteer
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WEIU-TV and FM: Journalism students can receive a strong broadcast journalism experience through active work for News Watch, 30-minute newscasts and various sports and public affairs programs produced by the Radio and TV Center. Students get hands-on experience working in the PBS-affiliated studios and labs of WEIU TV. https://www.weiu.net
