Dear Colleagues,

It has been a spring and summer unlike any other for SIUE and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Following the sudden move to remote instruction in the spring semester resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19, all courses that began in the first five weeks of the summer were offered only online. The campus began reopening in mid-June, but many people continue to work remotely so we can limit personal interaction, maintain social distance and reduce the risk of viral transmission.

In a pilot program in the second five-week summer term, CAS offered face-to-face courses in the Departments of Art and Design, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and Music. Faculty, teaching assistants and students in these courses were required to abide by social distancing guidelines and to wear face coverings. Faculty and students have adjusted well to the changes in the learning environment. We have learned from this experiment, which will guide us as we expand our face-to-face course offerings in the fall semester.

In the middle of this unique summer, the College of Arts and Sciences,  which was formally established on July 1, 1995, celebrated its 25th anniversary. Because we could not safely host a gala celebration, we commemorated this important milestone with a Zoom webinar on June 30 (see recording here). The webinar featured an interview with former SIUE President Earl Lazerson, who launched the process that resulted in the creation of CAS, and reflections by the first leadership team—Dean Sharon Hahs and Associate Deans Dixie Engelman and David Steinberg. 

Read Dean Leonard's full letter.

On the surface it may seem like a minor thing – a signature from a medical doctor. But when you don’t have ready access to one, your financial means are limited and your disability restricts your mobility, the “small” thing is huge. 

Once Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduate student, Larrisha Tidwell, learned of the barrier facing several of her clients at Chestnut Health Systems (CHS) – a physical and mental health support facility in Granite City – the social worker began in earnest to remove it. 

 “I do client support, such as therapy, conflict resolution, case management and provide transportation and case management at CHS,” explained Tidwell. “I also find resources and connect people with those resources to support them and help them live their best life. It was in the course of doing my job that one of my clients told me she didn’t have any freedom, because she couldn’t obtain a bus pass. She has a mental illness diagnosis, and I thought that she should have been able to obtain a bus pass without any problems.” 

Read the article.

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded Southern Illinois University Edwardsville a five-year, $1.3 million grant from its Science Education Partnerships Award program.

Through the project, “Environmental Health Investigators: Building STEM Interest to Promote Careers in the Health Sciences,” a team of SIUE faculty researchers, curriculum developers and graduate students will develop a community-based environmental health program and provide minority students opportunities to learn about and prepare for a career in health sciences.

The project is co-led by principal investigators Sharon Locke, PhD, director of the SIUE STEM Center and professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Georgia Bracey, PhD, research assistant professor in the STEM Center, and Ben Greenfield, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences. Senior Personnel include Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Applied Health, and Carol Colaninno, PhD, research assistant professor in the STEM Center.

“This project builds on our existing relationship with Madison County schools by providing opportunities for youth to design and conduct authentic scientific investigations to help their community,” said Locke. “We are both grateful and excited to receive NIH SEPA funding, which is allowing us to teach youth about how environmental conditions impact human health. Local students will help measure air quality, soil quality and noise levels in the region to determine trouble spots and develop solutions to improve environmental conditions.”

Read the article.

SIUE alumnus Christian K. Lee, who earned a bachelor’s in mass communications from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2018, has a photo essay entitled “Cancelled Prom” featured in Rolling Stone Magazine.

Lee’s work first drew public acclaim in February 2015 when he displayed his exhibit “Ferguson Unrest” following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown. The exhibit was held in the Morris University Center’s Goshen Lounge.

As photo editor for The Alestle, SIUE’s student newspaper, Lee also captured a 2016 Illinois College Press Association first-place award in the large-school division, general news photo for on-campus coverage of protests by the Black Lives Matter movement. He also earned a first-place award in the sports photo category for coverage of a wrestling event.

Read the article.

From being a crucial sustainability resource to sponsoring and supporting sustainable partnership projects, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Successful Communities Collaborative (SSCC) is a leading force in the region.  

Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, SSCC director and associate professor in the Department of Sociology, was one of several panelists in a webinar on Wednesday, May 27, entitled “Community Resilience through Local Investment and Funding Strategies.” 

“By focusing on community-initiated projects, SSCC can support the kind of local investments that our keynote speaker addressed. Our partnership with The Tiny Children’s Garden is a great example of that,” said Frey Spurlock. She shared SSCC’s mission, accomplishments and current project with webinar attendees. 

Read the article. 

A temporary virtual study abroad option is among the many ways SIUE faculty and staff have gotten creative to ensure meaningful international learning opportunities for students amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are some students who can’t delay their study abroad requirement without also delaying graduation plans,” said Sorin Nastasia, PhD, director of the College of Arts and Sciences’ international studies program. “Helping students graduate in a timely fashion is something we should do under any circumstances, and even more so under the current pandemic situation.”

Senior Gabrielle Wimes, of Kansas City, Mo., a double major in criminal justice and international studies, is among those students appreciative of the creative option.

“Costa Rica is where I was going to travel before COVID-19 hit,” Wimes said. “It’s important for me to have the option of virtual study abroad so that I can graduate on time.”

Read the article.