A letter from the Chancellor
As the University navigates the Illinois budget crisis, I want you to know that SIUE is more than surviving, it is indeed thriving. We continue to fulfill our responsibilities to provide an excellent education for our students. Even though Illinois public higher education as a whole is in dire financial straits, SIUE is fiscally sound, and we are not in any danger of imminent closure.
SIUE has been able to flourish and meet its mission to educate students by continuing to be faithful stewards of the public good. We have been able to thrive because we actively trimmed our budget and focused our priorities to help us assure excellence in education.
A key factor in SIUE’s continued progress has been the work of a specially assembled congress of elected and appointed representatives from SIUE’s constituency groups. This congress included members of the Staff Senate, Faculty Senate, Student Government, Graduate Council, University Planning and Budget Council (UPBC), University Quality Council (UQC), the vice chancellors, deans, and directors. We met to discuss the critical issues facing the University and to develop a road map, a way forward, for this year and next.
The congress produced a series of action items in several key areas. I encourage you to read more about the congress findings and view a video of my presentation to the University community in which I describe “The Way Forward” for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. As evidence of how SIUE has thrived this past year, I would like to call your attention to the following accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and students:
• SIUE’s Eugene B. Redmond Learning Center earned its inaugural Arcus People’s Choice Award, chosen by regional popular vote of more than 40,000 people
• The School of Nursing made a dramatic 25% jump, placing 76th in U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs 2016
• The School of Pharmacy Class of 2015 achieved a 97.26% first-attempt board pass rate on the NAPLEX, exceeding state and national averages. The combined score of all seven graduating classes rank the School #1 in Illinois and Missouri
• NASA has awarded SIUE $11.5 million to expand citizen science education through CosmoQuest, a virtual research facility
• A $4 million bequest intention was signed in January by an anonymous donor to the School of Business (2nd largest in the University’s history)
With 2,400 employees, more than 14,000 students and an alumni base greater than 100,000 strong, SIUE is an anchor in Southwestern Illinois, an anchor that is currently experiencing turbulent waters. Funding higher education is an investment in the present as well as the future economy of Illinois. A robust system of education is critical to attracting and retaining business within the state. Of particular note are the following ways in which SIUE supports the citizens and the economic health of our region:
• SIUE contributes more than $500 million annually to the local economy
• SIUE is the area’s second largest employer
• 80 percent of the jobs created in Illinois since the recession of 2008 require a baccalaureate degree
Please unite with us in reminding our legislators of the tremendous contributions that SIUE makes through quality education and service. Advocate for SIUE by contacting your elected Illinois representatives and asking them to support funding for higher education, including financial aid for our students (MAP) and health insurance for our University community. The time is now so that future generations will also have access to life-changing educational opportunity.
Sincerely,
Stephen L. Hansen
SIUE Interim Chancellor
