Learn More About Us
The Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub is a newly formed unit, as of July 2023, after the merger of two offices – the Inclusive Excellence, Education, and Development Hub and the Kimmel Student Involvement Center. The Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub is a centralized source for programs, services, educational opportunities, and resources for the SIUE community to engage in tenants of student involvement, anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion, leadership development, community engagement, and more.
Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub: Mission
Through meaningful collaborations, the Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub curates transformational experiences where students learn to define their purpose and identify their impact. Students, faculty, staff, and community partners synergize to educate and empower in a vibrant and inclusive space that fosters belonging.
Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub: Objectives
- Provide enrichment opportunities for students, student organization advisors, and staff that foster growth and development.
- Provide programs and services that meet the educational, cultural, social, and diverse needs of the University community and enhance campus life.
- Strengthen collaborative relationships with academic affairs, University units, and the surrounding community to enrich student learning and enhance co-curricular opportunities for students.
- Promote the programs and services of the Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub and enhance its image and visibility in the University community through continued development of promotional initiatives.
- Engage in an effective process that assesses outcomes and ensures continuous quality improvement.
Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub: Learning Outcomes
- As a result of participating in Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub activities, students will be able to identify 2 ways of developing meaningful relationships with others. (Student Affairs Learning Goal: Progress and Purpose)
- As a result of participating in Kimmel Belonging and and Engagement Hub activities, student leaders will be able to explain the importance of respecting and understanding individual differences, experience and practical application. (Student Affairs Learning Goal: Empathy, Humility, and Action/Curiosity)
- As a result of participating in Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub activities, students who engage in community service and volunteerism will recognize 2 actions they can take to benefit the greater good. (Student Affairs Learning Goal: Empathy, Humility, and Action/Practical and Career Development)
Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub: History
In November 2022, a taskforce was convened to develop a proposal to update the design and structure of the Kimmel Student Involvement Center. The proposed redesign was to pull together the divisions of student affairs, academic affairs, and anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, leverage existing resources, and ultimately better position the Kimmel to deliver services and offer programming to: advance the goals and objectives outlined in pillar 2 of the University's strategic plan (Student Success and Inclusive Excellence); nurture belonging and well-being for all students; and provide opportunities that support students' development into culturally competent, socially responsible leaders on campus, at work and in their communities.
The redesign proposed a merger of the Kimmel Student Involvement Center (KSIC) and the Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development Hub (the Hub) and their respective staff under the leadership of the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development. A new staffing structure addressed ongoing capacity concerns for both the KSIC and the Hub. The new structure also proposed a dual reporting structure to both the Vice Chancellor for Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. This ensures the support, development, and incorporation of objectives and goals from both units in alignment with the university Strategic Plan.
- The Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development Hub (The Hub) (formerly the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, or CSDI), served as the equity, diversity and inclusion education and development, programming and resource center for SIUE students, faculty, staff and community members.
- The SIUE Student Leadership Development Center was created in the fall of 1987. The newly developed Center offered instructional components dealing with citizenship and university/community service to students. The office was renamed to the Carol Kimmel Student Leadership Development Center at the December 14, 1989 Board of Trustees meeting. The renaming occurred to recognize Mrs. Kimmel's dedication to the University and commitment to education, service, and citizenship. The name changed in 2014 to the Kimmel Student Involvement Center to increase awareness of the wide variety of leadership, campus life, and volunteer opportunities available to all SIUE students.
Carol Kimmel dedicated her life to the cause of education and was an ardent supporter of SIUE. Additionally, she was committed to many other community and charitable organizations, serving on boards at the local (Rock Island, IL School District and Board of Education), regional (Illinois Parent Teacher Association, Southern Illinois University Board of Trustee, and Illinois Board of Higher Education) and national levels (Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and March of Dimes).
