(EDWARDSVILLE) Fifty-five Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing students recently presented their Senior Assignment projects to an audience of faculty, peers and invited University guests.
The Senior Assignment project represents a culmination of the entire undergraduate experience at SIUE. This requirement arises from the University’s belief that the ability to integrate a general education perspective into one academic discipline is an essential mark of a University-educated person.
Senior nursing assignments take the form of exploration of an issue relative to nursing such as the nursing shortage or childhood obesity, a case study involving in depth investigation of a population such as adolescents and nutrition, lead poisoning in African-American children, or a teaching project with a population such as hypertension to cardiac patients, sexually transmitted diseases to adolescents and unique clinical experiences such as working with a pediatric outpatient hospice program. These experiences occur in locations throughout southern Illinois and the Metropolitan St. Louis area.
At the poster presentations, students discussed their learning objectives and results of their project with faculty and University administrators.
"The School of Nursing Senior Assignment provides an opportunity for students to bring together the knowledge and experience they have gained during their undergraduate learning experience," said Dean Marcia Maurer.
"Our students have provided service in the communities and demonstrated skills as researchers by collecting data on important nursing issues. We are proud of what these students accomplish during their tenure at SIUE and in the School of Nursing."
The School of Nursing is fully accredited by National League for Nursing (NLN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Two Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty members, both recognized nationally in their respective careers, will be the featured commencement speakers at two fall graduation ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 20, in SIUE’s Vadalabene Center. Nearly 850 students are eligible to graduate during the ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Speaking at the morning ceremony is Susan Nall, for the Schools of Business and Education. She is a professor of Curriculum and Instruction and director of Early Childhood Education in the School of Education. George Engel, associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the School of Engineering, will speak during the afternoon ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Engineering and Nursing.
Student speakers addressing the graduating classes are Rosemary Clark of Sterling, who will graduate with a master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology during the morning ceremony, and Jyoti Dharna of Nairobi, Kenya, who will graduate with a bachelor of science in Computer Science during the afternoon ceremony.
Nall, who has been a member of the Education faculty at SIUE since 1970, is known nationally as a leader in kindergarten education. Over the past two decades, Nall has spearheaded a transition in Illinois and across the nation from half-day to full-day kindergarten sessions. This effort is considered by many educators to be one of the most important influences in setting higher standards and greater expectations for early childhood education.
Since 1984, Nall has served on the Higher Education Commission on Early Childhood for the state of Illinois. She also has served as president of the Illinois Association of Early Childhood Teacher Education and currently serves on the Illinois Governor’s Task Force on Universal Preschool and also the Early Childhood Advisory Committee for the Illinois State Board of Education.
She earned a bachelor of science in Elementary Education at the University of Nebraska, a master’s in Teaching at Webster University in St. Louis, and a doctorate in Philosophy of Curriculum and Supervision at Saint Louis University.
Engel has collaborated with researchers at Washington University in St. Louis to develop a credit card security system aimed at reducing credit card fraud. The Magneprint™ system has been tested successfully in Malaysia, and may be used worldwide in the near future. He also helped develop the AUDIOscreener™ which is considered by many to be the most advanced technology in the world today for allowing audiologists to effectively screen infants for hearing impairments.
A native of the St. Louis area, Engel joined the faculty at SIUE in 1993. He teaches courses in computer engineering, electronics, and integrated circuit technology. He earned a bachelor’s in Mathematics and Physics at Saint Louis University, as well as a bachelor of science, a master of science, and a doctorate, all in Electrical Engineering and all from Washington University.
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today approved a $3.2 million project to install high-efficiency boilers and heaters in the campus core buildings, effectively de-centralizing the current campus heating system. The matter was approved during the board’s regular meeting conducted at SIU Carbondale.
University officials expect the boiler project to be completed by the fall 2004 heating season. Once the new system is in place, the related distribution system will be shut down and abandoned. The project will not affect the separate campus cooling system.
The current high-temperature, hot-water distribution portion of the system was replaced in 1994 and has been failing—four times in the past year alone. Officials estimate that in 10 years the system would need to be replaced at a cost of $10 million. In addition, the existing system draws high operating, maintenance, and utility costs. The new system would mean a $250,000 reduction annually in utility and maintenance costs.
The project would be funded through a loan from the Illinois Public Higher Education
Consortium. The loan would be repaid through cost savings and with deferred maintenance funds. Under the plan, compact boilers would be placed in each of 10 buildings: Peck Hall, Lovejoy Library, the Science Building, Dunham Hall, Morris University Center, Founders Hall, Alumni Hall, the Vadalabene Center, the Religious Center, and the Engineering Building.
In other business today, the Board approved procurement of an easement at no cost to allow a connection between SIUE’s Supporting Services Complex and the city of Edwardsville’s wastewater treatment system. Supporting Services, located on the east side of campus and adjacent to University Park, is currently using a separate septic system from that of the core university. Officials said the city of Edwardsville has agreed to allow the complex to connect with the city’s system, but it must be done through private property owned by the developers of nearby Cherry Hills subdivision. The developers have agreed to the easement.
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The former site of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center at 411 E. Broadway, an historic hotel which later housed the SIUE center for more than 40 years, would be deeded to the city of East St. Louis under a proposal passed today by the SIU Board of Trustees.
The East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, 601 James R. Thompson Blvd., now houses the East St. Louis Center and the East St. Louis Community College Center. By spring the campus also will house the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
The proposal to transfer the old center to the city was considered at the SIU Board’s regular meeting conducted this month at SIU Carbondale.
The university originally proposed demolition of the East Broadway building and to pass the deed to the city, but city officials asked that the building remain intact. The East St. Louis city council is expected to consider the Board of Trustees’ proposal tonight at its regular meeting. Once the university and the city reach an agreement, the state legislature must authorize the final transfer of deed.
The building was used by SIUE as a center that housed several educational programs and community service programs, as well as health clinics. Before the university became associated with the building in 1957, it had been the Broadview Hotel since 1928.
In other business today, the Board approved purchase of vacant land adjacent to or near the Higher Education campus. The proposal was initiated to add green space and to provide a degree of control over future development of the property near the existing campus.
The vacant parcels of land represent 17 city addresses on Bond Avenue, Market Street, Eighth Street, and Trendley Avenue. Under the proposal, the agreed price would be $152,400. The land was appraised by Joshway Harding Real Estate.
Funding for the purchase would come from SIUE cash reserves or from state Capital Development Board excess funds that were budgeted for the entire Higher Education Campus project. The purchase of the parcels also is subject to approval by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The deadline for filing nomination applications for the Carol Kimmel Community Service Awards, sponsored by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is Friday, Feb.6.
Nomination-applications for the awards are now available in the Kimmel Leadership Center, on the first floor of SIUE’s Morris University Center. The award is co-sponsored by the Belleville News-Democrat.
There are six award categories: education, social service-social welfare, environmental and civic betterment, regional leadership, agency/organizational concerns, and special populations. Winners will be recognized Thursday, April 1, at the Kimmel Leadership Awards Banquet at SIUE.
The awards were established to recognize outstanding community leaders for dedication and contributions to community volunteer service as exemplified by Carol Kimmel, a former member of the SIU Board of Trustees, who has been very active in dedicating her time and talent to volunteerism.
Organizations, agencies, businesses, or individuals may nominate those who have been citizens of Illinois or Missouri for at least two years and who are at least 16 years of age, and who have been a volunteer with at least one agency, organization, or business for at least two or more continuous years.
In addition, nominees must have demonstrated a variety of community service contributions for an extended period of time; demonstrated outstanding voluntary community service(outside of the applicant’s regular job duties), as well as a commitment to the citizens of Illinois or Missouri; and must document leadership roles and responsibilities. Joint applications will not be accepted; prior recipients also are not eligible. Posthumous applications will be considered if the nominee has died in the past 12 months.
For more information about complete nomination guidelines, or for a nomination application form, call the Kimmel Leadership Center, (618) 650-2686, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2686.
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Nomination-applications for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Carol Kimmel Scholarship are now available in the Kimmel Leadership Center on campus. Deadline for the nomination is Friday, Feb. 6.
The annual scholarship was established to recognize students for their outstanding leadership and community volunteer service contributions, as well as academic excellence. The scholarship was named for Carol Kimmel, a former member of the SIU Board of Trustees, who has dedicated her time and talent over the years to volunteerism. The scholarship is co-sponsored by the Belleville News-Democrat
For the scholarship, individuals may nominate a student, or students may nominate themselves, according to the following criteria:
• currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student at SIUE, with sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate standing;
• an accumulative SIUE grade-point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale);
• demonstrated volunteer contributions within the last two years in leadership, service, and/or citizenship, including leadership in a student organization or at least one elected office;
• and more than 30 hours of nonpaid service to a community agency or community organization.
In addition, a nominee must provide two letters of documented university service and leadership from university employees, as well as two letters documenting community service and leadership from external community members.
In order for a student to be considered for a second Kimmel Scholarship, documentation submitted for previous Kimmel Scholarships will not be reconsidered. The scholarship provides one full year of tuition at the SIUE in-state rate.
Winners will be recognized Thursday, April 1, at the Kimmel Leadership Awards Banquet. For more information about nomination procedures or for a nomination-application form, call the Kimmel Center, (618) 650-2686, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2686.
(EDWARDSVILLE) Judith Blase Woodruff has joined the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business as Director of Development.
Woodruff has more than 15 years experience in fund raising and joins SIUE from Fontbonne University where she was director of development for four years. She also has held development positions at St. Louis College of Pharmacy and McKendree College.
At the SIUE School of Business, she is responsible for fund-raising activities and special events, including the school's annual Family Business of the Year Awards, honoring family businesses from Illinois and Missouri.
Woodruff is a 1977 honors graduate of SIUE, with a bachelor's degree in music. She has been a member of Masterworks Chorale in Belleville for 15 years, and she is a member of the board of directors of Camp Ondessonk, a youth camp in southern Illinois. She and her husband, Michael Woodruff, live in Collinsville.
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The 90th Meridian of longitude passes through the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, a quarter of the way around the world from the prime meridian that passes through Greenwich, England.
The significance of the 90th Meridian serves as a symbol for the Meridian Society, a newly formed organization of women dedicated to raising funds in support of SIUE programs,
Dixie Engelman, emeritus dean of the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences and now chair of the society, said the group is dedicated to supporting a variety of SIUE programs through grants made annually at the society’s spring meeting. "The Meridian Society also will provide information to women on financial and estate planning, primarily at its fall meeting.
"We are learning what we can do collectively, as well as what we need to do on an individual and personal level."
SIUE Provost Sharon Hahs, one of the group’s charter members explained the society’s name was chosen as a reminder of a "special feature of our campus. The 90th Meridian is an important delineation on the Earth, exactly one-fourth of the way around the globe from the prime meridian," Hahs said.
Julie Babington, director of development for the SIUE School of Education, provides staff support for the society. "I am very excited about the spirit of the Meridian Society Steering Committee and charter members, particularly the leadership of Dixie Engelman," Babington said.
The original concept for the society was suggested by Harold Melser, director of planned giving for the Foundation, who is providing assistance to the organization as it continues to plan for the future. "I had heard about Ball State University’s Discovery Group," Melser said, "and realized that creating a philanthropic organization matched the goals of the SIUE Foundation in regard to women in philanthropy," Melser said.
The two types of society membership are full-membership (3-year pledge of $1,000 annually) and associate membership (3-year pledge of $500 annually). The Meridian Society currently has pledges totaling more than $40,000. Those interested in joining the Meridian Society, may call the SIUE Foundation, (618) 650-2345.
(EDWARDSVILLE) Eight teams from Columbia, Edwardsville and Highland high schools have advanced to the final round of the Fourth Annual SIUE School of Engineering Robotics Competition.
The high school teams will compete against teams of freshman engineering students at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9, in the atrium of the Engineering Building.
The teams build robots from Lego Mindstorm kits and program them to move ping pong balls to certain places on the court while trying to block the opposing team. Sixteen teams – a total of 50 students – from Edwardsville, Collinsville, Columbia, and Highland high schools met in the preliminary round.
The competition not only helps teach students about robotics and engineering, but also gives them insights into careers in engineering.
Several area companies are sponsors of the competition, including Basler Electric, Maverick Technologies, Crawford Bunte Brammeier, and Juneau Associates, Inc., P.C.
The team members include:
Columbia: Wacky Warriors: Derek Freiburghaus, Trevor Groce, and Eric Marlen; Enterprise: Tim Bromley, Andrew Kremmel, and Elisse Konya; Styx: Alex Catlett, Charlie Rudder, Alex Requette, and Keith Reis; Chaos Bringers: Matt Collins, Chelsea Elder, Matt Lamdrecht, and Adam Loesch.
Edwardsville: Paul Prager, Tom Scarborough, and Matt Hewitt; Poweraid Strike: John Meehan, Mack Rice, Taylor Williman, Anna Csar, and Quintin Potter.
Highland: Biggy Smalls: Mike Wellen and Spencer Thomas; Omega: Collin Alber and Greg Todd.
