Registration is open for the 2026 Navigating the Nontraditional Online Summit!

Join colleagues on Monday, November 2, from 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. (CST) for a free, virtual summit focused on supporting and celebrating nontraditional learners.

The summit will bring together higher education professionals, educators, and advocates to share ideas, practices, and perspectives on the experiences of nontraditional students. The day will include a nontraditional student panel, concurrent educational sessions, and opportunities to learn from colleagues doing this work across institutions.

There is no cost to attend, and the summit is completely virtual.

Whether your work involves student success, academic affairs, student affairs, advising, enrollment, workforce development, adult education, or another area supporting nontraditional learners, we hope you'll join us.

Learn more about the summit and register:
https://www.eiu.edu/studentsuccess/ntsc.php

Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues and professional networks.

EIU President Jay Gatrell will hold office hours in the MLK, Jr. Food Court throughout the academic year. The next Community Office Hours session of the Fall 2026 semester is scheduled from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2026. Come by the University Food Court to chat with Jay about whatever EIU issues are on your mind!

Location Information
Food Court
Martin Luther King Jr. University Union
1720 7th Street
Charleston, IL 61920

Contact Information
Office of the President
president@eiu.edu

The Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Mobile Mammography Bus will be on EIU Campus Tuesday October 27, 2026. The bus will be located between the Alumni Clock Tower and Lumpkin Hall. This is for all women age 35 and over. 

Call 1-800-639-5929 to schedule your appointment.

If you should have any questions, you may contact SBLHC Mobile Mammography bus at 1-800-639-5929, or EIU Benefits at 217-581-5825.

The Little Bluestem literary festival will kick off aturday, October 10 at 1 p.m. in Doudna and will feature writer Athena Dixon, author of The Loneliess Files, and poet Ae Hee Lee, author of ASTERISM. The writers will give masterclasses, hold a roundtable discussion, and do a reading at 5 p.m. featuring student readers Brenden Cash, Dan Moffett, and Pamela Zimmerman. The English club will be on hand with bookish activities like blackout poetry and bookmark making, and there will be coffee and refreshments beginning at 3 p.m. 

The Health and Counseling Services in partnership with other partners in student and academic affairs is hosting the Fall 2026 health and wellness fair! The health fair and flu shot clinic will be in the EIU MLK Jr. Student Union on October 7th (11 AM-3 PM). All events for students will take place within the MLK Union Ballroom.

Free Flu Shots for EIU! 

Seasonal flu shots will be available every fall semester. Students should bring their Panther Cards. This year, flu vaccines will be provided by the Sarah Bush Lincoln Student Medical Clinic and the EIU School of Nursing.

Please visit our website at eiuparking.t2hosted.com/Account/Portal and select "Get Permits" to purchase your permit.

Fall or yearly permits are available online. Please note yearly permits are only offered in the fall semester.  Yearly permits include Fall, Spring, and summer semesters.

Delivery 

 All faculty staff permits will be mailed to the campus departments. If you are currently displaying a 2025-2026 (red) staff hang tag permit, it is valid until 8/31/2026. Staff lots will be enforced starting on August 26th, 2026.

 Payment Options

Credit or debit cards or payroll deduction are available for online purchases. Cash or check payments are accepted only in the UPD lobby.

 Parking Permit Fees

• Staff/Faculty Permit  $60 Semester, $120 Year
• Motorcycle Permit: $5 Semester, $10 Year
• Replacement permits: $20
• One-day parking permits: $2 (may be purchased weekly)

Choral Concert
Sunday, October 11^th, 4 p.m. @ the Dvorak Concert Hall
$10 General Admission | $5 EIU Students
Join EIU's Choirs for their first performance of the year! EIU Students: Make sure to bring your Panthercard Friday October 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to Doudna's Box Office for a FREE Student Rush Ticket! There are limited free tickets available so make sure to claim your ticket before they run out.

Musae
Friday, October 16^th, 7:30 p.m. @ the Dvorak Concert Hall
$30 - General Public | $25 - Senior / EIU Employees
$15 - Students / Youth (17 & Under) | $10 - Festival Attendees
Standing at the forefront of the female vocal band scene, Jessie, Angela, Jo, Lily, and Mel are the extraordinary talent behind Musae. With a remarkable journey that began in 2011, these dynamic individuals have graced television screens, captivating audiences on shows like NBC's The Sing-Off and Pop Network's Sing It On, while also achieving recognition at the ICCA Finals. Through their unrivaled artistry and boundary-pushing vocals, Musae is sure to deliver an unforgettable experience.
This performance is in coordination with EIU's 3^rd Annual ACA Fest. If you are interested in attending the festival, you can fill out the following form: https://go.eiu.edu/acafest. The Musae concert is discounted for festival attendees so make sure to let us know soon if you are interested.

CAREER WEEK IS HERE!

Explore. Discover. Prepare. Connect.

Get ready for a week packed with opportunities to design your future, build your confidence, and connect with employers! Whether you’re just beginning to explore your career options or you’re ready to land an internship or job, Career Week has something for you.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5

Life Design Studio Grand Opening

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Life Design Studio - 1st Floor MLK Jr Union - next to Java

Come check out Career Services’ brand-new Life Design Studio! Stop by to explore the space, grab a snack, work on a career project, study, create a vision board, or get help with your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn, or Handshake profile.  Ribbon Cutting Ceremony — 1 p.m.  Come celebrate the official opening of this new space designed to help you design your life and your future!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6

Your Story. Your Future. Your Resume. Workshop

5 to 6 p.m.
Booth Library Room 4450

Learn how to turn your experiences, skills, and accomplishments into a resume that tells your story and helps employers see what you have to offer. Whether you're creating your first resume or updating an existing one, this workshop will give you practical tips to make your resume stand out.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7

Job Fair Prep Workshop

6 to 7 p.m.
Life Design Studio - 1st Floor MLK Jr Union - next to Java

Get ready to make a great first impression!

Heading to the Fall Job & Internship Fair? Come learn how to:

• Prepare your introduction and elevator pitch
• Research employers
• Talk with recruiters
• Dress for success
• Make the most of your time at the fair
• Follow up after meeting employers

Walk into the fair feeling prepared, confident, and ready to connect!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8

FALL JOB & INTERNSHIP FAIR

1 to 4 p.m.
MLK Jr. Union - Grand Ballroom

Your next opportunity could be one conversation away!

Meet employers, explore career opportunities, and discover jobs and internships available to EIU students and alumni. Bring your resume. Bring your questions. Bring your curiosity. FREE PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS. Come ready to EXPLORE. CONNECT. DISCOVER YOUR NEXT STEP.

MAKE CAREER WEEK YOUR WEEK!

Whether you're exploring possibilities, building your resume, preparing for the job fair, or actively looking for an opportunity, Career Services is here to help you every step of the way.

EIU Career Services
3065 MLK Jr. Union
Explore your options. Discover your possibilities. Design your future.

This October Be Well Illinois, the State of Illinois' comprehensive wellness program, will focus on 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month and ADHD Awareness Month. Our goal is to support our members by providing comprehensive wellness resources.

Visit the Be Well Illinois website this month to learn about:

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month and AHDH Awareness Month  
• How to Avoid Financial Distraction
• Foods that Feed Your ADHD Mind
• Exercise and Breast Cancer
• Parenting a Child With ADHD 

The Challenge beings on 9/28/2026 and runs through 11/27/2026!

Log steps to reveal a captivating fall video or photos, then keep moving to earn a red, orange, or gold leaf by recording 6000, 8000, or 10,000 steps a day.

Don’t have a step tracker? No worries. Record exercise minutes and Walktober converts them to steps for you.

Register Here:

https://bewellillinois.walktober.com/welcome

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Register Here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XaZ5TW1SQwSaG4clRsAKUw#/registration

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We are excited to introduce a new member benefit to support your health and wellbeing.

Be Well Total Wellbeing powered by TELUS Health is a fun and interactive platform designed to help you build and maintain a healthy lifestyle, wherever you may be on your wellbeing journey. By participating in the program, you can earn up to $140 worth of incentives per year!

Getting started is easy.

Download TELUS Health Wellbeing from the App Store or Google Play.

(app icon for the Apple Store and the Google Play Store)

1. Click “Sign up”.
2. Enter your program code: bewell
3. Follow the prompts to complete registration.

Prefer using your computer Visit https://bewell.wellbeing.telushealth.com/

You can also access Be Well Total Wellbeing by visiting the MyBenefits portal mybenefits.illinois.gov

You will need to have your Benefits Login ID #. If you don’t know your number, please call MyBenefits Service Center at 844-251-1777

For additional information on the program including how to earn rewards and FAQ’s, please click here.

Need help? Contact help.wellbeing@vc.telushealth.com

This Month Be Well is Offering Two Webinars:

October 14, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 PM CT

Parenting a Child With Special Needs    

• Identify techniques that will help you “come to grips” with your child’s disability.
• Learn the first steps you can take in planning for your child.
• Identify coping tips that will work for you.
• Learn where to find resources and support.

October 28, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 PM CT

Coping With a Traumatic Event

• Learn how to recognize the common responses to crises and trauma. 
• Learn tips for taking care of yourself following a crisis or traumatic event.
• Learn how to help children who have experienced a crisis or traumatic event.

Click here to register and also view our previously recorded webinars

  Brought to you by:  

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If you are unable to attend the live webinars, a recording link will be made available after each event and posted at Illinois.gov/BeWell.

We encourage you to like and follow Be Well Illinois on Facebook for motivational messages, special Be Well Illinois challenges and opportunities for engagement with your peers.

Click here to be added to our mailing list for motivational messages and to be the first to be notified of upcoming events and wellness opportunities.             

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a time to raise awareness about domestic violence, support survivors, promote healthy relationships, and connect our campus community with resources. Throughout the month, Eastern Illinois University encourages students, faculty, and staff to take part in awareness efforts and help foster a campus culture rooted in respect, safety, and support.

How You Can Show Your Support All Month Long

Here are a few ways to show your support throughout October:

• Wear Purple: Purple is the official color of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and represents support for survivors. Wear purple throughout October to help raise awareness and show your support.
• Support EIU Athletics: Come out to support our Panther athletes throughout the month, as they will be wearing purple ribbons to support DVAM.
• Spread Awareness: Share awareness messages, resources, and information with your friends, colleagues, student organizations, and social media networks.
• Start Conversations: Help promote healthy relationships by talking about respect, consent, boundaries, and the importance of supporting survivors.
• Get Involved: Attend one of our events listed below and encourage others to participate in DVAM activities.

Purple Thursday – October 15: Make a special effort to wear purple! The Castle will be illuminated in purple. Take a photo in your purple and tag eiu_ivat on instagram. 

Interested in purple awareness ribbons for DVAM? Contact Sarah Jacobs sjjacobs@eiu.edu or Jessica Cobert jacobert@eiu.edu to request ribbons for your department, office, or organization.

What Is IVAT?

The Interpersonal Violence Action Team (IVAT) is a group of campus departments and community partners working to promote awareness, prevention, education, and support related to interpersonal violence, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Through campus outreach, prevention initiatives, and resource coordination, IVAT works to strengthen support for survivors and promote a safer, more informed EIU community.

Follow IVAT on Instagram @EIU_ivat for event updates, awareness information, resources, and ways to get involved throughout the month.

October Events at EIU

October 1 | PHC Walk a Mile | 5–6:30 p.m.
Join the high-heeled relay race around the Egg! This event is open to Greek Life chapters and registered student organizations (RSOs), with teams of four participants.

October 5 | Day of Unity: Chalking the Steps | 1–3 p.m.
Help kick off DVAM by participating in Chalking the Steps and showing unity and support for survivors of domestic violence.

October 6 | Sex Is Like Pizza Table | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Stop by the MLK Union Food Court for consent education and information about healthy relationships. Resource sheets will be available.

October 7 | Wellness Fair Tabling | 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Visit the MLK Union Ballroom to connect with IVAT, HOPE, and PREVAIL. Learn about resources, prevention efforts, and ways to support a safer campus community.

October 8 | HERC Bystander Intervention
Join the Health Education Resource Center (HERC) to learn how to recognize concerning situations and safely support others. Stop by the Union Food Court from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. or the Effingham Room from 4:30–5:30 p.m.

October 9 | HERC Healthy Relationship Table | 5–7 p.m.
Visit the Taylor Hall Breezeway to learn more about healthy relationships, recognize warning signs, and explore available resources.

October 15 | Purple Thursday
Wear purple to show your support for survivors! The Castle will be illuminated in purple. Join the campus-wide awareness effort and help spread the message on social media.

October 21 | Self-Care Table
Stop by our self-care tabling event to learn about wellness, self-care, and resources available to the EIU community.

October 28 | Halloween-Themed Tabling | 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Visit the Taylor Hall Breezeway for a Halloween-themed awareness event with opportunities to learn about healthy relationships, prevention, and campus resources

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sexual harassment, support and resources are available. You do not have to navigate these experiences alone.

Learn more: EIU Counseling Clinic: Reporting Relationship/Sexual Violence & Sexual Harassment

The EIU Student Impact Grant for Faculty Mentors support faculty who engage in high impact mentoring practices. Full time faculty (Unit A or B) who will be mentoring at least one student during the academic year are eligible. Eligibility is now annual; faculty may apply each academic year, however, special consideration will be given to applicants who did not receive the award in the previous year. The application submission deadline is noon, Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Program details, including application submission instructions can be found at the ORSP Student Impact Grant Website.

Intramural Programs are BACK! Registration for our Fall 2026 IM Programs is open, Spring 2027 will open up on December 12, 2026.

Anyone who is a member of the SRC can join in on the fun! Students, faculty, staff, alumni -- we want everyone to connect, compete, and enjoy IM Programs.

Find a list of programs and schedules at Eastern Illinois University :: Campus Recreation - Intramural Schedules.

EIU Marketing & Communications is working through a significant number of website updates related to the beginning of the semester and the academic reorganization. We know it is important for our websites to accurately reflect EIU’s current structure, and we appreciate your patience as we address these changes as quickly as our capacity allows.

Our web team currently includes two developers, whose work is focused primarily on applications and web development, and two web specialists who complete most content updates and site moves manually. These four staff members serve the entire University, supporting the website and web-related needs of academic, student support and administrative areas across campus in addition to this academic work.

Updating the full academic web presence is also part of the Strategic Enrollment Plan, with work scheduled throughout the academic year. While we will prioritize inaccurate, outdated, or time-sensitive information, broader site reorganizations and improvements will take additional time.

You can help us complete this work more efficiently by coordinating within your department, school, college, or other academic area before submitting a request. We have received multiple requests from the same areas that include conflicting information or different plans. When that happens, we must pause the work to determine which direction has been approved, and we may need to redo changes that have already been made.

Below, you will find some helpful information and tips.

Requesting a Site Move or Update

Before requesting a site move or significant update, please:

• Confirm the proposed changes with the appropriate department, school, and college leadership.
• Designate one person to coordinate the request whenever possible.
• Provide final, internally approved content rather than multiple drafts or separate sets of instructions.
• Identify any information that is inaccurate or time-sensitive, along with the date by which it is needed.
• Clarify which existing pages should remain, be revised, be redirected, or be removed.
• Submit the request through the Marketing & Communications job request form, rather than emailing an individual team member. This creates a record of the request, makes it visible to the full team, and allows someone else to respond if the usual contact is unavailable.

Confirm/Update Your Area's Info

It would also be extremely helpful for each academic area to provide an updated organizational chart or similar overview that identifies:

• The official name of your department/area
• Current departments, schools, programs, and leadership structure
• Department chairs, school directors, deans, associate deans, and other primary contacts
• The person responsible for coordinating website content
• The primary marketing and communications contact
• The primary admissions or recruitment contact

Having this information will allow us to develop a coordinated plan for each academic area rather than addressing individual requests piecemeal and potentially having to revise the same work more than once.

Majors/Minors Database + Program Page Upgrades

As we complete the updated majors/minors database, much of the prospective-student content related to academic programs, admissions, and recruitment will be managed through the new program pages. Department and school websites can then focus more heavily on information for current students, faculty, staff, and other internal audiences.

Josh Norman and Josh Northam have met with nearly every academic area to discuss these upgrades, and a meeting with one remaining area will be scheduled soon, so it is likely you are aware of those upgrades, but if you have any questions about it, please reach out to me or one of The Joshes™.

Job Request Form

Please use the job request form for all new website projects and updates, even if you have previously worked directly with someone in Marketing & Communications. Once the request has been assigned, you can continue working with that team member as needed.

If you have submitted a request and have not received a timely response, contact me at ckilgore@eiu.edu so I can follow up.

Thank you for helping us coordinate this work!

The Academic Program Innovation (API) Grant is now the Academic Program and Career Readiness Innovation (APCI) Grant.

The API grant supported projects that were designed to foster curriculum innovation, enhance the academic reputation of EIU, and impact enrollment. The APCI grant will continue to support those projects and will now also support projects that bridge the gap between academic education and workforce success. Projects should seek to improve EIU student career readiness by addressing National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness competencies.

Projects can develop a new program or transform an existing program at either the program level, or as part of an interdisciplinary or interdepartmental collaboration. The ideal project will seek to increase enrollment and improve student career readiness through curriculum innovation.

Just as with the API grant, applicants must be a full-time EIU faculty member (either Unit A or Unit B) or a department chair. Applications are due by noon, Friday, October 30, 2026. The APCI application, program details and application submission instructions can be found at the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) APCI Website.

AN UPDATE FROM FACILITIES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
Seventh Street Traffic Pattern Changes Begin Monday, August 10, 2026

BUILDINGS OR AREAS INVOLVED: 7^th Street between Doudna Circle Drive and Roosevelt Drive
DATE/TIME: Beginning Monday, August 10, 2026, until further notice
PURPOSE OF CHANGE: Safe roadway passage for EIU & Community Members   

DETAILS:

• Beginning Monday, August 10, 2026, 7^th Street between Doudna Circle Drive and Roosevelt Drive will be reopened but only to southbound* traffic.
  • *Andrews Hall residents will still have access to the Andrews Hall Parking Lot from the south via the lot entrance west of 7th Street. 
• Signage and barricades will be placed accordingly for traffic control.
• Expect heavy CUSD1 bus and personal vehicle traffic on this stretch of road between 7 and 8:30 a.m. and from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. on traditional school days.
  • Between and outside these times, expect increased construction traffic associated with the ongoing utility tunnel repairs and Thomas Hall remodel.

Facilities Planning and Management personnel thank you in advance for your awareness and adherence to these safety precautions.

Beginning March 16, 2026, parking lots between the Student Services Building, the Old Steam Plant, and south of Blair Hall will be closed as part of a comprehensive upgrade to EIU's campus infrastructure. NOTE: ADA parking spaces immediately south of Blair Hall will remain open, and an ADA‑compliant ramp will be installed to accommodate east–west pedestrian traffic at the northwest corner of the Student Services Building.

Please review a map of the parking lot availability HERE, noting the additional details below.*