If you are a faculty or staff member who is a parent or guardian of a student who will be participating in the commencement ceremony and you would like to present their diploma to them on stage at the Spring 2026 ceremony, please fill out this form. If you have questions, please reach out to Megan Morecraft at mamorecraft@eiu.edu. 

Commencement could not be made possible without the dedication of volunteers, as they play an essential role in creating a smooth and memorable experience for our graduates and their families! If you are interested in volunteering for this special day for our graduates, please fill out this form. Any assistance is greatly appreciated! 

Saturday, May 9 - Groniger Arena

• 10 a.m. – Undergraduate Degrees in the College of Education and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• 1 p.m. – All Graduate Degrees
• 4 p.m. - Undergraduate Degrees in the Lumpkin College of Business and Technology, College of Health and Human Services, and Interdisciplinary Studies. 

Please contact Megan Morecraft at mamorecraft@eiu.edu with any questions. 

Thank you for your consideration! 

Planning to participate in the Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies? Please complete this form. This will help EIU prepare for seating arrangements and allow for reserved parking. 

Saturday, May 9 - Groniger Arena

Panthers in the Effingham area, we’re bringing Eastern to you! Join us for EIU Night Out in Effingham at the Gabby Goat, located at 303 E. Fayette Avenue, for a fulfilling evening of connection, conversation, and Panther pride. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30; advanced registration is required.

Enjoy great food, refreshing drinks, and plenty of time to network with fellow EIU alumni and friends. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with classmates, expand your professional circle, or simply enjoy an evening out with fellow Panthers in the area, this event is the perfect opportunity to strengthen your ties and find new Panther pals.

We hope you’ll join us for an energizing evening of alumni camaraderie in Effingham!

Eastern Illinois University is committed to providing accessible experiences for all guests. If you require accommodations to fully participate in this event, please contact University Advancement at alumeiu@eiu.edu.

Register here!

Booth Library is accepting submissions for an Anime-Style Character Contest to find the face of 2026 EIU Comic fest. The Library is looking for an anime-style character in three related poses to license as its official 2026 Comic Fest mascot. The 2026 EIU Comic Fest Contest is officially OPEN, and the winner will take home a $300 prize!

Contest information:

• Submissions must come from current EIU students.
• The student artist must create an anime-style character in three related poses:
  • Directional Gesturing
  • Speaking
  • A third pose of the artist's choice
• Characters must be original artwork. No copyrighted images will be accepted. Final production submissions must be original artwork, not AI-generated.
• At least one pose should translate well for printing in single-color on EIU Comic Fest 2026 t-shirts.
• Entries are due Wednesday, April 29.

Submit a character here.

• Remember to submit your character in all three poses. The winning design will be the official face of the 2026 EIU Comic Fest!
• The winning submission will be licensed to Booth Library for usage related to 2026 EIU Comic Fest in perpetuity; however, the copyright for the character will remain with the submitting artist.

For more information about EIU Comic Fest, visit https://thekeep.eiu.edu/eiu_comic_fest/ or email comicfest@eiu.edu.

TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING - EIU's Spring Festival 2026, the event will be April 23, 24, and 25. Hayes Street (aka Doudna Circle) and the North Buzzard Parking Lot will be closed beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, and will remain closed throughout the festival weekend. Hayes Street and the North Buzzard Lot will be available Sunday, April 25, beginning at midnight. Any vehicles remaining in the closed lot will be cited and relocated at the owner’s expense. Festival planners and UPD appreciate everyone's support and understanding during this temporary inconvenience.  Thank you.

The Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Mobile Mammography Bus will be on EIU's Campus Tuesday, April 21.

  -  Who: All Women age 35 and over
  -  When: Tuesday, April 21
  -  Where: Between the Alumni Clock Tower and Lumpkin Hall
  -  How to schedule your appointment: Call 1-800-639-5929

Join us for an unforgettable evening in Groniger Arena of entertainment, dining, and philanthropy at the 2026 EIU Rhythm & Blues Spring Fling, a premier Panther Club event benefiting Eastern Illinois University student-athletes. This high-energy celebration brings together alumni, donors, community leaders, and Panther fans for a night that makes a meaningful impact for our student-athletes and department as a whole. The evening will include dinner, music, entertainment and a silent and live auction.  

Purchase tickets online or call/email Amber May at (217) 581-6425 or ammay@eiu.edu.  

No worries about inclement weather this time!

Booth Library Spring Annual Book Sale will be in the library's Atrium from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at the center of the library's main level, regardless of weather conditions outdoors! To find the Media Sale in the library’s Atrium, enter the building at the north or south entry, and take the 3000 level concourse to the central elevator or Atrium stairs, then proceed downstairs to the 1000 level.

Take note, we're spinning a different tune this time, and hosting a Book Sale without the BOOKS.

Instead, we’re rolling out the VINYL and other media collections that don't tolerate heat, moisture and outdoor conditions at our traditional sale events! Look forward to browsing classical, jazz, and popular music:

• More than 800 LPs
• More than 700 DVDs
• More than 2000 CDs
• Audiobooks
• Sheet music, too!

No reading required. Just press play. Browse our Vinyl, DVDs, CDs, including audio books, all at bargain basement prices! Pre-sale browsing, holds and purchases will not be permitted. All items have been donated by the campus and local communities. The proceeds from the sale are used to enhance library programs and services. For the latest information, check the library website, www.eiu.edu/booth/booksale, or find Booth Library on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Visit the website below for more information, to review the schedule, and to register! 

More Information Here!

An in-person MHFA course will be offered from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  on Friday, April 3 the Rathskellar in the MLK Jr. Union. 

Those interested in registering should complete the registration/interest MACHFORM. Individuals should be registered no later than Friday, March 27.

Any staff and faculty member who provides academic, professional, and/or personal support to students or advises a student recognized organization is highly encouraged to complete this training. 

Mental Health First Aid teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to mental health and substance-use issues. Participants will learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn to for help. Topics covered in this course include depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, on-campus resources, and intervention strategies.  This training is not intended to help one become a counselor, but to help provide early intervention and encourage those in need to seek appropriate assistance and help. 

More information about the program, other available dates, and sign-up machform is available here.

Funded in whole or in part through a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education

Join Booth Library and the Office of Belonging, Access and Engagement as we hear about the lived religious experience of students from around campus! This interfaith panel, supported by the Shakir Islamic Perspectives Initiative, will bring multiple faiths together, allowing for deep conversations on our similar journeys. This event will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 2 in the West Reading Room, 3000 Level of Booth Library. For additional information on the Shakir Islamic Perspectives Initiative, please visit this website.

Celebrate April Fool's Day by making breakfast for dinner! Flip pancakes and cook up some turkey bacon for a lighter take on a classic breakfast combo.
Note: Pancakes are vegetarian and turkey bacon is not (of course!)

Date:          4/1/2026
Time:         5 p.m.
Location:   Klehm Hall 2309        

Come table with us to learn about our next Healthy Cooking event titled, April Fool's Day: Breakfast for Dinner! Celebrate April Fool's Day by making breakfast for dinner!  Flip pancakes and cook up some turkey bacon for a lighter take on a classic breakfast combo. We'll be at the MLK Jr Student Union from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 31.

Join the HERC for the return of our popular Self-Care corner series! Join our Mental Health GA for check ins on how to help improve your mental health and take care of yourself during stressful times. We will be located in the Taylor Hall Breezeway from 11 a.m. to noon March 27!

Booth Library’s Center for Student Innovation invites the EIU community to attend the Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations workshop on Wednesday, March 25 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.  

At this beginner-friendly workshop, participants will discover the technological elements of music and audio production through instructor-led guidance. Participants will learn how to utilize digital workstations and web-based tools to create and modify audio.  

The Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations workshop will be led by Dr. Bradley D. Decker, Assistant Professor of Music Composition & Technology.  

This workshop will be held at the 1000 level of Booth Library in the Center for Student Innovation. Register to attend the Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations workshop through LibCal. For more information, please contact the CSI at csi@eiu.edu.

Did you know as an EIU employee, you have access to thousands of discount through Working Advantage? Visit the EIU Benefits site for details, and check out the Working Advantage website for more information as well. 

EIYOU (EIU 1111) Seeking Fall 2026 Instructors 

The Student Success Center is seeking energetic, innovative, and engaged individuals to teach EIU 1111: EIYOU The Panther Experience, Eastern’s first-year seminar, for Fall 2026.

Please consider bringing your passion, experience, and expertise to our newest students welcoming them to campus and to their new adventures at EIU. 

What is EIYOU: The Panther Experience?

EIYOU is designed to help you make the most of your Panther experience! EIYOU is the first-year experience course that provides the building blocks for academic excellence at EIU.

Students actively participate in areas of student success including navigating the university, building college success skills, creating college support networks, finding your future path and career, financial wellness, academic technology, and student social, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

EIYOU is required for all incoming full-time on-campus students with less than a 3.00 high school GPA, but open to all incoming full-time on-campus freshmen, transfer, and returning students.

In addition, instructors will be expected to attend immersive training on the newly designed course and its implementation. 

Other guidelines for the course: 

• EIU 1111 is now a (1) credit hour course, and the class meets one day a week. Applicants will identify days and times that fit their schedule. 

• Incoming first-year students with under a 3.00 High School GPA will be required to take this course; incoming freshmen with a GPA above this can elect to take the course, including as part of their Freshman Connection experience. 

• Course text: Connections Are Everything: A College Student's Guide to Relationship-Rich Education

• Instructors may teach up to (2) course sections. 

For more information about the course, as well as the instructor application, please visit the EIYOU website. The application for new instructors is available Applications are due by the end of the day on April 15, 2026. Instructors will be notified of their acceptance by April 30, 2026, and at that time the day and location of the instructor training session will be provided.

Questions may be directed to Dr. Michael Gillespie at mgillespie@eiu.edu.

All full-time employees with at least one year of full-time service are eligible for this recognition.  Nominees should embody the EIU brand and exemplify what makes EIU a distinctive and outstanding place to live, learn, and work.  The President's Council will review the nominations and make recommendations to the President.  Up to five awards will be granted annually and announced at the President's Fall Update in September/October.  Each service award recipient will receive a commemorative plaque.

Please SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS by 11:45 p.m., Friday, April 10, 2026.

Eastern Illinois University is making important investments to improve our campus.

To help keep the campus community informed, we’ve launched a dedicated construction updates page. Visit the site for the latest information on active projects, timelines, impacts to campus access, and more: go.eiu.edu/construction.

Panthers,

EIU is supporting new legislation that could change the way public universities in Illinois are funded and could mean more funding for EIU in the future.

The bill (Public Higher Education Equitable Funding Formula), HB 1581, House Amendment 1 / Senate Bill 13 (SB 13), is scheduled for a hearing on Thursday, March 26, at 8 a.m.

We’re asking the EIU community to help by filing a witness slip in support of the bill. A witness slip is just a quick online form that tells lawmakers you support the legislation. The number of people who file matters, so we want to show strong support from EIU. To be clear, filing such a slip is solely voluntary and should be done either during a break or times such as during your lunch time and before/after work. 

If you would like to support EIU in this advocacy and submit a Witness Slip, you can fill out the form located here.

• Form Instructions:
• Under Information, enter your EIU work or school contact information 
• Under Representation, enter Eastern Illinois University
• Under Add Legislation, choose HCA 1
• Under Position, select Proponent
• Be sure to click Add Position once those two are selected.
• Under Testimony, select Record of Appearance Only (This means you support the bill but are not planning to speak at the hearing)

You can submit one witness slip per person, and it must be filed before 8 a.m. Thursday, March 26.

To view the current proponents and opponents of the bill, please follow this link.

Thank you for helping advocate for EIU.

George Alberti & Yetong Tang Recital

Monday, April 23, 2026
7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall
Free for All Audiences

George Alberti and Yetong Tang will present a recital of transcriptions for tuba and piano from the later part of the 19th and early 20th century. Featuring the works of Claude Debussy, César Franck, and Nadia Boulanger, these works were originally intended for the Flute, Violin, and Cello respectively. When played on tuba however, these works are heard in an entirely different light using the color and dynamic range of the tuba.

EIU Dancers: Journeys In Motion

Friday, March 27t 2026 | 7:30 p.m. in the Theatre
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. in the Theatre
$15 General Audiences | $5 Students

The EIU Dancers present their 2026 showcase: Journeys In Motion. The performance is coordinated and choreographed by the EIU Dancers and advised by Larry Cox Jr. There is one performance Friday (3/27) and two on Saturday (3/28). You can order your tickets online at www.eiu.edu/doudnatix, over the phone (217) 581-3110, or in person at our Box Office Tues. - Fri., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The annual Staff Senate election will be held online on April 22, 2026 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Any employee interested in running for a position as Staff Senator may fill out the Staff Senate Nomination Petition. The deadline to submit a petition is April 1, 2026 at 3 p.m.

Staff Senators shall be elected for a term of three (3) years and are eligible for re-election. The term for all positions is 7/1/26 through 6/30/29. Eligible candidates must be permanently employed at EIU for one (1) year and must not be a member of President’s Council, Provost’s Advisory Group, or be represented by Faculty Senate.

Employee categories eligible for election this Spring:

• 1 position from the Administrative & Professional group
• 1 position from the AFSCME 981 employee group
• 1 position from the Contract Appointment/Grant Funded employee group

If you have any questions or need information on your category, please contact:

• Kim Pope | ktpope@eiu.edu | 581-3328 | CLAS Dean’s Office
• Jordan Jenkins | jpjenkins@eiu.edu | Residence Hall Operations
• Mary Brown | mlbrown2@eiu.edu | South Quad Dining

Staff Senate Nomination Petition

Curious about your mental health? Online screenings can give you a quick check to see if you might be dealing with a mental health concern. While these screenings won’t give you a diagnosis, they can help you decide if it’s time to chat with a mental health professional. As required by the Illinois Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act, EIU offers a variety of screening tools for different mental health topics. Don’t worry—these tools are completely anonymous and won’t ask for your name, E-number, or email. Current screening tools include those focusing on: Anxiety, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders, Post-Partum Depression, PTSD, Cannabis and Alcohol Use.  Visit https://www.eiu.edu/mentalhealth/screeningtool.php

Please see below for a list of upcoming events offered by EIU's Department of Art + Design

Department of Art + Design to Host 2026 MACAA Conference: Resonance

The Department of Art + Design at Eastern Illinois University will host Resonance, the 2026 conference of the Mid-America College Art Association (MACAA). This hybrid conference will take place March 26–28, 2026, with virtual and in-person programming in Charleston, Illinois. All individuals affiliated with Eastern Illinois University are warmly invited to attend the exhibition, artist talk, and in-person conference day on Saturday, March 28. No registration or fees are required for these events. The conference website with full schedule is available at: https://www.macaart.org/ An exhibition connected to the conference will be on view in the Glenn Hild Gallery from March 23–28. The exhibition features work from artists living in the United States and was juried by Sage Dawson, artist, professor, and curator based in St. Louis.

• Artist Talk
  • Sage Dawson will present an artist talk on Thursday, March 26 at 5 p.m. in the Doudna Fine Arts Center Lecture Hall.
• In-Person Conference Day
  The in-person conference day will be held on Saturday, March 28 in the Art Department at the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• About the Conference
  • Resonance: Collaboration in Practice and Theory: Resonance is a natural phenomenon that occurs when an external vibration aligns with a system’s natural frequency, producing amplification. A singer can shatter a glass with the right note; fireflies can synchronize their flashes into a unified pulse. In artistic and educational contexts, resonance may take other forms — reciprocity, collaboration, exchange, dialogue, synchronicity, alchemy, and friendship. Simply put, resonance reflects the mindset of being better together. Artists and educators are continually in conversation with materials, histories, collaborators, and communities. These acts of listening and exchange create resonance that extends beyond the individual, weaving a dynamic web of art and pedagogy that responds to the present and helps shape our shared future. Through panels, presentations, workshops, and exhibitions, the 2026 MACAA conference will foster new conversations and amplify existing ones, encouraging collaborative energy across disciplines, institutions, and communities. Participants may attend virtually, in person, or both. All sessions will be recorded and made available online to conference participants.

Poster available here; Schedule available here. 

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.*

Nominations are being sought for Eastern Illinois University's 2026 Faculty Laureate award, which recognizes a faculty member for excellence in supporting the general education curriculum. The Faculty Laureate leads the faculty and addresses incoming students during the fall convocation, among other honors.

Nominees must be current full-time members of EIU's teaching faculty (Unit A and Unit B faculty; department chairpersons are also eligible) and must have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to excellence in the general education curriculum.

Details about the nomination process are available at https://www.eiu.edu/acaffair/laureate.php

Nominations and supporting materials are due by Friday, March 27 at 4 p.m., either in a single PDF file or hard copy to Patty Watson, Academic Affairs, 1020 Old Main, pawatson@eiu.edu.

Per IGP#19, campus-wide summer office hours will be in effect from Monday, May 11, 2026, through Friday August 14, 2026. When summer office hours are in effect, all offices must be open Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. All administrative offices (and others where possible) will remain open during the lunch hour, Monday through Thursday.

Each office is to change voice mail, signs, and other public communication to reflect its summer hours. Regular business hours will resume on Monday August 17, 2026. Please contact the Human Resources office with any questions.

Holiday Weeks

• Memorial Day: Monday, May 25, 2026
  • Employees will record Holiday 7.5 hours and then work 30 hours between Tuesday – Friday. If you still want to leave at noon on Friday May 29, 2026, you may use accrued leave time off or work the additional 3.5 hours between Tuesday and Thursday (this would not be overtime, it would be considered flex time).
• Juneteenth/National Freedom Day
  • The week of June 15, 2026, employees will work (4) 7.5 hour days Monday – Thursday and record Holiday 7.5 hours for Friday June 19, 2026.
• Independence Day
  • The week of June 29, 2026, employees will work (4) 7.5 hour days Monday – Thursday and record Holiday 7.5 hours for Friday July 3, 2026.

Part of your responsibility in driving a university owned vehicle is to report any accidents involving that vehicle to Mike Hutchinson the University Risk Manager. You will need to come to Old Main - Room 1140 within 48 hours to fill out a claim report. If there is a police report, please bring it with you. Incidents involving damage to university property must also be reported. If you are unable to come into the office, call (217) 581-2921.

In an effort to strengthen campus safety and emergency communication, the University is offering campus training opportunities and updating its alert procedures.

All employees and students who have a cell phone number on record will automatically receive emergency text alerts. This replaces EIU's previous opt-in system. Anyone who does not wish to receive text alerts will now need to opt out. If the University does not have your current cell phone number, you may add it (along with up to three additional numbers) by logging into Alert EIU. 

The campus emergency management team will also offer three additional upcoming A.L.I.C.E. training sessions. Participants in A.L.I.C.E. sessions learn about the actions that everyday people can take to survive a dangerous encounter with a violent intruder.

Upcoming A.L.I.C.E. Sessions

• Tues., Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union, Arcola/Tuscola Room 
• Wed., Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union, Arcola/Tuscola Room 
• Mon., Feb. 16, 3 to 4:30 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union  Greenup Room 
• Fri., Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union, Arcola/Tuscola Room 
• Tues., Mar. 3, from 2-3:30 pm | MLK Jr. Union  Charleston-Mattoon Room 
• Wed., Mar. 11, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union  Charleston-Mattoon Room 
• Wed., April 8, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union  Charleston-Mattoon Room 
• Fri., April 17, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. | MLK Jr. Union  Charleston-Mattoon Room 

Register for A.L.I.C.E. sessions here.

If your office, department, or organization would prefer an individualized session, please contact the Eastern Illinois University Police Department at (217) 581-3213 or police@eiu.edu to schedule.