Core Component 1.A

Main Content

DRAFT

1.A The institution’s mission is broadly understood within the institution and guides its operations. 

  1. The mission statement is developed through a process suited to the nature and culture of the institution and is adopted by the governing board.
  2. The institution’s academic programs, student support services, and enrollment profile are consistent with its stated mission.
  3. The institution’s planning and budgeting priorities align with and support the mission. (This sub-component may be addressed by reference to the response to Criterion 5.C.1.)

Argument

1.A.1 Southern Illinois University is a public land grant university established in 1869 in Carbondale, Illinois. In 1957, SIU was established as a system governed by a Board of Trustees, with a second campus at Edwardsville. A medical school was established as a branch campus of SIUC in 1970. The two campuses, designated as SIUC and SIUE, are separately accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The current mission statement of SIUC was developed during a collaborative two-year strategic planning process by a 72-member planning committee that included representatives of faculty, students, staff, the Alumni Association, the Foundation, the Research Park, and the community. The strategic plan, Pathways to Excellence, and our mission statement were approved by the SIU Board of Trustees on 10 July 2013.

The institution’s mission is broadly understood within the institution and guides its operations. According to the 2017-2018 Campus Climate Survey: Final Report, the mission is widely accepted and supported by the Students (Table 88), Faculty (Table 172), Civil Staff (Table 237), and A/P Staff (Table 300).

1.A.2. The SIUC mission statement highlights seven primary components: 1) access and opportunity, 2) inclusive excellence, 3) innovation in research and creativity, 4) outstanding teaching, 5) nurturing student success, 6) regional economic catalyst, and 7) community outreach and human services. University activities are associated with supporting or promoting at least one of these seven components.

Access, Opportunity, and Success – While SIUC is classified by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education as a Higher Research Activity Doctoral University, it stands out by emphasizing access to first generation college students, individuals with physical and/or mental health disabilities, chronic health problems, and other often under-represented groups.  From 2010-2016 SIUC admitted approximately 71% of the first time freshman applicants and 79% of transfer applicants. By comparison, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign had a Fall 2017 acceptance rate of 62% overall. Two units on campus, Disabilities Support Service and the Achieve Program, were developed specifically to provide extra support for students with physical, learning, and mental health disabilities and long-term illnesses. Additionally, SIUC School of Medicine’s MEDPREP program provides opportunity for socioeconomic disadvantaged students to prepare for professional school application and matriculation. SIUC supports student success by providing $30 million in undergraduate and $4 million in graduate scholarships, grants, fellowships, and traineeships. In fact, 88% of our students receive some type of aid.

SIUC recognizes that it will only achieve its mission if support services and opportunities are in place to ensure that students are successful. SIUC maximizes student success through wide ranging programs such as: 

  • Center for Learning Support Services
  • Achieve
  • New Student Programs
  • Night Safety Transit
  • Non-Traditional Student Services
  • First Scholars
  • Project Upward Bound
  • Saluki Cares
  • Students' Legal Assistance
  • Multicultural Resource Center
  • Student Rights and Responsibilities
  • School of Medicine Student Affairs
  • Veterans Services
  • Academic Advisement

Inclusive excellence- To promote inclusivity, SIUC has developed programs specific to students with various physical and mental abilities (Access Inclusive Recreation), cultural backgrounds (Multicultural Resource Center), race and ethnicity (Black Resource Center, Hispanic/Latino Resource Center, School of Medicine’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), sexual orientations (LGBTQ Resource Center, Gender-inclusive Housing, and gender neutral bathrooms). SIUC has also established policies to ensure inclusivity and offices to ensure adherence (e.g., Office of Equity and Compliance, Gender Based Violence Policy). These activities have helped SIUC receive the INSIGHT into Diversity’s HEED award from 2012-2017. 

SIUC has a long tradition of supporting the education of active duty military and veterans. The Veteran Center assists with the transition of veterans from the military to campus in a seamless process. Through the extended campus office, SIUC supports online courses and off-campus sites at 68 locations in 13 states, including 15 military bases. These activities have earned SIUC Military Times Magazine Best for Vets: Colleges eight years in a row and other notable rankings including Victory Media "Military Friendly School" in 2018, Military Advanced Education and Transition magazine's "Top School" designation for 11 years, and the top 50 in the 2017 College Choice "Best Colleges for Veterans" rankings.

Innovation in Research and Creativity - As a Carnegie classified Higher Research Activity Doctoral University, SIUC has historically and continually provided strong support for research and creative activities at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate students at SIUC are provided opportunity and encouragement to begin their involvement in research and creative activities beginning their freshman year. These opportunities made available through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) include the McNair Scholars, Illinois Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Research-Enriched Academic Challenge (REACH), Creative and Scholarly Saluki Rookies, and the (previous) Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. More than 1,000 undergraduate students each year are provided a research and creative activity experience working directly with graduate students and faculty. Many of these projects are externally funded.

SIUC administers research and creative activity through the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration (OSPA) under the OVCR, providing support for external and internal grants, annual grant-writing and tech –transfer workshops, and research facilities (Integrated Microscopy and Graphics Expertise Facility, Vivarium, McLafferty Research Annex, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Core Ecosystem Analysis Facility, and the Laser Spectroscopy Laboratory).  The School of Medicine (SOM) provides similar support for research and creative efforts through its Office of the Associate Dean for Research and its Center for Clinical Research.   SIUC received approximately $45 million of external funding in 2017 and $56 million in 2018 for research and creative activities of students and faculty. Research income through overhead return is used to support the library, information technology, academic units, and the research infrastructure.

The SIU Research Park, in conjunction with the Illinois Office of Economic and Regional Development, supports and promotes technology and knowledge-based enterprise development on campus and throughout southern Illinois. The Saluki Innovation Lab provides an environment for proof of concept activities. Operation Mousetrap teaches innovators the art of commercializing their research into university “spin-outs.” In 2015, the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities designated SIUC as an Innovative and Economic Prosperity Campus.

The Department of Theater provides four to six full mounted productions each year, in addition to, multiple workshop productions, play readings, and master classes with guest artists. The School of Music supports a large selection of performance opportunities open to all students including small chamber ensembles, large concert bands, jazz ensembles, choral groups, opera, musical theater, and marching band.

Outstanding Teaching - SIUC promotes outstanding teaching by providing formal and informal training opportunities and awards for teaching excellence. The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) serves as the central unit for providing faculty, teaching assistants, and staff with expert assistance in sound pedagogy, instructional technology, and overall enhancement for courses designed to meet SIUC's changing needs in teaching and learning. The SOM's Academy for Scholarship in Education provides similar services to the medical school faculty. Teaching awards are provided annually for Tenured/Tenure Track and Non-Tenure faculty. Many colleges and departments provide annual teaching awards for faculty and teaching assistants.

Regional Economic Catalyst - SIUC is located in rural southern Illinois, an economically distressed region with agriculture and coal mining as its primary economic catalysts. SIUC is the region's largest employer and strives to support economic growth in the region through the SIU Research Park. The research park, a member of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), is the primary innovation and technology space in the southern third of Illinois.  As the University’s arm for technology transfer and research spin-outs, the SIU Research Park is the local manifestation of a global innovation system. Its strength and success are directly tied to SIU’s classification as a Carnegie Doctoral University. Economic development organizations located within the research park include the Center for Delta Studies, Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, Office of Economic and Regional Development, Office of Workforce Innovation and Research, and Illinois Small Business Development Center.  In 2018, the Small Business Development Center:

  • helped 25 entrepreneurs create new businesses
  • assisted in the expansion of 12 businesses
  • helped create 80 jobs and retain 114 jobs 

Their Entrepreneur-in-Residence program works with faculty, alumni, and high-potential community businesses to offer training, speaking engagements, and one-on-one advisement to assist with expanding businesses and minimizing start-up obstacles. 

These programs have culminated in SIUC being named Forbes Magazine’s 27th most entrepreneurial university in 2015.   WalletHub ranked Carbondale as the second best “small city” to start a business in 2017 and the top 5% in 2018.

Community Outreach and Human Services - Because of the rural and economically distressed nature of the region, many human services provided in urban settings are unavailable to southern Illinois residents. SIUC is a Carnegie classified Higher Research Activity Doctoral University geographically located near the center of this region, allowing the university to provide human services otherwise unavailable for many southern Illinois residents. SIUC exemplifies this role in planning documents, as well as, daily activities. The SIUC Strategic Plan uses the language of “community relations” instead of “community outreach”, noting that SIU plays a prominent role in the vitality and stewardship of the economy and culture of the region. Maintaining the positive symbiosis that exists is essential for the community, region, and the University. Maintaining the positive relationship also requires an investment of time, energy, and resources from each.

The SOM is a multi-specialty physician practice organization providing direct patient care to the citizens of central and southern Illinois. The SOM offers high quality services in family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and various sub-specialties. Multidisciplinary cancer care is provided by faculty and staff of the Simmons Cancer Institute.  SOM physicians in Springfield, Carbondale, Decatur, and Quincy partner with hospitals, clinics, and community agencies throughout Illinois to offer primary and specialty care in over 100 clinical outreach sites in nearly 50 Illinois communities. In 2017, 300+ teaching physicians, 300+ residents and fellows, and 300+ non-physician health care providers served over 120,000 unique patients.  SOM providers completed over 600,000 patient encounters and more than 800,000 clinical procedures, making SOM one of the largest multi-specialty practices in downstate Illinois.

SIUC also supports the region through more informal daily activities. SIUC provides health and family services through the Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development, Community Dental Clinics, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, Neuroscience Institute, Office of Regional Programs, Project 12 Ways, and Legal Clinics. SIUC supports K-12 public education in the region through programs, such as Physician Pipeline Preparatory Program and Head Start.  Until recently, SIUC had one of the oldest AmeriCorps programs, the Land of Lincoln AmeriCorps, for over twenty-two years. SIUC students selected as AmeriCorps members served as tutors and mentors in public schools in Carbondale and De Soto. SIUC provides environmental experiences and education through programs, such as Touch of Nature and Graduate Research Assistants Supporting Science. Recreational opportunities are provided through athletic events and the SIUC Recreation Center. Finally, regional sustainability is supported through SIU Sustainability and regional public political engagement through the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

SIUC’s Office of Conference and Scheduling Services (CSS) teams with degree-granting departments and programs to provide baseball, cheer leading, LEGO, architecture, and STEM summer camps for children in the community. CSS coordinates conferences, non-credit classes, workshops, and programs for residents of the region, fulfilling the University's commitment to lifelong learning. In FY18, this one-stop conference and program unit coordinated 173 programs serving over 10,000 clients, including medical professionals, middle and high school teachers, and environmental scientists.

The university provides a rich array of cultural activities for the public which would otherwise not be available in a rural region through venues such as:

  • McLeod Theater
  • University Museum
  • Paul Simon Public Policy Institute
  • Shryock Auditorium
  • Student Center Theater
  • Marion Kleinau Theater
  • Morris Library
  • SIUC Banterra Center

Faculty and students in the Department of Theater, School of Art and Design, School of Music, and Department of Cinema and Photography perform, exhibit work, and sponsor events, often free of charge for students and community members. 

Over 15,000 ticket-holders attended, at least a third of whom were from off-campus. These theatrical productions cost a total of $244,465, $155,895 of which was offset by ticket sales. Additional sources came from the Fine Arts Fee ($18,000) paid by students, donations to the McLeod Summer Playhouse ($50,909), and the university’s budget from the general revenue fund ($65,000).

More than 1,000 K-12 students visit the University Museum each year.  Major annual events in the arts include the Big Muddy Film Festival (in September and October), the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra series (from September to April), the Art Over Easy faculty and student exhibit and art sale (in December), and senior BFA and MFA student exhibits (in April), including the Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award exhibition for advanced students. SIUC provides access to services, facilities, and entertainment that enrich the lives of those in Illinois.

WSIU Public Broadcasting in the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts is an essential public resource that uses the power of media to strengthen our communities. Started in 1958, WSIU mission is to improve the quality of life of the people through programs, services, and outreach. WSIU partners with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of SIUC. WSIU's stations serve more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital television channels, three radio stations, an HD radio channel, a website, local production units, and an education and community outreach department. The Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS), operated by WSIU Radio, provides nearly 1,000 individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or print disabled with audio readings of local newspapers. WSIU also offers professional development in the broadcast industry to hundreds of students each year.

The Daily Egyptian (DE), the student-led newspaper of the School of Journalism, is printed weekly, and published online daily. The newspaper celebrated its 100th year of publication in 2016, and is funded through advertising and a $9 student publication fee approved by SIU’s Board of Trustees in December 2013. Nearly 40 SIUC students work as editors, reporters, photographers, multimedia reporters, social media managers, page designers, graphic artists, advertising sales representatives, production technicians, and circulation drivers every term. Five professional staff members work as advisers and department managers.  Facts regarding the distribution and readership of the DE.

  • About 12,500 copies of the Daily Egyptian are freely distributed at nearly 200 locations across campus, throughout Carbondale, and other surrounding communities. 
  • 99% percent of SIUC students, almost 75% of faculty and staff, and 50% of the Carbondale community read the DE at least once a week. 
  • 97% percent of readers use the print version while 47% read the online version. 
  • 86% percent of readers use coupons. 

 

The strategic plan specifically calls for an expansion of community-engaged culture through increase in service-learning courses, community development, and in co-curricular student life.  In February 2012, the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism (CSLV) was established to promote student service in the community. Students enrolled in the program have provided 25,000-30,000 service hours benefiting approximately 50 community organizations. Students who complete 30 or more hours of co-curricular community service and document their service with the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism receive a notation on their transcript. The notation indicates it is not for credit or grades, but “Voluntary Community Service.” SIUC is the only four-year public university in the state of Illinois to do so. SIUC recognizes outstanding community outreach and service at three campus-wide events in April every year: at a regular monthly meeting of the SIU Board of Trustees (Lindell Sturges Award), at the Civic Engagement Achievement Awards Ceremony, and at the Annual Student Leadership and Involvement Award Ceremony.  

Library Affairs provide a wealth of engaging and topical programs for SIUC members as well as the community as a whole. In addition to providing free public access to computers, reference materials, and a state-of-the-art facility, Library Affairs offers public lectures on local and global issues, houses exhibits including the opening of “Petticoats and Slide Rules,” which covers the historical role of women in engineering, and provides tours to community organizations, including 350 school-children in FY2013. In addition, librarians visit community groups around the region supporting efforts in preservation and promoting best practices in library administration.

SIUC's recruitment efforts target merit-based scholarship students with an interest in public service. Approximately 50 students are awarded Presidential and Chancellor’s Scholarships, which requires them to undertake at least ten hours a semester of service work both on and off campus. Similarly, the 750 student participants in the University Honors Program engage in community service each year as part of the program’s tri-partite focus in learning, leading, and serving.

Together, these services and community outreach have enabled SIUC to reach the designation of Community Engagement by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities for its economic development and community engagement.

Evidence for the institution's current enrollment profile is provided in 1.C.1. The alignment of financial planning with the university's mission is captured more fully in 5.C.1. 

1.A.3. Section 5.C.1 provides evidence that the university's allocation of resources align with its mission. For example, despite a decrease in state funding, the institution has supported student scholarships and fellowships. The institution fronted the tab for student MAP grants when the state did not fund the awards. The university established the Center for Learning Support Services and allocated funds to grow distance education course offerings. McLafferty Annex was renovated into a research space. Most recently, the foundation committed funding for a five year period to support the First Saluki Center, a support center for first-generation students. 

Sources