May 7 & 8, 2010
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Commencement nd May 7 & 8, 2010 Commencement 102 On behalf of the faculty, staff and students of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Spring 2010 Commencement. Today’s ceremony marks the 102nd SIUE Commencement celebrating student achievement and our active commitment to higher learning. Under the instruction of SIUE faculty, our graduates have excelled within their chosen programs of study and are recommended as degree recipients. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville exhibits a strong commitment to the development of professional and community leaders and we are proud to recognize today’s graduates as tomorrow’s leaders. Congratulations to our graduates and to those who have supported and encouraged them in their achievements. Thank you for joining us on this special day. Welcome Graduates, welcome to the Cougar alumni family! Vaughn Vandegrift Chancellor Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Southern Illinois University Southern Illinois University is a multicampus offers a broad range of academic programs leading university comprised of two institutions, Southern to associate, baccalaureate, master’s, specialist’s, Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), with a doctoral, and professional degrees. School of Medicine at Springfield, and Southern The instructional, scholarship, and service missions Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), with a of the two constituent institutions reflect the needs School of Dental Medicine at Alton and a center of the geographic areas in which they are located. in East St. Louis. The University, with an annual The University also is committed to serving state- operating budget of over $795 million, enrolls wide, national, and international needs. This over 34,000 students in programs from two-year commitment is reflected in educational activities technical curricula to Ph.D. programs in a variety located off the main campuses in communities of fields and degrees in law and medicine, as well throughout the state. It is realized also through as first professional degrees in dental medicine research and training exchanges and through world- and pharmacy. SIU was chartered in 1869 as wide student exchange programs. Southern Illinois Normal University, a teachers’ college. In 1947, the name was changed to Southern A nine-member Board of Trustees governs Southern Illinois University, reflecting the institution’s Illinois University and sets policy that enables the academic expansion. The University also expanded University to carry out its established missions and geographically. As early as 1949, SIU began offering goals. The President of Southern Illinois University courses in the metropolitan East St. Louis area, is its chief executive officer and reports to the Board which led to the development of Southern Illinois of Trustees. The University Chancellors report University Edwardsville. directly to the President and are responsible for the internal operations of SIUE and SIUC, respectively. A modern and comprehensive post-secondary educational institution, Southern Illinois University Southern Illinois University Officers of Administration Board of Trustees Southern Illinois University Roger Tedrick, Chair Office of the President Ed Hightower, Vice Chair Glenn Poshard John Simmons, Secretary President Frank William Bonan II Jerry D. Blakemore Keith R. Sanders General Counsel Stephen Wigginton Marquita Wiley Paul Sarvela Amber Suggs, SIUE Student Trustee Vice President for Academic Affairs Nate Brown, SIUC Student Trustee Duane Stucky Vice President for Financial and Administrative Affairs and Board Treasurer 2 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Southern Illinois University Edwardsville traces its The campus has received several awards in recognition origin to a recommendation made in 1956 by the of the successful blend of the aesthetic and functional Southwest Illinois Council for Higher Education. The in a setting that enhances growth and development and Council was convinced that higher education facilities is now featured among the top 150 Illinois Great Places were needed in the Metro-East part of the greater St. by the American Institute of Architects Illinois Council. Louis area. They hired consultants whose reports Emphasizing teaching, research, and public service documented that need, and they appealed to Southern programs, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Illinois University, one hundred miles south, to is a fully accredited, premier Metropolitan university establish satellite campuses. with nearly 14,000 students enrolled. SIUE is listed in In 1957, SIU opened two “residence centers” in Alton the Best Colleges of 2010 issue of U.S.News & World and East St. Louis. The University expected to Report as one of 77 schools nationwide, and among the enroll 800 students, but actual enrollment reached top five in the Midwest recognized for its innovative 1,776. By 1959, the number of students had more changes as an “up-and-coming school firmly focused than doubled to 3,800, greatly exceeding the physical on improving the job they’re doing today.” For the fifth facilities and demanding services faster than the year U.S.News & World Report has heralded SIUE for University could develop and supply them. its Senior Assignment Program, an integrative learning experience required of all seniors prior to graduation. A planning team investigated sites in the Metro-East SIUE is now listed among the Top 15 public master’s counties and selected one just south of Edwardsville. level universities in the Midwest-Master’s Category for In 1960, the Illinois legislature authorized a bond issue the fourth consecutive year and is ranked by U.S. News for construction of a new state university campus. in the top one-third of all public and private master’s Voter approval came in November 1960. After two and level universities in the Midwest. The University one-half years of planning, University officials and area awards degrees in 44 baccalaureate and 69 master’s residents attended ground-breaking ceremonies for the programs encompassing the arts and sciences, nursing, first permanent buildings. education, business, and engineering. The Schools In the fall of 1965, Southern Illinois University of Dental Medicine and Pharmacy award the D.M.D. Edwardsville moved onto its new campus just 25 miles and Pharm. D., respectively. The main campus also from St. Louis—2,660 acres of rolling land and woods includes University Park, a research park established dotted with lakes along bluffs flanking the Mississippi for economic development. The Edwardsville campus is River. Much of the land still retains its natural supplemented by campuses in East St. Louis and Alton. shape. The academic center was designed by the At SIUE, students find comprehensive educational internationally known architectural firm of Hellmuth, opportunities and a community in which individuals Obata, and Kassabaum of St. Louis. The brick, slate, support each other in their search for knowledge and and granite of the modern buildings complement the individual development. SIUE’s mission, vision, values terrain and are softened by a carefully designed garden and statement on diversity follow. landscape that attracts visitors by its physical beauty. Officers of Administration Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Vaughn Vandegrift, Chancellor Paul W. Ferguson, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Kenneth R. Neher, Vice Chancellor for Administration Narbeth R. Emmanuel, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Patrick D. Hundley, Vice Chancellor for University Relations 3 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Mission Southern Illinois University Edwardsville SIUE Statement on Diversity is a public comprehensive university dedicated to The SIUE Statement on Diversity reflects the the communication, expansion and integration University’s commitment to recognizing and valuing of knowledge through excellent undergraduate the contributions of the breadth of humankind. This education as its first priority and complementary statement, adopted in January 2002, replaces an earlier excellent graduate and professional academic version and is considered an expansion of the SIUE programs; through the scholarly, creative and value of Openness. research activity of its faculty, staff and students; and through public service and cultural and arts All societies and peoples have contributed to the rich programming in its region. mix of contemporary humanity. In order to achieve domestic and international peace, social justice, and Vision Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, as a premier Metropolitan University, will be recognized the development of full human potential, we must build nationally for the excellence of its programs and on this diversity. SIUE nurtures an open, harmonious, development of professional and community leaders. and hospitable climate that facilitates learning and work. Each member of the university is responsible Values Recognizing public education as the cornerstone for contributing to such a campus environment. SIUE of a democracy, SIUE carries out its mission based on is committed to education that explores the historic certain fundamental, shared values. We value: significance of diversity in order to understand the Citizenship present and to better enable our community to engage • Social, civic, and political responsibility, globally, the future. Integral to this commitment, SIUE strives for nationally, locally, and within the University a student