EIU President Jay Gatrell will host the University's Spring Update Tuesday, January 27. Coffee and donuts will be served in the Doudna Fine Arts Center Concourse between 8 and 8:30 a.m. with the update beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Dvorak Concert Hall.
Permalink
Join us as we celebrate Mark Hudson's 25 years of service to EIU and incredible 40+ year career in Higher Education. We will host a Retirement Reception in his honor on Friday, January 23, 2026 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the 1895 Room in the MLK Jr. University Union.
Permalink
Join us as we celebrate Jody Stone and his 31+ years of loyal service here at EIU. A Retirement Reception will be held on Friday, January 23, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the University Ballroom in the MLK Jr. University Union.
Permalink
In honor of its 75th anniversary, the Mary J. Booth Library invites 海角大神 students and recent graduates to submit original works of art that celebrate the people, places, voices, and lived experiences of Central Illinois. This initiative will expand Booth Library’s permanent public art collection while spotlighting regional identity and student creativity.
-Works of merit will be exhibited in a Spring 2026 showcase.
-From the exhibited works, the First Place Winner and Honorable Mentions will be jury-selected.
-1 First Place winner will receive a $1,000 prize and will have their work permanently installed in Booth Library.
-Up to 4 Honorable Mentions will receive $100 each.
Key Details:
Eligibility: Open to all current EIU students and recent alumni (graduated Spring 2023 or later).
Accepted Formats: 2D & 3D works in any medium suitable for wall mounting (no free-standing pieces can be accepted).
Deadline: January 16, 2026.
Submit via:
Works must be original and produced in their entirety by an individual artist. AI-assisted, AI-derived, and AI-generated works are ineligible for submission. Artists may submit up to 3 works for consideration. Earn recognition for your creativity and talent!
Full details and submission instructions at:
Questions? Please contact us at booth@eiu.edu.
Permalink
The Academic Advising office will be closed on Friday, January 16, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. This temporary closure will allow our students and staff to attend the Celebration of Life for our friend and co-worker, Tania Ward.
The office will re-open for normal business hours on Tuesday, January 20. We will respond to all emails and inquiries at that time. For any urgent issues or concerns, students should email their academic advisor and advising@eiu.edu.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Permalink
Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to mental health and substance-use issues. Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help. Topics covered include depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use.
(MHFA) is an evidence-based training created by the designed to provide participants with the skills to identify, destigmatize, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorder, enabling those trained to offer immediate, concrete support.
Training will be on the Janaury 9 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Blair Hall Room 2165. You must attend the full training to receive certification.
If interested, individuals must register using the link below. For any questions, please reach out to HERC staff at 217-581-7786 or herc@eiu.edu
/herc/machform/view.php?id=113799
Permalink
Please join us in celebrating Jonathan McKenzie’s 22+ years of service to 海角大神 at a retirement reception in his honor from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28 in the Harry L. Crisp Conference Room at the Neal Welcome Center.
Permalink
Spring permits are available online. Please visit our website at and select "Get Permits" to purchase your permit.
Parking Lot Map/Information and 2026 Changes may be found by visiting /police/parkingareas.php.
The regular student lots will not be enforced until Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
Permalink
Join us on Tuesdays and Fridays at Noon for Yoga for Every Body! No experience necessary, all skill levels welcome, just bring a mat. If you don't have a mat we have some extras to share. What a a great way to kick off those New Year's resolutions!

Part of your responsibilty 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.
Permalink
Following the events of November 10 and in an effort to strengthen campus safety and emergency communication, the University is offering campus training opportunities and updating our alert procedures.
Effective immediately, all employees and students who have a cell phone number on record will automatically receive emergency text alerts. This replaces our 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 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:
Register for A.L.I.C.E. sessions here.
If your office, department, or organization would prefer an individualized session, please contact the 海角大神 Police Department at 217-581-3213 or police@eiu.edu to schedule.
Permalink
Food Court hours for Finals Week and first week in January 2026:
Student Insurance provides the student worldwide protection 24 hours a day. The Plan has a $100 deductible per diagnosis and pays up to 70% of eligible expenses for physician and hospital expenses, lab and x-ray, surgery, ambulance transport, physical therapy, maternity expenses, mental health and substance abuse issues. The Student Insurance Plan also reduces copays for prescription medications at the Medical Clinic, from SBL Prairie Pharmacy.
Unlike an HMO or PPO, the Plan does not have a network, giving students a choice in their care and provides coverage for treatment the student receives while they are at home, at school, and wherever they may travel.
Student Insurance is an economical way to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket expenses when family health plans do not cover 100% of medical costs because of deductibles, co-payment amounts, limitations on specific benefits, and out-of network penalties. The Student Insurance Plan complements the family health plan. Most students find it beneficial to carry both, particularly if the family plan has a deductible and/or coinsurance.
You can find more information about the Plan at or by contacting our office at 217-581-5290. There are two short videos on the website that do a nice job of explaining all about the Plan.
Spring 2026 semester students enrolled in five or more hours (any program format), are eligible for coverage. Please note, students enrolled in an on-campus program taking nine or more hours, Graduate Assistants, and international students enrolled in an on-campus program with a minimum of three hours are automatically billed for coverage.
Students wishing to enroll in the Student Insurance Plan must complete the Enrollment Form, available under the “My Health” tab in the students PAWS account. The deadline to enroll in the Plan is January 26, 2026. The cost of the coverage is $120.00.
Permalink
Student Insurance provides the student worldwide protection, 24 hours a day. The Plan has a $100 deductible per diagnosis and pays up to 70% of eligible expenses for physician and hospital expenses, lab and x-ray, surgery, ambulance transport, physical therapy, maternity expenses, mental health, and substance abuse issues. The Student Insurance plan also covers prescriptions at the Medical Clinic, from SBL Prairie Pharmacy.
Unlike an HMO or PPO, the Plan does not have a network, giving students a choice in their care and provides coverage for treatment the student receives while they are at home, at school, and wherever they may travel. When you have other insurance, the Plan coordinates with the primary carrier. Student Insurance is an economical way to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket expenses when family health plans do not cover 100% of medical costs because of deductibles, co-payment amounts, limitations on specific benefits, and out-of-network penalties. The Student Insurance Plan complements the family health plan. Most students find it beneficial to carry both, particularly if the family plan has a deductible and/or coinsurance.
You can find more information about the Plan at or by contacting our office at 217-581-5290. There are two short videos on the website that do a nice job of explaining all about the Plan.
The Spring 2026 Student Insurance fee will be automatically assessed to students enrolled in an on-campus program taking nine or more hours; graduate assistants under contract to the University; and international students enrolled in an on-campus program taking three or more hours.
Students wishing to waive the Student Insurance Plan must complete the Waiver Form available under the “My Health” tab in the students PAWS account. Student athletes and members of the Cheer Team are not allowed to waive the Student insurance. The deadline to waive coverage for the Spring 2026 semester is January 26, 2026.
Permalink
Booth House
海角大神
600 Lincoln Ave.
Charleston, IL 61920
217-581-7400
jdreinhart@eiu.edu