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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

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.

Join us for an unforgettable evening in Groniger Arena of entertainment, dining, and philanthropy at the , a premier Panther Club event benefiting º£½Ç´óÉñ 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 or call/email Amber May at (217) 581-6425 or ammay@eiu.edu.  

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 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 26 in the Arcola/Tuscola Room in the MLK Jr. Union. 

Those interested in registering should complete the registration/interest MACHFORM found at /mentalhealth/mentalhealthfirstaid.php  Individuals registered by March 19.

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 may be found at: /mentalhealth/mentalhealthfirstaid.php

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

This Wednesday, March 25 HERC presentation focuses on sleep habits including tips and tricks for a good night's rest. Meet at the MLK Jr. Student Union's Charleston/Mattoon room (3rd floor) from 4 to 5 p.m.!

Applications are now being accepted for the EIU Non-Negotiated Civil Service Council Scholarship. This scholarship was established to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the EIU Civil Service Council and continues to support eligible civil service employees and their families.

The scholarship is intended to assist with tuition, fees, and other educational expenses associated with attending º£½Ç´óÉñ, including housing, supplies, transportation, daycare, and related costs. The award will be applied to the recipient’s student account for Fall 2026, with any remaining balance disbursed to the student. Fall 2026 enrollment must be verified prior to awarding funds.

Eligibility Criteria
Recipients must:

• Be a former, current, or retired Non-Negotiated Civil Service employee; or a child or grandchild of a former, current, or retired Non-Negotiated Civil Service employee.
• Be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours.
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be in good academic standing. High school seniors accepted to EIU must enroll in at least six credit hours and rank in the top 25% of their graduating class.
• Complete the full application process, including identification of their qualifying relationship, position, and retirement year (if applicable).
• Demonstrate financial need, which will be considered the determining factor if qualifications are otherwise equal. Need will be assessed through an impact statement included in the application.

Full scholarship information:
/council/scholarship.php

Apply online:

The deadline to apply is March 15, 2026.

For questions, please contact:
Philip Kousma
EIU Civil Service Council Member
pikousma@eiu.edu

This fun session provides tips, tricks, and activities that allow us to find what's best for our personal self-care. Prioritizing ourselves and continuously taking care of our well-being will set students up for success! We'll be located in the MLK Jr Student Union's Arcola/Tuscola Room (3rd floor) from 5 to 6 p.m. March 10!

EIU's Faculty Development and Innovation Center is sharing news and details about its weekly "Coffee & Consults" (held Wednesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Java Beanery & Bakery, located across from the in the Union). The group plans to meet every Wednesday this semester (excluding the week of Spring Break) to support to EIU Faculty and Staff in their efforts to maximize student success and create impactful outcomes for all EIU students.

Details:
Coffee and Consults
Weekly Wednesday | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Casual environment, serious support! Directed towards EIU Faculty and Staff

Support includes:

• Technical Troubleshooting (D2L, Gradebooks, etc.)
• Educational Tool Assistance
• Digital Accessibility
• Instructional Design & Pedagogy
• Planning of projects
• Connecting you to campus experts

Join the FDIC at Java Bakery in the MLK Jr., University Union or join virtually during meeting times using .

Have a wonderful semester!

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 º£½Ç´óÉñ Police Department at (217) 581-3213 or police@eiu.edu to schedule.

º£½Ç´óÉñ recognizes that midterms can bring heightened stress and anxiety for many students. To help support their emotional well-being, Eastern provides Togetherall, a safe, supportive community available 24/7.

Togetherall is a free, anonymous, peer-to-peer online community where our students can connect with others who are going through similar feelings. It's a safe space to express how they are feeling without fear of judgment, and it's available 24/7 for all students. So whether its midterm stressors, roommate conflict, family issues, relationship struggles, financial hardships, health situations, students can find support and guidance from other students throughout the US and other countries. 

Togetherall is a place for emotional support, not for political debates or divisive rhetoric. No matter what they are facing, their mental and emotional well-being matter, and our students should know they don't have to go through it alone. 

More information regarding how a student may join Togetherall can be found at EIU's  Togetherall Peer Support Platform webpage. 

• Must be graduating in the Spring, Summer, or Fall 2026.
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

• Students may apply by submitting the online application form.
• Anyone within the EIU community (faculty, staff, alumni, parents, etc.) may nominate a student by submitting the online nomination form.