Roger Luft Honored as Distinguished Faculty Member

Roger Luft, a professor in Eastern Illinois University’s Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, has earned a reputation as a caring, inspiring mentor in his 34 years of teaching. Former student Jamie Kleinschmidt said Luft’s efforts have a significant impact on his students. “His genuine passion for education and for student achievement certainly contributes to his reputation as an outstanding professional and mentor,” Kleinschmidt said. “Above all, Dr. Luft goes beyond what is expected to ensure student learning.” Read more!

Mahyar Izadi Named Distinguished Chair

Congratulations to Dr. Mahyar Izadi, School of Technology, who has been selected by his peers as the 2005 recipient of the Department Chair Excellence Award. This award is given annually to a chairperson who demonstrates superior leadership, management, and scholarship.

Fifty Years of Graduate Education Celebrated

In 1952, Eastern conferred its first master’s degrees on students Dwight Truman Baptist and Donald Frederick Luallen. To acknowledge the University’s 50-year achievement in Graduate Education, departments offering graduate degree programs identified 50 outstanding graduate alumni. These alumni were recognized at a series of events that culminated in a formal banquet and ceremony on April 15, 2005. Read Fifty Years of Graduate Education.

TRIO Grant Re-Funded

In April, Eastern learned that its TRIO grant had been renewed, enabling it to continue to serve 175 students for 5 more years. Through this grant, EIU provides a comprehensive program of services for new freshmen, transfer students and continuing students from rural areas, small towns, inner city schools, and those who transfer from two and four-year schools. The program focuses on recruiting college students who are low-income, first-generation, and/or disabled, and on aiding their persistence. Mona Davenport, who oversees the TRIO program, has established the following goals: 68% of each entering cohort of students will be retained to the second year; 63% will successfully graduate within the next six years; 73% of the program participants will remain in good academic standing; and 15% will graduate and enroll in post baccalaureate programs. Ms. Davenport invites faculty engagement through the TRIO Faculty Mentor Program. Learn more about TRIO.

EIU Concludes NCA Self-Study/Re-Accreditation Project

“This is the best recommendation we could have received,” said EIU President Lou Hencken at the conclusion of a North Central Association accreditation team’s visit to EIU in mid-February. Comments such as ‘We found a true sense of community,' and ‘one of the most positive NCA visits I have ever been on' were typical of the glowing report that we received.” The team recommended another 10-year accreditation for Eastern Illinois University. Read the final report here. Read more!

Mildred Pearson Begins Term as Director of Faculty Development

Dr. Mildred Pearson, Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Level Education, began serving a two-year term as Eastern’s new Director of Faculty Development in January. Her responsibilities include planning and coordinating programs for faculty development and new faculty orientation, promoting and publicizing faculty development events through print and web-based media, and developing a new faculty mentoring program Mildred talks about her philosophy of and plans for Faculty Development in an interview.

$2 million Grant Designated for Tarble Arts Center

A new $2 million gift from the Tarble Foundation will continue to support Eastern’s Tarble Arts Center and its programs and collections. In announcing the news Monday, EIU President Lou Hencken offered his utmost gratitude to the Foundation. “The generosity of the Newton E. Tarble family has touched so many lives over the years. We are thrilled to accept this gift, which will allow the Tarble Arts Center and Eastern Illinois University to further serve our students, faculty and staff, and the citizens of east-central Illinois through access to the arts.” The funds will be used to enhance the Tarble Arts Center Endowment, established when the Tarble Arts Center was opened in 1982. Construction of the center was made possible by a $1 million gift from the late Newton E. Tarble, for whom the center is named. Read more!

Gerontology Program Gains Distinction

This past fall, the Master’s in Gerontology program was awarded the Program of Merit designation by The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. Currently, only 12 out of approximately 73 universities nationwide have received this distinction of excellence, which is similar to an accreditation. Dr. Jeanne Snyder, School of Family & Consumer Sciences, coordinates the Gerontology Program. Learn more about the Gerontology Program.