Focus Statement

Southern Illinois University Carbondale offers a full range of baccalaureate programs, is committed to graduate education through the doctoral degree and gives high priority to research. It receives substantial federal support for research and development and annually awards a significant number of doctoral degrees balanced among selected liberal arts and sciences disciplines and professional programs.

In addition to pursuing statewide goals and priorities, SIUC:

• strives to develop the professional, social and leadership skills expected of college students develops partnerships with communities, businesses and other colleges and universities
• cultivates and sustains a commitment in research and instruction related to the region's natural resources and environment
• strives to meet the health care needs of central and Southern Illinois
• cultivates and sustains diversity through a commitment to multiculturalism

History

Southern Illinois Normal University, chartered in 1869, began instruction in 1874 in Carbondale offering a two-year program in teacher training.

By 1904 students were able to earn four-year bachelor's degrees.

In the 1930s, the two-year teaching programs were discontinued; in 1943, the first graduate coursework was offered. The school's changing mission was recognized in 1947 when the state legislature renamed the institution Southern Illinois University.

The university continued as a teacher's college until Delyte W. Morris took office as president of the university in 1948. Morris was SIU's longest serving president (1948-1970). During his presidency, he transformed SIU from a teacher's college to the second-ranked public comprehensive research university in Illinois. Among his many accomplishments, Morris created SIU's law, medical, and dental schools.

SIU's total undergraduate enrollment is around 20,000. Typical of public research universities, SIU has over 170 academic degree programs--across all levels; associates, bachelors, masters, and doctoral. It also offers professional programs in business, law and medicine. Since 1989, SIU has offered an M.D./J.D. dual degree program, leading to the concurrent award of both degrees after six years.

In 1970, SIU's original Carbondale campus was separated administratively from its satellite campus in Edwardsville. The original campus, known as Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), includes the School of Medicine in Springfield and the School of Law in Carbondale.

Governance

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is the older and larger of the two campuses that comprise Southern Illinois University. Like its sister campus in Edwardsville, SIUC is headed by a chancellor. The campus chancellors report to the SIU president, who reports to the SIU Board of Trustees.