Higher Education Matters: SIUE offers shortcut to graduation

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students can take a short cut to graduation by signing up for winter-term classes.

A total of 50 three-week-long courses will be offered during the winter break from Dec. 21 through Jan. 10. That’s more than double the number that were available in the past.

“SIUE’s faculty is dedicated to providing high quality learning opportunities that empower students to move confidently toward degree completion,” said Denise Cobb, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “The flexibility of winter session allows students to enroll in a course they couldn’t build into their fall schedule or take pressure off of a busy spring course load.

“We also encourage students from other institutions to take advantage of the opportunity to complete credits that can be transferred to their home institutions.”

While the term is short, the work load isn’t light. School leaders said it takes about four hours of work a day to successfully complete the courses. Because of the high level of intensity, students are only allowed to take one course at a time.

To register and learn more about winter session at SIUE, visit siue.edu/winter-session.

SWIC staffers bake record number of cookies for service people

Faculty, staff and administrators at Southwestern Illinois College in partnership with Eckert’s Country Store and the City of Belleville provided more than 756 dozen cookies to bring cheer to Air Force personnel at Scott Air Force Base this holiday season.

SWIC leaders said the total was a new record in the annual baking tradition. The cookies and treats are distributed each year to the base’s dormitories where service men and women, many of them away from home for the holidays for the first time, get a taste of Christmas spirit.

Also collected in the drive were $315 in cash and local business gift cards that will be given to the Scott service people.

This is the seventh year in a row cookies were baked for folks stationed at Scott Air Force Base and it’s the third year gift cards were collected.

McKendree offers FAFSA instruction

Need help filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid? Workshops offered by the McKendree University Office of Financial Aid may help college students and their parents complete the 2016-17 FAFSA application online. Anyone seeking help, from any college or university, may take advantage of this free opportunity.

Assistance will be available between 9 a.m. and noon on the following Saturdays: Jan. 9 and 16 and Feb. 6 and 13, in the Piper Academic Center, Room 120, on the McKendree campus at 701 College Rd. in Lebanon.

The FAFSA application will be submitted online at the workshops. McKendree University financial aid professionals will be on hand to answer questions and offer guidance throughout the process. The following information is necessary to complete the FAFSA:

▪  Social Security number (or Alien Registration Number for non-U.S. citizen students)

▪  2015 income records, including earnings from work or business, child support paid or received, and any other untaxed income. If available, a W-2 or federal income tax returns are helpful.

▪  Information about assets, such as savings, certificates of deposit, stock options, bonds, 529 plans and other college savings programs; and investment real estate, business and farm.

▪  Driver’s license number

▪  Student’s date of birth

For more information, call 618-537-6828 or visit the FAFSA website, www.fafsa.gov.

Lindenwood leadership committee appointed

Lindenwood University System President Michael D. Shonrock announced the appointment of a leadership committee charged with preparing the institution for its Higher Learning Commission accreditation site visit in 2017.

The steering committee consists of Ryan Guffey, vice president for student development; Joe Parisi, vice president for enrollment management; Deb Ayres, vice president for human resources; Julie Mueller, vice president for operation and finance; David Wilson, associate vice president for academic affairs and chief assessment officer; Marilyn Abbott, interim provost-St. Charles campus; Renee Porter, provost-Belleville campus; Gina Ganahl, dean for the School of Accelerated Degree Programs; Cynthia Bice, dean for the School of Education; Joe Alsobrook, dean for the School of Fine and Performing Arts; Patrick Walker, associate professor; Chris Gourdine, assistant professor; Jeannie Thies, associate professor; Barry Finnegan, dean for Academic Services; and Scott Queen, executive director of marketing and communications.

The Lindenwood University HLC visit is Nov. 6-7, 2017.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 10:23 AM with the headline "Higher Education Matters: SIUE offers shortcut to graduation."