Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Ready for Anything - ThatÔÇÖs a Saluki

Students who are ready to hit the ground running; to begin a research or creative project as early as freshman year; who are willing to leave their comfort zones to seize opportunities; who are committed to community service, learning-by-doing and participating in a supportive academic environment. Alumni who remain connected to their university, who seek ways to help current students, who foster interns and externs and offer professional expertise. Faculty members who bring their creative and research experience into the classroom, who mentor students one on one and who expect the best from their students. That’s Southern Illinois University Carbondale; that’s what it means to be a Saluki.

SIU is all about opportunity

SIU has a long history of opening doors for students, welcoming many who are the first in their families to go to college as well as those who are third- and fourth-generation Salukis. The university awards more than $10 million in scholarships and grants to its students annually, with more than 90 percent receiving financial aid. Students come to SIU from every state and from 100 countries. As of this fall, SIU is a university without borders – all United States residents pay the same tuition as Illinois residents.

Academics

SIU offers more than 250 undergraduate majors, minors and specializations catering to career goals in areas from the arts through the sciences - including humanities, business, mass media and communications, engineering, education, allied health, aviation and automotive technology, architecture, fashion, agriculture, sustainability and more. The emphasis on experiential learning and career-mindedness contributes to a campus culture alive with opportunity. Students participate in internships, externships, field schools, study abroad and hands-on classes, with opportunities for service learning and mentored research and creative projects beginning freshman year. SIU students excel in a number of academic and career-focused collegiate competitions, including winning national championships in debate and aviation, and awards and top honors in robotics, cybersecurity, music, theater, agronomy, industrial design, journalism and engineering to name a few. Some even have the opportunity to enter off-campus art shows, get published or present their research at academic conferences in their areas.

The University Honors Program offers seminar-style courses that promote in-depth study of specific subject areas, from pop culture to physical science – including travel courses to England, Costa Rica and other destinations. Career Services hosts career fairs with major national employers and helps students prepare everything from their résumés to their wardrobe. The Writing Center is available to the entire campus community for manuscript and paper editing, revision and assistance, and the Center for Learning Support Services lines up tutoring and study groups. 

One of SIU’s strongest resources is its people. SIU faculty are passionate about teaching and mentoring. They bring professional, performance and research experience into the classroom, seeking out students to join research projects such as breeding disease-resistant soybeans and improving solar power cells, and to engage in art projects such as hosting literary, independent film and new play festivals. SIU faculty perform at Carnegie Hall, earn Fulbright and PEN awards; chair national conferences and professional and academic organizations; and publish their findings on everything from ancient Egypt to driverless cars. Students who excel at SIU repeatedly praise faculty members for their devotion to teaching and their encouragement of individual student success.

Student Life

SIU students are known for their friendliness, individuality and willingness to try new things. That’s why there are more than 300 student organizations on campus. Some are the national honors societies and student chapters of professional organizations that a research university such as SIU might be expected to have. Some are affiliated with particular majors or career paths. Some are “Greek” fraternities and sororities. Some are religious or political. Some are sports-oriented. And some are for special interests. From step groups to a Quidditch team, the Southern Illinois Metalsmiths to the Microbiology Student Organization, Saluki students have myriad opportunities to find their pack.

Service-learning is an important feature of collegiate life for many Salukis. SIU is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement university, a designation that highlights the many volunteer hours SIU students, staff and faculty devote to their community, globally and locally. The Center for Service Learning and Volunteerism pairs students with volunteer opportunities in line with their career goals. Students have painted murals, restored hiking trails, manned phones for funding drives, planned community-wide events, created audio recordings for community listeners, kept or updated records and data, tutored, taught and counseled.

SIU is part of the Missouri Valley Conference. Salukis are loyal fans, and the Dawg Pound is loud, proud and hard to miss. Football, basketball, baseball, softball, cross country, golf, swimming and diving, track and field, volleyball and newly added soccer teams provide sports fans plenty of opportunities to celebrate.

Salukis get their culture on with theater, music performances and festivals, art shows, a major indie film festival, on-campus art galleries and museum, performance art, literary festivals and a full array of guest speakers, movie nights and special events such as Greek Sing, drag shows and the week-long International Festival with cultural shows and an international buffet.

The university’s Student Recreation Center and Student Health Center help keep students fit and healthy in body and mind, and provide dental, optometry, counseling, pharmacy and wellness services.

SIU is a Top 100 Safest College in America as rated by the National Council for Home Safety and Security.

Commitment to a Sustainable Future

SIU is a “Bicycle Friendly University,” a Princeton Review Green College and a leader in recycling and composting. Nearly 10 years ago, SIU students voted to add a Green Fee in order to fund campus sustainability efforts.

Going Forward

SIU students today want academic freedom. They take courses in multiple areas, connect their own paths and build an educational foundation that is both traditional and uniquely their own. The university is in the midst of creating synergistic programs that will open up new fields for students and bring together faculty from across campus for collaborative research and creative endeavors.