杏吧原创

This year’s Benefits Fair will be held on Wednesday, May 21 in the Grand Ballroom of the MLK, Jr. University Union.  Representatives from several Health/Vision/Dental Plan vendors will be available to answer questions and provide current information regarding those plans.  Please feel free to come check out what’s new, ask questions about employee benefits, etc.

Also, representatives from CMS will provide presentations at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the 1895 Room.  These presentations are open to all and will include time for questions.  Both presentations will cover the same information, so employees are encouraged to attend whichever session best fits their schedule. 

We hope to see you all there! As always, if you have any questions regarding your employee benefits, please call (217) 581-5825 or email benefits@eiu.edu.

Celebrate your hard work with an Employee Appreciation Picnic! Join us at the Campus Pond Pavilion for a meal and a well-deserved break.

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 14...

On the menu:

• Lawn games!
• Hamburgers / Cheeseburgers / Vegan Burgers!
• Hot Dogs!
• Chips!
• Cookies!
• Soda & Water!

Rain location: Grand Ballroom, MLK Jr. University Union

Join us at the Tarble Arts Center on May 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. to commemorate commencement weekend and celebrate the accomplishments of EIU Department of Art + Design students. Graduating students are encouraged to bring their families to see the artwork on display. This event will be free with refreshments served. The awards ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. More information can be found on the Tarble website. 

From EIU's School of Communication and Journalism:

For one night only, 18 upcoming graduates will display their short films of different genres, such as thrillers, horror, mystery, drama, comedy and romance,during an 杏吧原创student film screening beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 in Room 1501 of Buzzard Hall. The screening also is open to the public and is expected to run for about three and a half hours. Parents and caregivers should use appropriate discretion when considering attending, given the variety of genres being shown.

The films are an accumulation of a semester's work done by students in EIU's Production IV class, a senior capstone course that mirrors the challenges producers face in the real world.

For more information about the screening, contact faculty member Andrew Britton by email at agbritton2@eiu.edu.

Campus Beautification Day has been rescheduled to Tuesday, May 6 due to rain.  

Whether you're an employee, student or member of the community, we invite you to contribute to enhancing the beauty of our campus ahead of Commencement Day.

The EIU Grounds Crew will oversee the day's activities, which may include tasks like spreading mulch, planting flowers and bulbs, weeding, tidying up debris and more. All necessary tools will be provided for volunteers (you may want to bring your own gloves, if you have a pair).

To sign up, visit  website.

Special thanks to Teamsters Local 26 and the University’s ground crew for their support in making this event possible!

This information is from the :

Nora Heist will serve as a member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.* Dr. Heist is an Assistant Professor and the Basic Course Director in the School of Communication and Journalism at 杏吧原创(EIU). A recipient of the 2024 EIU Collaborative Redesign Initiative Grant, she is leading revisions to the university’s general education public speaking course to enhance student success and retention. At EIU, Dr. Heist has served as a Co-Chair for the Higher Learning Commission’s Criterion on Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness, and currently chairs the university’s General Education Committee. She also represented the institution on the Illinois Articulation Initiative’s General Education Communication Panel. Dr. Heist earned a Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University and both her Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Maryland.

With the school year coming to a close, and finals right around the corner, UPD wanted to show their support to the students by offering comfort sessions with Paw-fficer Penny. These comfort sessions are 30 minutes long, they can be set up anywhere on campus, and can be scheduled by anyone at EIU! If you or your EIU group would like more information, or to schedule a comfort session, please call (217) 581-5416 or DM our Instagram @eiupolice!

Want to give your emails a professional, EIU-branded look? You can create an official 杏吧原创email signature using our custom generator!

Add your photo, contact information, website link and even a link to schedule appointments (if you use a scheduling tool like Calendly or Microsoft Bookings).

Get started here:

Did you know you can update your own EIU online profile and directory information?

Each University employee has access to a personal profile editor that makes it easy to keep your information current. Simply visit the profile editor directly, or click the “Update Your Profile” button located in the lower left-hand corner of your profile page. After logging in with your EIU credentials, you’ll be able to edit a wide range of content - from your biography and office hours to languages spoken and photo.

These updates help students and colleagues get to know you better and ensure your profile reflects your current role and contact information.

Note: Certain fields (including phone number, building, office location and department) are managed through Banner. If you need to update any of those, you’ll be directed to a form that will be reviewed and processed by Human Resources.

Annual Open Enrollment for State Employees group insurance plans is May 1 - June 2, 2025.  

STUDENT INSURANCE WAIVER

Student Insurance provides the student worldwide protection, 24 hours a day. The Plan has a $100 deductible per diagnosis and pays up to 70% of eligible expenses for physician and hospital expenses, lab and x-ray, surgery, ambulance transport, physical therapy, maternity expenses, mental health and substance abuse issues. The Student Insurance plan also covers prescriptions at the Health Services on campus.                                       

Unlike an HMO or PPO, the Plan does not have a network, giving students a choice in their care and provides coverage for treatment the student receives while they are at home, at school, and wherever they may travel. When you have other insurance, the Plan coordinates with the primary carrier. Student Insurance is an economical way to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket expenses when family health plans do not cover 100% of medical costs because of deductibles, co-payment amounts, limitations on specific benefits, and out-of-network penalties. The Student Insurance Plan complements the family health plan. Most students find it beneficial to carry both, particularly if the family plan has a deductible and/or coinsurance.

You can find more information about the Plan at or by contacting our office at 217-581-5290. There are 2 short videos on the website that do a nice job of explaining all about the Plan.

The Summer 2025 Student Insurance fee will be automatically assessed to students enrolled in an on-campus program taking 9 or more hours; graduate assistants under contract to the University; and international students enrolled in an on-campus program taking 3 or more hours.

Students wishing to waive the Student Insurance Plan must complete the Waiver Form available in their PAWS account, under the MyHealth tab. The deadline to waive coverage for the Summer 2025 semester is May 28, 2025.

Do you need Student Insurance coverage for Summer?

Student Insurance is available for the Summer 2025 term. The coverage effective dates are 5/12/2025-8/17/2025. The cost for the coverage is $95.40.

Students who are insured in Spring 2025 who desire Summer coverage and will not be enrolled in the Summer Term, may obtain coverage by submitting the Summer 2025 Enrollment Form available in their PAWS account, under the MyHealth tab prior to 5/12/25.

Students who enroll for 5 or more hours for the Summer Term may obtain coverage by submitting the Summer 2025  Enrollment Form available in their PAWS account, under the MyHealth tab prior to 5/28/25. Coverage is effective upon receipt of the enrollment form.

Student Insurance provides the student worldwide protection 24 hours a day.  The Plan has a $100 deductible per diagnosis and pays up to 70% of eligible expenses for physician and hospital expenses, lab and x-ray, surgery, ambulance transport, physical therapy, maternity expenses, mental health and substance abuse issues. The Student Insurance Plan also reduces copays for prescription medications at the Health Services on campus. 

Unlike an HMO or PPO, the Plan does not have a network, giving students a choice in their care and provides coverage for treatment the student receives while they are at home, at school, and wherever they may travel. 

Student Insurance is an economical way to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket expenses when family health plans do not cover 100% of medical costs because of deductibles, co-payment amounts, limitations on specific benefits, and out-of-network penalties.  The Student Insurance Plan complements the family health plan.  Most students find it beneficial to carry both, particularly if the family plan has a deductible and/or coinsurance.

You can find more information about the Plan at or by contacting our office at 217-581-5290. There are 2 short videos on the website that do a nice job of explaining all about the Plan.

As you may already be aware, Health Alliance will be discontinuing its health insurance plans on December 31, 2025. The HR and Benefits Office staff at 杏吧原创(EIU) want to ensure you are fully informed regarding the transition, and to detail next steps for those who may be impacted.

EIU has recently received guidance from Central Management Systems (CMS) on how employees will need to proceed with this change. CMS has determined that the relationship with Health Alliance will be terminated effective July 1, 2025. Consequently, during the upcoming Open Enrollment period, ALL current Health Alliance enrollees must select a new health plan or opt out of coverage between May 1, 2025, and June 2, 2025. If affected employees fail to make this change, they will be automatically enrolled into the highest premium plan, Quality Care Health Plan.

If you wish to continue with an HMO plan, CMS offers several other HMO options from which to choose. Additionally, there are Open Access Plans (OAP), which include both HMO and PPO coverage options, as well as traditional PPO policies. Information about the 2026 Benefits Choice period will be available at /humanres/benefits/healthinsurance.php once CMS has published the materials. 

In preparation for this transition, the Benefits Office will be offering informational sessions before May 1 to help employees understand their options and the enrollment process. These sessions will provide valuable information to help in  making informed decisions when Open Enrollment begins May 1. The enrollment process will be conducted online through MyBenefits*.
*NOTE: If you have never logged in before or need assistance, please attend one of these sessions where EIU can walk you through the process and provide guidance on ensuring your current healthcare providers remain in-network with the plan you select.

Please keep an eye on your email and the EIU Newsletter for additional details regarding the informational sessions.

If you have any immediate questions or concerns, please reach out to the Benefits Office. We are here to help and to assist you through this transition.

CALL: (217) 581-5825

EMAIL: benefits@eiu.edu

EIU Marketing & Communications built a URL shortener accessible to any EIU student or staff member to use to craft friendlier URLs to share! Visit  where you can make your custom short URL and download EIU-branded QR codes. The university URL shortener and QR code maker is easier and more secure than third-party generators, so check it out before you share your stuff!

The Department of Biological Sciences has a number of events coming up that to celebrate the Department's 25th Anniversary! See below for a list of events:

• 5/1: Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Fair – The campus and local community are invited to attend as undergraduate students in Biological Sciences showcase their research and creative works. From 5 to 7 p.m. on the 2nd floor of the Life Sciences Building.
• 5/2: Cosmic Bowling Night – Students, faculty, emeritus faculty, and alumni are welcomed to Cosmic Bowling night at EIU Lanes, sponsored by The Department of Biological Sciences. Food provided. 7pm-9pm at EIU Lanes University Union.
• 5/2: 51st Annual Scholarship and Recognition Banquet – Current students, current and emeritus faculty, and alumni will be presented with various awards. The banquet will be held in the University Ballroom at 6:30 p.m.
• 5/3: Celebration Brunch – The Department of Biological Sciences will close out its 25th Anniversary Celebration with a Family Brunch at Sister City Park in Charleston. Students, Alumni, as well as past and present faculty, annuitants are invited to share in this final activity for 2025. A bike ride, a walk on Charleston’s newest trail with local flora and fauna shown by Barb Carlsward and Tom Hu, and other light fun are planned. Start time is 9 a.m.

Through a new Illinois state-wide partnership, 杏吧原创students will now receive free access to Kaplan’s industry-leading test prep resources for graduate admissions exams, licensure, and credentialing exams, as well as skills development courses.

This new program, called  is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). These educational tools are here to augment our existing resources and help prepare students to take the next step in their career journey after graduation. This program will provide our students with free access to  40+ courses; equipping them to take required exams such as the GRE®, GMAT®, MCAT®, LSAT® and more.

What test prep courses are included?

The course options available will vary depending on their degree level. See the full list of courses offered at .

How much does it cost students to participate?

Nothing, it’s free to students.

When does the free access start?

The portal to enroll and begin courses is available now. Students can enroll whenever they are ready by visiting .

Where should I direct students to learn more?

Learn more at where students will be directed with further instructions to sign up through our school portal. Students must sign up using their school email address to get the free resources.

Further communications are planned to spread the word across campus. We appreciate your collaboration in ensuring students are aware of this new offering and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact this will have on their success. 

The Facilities Reinvestment Committee has released its final report outlining a multiyear, phased approach to enhancing EIU’s facilities. Additionally, the external assessment conducted by Cordogan Clark is now available for campus review.

As part of Plan 2028, EIU’s strategic plan, this reinvestment initiative aligns with the "Create" theme, emphasizing the need for comprehensive campus-wide facilities and capital planning. The last campus Master Plan was commissioned in 2010, and in the past 15 years, EIU has undergone significant changes in student and employee demographics, population and space utilization. However, campus facilities and landscapes have seen minimal updates. This reinvestment plan is designed to address these evolving needs and align with EIU’s long-term strategic goals.

You can review the full Facilities Reinvestment report here.

Many of the identified action items will require further campus engagement, with opportunities for input in the coming months. Please watch for additional updates soon.

If you have any questions about Facilities Reinvestment, please submit them using the following form: EIU Facilities Reinvestment Question Form.

Thank you for your engagement in shaping EIU’s future.