05/01/2020
A message from President Glassman for our Future Panthers and families:
Dear Students,
I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe.
We are very excited you have chosen to be part of our EIU Family, and we want you to know we fully intend to begin our Fall 2020 semester as a traditional residential campus. We are taking the health-related strategic steps to ensure that students can attend classes, live on our campus and in adjacent housing, and enjoy the various other amenities that epitomize EIU and the City of Charleston.
In the current climate of the pandemic, we understand that you may have questions and perhaps some anxiety in wondering what the Fall semester at EIU will look like. We are here to provide those answers.
As we plan to resume face-to-face classes in the fall, we will do so following the scientific guidelines issued to us by our state, federal, and global health authorities. Any additional precautions we choose to take will ensure weâre doing all we can to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our students, our employees, and our community. Please know that alongside your educational experience, the safety and security of our students is the Universityâs highest priority. Our operationsâno matter what modifications will be necessary to implement for the Fall semesterâwill surely reflect that responsibility. We are also very fortunate that our city and beautiful campus in Coles County continue to be a safe community, and the impact of COVID-19 has been limited in rural regions like East Central Illinois.
When you join us in the Fall, you will experience EIUâs top-ranked academic education in an environment of small class sizes, individualized attention, and classes taught by outstanding and caring faculty. Here, you wonât just be a number, youâll be a member of the EIU family that is there to support you in every way on your journey to success.
Most importantly, EIU remains ALL IN for you. We understand that unique times call for unique solutions. So to maximize flexibility for our incoming students, we are making the following changes:
⢠AIM HIGH Scholarship deadlines have been extended to June 1. There is still time to send us your FAFSA and complete your financial aid requirements. (www.eiu.edu/aimhigh)
⢠We are accepting new test scores and updated GPAs until August 24 to determine your eligibility for EIU Merit Scholarships. (www.eiu.edu/scholarships/merit.php)
⢠Deposits for freshmen to secure their place in EIUâs Class of 2024 are open until August 24. (Earlier deposits ensure additional flexibility in your class schedule and choice of residence halls with your housing deposit.) (www.eiu.edu/deposit)
We want you to feel totally comfortable about your deposit and excited about your commitment to attend EIU. Therefore, if any unforeseen occurrences prevent EIU from hosting on-campus classes beginning this fall, and you decide you do not wish to attend your Fall semester online, we are pleased to provide our incoming students the following options:
⢠You can defer admission to the University and retain any merit scholarship you may have been awarded for the Fall up to two semesters, as long as you do not attend another college or university during that time. Students who take advantage of this option can make their decisions before August 1 using the most up-to-date information possible, with no detrimental effect on their EIU housing arrangements or orientation schedules.
⢠You can get your freshman deposit and/or Housing down payment refunded or credited to a future semester, as long as the request is received by August 1. For further details, contact [email protected].
For all of EIUâs successes, and amidst its reputation for excellence, one thing remains abundantly clearâEastern Illinois University will always be defined by its students. Throughout our rich 125-year history, that truth is especially evident today. Eastern is distinguished by your enthusiasm and your ambition. Most notably, I wish to share how genuinely I value the diversity and inclusivity of our incoming student body, and for all you will bring with you to our dynamic environment. As beautiful as our campus is, its splendor is undeniably enhanced by the kinship and charisma you will contribute to our learning communities.
We are excited about welcoming you to a world-class University that is known for creating phenomenal relationships with its students, providing them with an incredible education, and helping them to appreciate their EIU experience in a caring, safe, and supportive community. I speak for all EIU employees in saying I look forward to joining you on campus this fall, enthusiastically pursuing our personal and professional passions together as only EIU Panthers can.
I look forward to seeing you in the Fall.
Sincerely,
David Glassman
President, Eastern Illinois University
If you or any family member has additional questions, please contact [email protected], and an EIU representative will reach out to you in a timely manner.
