SIUE Online and Education Outreach Summer 2020

The SIUE community worked rapidly to provide resources during the COVID-19 outbreak and is continually planning for the upcoming fall semester. While SIUE has been able to provide emergency funding to students through the federal CARES Act as well as the SIUE Student Emergency Assistance Fund, here are just a few examples of some of our campus partners who have altered services to meet the needs of students.

SIUE Health Services provides on-ground and telemedicine services. “It is important for us to remain open in order to support students who may experience physical and mental health challenges in this unique environment,” said Riane Greenwalt, Director of Health Services. “We remain committed to the health and safety of our community. We are here for our students, and we are privileged to take care of them. Students are facing uncertainty and anxiety during this unprecedented time, and the department is here to support them.”

SIUE Campus Recreation was able to assist students with completing internships for exercise science and exercise physiology programs. “Assistant director of recreation, Natalie Rosales was pleased to offer assistance to these students," stated Campus Recreation Director Keith Becherer. The students developed virtual programming that could be delivered across social media platforms that helped promote exercise, outdoor recreation, nutrition and wellness. For more information, please visit here.

Learning Support Services responded to COVID-19 restrictions by moving all Academic Development coursework and Supplemental Instruction sessions online.  Chad Verbais, Assistant Director of Supplemental Education/Learning Support Services said, “We expanded our online services in the Tutoring Resource Center and Writing Center to include all tutors as face to face interactions were no longer possible under new guidelines.  We remain committed to meeting students where they are and in any stage of development as we move through and beyond the pandemic."

SIUE Office of Online and Education Outreach will be partnering in offering two virtual camps in July - the Summer Writing Online Camp and the Music and Technology Composition Camp. SIUE will be utilizing online resources for these camps in an effort to bring the full experience right to everyone’s computer screens!

Summer Camps

The Summer Writing Online Camp will take place Monday-Friday via Blackboard, SIUE’s online instructional content system. Live, online interaction and instruction will take place in the morning as well as interactive story prompts, video instruction, and other online content that can be accessed at any time during camp through Blackboard. All activities are independent, but will receive feedback from camp counselors in addition to daily instruction. The Summer Writing Online Camp is July 6-17 and is offered for students years 8-18. Due to the shift to an online format, the camp has been reduced to $25.

The Music and Technology Composition Camp will take place Monday-Friday, July 20-24, 9am to 2pm. This camp is for students entering grades 7-12 and will take place in SIUE’s Dunham Hall, Room 0194. Camp participants will receive instruction and guidance on writing pieces on computers, and will be able to experiment with MIDI instruments. Supplies and materials will be provided, and no previous experience with instruments or computers is required. Space for this camp is limited to 15 participants, and registration at least three weeks prior to camp is encouraged. The cost for this camp is $110.

SIUE has been working intentionally to serve online and distance students since the first online class was launched in 1998! While many things have changed in the online space since then, a focus on access, quality and service to students at SIUE has not. New federal regulations will soon be in effect and these new regulations ensure that schools provide students the most robust information to help them understand how earning SIUE degrees can help them seek professional licensure or certification in their field of study. “No longer is it the case that we can assume students should explore majors and ask questions about where certain degrees might lead them”, says Kimberly Kilgore J.D., Manager of Federal, State, and Licensure Compliance. “Schools are expected to help prospective students understand whether their degree will lead them where they want to go by providing detailed information about state licensure requirements."

SIUE joined the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) in 2016. Being a part of this collaborative allows SIUE to offer online education to students in other states and supports best practices for supporting online students. Kimberly Kilgore was hired in 2019 and her role is to continually guide campus leaders in following these new regulations with an eye toward ensuring equitable services, full access to online course content, and compliance with state and federal reporting regulations. “I am grateful for Kimberly’s contributions to online learning at SIUE” says Matt Schmitz, Associate Director of Online and Blended Education. “Serving our students and keeping our campus up to date with new regulations is an important of our role in shaping a changing world."

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.