News

For the third consecutive term, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has posted an enrollment increase. SIUE’s overall enrollment for spring 2026 increased by 6.5% to 11,932 when including continuing, first-time, transfer and early college students. This is SIUE’s highest overall enrollment for spring since the Spring 2022 semester.

Through intentional dual enrollment/dual credit partnerships, SIUE has strengthened the pathway to college, resulting in more than 500 high school student...

SIUE freshman Lauren miller has earned Ohio Valley conference women's basketball freshman of the week honors for the fifth time this season. She is the first student-athlete in SIUE women's basketball program history to receive the award more than four time in a single season. 

Miller was one of two scoring leaders against Tennessee State (Jan. 22) with 15 points, she also added three rebounds and four assists. She was also one of four athletes scoring double-digits against Tennessee Tech (Ja...

SIUE baseball junior Ryan Niedzwiedz(North Aurora, Illinois) has been selected as the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year by D1Baseball.com as part of its OVC Season Preview.

The college baseball news outlet also tabbed SIUE for a third-place finish in the OVC.

Niedzwiedz was an All-OVC first team selection as a sophomore in 2025 after finishing the season 10th in the league with a .332 batting average. He was second on the team with 66 hits and was third on the team with 46 ...

SIUE women's tennis swept the first week of play and earned Ohio Valley Conference honors for singles and doubles.

Elena Palioura was named the OVC Singles Player of the Week. Margaux Guibal Britt and Cydney Rogers were selected as the OVC Doubles Team of the Week.

Paliouri, a sophomore from Thessaloniki, Greece, was 2-0 for the week with No. 2 singles victories over Illinois-Springfield's Cristina Mendoza Romero 6-1, 6-0 and Valparaiso's Lacey Tanner 6-1, 6-3.

Guibal Britt, a senior from R...

Students, faculty, staff and community members gathered Wednesday, Jan. 21, in the Meridian Ballroom at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for the 43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Luncheon, highlighted by a keynote address from Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, award-winning author, educator and global voice for human rights. The event blended artistic performances, community recognition and reflection on Dr. King’s legacy, with Shabazz calling on attendees to embrace unity, healin...

SIUE wrestling made a big leap in the Mid-American Conference rankings this month.

Provided by WrestleStat, the team and individual rankings will continue throughout the season.

As a team, SIUE moved into the No. 3 spot in the 12-team conference after previously being ranked sixth.

Three SIUE wrestlers lead their respective weight classes. Marcel Lopez (133), Caleb Tyus (149) and Brock Woodcock (165) are ranked No. 1 in their weight class.

Other Cougars' rankings include Drew Davis (125/9t...

On Jan. 13, Illinois State Rep. Kevin Schmidt, of the 114th district visited Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s WE CARE Clinic on the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus (WHYHEC) in East St. Louis to explore its holistic healthcare services, including its community outreach an d training models focused on underserved populations in Madison and St. Clair counties.

Rep. Schmidt toured the clinic’s medical, dental, and community resource facilities and met with the faculty and st...

On Jan. 15, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Cougar Cupboard hosted its third annual winter clothing giveaway, drawing more than a hundred students in the SIUE community. The “Sharing the Warmth at SIUE” donation and giveaway took place in the Goshen Lounge in Morris University Center. 

“This is our third consecutive year, and this is our biggest turnout and the biggest donation that we’ve ever received,” stated Lealia Williams, Student Care and Advocacy Coordinator in the SIUE Off...

SIUE softball's Avery Arwood has been honored by D1Softball.com as a member of the 2026 Preseason Mid-Major Top 100 Player Rankings.

Arwood, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from St. Joseph, Michigan, was named the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and was a first team All-OVC selection.

She led the 2025 Cougars in victories (11) and earned run average (3.08). Arwood fanned a team-leading 83 in 132 2/3 innings pitched. She tossed three shutouts among her 24 starts.

The Mid-Ma...

The Ohio Valley Conference announced their track and field indoor watch list Tuesday. Tanner Emerson returns as the reigning OVC Men's 3000m indoor champion after winning the title last season with a personal best time of 8:21.36.

SIUE also had four athletes named to the OVC Indoor Track and Field Athletes to watch list.

Konrad Sacha was named the men's indoor track athlete to watch. Sacha posted a personal best time of 7.18 in the 60m at the Saluki Fast Start last season and went on to plac...

It’s time for prospective students and their guests to experience life as a Cougar this spring at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Two Preview SIUE events, slated for Saturday, Feb. 21, and Saturday, March 28, give students the opportunity to see everything the University has to offer.

Designed for high school and transfer students, Preview SIUE events bring the University experience to life through academic program exploration, faculty and student engagement, and a first-hand loo...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has hired Bill Cross, MBA, as the new Facilities Management Director, effective January  20. Cross is an alumnus (‘09) who earned his bachelor’s degree in computer management information systems. He comes to the role with extensive experience as a leader in executive-level facilities operations and strategic asset management.

“I am excited about joining the Facilities department at SIUE. Facilities operations are the foundation of the university experie...

As the first week of classes marked the launch of the spring semester, several offices within the Enrollment Management division came together for a final day in the Morris University Center to offer services in a centralized location for students.

“We centralized enrollment services to create a single, coordinated point of contact for students — reducing the need for students to go to multiple locations, improving outreach, and delivering a more consistent, seamless experience for both incom...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty, students and programs continue to receive regional and national media coverage for their expertise, innovation and community engagement. Recent stories highlight SIUE’s presence in major news outlets, student-led initiatives, and applied learning with real-world impact.

1. SIUE faculty expertise cited by The New York Times and River Radius Podcast
   
   Adriana Martinez, PhD, associate professor of political science, was cited in a New York Times artic...

SIUE freshman Lauren Miller has received Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball freshman of the week honors for the fourth time this season. She is now one of three athletes that have received this honor four times in one season. 

Miller had a strong performance against both Lindenwood (Jan. 6) and Little Rock (Jan. 8), posting ten points in each game. Against the Lions she made 60 percent of her shots from the free throw line and 50 percent of her shots from three-point range. Later she m...

SIUE men's basketball's Jan. 22 contest, where it will play host to Tennessee State at First Community Arena, has been selected for national television. The Cougars and Tigers will meet on ESPNU with a scheduled tipoff time of 8 p.m.

For the fourth-straight year the League is utilizing a Wild Card selection process to determine the linear broadcasts, with selections determined and announced approximate two weeks before the competition date to ensure the best matchups.

Since the Wild Card sel...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will reopen its Centralized Enrollment Services, a convenient one-stop option for students to finalize enrollment and get connected before classes begin. Dedicated SIUE staff will be stationed in Morris University Center (MUC) to offer support to ensure the continued academic success of the record number of enrolled students for academic year 2025-26.

From Thursday, Jan. 8 through Wednesday, Jan. 14, including weekend hours on both Saturday and Sunday...

As the New Year progresses, it’s time for prospective and admitted students to set goals and envision the next steps in their educational journeys. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville invites these individuals and their guests to add a campus visit to their calendars this spring.

“Whether you are just beginning the college search process or have already narrowed your list to your top schools, visiting campus is one of the surest ways to help you decide if that college is the right fit,”...

 
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville communications team ends the year with a look back at 2025 with images from University photographer Howard Ash.

The recorded events in order of appearance are as follows: 

• 42nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Luncheon keynote speaker Donzaleigh Abernathy, activist and author, goddaughter of Dr. King
• Faculty and Alumni perform with the SIUE Concert Jazz Band during An Evening with The Chancellor at Jazz St. Louis 
• For the first...

SIUE graduate student Syanne Mohamed (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) had been named as the Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week.

Mohamed played 31 minutes in the game against Valparaiso Dec. 12. She went 7-10 from the field putting up 14 points. She also grabbed eight rebounds, and had four blocks. 

The Cougars (7-3) open up Ohio Valley Conference play on Thursday on the road at Eastern Illinois. 

SIUE freshman Iwo Baganc (Poznan, Poland) has  been selected as the Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball Freshman of the Week.

Baganc played just under 12 minutes in Sunday's win over Eureka but scored a career-best 10 points while shooting 4-5 from the field. He scored the last eight points of the game for the Cougars including break-away dunks on three consecutive possessions. He added three rebounds and a steal.

In four games this season, he has averaged 6.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in ...

On Wednesday the Ohio Valley Conference announced that the SIUE volleyball program earned the 2025 Team Sportsmanship Award.

Voted on by the student-athletes and coaches of the respective sports, the team awards are bestowed upon the Conference squads deemed to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA. Included in the areas for evaluation are the conduct of student-athletes, coaches, staff, administrators and fans.

The 2025-26 sc...

In celebration of the centennial of Route 66, SIUE Athletics is proud to announce the department's first alternate identity. At various times during the 2026 calendar year, beginning on New Year's Day with men's and women's basketball, SIUE will compete as the SIUE 66ers.

The SIUE 66ers will compete with a new logo and color scheme including red, grey, and yellow. Each of SIUE's 16 intercollegiate teams will compete as the 66ers at least once during 2026, with a full schedule to be released a...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville staff served 535 students in under an hour during a late night breakfast to fuel up for finals. The annual tradition took place the night of Sunday, Dec. 7 in Morris University Center.

Make it a great finals week, Cougars!

Photos by Howard Ash

SIUE senior forward Ring Malith has been named the Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball Player of the Week after a pair of standout performances.

Ring Malith was the offensive leader for the Cougars, and the catalyst in the comeback win Monday at North Florida. Malith recorded his first 30-point game with a career-high 31 points, while adding 10 rebounds for his seventh career double-double.

He sparked the Cougars to an 18-2 run to finish the game and scored the final nine points of the c...

Greece, Iceland, Guatemala, El Salvador. These are just a few of the remote locations available for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s faculty-led travel study program. Locations such as Mexico City for sociology research and Peru for a course titled Honors, Business and International Studies are a sample of the opportunities SIUE’s faculty experts have on the 2026 schedule.

Johanna Schmitz, PhD, professor of Theatre History in SIUE’s Department of Theater and Dance, will lead the 20-d...

Proctor received Ohio Valley Conference freshman of the week honors for her first time this season.  

In her game against Evansville, she recorded 16 points on 6-12 shooting adding four rebounds, four assists and three steals going 2-2 from the free throw line. 

The Cougars take on Calumet College Thursday at 6 p.m.

SIUE freshman Lauren Miller has been named the Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball freshman of the week for the second time this season.

Miller had 17 points with seven rebounds and five assists over the last two games. She recorded a career-high four rebounds for the Cougars in their game against Indiana State.

The Cougars take on Evansville tonight at 6 pm in First Community Arena.

SIUE Women's Basketball delivered both a win and a memorable community moment on Wednesday, Nov. 19, defeating Indiana State 81–71 in front of a packed arena full of more than 1,500 local students for SIUE’s annual Education Day game.

With the stands overflowing with young fans from 11 different schools, the Cougars were powered by a remarkable performance from freshman standout Kiyoko Proctor, who led all scorers with 26 points while providing 2 rebounds and 4 assists. Her toughness and e...

SIUE sits atop all NCAA Division I athletic programs for Graduation Success Rates (GSR), ranking #1 nationally among public institutions in the annual report released by the NCAA on Wednesday. In the metric that tracks academic success among Division I student-athletes, SIUE is tied for first among public institutions and tied for 17th nationally.

The GSR for SIUE student-athletes in the cohort is 97 overall. Seven SIUE programs earned a perfect score of 100 in the latest Graduation Success R...

On November 17, Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) announced that Illinois public universities have reached their highest enrollment level in ten years, referencing the IBHE annual report, “First Look Fall Enrollment, 2025-26 Illinois Public Universities.” The report highlights historic momentum in Illinois higher education where SIUE stands out as one of the state’s top performers.  
 
Within this surge, SIUE recorded one of the largest undergraduate enrollment inc...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville welcomed a record crowd of prospective students and their guests to campus for Preview SIUE, providing an engaging and hands-on introduction to academic programs, student life, and the vibrant Cougar community.

Hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the event, held on Saturday, Nov. 8, drew more than 100 additional student registrants than previous programs.

"With the rapidly changing higher education environment and the expected decline i...

SIUE freshman Lauren Miller has been named the Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball freshman of the week after scoring 44 points over the Cougars last three games. 

Miller had a career-high 25 points and nine rebounds in the game against Eastern Kentucky, and led the team in both categories.

She also had a strong game against Northwestern with 11 points and six rebounds. 

The Cougars will return to First Community Arena to take on Indiana State Nov. 19th at 10 a.m.

Four SIUE men's soccer players have been named to All-Ohio Valley Conference teams announced Friday by the league.

Wes Gibson, Evan Howard and Carles Zomeño have each earned First Team honors while Howard joined freshman goalkeeper Noah Scheidweiler on the All-Newcomer team.

For Gibson the honor marks the third consecutive All-OVC selection. Gibson played all but a handful of minutes over the course of the season. He played all 90 minutes in 15 of 17 games. Despite his defensive position, he...

Four students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Computer Science have been selected to present their research at the 14th International Conference on Complex Networks and Their Applications this December. The annual conference is one of the premier international gatherings in the field, bringing together researchers who study how systems in nature, technology and society can be represented and understood through networks.

Representing SIUE are fourth-year studen...

SIUE women's cross country finished in fifth place out of 11 teams in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship. This is the highest the women's team has ever placed since joining the OVC in 2012.

Christy Muldrew finished the women's 6k in third place with a time of 21:11.42, setting a new program record and beating her previous personal best (21:31.60).

This third-place finish is the highest an individual runner has place in the OVC championship for SIUE women's cross country. The last highes...

Assistant Majority Leader Katie Stuart, who chairs the Illinois House Higher Education Committee and represents the 112th District, returned to her alma mater Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Wednesday, Oct. 22 to talk about college affordability, student access and the state’s role in sustaining public higher education.

The presentation was part of the Office of Online Services and Educational Outreach’s Lifelong Learning Series in the Morris University Center’s Mississippi/Illinoi...

SIUE women's soccer standouts Sarah Bozeman and Claire Nieroda earned All-Newcomer awards Wednesday from the Ohio Valley Conference.

Bozeman, a junior goalkeeper from O'Fallon, Missouri, was among OVC leaders in saves with 89 and posted a 2.10 goals against average in 17 contests. During OVC play, she posted four shutouts and grabbed 40 saves.

Nieroda, a freshman midfielder from O'Fallon, Illinois, led the Cougars in shots on goal with 18 and tied for the team lead in overall shots with 35. ...

 
The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s student news organization, recently won 18 national awards during MediaFest 25, the annual convention for student journalists and industry professionals sponsored by the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association, held this year in Washington, D.C.

The Alestle won first place in five CMA Pinnacle Awards — Arts and Entertainment Story (Audio/Video): Tahzive Avi Islam; Investigative Story: Dylan Hembrough, Brandi Spann and...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will open registration for Winter Session and Spring 2026 later this month.

Registration for Spring 2026 will roll out by class level beginning Monday, October 27, and continuing into early November. Registration opens for all students, including visiting students, Thursday, November 6. Registration begins each day at 10 a.m. For complete registration information, visit siue.edu/register.

“Current SIUE students must schedule an advising appointment b...

SIUE men's soccer redshirt junior midfielder Zach Renz was named as the newest recipient of the prestigious Jack Blake Award.

Renz is the 26th recipient of the award, named for SIUE Hall of Famer Jack Blake. Renz has appeared in 41 career games, including all 33 over the last two seasons.

Thursday, Renz netted his first career goal, the game-winner, in a 1-0 win over Houston Christian at Korte Stadium.

First presented in 1997, the award is named for SIUE Hall of Famer Jack Blake, who was a ...

This past weekend SIUE welcomed nearly 600 prospective undergraduate students and family members to campus for Preview Day.

Attendees included students from surrounding high schools as well as a group from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. Andy Benoit, EdD, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management, met students and families and said, “The energy was inspiring as they engaged with our University community, explored our programs, and discovered all that we have to offer.”

Visitors...

With pearls gleaming, jazz humming and flappers dancing on the balcony, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Meridian Society ushered in a night to remember with A Golden Age Celebration and a sold-out opening of the play “The Great Gatsby,” honoring 50 years of SIUE’s Department of Theater and Dance.

The Dunham Hall Lobby and Theater shimmered Wednesday evening as guests enjoyed a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception, with opening remarks from Ethel Shanklin, EdD, President of the Me...

Cougar fans can get their first look at the SIUE women's basketball team at an open practice Friday October 17 at First Community Arena.

Fans can view one of the final workouts for the Cougars as well as hear from Head Coach Samantha Smith and select players during the practice.

Doors open at 5 pm with practice beginning at 5:30 p.m. and last until approximately 6:30 p.m.

Portions of Eddieville will also be open for the showcase, allowing fans to enjoy some light snacks and drinks.

Followi...

SIUE men's basketball will kick off the 2025-26 season with a special exhibition game on Sunday, October 26 at 1 PM, at First Community Arena. The contest against St. Ambrose marks the Cougars' first appearance of the new campaign and a historic moment as SIUE raises its first Ohio Valley Conference Championship banner. 

The celebration honors the Cougars' remarkable 2024-25 season, in which they captured the program's first OVC title and became the first SIUE men's basketball team to earn a ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host the Illinois Association for College Admissions Counseling Illinois Regional College Fair (IRCF) from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, in the Meridian Ballroom at Morris University Center. This event, held on the Edwardsville campus, is free and open to all high school and transfer students, along with their families and guests.

Nearly 100 colleges and universities from across the country will be represented at the IRCF, giving students the chan...

A new era in higher education admissions has arrived in Illinois with the launch of the One Click College Admit program, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is proud to be among the first universities to participate.

Governor JB Pritzker and state education leaders announced the initiative on August 19, offering Illinois students a simpler, barrier-free path to higher education. For the first time, high school seniors and community college transfer students can receive automatic ...

Free Athletic Wear and Sport Equipment Giveaway Received Well by Students

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville wants students to not only benefit from its many recreational and sporting activities, but to look and feel good while doing it. 

More than 50 students attended the Athletic Wear and Sports Equipment Giveaway on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the SIUE Wellness Center. The drive was organized and hosted by the SIUE Campus Recreation and the SIUE Cougar Cupboard. Some of the items given a...

Margaux Guibal Britt and Stefaniya Anikina teamed up to win the A Flight final Sunday at the Ohio Valley Conference Fall Invitational.

The duo's 6-3 victory over Bryant's Natalie Vela and Maria Jose Diaz won the title and punched their tickets to San Diego, California, for the ITA Conference Masters Championship (Nov. 6-9) at the Barnes Tennis Center.

"Margaux and Stefaniya have played at a high level all fall," said SIUE Head Coach Adam Albertsen. "To take the OVC title and qualify for the ...

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has opened ahead of schedule for the 2026-2027 academic year and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is encouraging all current and incoming students to file their application early in order to maximize potential financial aid and not miss out on time-sensitive funding.

The FAFSA determines federal, state, and institutional aid eligibility, and timing is important depending on the type of financial aid that a student hopes to receive. Stu...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has received reaffirmation of accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), following a rigorous, University-wide review process including a successful on-site evaluation earlier this spring. The HLC visiting peer-review team found no areas of concern and affirmed that SIUE meets all five Criteria for Accreditation, including all core components and federal compliance standards.

With this outstanding outcome, SIUE will continue its positive a...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville kicked off National Consent Awareness Week with its first-ever “Break the Ice with Consent” event on Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the Stratton Quad. Hosted by the Office of Equal Opportunity, Access & Title IX Coordination (EOA), the event featured free shave ice from Edwardsville-owned Mahalo Shave Ice, interactive peer-led discussions on consent, and campus and community resources.

Students came out on the sunny day to interact with one another, pick up ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s enrollment is growing in the face of changing demographics and increased competition for new students. Fall 2025 undergraduate degree-seeking enrollment increased by 5.7%. SIUE’s overall enrollment increased by 7.7% to 12,813 when including continuing, first-time, transfer and early college students. SIUE has outlined intentional efforts to engage high school students early through dual enrollment/dual credit partnerships to strengthen the pathway to...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville continues to foster future leaders through outstanding academic programs and dedicated faculty. Each semester, undergraduate students who achieve remarkable academic performance are recognized on the Dean’s List.

To qualify, students must complete at least 12 graded credit hours and earn a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher (an A is valued at 4.0 and a B at 3.0).

The full list of honorees for summer 2025 is available on the SIUE News Dean’...

SIUE senior forward Evan Howard has been named the Ohio Valley Conference men's soccer Player of the Week after scoring his first two goals as a Cougar this past weekend.

Evan scored in each of SIUE's two weekend games, a 2-1 win at Air Force and a 2-1 loss at No. 21 Denver.

He scored the first goal of the game at Air Force, before the Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the eventual victory. On Sunday, he converted on a penalty kick which tied the game at 1-1 at No. 21 Denver.

Howard's two goals, f...

The best way to imagine your future as a Cougar at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is to see it for yourself.

SIUE invites prospective students, their families, and guests to discover what the University has to offer by scheduling a campus visit this fall.

“Finding the right university starts with a campus visit,” said Alicia Taylor, associate director of admissions in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. “SIUE has wonderful academic programs and resources to support student succe...

Elizabeth “Liz” Barnes, MHS., community outreach navigator at the Southwestern Illinois Justice & Workforce Development Campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has been selected for the 2025-26 Leadership Belleville class. Hosted by the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce, the distinguished nine-month program brings together top professionals to enhance leadership skills and community engagement.

Leadership Belleville brings together a cohort of top professionals from across the...