Research funding is awarded to scientists who have the appropriate experience, vision, and state-of-the-art facilities with which to work. The importance of our commitment to faculty researchers and the quality of their facilities and resources cannot be overstated.

The College’s undergraduate programs focus on providing early opportunities to engage in research projects, thus creating an environment that uniquely prepares students for graduate and advanced study. Graduate degrees are becoming increasingly important not only to prepare students for the workplace but also for graduates to find positions in their chosen career fields. Graduate programs are associated with the University’s research centers for plant biology, electron microscopy, materials technology, wildlife research, fisheries, and aquaculture. The College seeks to strengthen and expand its graduate programs to offer additional technical, field, and laboratory research opportunities for our students. We strive to supply the needs of a scientifically trained workforce and a technologically literate populace.

In addition, the College’s outreach programs create a region-wide appreciation for the opportunities in the sciences and a forum to cultivate interest in the College among promising students in our secondary and elementary schools. As the College attempts to inspire and nurture younger students, it strengthens its relationship with schools and communities throughout the region.

Scholarship, endowment, and facilities support has never been more critical to our ability to provide the highest quality scientific education available. As part of the Opportunity Through Excellence Campaign for Southern, an unprecedented $100 million effort through the SIU Foundation, the College seeks to raise $3.5 million for the following purposes:

Endowed Scholarships
$750,000

Endowed scholarships help the College recruit and retain the most talented students and attain its enrollment goals. Endowment resources enable the school to meet commitments regardless of changes in other budget sources.

Graduate Fellowships
$250,000

Graduate fellowships provide the focused resources that enable exceptional graduate students to pursue specialized programs of study and research. Graduate fellowships are needed to nurture the next generation of researchers and educators.

Endowed Professorships and Chairs
$l.5 million

The College must compete for nationally recognized faculty. Endowed professorships and chairs offer support for salary, research, and professional presentations. Top quality researchers and educators are critical to our mission to provide an interactive learning environment.

Academic Excellence Programs
$500,000

Academic excellence programs allow the College to recognize exceptional effort and success. Students are often driven to do their best and most creative work when they are in competition with their peers for recognition and reward. The best and the brightest will rise to the challenge, and the standard for academic performance will gradually be raised for all students.

Facilities and Technology
$500,000

Investment in our facilities and enhanced technology is fundamental to our research aspirations. Classrooms, teaching laboratories, and research laboratories must be well equipped and up to date. Our facilities must be worthy of our distinguished faculty and serve as a continuing asset to the University’s research agenda.