College of Applied Sciences and Arts | Forever SIU | SIU

With growing urgency, the national conversation on higher education has focused on how our universities can prepare students for success in a complex, changing global economy. As it happens, at SIU’s College of Applied Sciences and Arts, we have been answering that question convincingly for years. Our nationally recognized programs of study are highly responsive to industry needs, and our graduates leave us consistently well prepared for career success.

The college’s 18 undergraduate and 6 graduate programs are offered through four schools: Allied Health, Architecture, Information Systems and Applied Technologies, and Transportation. Students pursue degrees ranging from aviation technology to health informatics, from interior design to radiological sciences.

Several strengths link all of these diverse programs. The first is hands-on learning. Our students acquire the skills they will need by practicing them — whether it’s providing dental services for children, underserved adults and veterans; offering design assistance to families rebuilding their homes after a deadly tornado; or through valuable internships and externships. Visit our $63 million Transportation Education Center, complete with its fleet of 66 aircraft and over 120 modern training cars and trucks — and you will see just how hands-on a 21^st century education can be.

Another hallmark of our college is responsiveness and adaptability. We have always taken pride in our connection with industry. As a result of this connection, we are on the scene as changes happen. Our faculty members don’t wait for the next textbook; we bring emerging ideas straight into our classrooms, labs and studios.

The greatest strength that defines our college, however, lies in personal connections. Our programs focus on technology and professional skills, but the ingredient that makes an education here such a powerful experience is the commitment of our faculty to their students and the relationships that develop as result.

Evidence of the quality of our programs takes many forms. Here are just a few examples:

• Our Student Web Development team recently finished third in the nation at the Association for Information Technology Professionals (AITP) National College Conference and Career Fair.
• Our “Security Dawgs” team finished second in the 2017 Midwest Regional College Cyber Defense Competition.
• Our nine-time national champion Flying Salukis continue to lead the way in collegiate-level national aviation competitions.
• Our Information Systems and Applied Technologies’ cybersecurity curriculum is certified by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security — and was among the first programs nationally to earn this credential.
• Students in dental hygiene, dosimetry and radiation therapy have all achieved outstanding pass rates on national accrediting exams.

At the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, we are looking to the future determined to build on our many successes and provide our students with an even more solid professional preparation. We will do so by focusing funding in several key areas of priority with the help of new philanthropic investments.

Increased Scholarships

At the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, we create opportunities by connecting hard- working students to great futures. In many cases, these students are first-generation college attendees or from disadvantaged backgrounds. In all cases, the first and most important opportunity we can provide them is the chance to enroll at SIU and earn a degree that will lead to career success. The key support is in the form of scholarships.

Scholarships allow students to enroll who otherwise might not be able to and also help lower the burden of debt they take on. For many of our students, scholarship availability can mean the difference between continuing working toward their careers or putting their futures on hold. For our donors, supporting increased scholarship funding is an opportunity to invest directly in student success.

Expanded Opportunities

From internships to the chance to take part in state or national competitions, the experiences our students gain outside of the classroom can be as integral to their development as those in the classroom. Our goal is to make sure more of our students can afford to benefit from these outstanding experiences. This means making funds available to help with travel expenses, to free a student for a summer from the need for paid employment, or even just to provide assistance with the fees for licensing exams.

Enhanced Facilities and Resources

The college works to ensure that our students learn with the same state-of-the-industry equipment and tools they will encounter on the job when they graduate. To meet this goal, we are seeking funding to make technology upgrades to teaching labs and to update and replace medical equipment used in our health professions programs. We are also focused on several major projects important to support our programs of study: building a crematorium for our mortuary science program, upgrading our aviation fleet and supporting improvements to the Data Research and Education Center.