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One of the best.  That’s how “The Princeton Review” ranks SIUC’s College of Business.  “The Best 301 Business Schools: 2010 Edition,” the newest annual business schools guidebook from The Princeton Review features the SIUC program and its profile.  The schools are not listed in order nor ranked within the “best 301.” Rather, the publication chose what it calls the 301 top programs on the basis of statistical information from universities coupled with opinions from more than 19,000 students in programs with accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.  Students gave SIUC an 85 ranking for its interesting professors and 65 ranking for accessible professors. Students participating in the surveys gave SIUC especially high marks for interactive classes, low student-to-faculty ratio and for preparing graduates for doing business in a global economy as well as for its actual programs, classes and environment.  Founded in 1957, the College of Business at SIUC currently has an enrollment of about 1,500 students.

A top civil engineering society is honoring an SIUC engineering professor and leader.  The American Society of Civil Engineers recently named John W. Nicklow as a fellow of the organization. The distinction is one of the highest offered by the ASCE, which is considered the flagship professional organization for civil engineers.  Nicklow is an associate dean of the College of Engineering and a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.  Naming someone as a fellow is the second-highest membership grade ASCE bestows on its members. It recognizes the members’ professional distinction and achievements, including their having at least 10 years of “exceptional responsible charge” in engineering and maintaining a professional engineer and land surveyor license.

In his sixth annual address to the University community, SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift delivered a status update of the University’s key goals set in 2004, while also reveling in the national attention SIUE has been attracting in the past few years. He pointed out that for the first time this year, U.S.News & World Report ranked SIUE nationally among 77 “up and coming schools firmly focused on improving the job they’re doing today.” In his report, Material Progress Toward National Recognition, Vandegrift presented encouraging news regarding SIUE and its future. He spoke in the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom on campus to about 400 members of the University community and guests. He said the University is now viewed as a first-choice, first-tier institution by its peers and was recognized nationally in 2006 by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) for its Senior Assignment program. The AAC&U called SIUE’s program an effective tool in gauging the comprehensiveness of academic offerings. Senior Assignment is required for all seniors at SIUE to demonstrate their degree of general education knowledge, as well as knowledge within their disciplines prior to graduation. In addition to the AAC&U, the program has been recognized by U.S. News for the past three years as a model for other institutions across the nation. In addition, Vandegrift pointed out, U.S. News has ranked SIUE in the top 15 public universities in the Midwest-Master’s category for the fourth consecutive year and also is ranked in the top one-third of all public and private Midwestern universities by the magazine. In his report, Vandegrift also examined the University’s progress on the three initial goals set in October 2004, which include aligning the University’s enrollment management program to attract a student population that is characteristic of a premier Metropolitan University; positioning the University as a premier Metropolitan University in the marketplace of ideas by establishing a brand in the higher education community; and developing the University’s resource base.

Nearly $50,000 was brought in as part of a special fundraising event on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to endow a scholarship fund for deserving students associated with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIUC.  The event honored Mike Lawrence, a veteran newsman, former press secretary to Gov. Jim Edgar and a noted political analyst who joined the institute in 1997 as associate director, and became director in 2004 following the death of founder and former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon. Contributions may be made online at www.paulsimoninstitute.org, by sending a check to the institute at 1231 Lincoln Dr., Mailcode 4429, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 or by calling (618)453-4001 to contribute using a credit card. Those who wish to send their stories about how Lawrence influenced their life can send it to the above address or send an email to dyepsen@siu.edu.

The SIUC Flying Salukis earned its own “three-peat” Saturday, Oct. 24, by capturing a third straight regional title at Lewis University in Romeoville.  The Flying Salukis finished first in five of nine events and utilized balanced scoring to easily win the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Region VIII championships, Oct. 20-24. The victory marks the first time dating back to at least 1980 that a school captured three consecutive regional championships.  The victory is also the 40th time in 41 years that the Flying Salukis qualify for NIFA’s national competition. The Flying Salukis have seven NIFA national titles — the last in 1985. The team’s recent history includes a fifth-place finish in May, fourth in 2005 and fifth in 2006.

The 2009 graduating class of the SIUE School of Pharmacy achieved a 97.26 percent passing rate on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) between May 1 and Aug. 1, nearly two percentage points above the national average for all those taking the exam. Pharmacy Dean Philip Medon said the rate during that time period included nearly all of the current graduating class. The NAPLEX examination is necessary to determine that a candidate for pharmacy licensing has the knowledge and skills required to safely and effectively practice pharmacy. The exam is required by all 50 state boards of pharmacy and is continually reviewed and revised by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to ensure the exam remains current with best pharmacy practices. Those taking the NAPLEX exam must show their ability to perform the following services competently: assure safe and effective pharmacotherapy and optimize therapeutic outcomes (this consists of 54 percent of the total exam); assure the safe and accurate preparation/dispensing of all medications (which covers another 35 percent of the exam); and the remaining 11 percent covers an exam candidate’s knowledge of health care information as well as proficiency in promoting public health. The state passing rate for all takers was 95.10 percent, while the pass rate for all takers at the national level was 95.03 percent. Overall, there were more than 10,000 examinees during the May 1-Aug. 1 time period.

Breaking down stereotypes, showing realities and bringing people together are among the goals of the Native American Heritage Month celebration at SIUC.  Throughout November, special films, guest speakers, entertaining events, artistry, traditional foods and much more, will help members of the campus community and community at large learn about those who trod this soil long before Columbus and the other explorers landed here.  Among the coming attractions is a mid-day performance by Cherokee recording artist Michael Jacobs on Nov. 13, the celebrated storytelling of Cherokee Robert Lewis the evening of Nov. 19 and W. Jackson Rushing III’s presentation about the life and work of the late Apache painter, sculptor and artisan Allan Houser on Nov. 16. Also featured will be Native American dance, song and artistry along with an interesting exhibit about the Trail of Tears.  For more information about Native American Heritage Month, contact Student Development-Multicultural Programs and Services, at (618)453-5714 or look online at www.stddev.siu.edu.

An SIUC civil engineering student is this year’s student laureate at the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.  Toni Whitfield, a senior from Johnston City, will represent SIUC with the honor during a Nov. 7 ceremony in Springfield. The Lincoln Academy of Illinois presents the award annually to one distinguished senior at each of Illinois’ four-year college and universities, as well as to one student from each of the state’s community colleges.  Award winners receive a medallion of Lincoln, a certificate of merit and a small stipend. The award goes to those students who show overall excellence in their fields of study and also a commitment to worthy extracurricular activities.  Whitfield is on track to graduate in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and minors in mathematics and business administration.  A member of the University track and field and cross-country teams, Whitfield is a Wrophas and Dianne Meeks Athletic Scholar.   Whitfield also is also involved in many student organizations and is the recipient of numerous honors.

In mid-October, Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation putting about $200 million back into the state's budget — roughly $4.5 million of which will directly benefit SIUE students. The money will support the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP), which helps more than 138,000 students across the state pay for college each year, according to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the organization that administers the funding. Over the last month, Quinn visited several college campuses across the state in support of reinstating the funding. Thousands of students representing Illinois' colleges and universities turned out at rallies, some offering testimonials and others supporting friends who benefit from the program.

Fourteen faculty members at the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield and Carbondale are the recipients of grants from the National Institutes of Health through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for their research projects.  The grants, which total $2,606,950, are being awarded to various projects. Some of the grants are for expansion of existing projects and others are for new research efforts.  Most of the awardees are research scientists, working in Springfield and Carbondale. Several are members of the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute research team. The funds are to be used for hiring personnel and purchasing supplies and equipment.

A $250,000 National Institutes of Health grant will help an assistant professor in the SIUE School of Pharmacy study the effectiveness of new drugs in treating Alzheimer's disease. The funding will be available from now until 2011 for Ken Witt, assistant professor of pharmaceutical science. Witt will investigate the use of novel drugs to encourage the breakdown of amyloid beta accumulation. This accumulation is associated with a reduction or reversal in the ability to learn, as well as memory loss that is characteristic with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that diminishes patients' memories and cognitive abilities. The disease progression is due to the dysfunction and death of neurons as a result of the amyloid beta accumulation.

The ticket office in Saluki Athletics has seats available for upcoming road games at Southeast Missouri State and the University of Nevada Las Vegas.  The football team plays at SEMO in the regular-season finale on Nov. 21 in a game that could have playoff implications. Tickets for the game are $8.  The men's basketball team travels to UNLV on Nov. 21 and to SEMO on Dec. 9. Prices are $14 for the tickets to both destinations.  Tickets can be purchased in person at the Saluki ticket office or by calling 1-877-SALUKIS.