EIU Graduate School

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www.eiu.edu/~housing/: This web site provides an application for the residence halls. Applications are also available from the University Housing and Dining Services Office.  University Residence Halls and Dining Services are designed to provide for the student’s education outside of the classroom.  The basic philosophy is the development of the total student.  Professionally educated resident directors are available in each of the residence halls to aid in the residents’ adjustment both to group living and to the University.  Most residence hall rooms are designed for double occupancy although singles and triples are available, as are the four- and six-person suites in Stevenson Hall.  The following lists the maximum capacity of each hall:

Application for admission to the University does not constitute an application for housing. Residence hall accommodations are granted on a priority basis, determined by the date of housing application and deposit and the student’s year in school.

Residence Hall Fees

Housing Deposit
A $50 non-refundable housing application fee must accompany the residence hall application.  The deposit will be held by the University as a damage fee and a guarantee of contract fulfillment.  Twenty-five dollars of the deposit is an application fee and is non-refundable even if a student is not admitted to the University.  Twenty-five dollars of the deposit will be refunded upon written request and in accordance with the terms of the contract.

Family/Graduate Student Housing

University Apartments consist of 100 one-bedroom and 54 efficiency apartments.  All utilities including local telephone, direct internet service, and cable television are furnished by the University and are included in the rental rate.  The apartments are designed to provide inexpensive living facilities for families, single graduate students, and non-traditional students.

2007-2008 rates are as follows: $1902 per semester for a one-and-one-half-room furnished apartment; $2000 per semester for a two-room apartment; $1780 per semester for a super efficiency apartment. Additional information is available at: www.eiu.edu/~housing.

All assignments are made on the basis of date of application for housing according to the eligibility requirements listed below.  A $125 deposit, which includes a $25 non-refundable application fee, must accompany the application form.

The eligibility requirements are:

• Applications from student families and single graduate students are considered first.
• To be eligible to live in University Apartments, an applicant must be enrolled in at least nine undergraduate or six graduate semester hours.  If a resident drops below the minimum semester hours, the contract will be cancelled.
• Applicants must prove their eligibility for a University Apartment assignment by providing the Office of University Housing and Dining Services with a certified courthouse copy of their marriage license. A minister’s copy or a Xerox copy without the appropriate seal will not be acceptable. In the case of students with dependent children, a certified copy of the child’s (or children’s) birth certificate will be required.  Domestic partners must complete the University’s Domestic Partner Agreement. The above-mentioned information is required prior to assignment.
• When all eligible applicants who are student families and single graduate students have been assigned, consideration will be given to single undergraduates who have either completed 90 semester hours or are at least 25 years of age.

University Court

www.eiu.edu/~housing/: This web site provides rental rate amounts. University Court, a University-owned apartment complex composed of 145 apartments in 11 separate buildings, offers apartment living for sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students.  Rental rates for University Court apartments do not include the cost of electricity or water.  Local telephone service, direct Internet service, cable television basic service, and trash removal are included.  To apply for an apartment in University Court, contact the apartment office, located in University Court, at 581-8000 or stop by between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

www.eiu.edu/~acatest/: Academic Assessment and Testing provides information and registration materials for national tests such as the ACT Assessment (ACT), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and Miller Analogies Test (MAT).  In cooperation with faculty bodies, the office is responsible for administering the University-wide program of assessment of student learning outcomes. The phone number is (217) 581-5986.

www.eiu.edu/~disablty/: In accordance with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the ADA of 1990, all students with disabilities admitted to the University are provided as nearly as possible with an educational experience equivalent to that provided for all other students. The University wishes to make any reasonable accommodation to allow participation in collegiate life by those persons broadly defined as disabled. Students who believe they may need assistance should contact the Assistant Director of the Office of Disability Services for answers to questions concerning accommodations, auxiliary learning aids, and physical accessibility. Students will be required to submit diagnostic information regarding the disability so that the most appropriate accommodation can be arranged.

Students should contact the Assistant Director as soon as they have decided to enroll at the University so that documentation can be completed before an accommodation is required. In every case in which accommodation is requested, advance notification is recommended to ensure that timely arrangements can be made. All records of disability are maintained in strictest confidentiality. The telephone number is (217) 581-6583.

http://www.eiu.edu/careers/: Career Services, located in the Human Services Building, assists students and alumni in the areas of career planning as well as job placement. The offices provides individual career counseling, workshops, job fairs, and online services that provide job listings, internship opportunities, and job search resources. Career Services maintains a close liaison with hiring representatives from education, business, industry, and government in order to provide the latest professional networks and hiring information to students.

Most services are free of charge, including the Career Library, job fairs, individual counseling, and portions of the online resources. A minimal fee is required for full service registration that provides total access to the online job database and for participation in campus interviews. Full service registration should be initiated early in the graduate curriculum so that full service access can be used throughout the graduate degree period.

www.eiu.edu/~civil/: The Office of Civil Rights, Affirmative Action, and Diversity (1011 Old Main) protects the civil rights of all students, faculty, and staff. Discrimination against any individual on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, veteran status, and sexual orientation, as well as sexual harassment, are prohibited by civil rights laws. The Office will assist any individual who feels that these rights have been violated.

The Office provides education to the campus on issues relating to cultural diversity and to sexual harassment, and regularly holds class presentations, training workshops, and discussions on these issues for faculty, staff, residence assistants and students.

www.eiu.edu/~counsctr/: The Counseling Center provides free, confidential services to enrolled students struggling with personal issues. Concerns frequently presented by students include relationship problems, depression, being overwhelmed by feelings of anxiety and stress, eating disorders, and difficulty adjusting to university life. Counselors also provide crisis intervention to students experiencing psychological emergencies and consult with parents, faculty, and staff who are concerned about a student’s well being.

The Counseling Center is staffed by a caring, diverse group of psychologists and counselors who are dedicated to helping students derive maximum benefit from their experiences at EIU. The telephone number is (217) 581-3413.

www.library.eiu.edu: A comprehensive program of Library Services is offered to students, faculty and citizens of Illinois. Visit the above website for the most current status of services and collections and a wealth of electronic publications. Booth Library, the general library of the University, is named in honor of Miss Mary Josephine Booth, who served as Head Librarian at Eastern from 1904 to 1945.

The library collection consists of more than 1,105,756 cataloged volumes, approximately 500,000 microtexts, as well as maps, music scores, and pamphlets selected to support the University’s educational mission. The government documents collection includes United States and Illinois State publications. Booth Library is also home to the Coles Ballenger Teachers Center housing K-12 curriculum materials, an extensive juvenile collection, and a variety of non-print materials related to teachers and teaching. Leisure reading interests are served through materials from the general book, serial, and newspaper collections, as well as the latest best sellers, films, and popular materials. The general book collection and the periodicals collection are arranged according to the Library of Congress classification scheme.

Booth Library’s public catalog is part of I-Share, the statewide network of 76 Illinois libraries. Additional electronic systems provide online access to a variety of periodical and subject databases. For the university community, interlibrary loan services supplement Booth Library’s resources by making available materials that are owned by other libraries. I-Share and the EIU Online Catalog may be accessed from the library’s website.

Reference Services provides professional help to students and faculty in their use of the library and its resources. The Reference department provides individualized assistance, instructional materials, orientation tours, and (by appointment) specialized research clinics. Web, phone, and fax access may be used to contact Reference staff.

Library Technology Services provides students with non-print media materials, open computer labs, and technology training workshops. The department makes available non-print materials such as sound recordings, CDs, DVDs, and videos. Study carrels equipped for independent viewing and listening are provided in the area, as well as rooms for group studying. The open computer labs have many computers for patron use, equipped with a variety of software packages and Internet applications. Library Technology Services provides the university community with computer training and technology workshops in its E-Classroom.

Circulation Services will assist you in charging out and returning materials to Booth Library or other libraries in Illinois. Library materials must be returned when due to avoid fines. All library fines and charges must be paid promptly. Failure to do so could result in the loss of borrowing privileges throughout the statewide library system, and an unclear academic record may result.

The library staff invites you to use the facilities for work, study, research, and recreational reading. Librarians are available to provide personal assistance to all library users, assist in locating materials or find information, and instruct in efficient use of electronic resources. Always ask the library staff when you cannot locate something or when you need help in getting started on a research project.

Library Hours

Fall/Spring Semesters
Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 12 noon –1:00 a.m.

Summer Term
Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 2 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Persons calling (217) 581-6423 may obtain a list of library hours by recorded message, which is updated each Friday. During academic vacation periods, library services usually are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A calendar of the library’s hours of operation is published annually and made available in both print form and on the library’s website.

www.eiu.edu/~health/: The Health Service, located in the Human Services Building, provides full- and part-time students with outpatient medical services. Departments within the Health Service consist of Primary Care, Women’s Health, Nursing Triage (including Tel-A-Nurse telephone triage), Preventive Medicine, Laboratory, X-ray, Pharmacy and Health Education Resource Center.

Services are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; a nurse is available on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  During the summer, Health Service is available between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to noon on Friday. The cost of visits to the Health Service and use of the pharmacy is supplemented by the “Health Service” student fee, with minimal charges for some services, equipment and/or medications.  Services available to students at the Health Service include:  medical treatment, exams and consultation, laboratory and x-ray procedures, x-ray copies, pharmacy services, over-the-counter medications, non-returnable medical supplies, TB testing, flu shots, allergy injections, women’s health exams and consultation services, STI exams, immunizations, ECG, health information, programs and student involvement through peer education programs.  Please contact the Health Service for additional information, (217) 581-3013.

http://www.eiu.edu/~commdis/clinical_services.php: The Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic is housed on the second floor of the Human Services Building. Under faculty supervision, senior and graduate students majoring in Communication Disorders and Sciences obtain required clinical practice by working with speech-language-hearing impaired adults and children. A full range of diagnostic and treatment services is available. Diagnostic services include assessment of speech, language, and hearing processes. Treatment services for speech, language, hearing disorders including aural rehabilitation, and classes for reduction of foreign accent are provided. The services are available to University students and to children and adults in East Central Illinois. Except for University students, there is a fee for services.

http://www.eiu.edu/~finaid/student_health_insurance_about_the_plan.php:

Eastern Illinois University requires that all eligible students who enroll in 9 or more on-campus hours be covered by health insurance and provides a Plan of medical coverage for injury and illness for which the fee is automatically assessed along with tuition and fees. 
All graduate assistants under contract to the University who register for nine on-campus hours and graduate assistants enrolled only in Continuing Education with a minimum of nine hours Fall/Spring Term or three hours Summer Term, are eligible for coverage.  These students should contact the Student Insurance Office at (217) 581-5290 to confirm coverage.
Students enrolled only in Continuing Education are not eligible for coverage.
Students enrolled in a combination of Continuing Education and regular on-campus classes should contact the Student Health Insurance Office for coverage eligibility during the first ten class days of Fall/Spring Term and during the first five days of Summer Term.
Students who register for six, seven, or eight on-campus hours may purchase the insurance coverage during the first ten class days of each Term (first five days of Summer Term) providing they meet the other eligibility requirements.
 DEPENDENT AND/OR SPOUSE COVERAGE IS NOT AVAILABLE.
Insurance is available for all three terms of the calendar year. Insured students attending Spring Term, who wish summer coverage and do not plan to enroll Summer Term must apply for an Extension of Coverage by the last day of the Spring Term.
The Plan has a $50 deductible per diagnosis, per Plan year and pays up to 80% of eligible expenses for physician and hospital expenses, lab and x-ray, surgery, ambulance transport, physical therapy, maternity expenses, mental health and substance abuse issues. The Plan provides for a lifetime maximum of $15,000 for any one accidental bodily injury or illness and $5,000 combined lifetime maximum for mental illness and substance abuse treatment.
The Plan is secondary if the student is entitled to benefits by any other policy.
A Student Health Insurance brochure describing details of the coverage is available on our website at: http://www.eiu.edu/~finaid/student_health_insurance_about_the_plan.php or in the Student Health Insurance Office located in the upper level of the Financial Aid Office.
Students with equal or better health insurance coverage may apply for a waiver of the Student Health Insurance fee. Students must complete an Insurance Waiver Form during the first ten class days Fall and Spring Terms and during the first five class days of Summer Term and submit it to the Student Health Insurance Office.  In addition to completing the Waiver Form, students must present evidence of personal health insurance coverage. The waiver from the Student Health Insurance will continue in effect until such time as the student requests reinstatement or re-enrollment to the Plan or does not respond to a periodic request for verification that he/she continues to be covered by another health insurance plan. Please note that students participating in the Inter-Collegiate Athletic Programs and Cheer Team members are ineligible for the medical coverage cancellation.
 All students enrolled for a minimum of six on-campus hours are eligible for re-enrollment in the Plan by completing an application and making payment of the insurance fee within the first ten class days of either the Fall or Spring Term, and the first five class days of Summer Term.  The insurance coverage will become effective the day application and payment are received.  Please note that summer insurance coverage is available to all students who were insured during the prior spring term; otherwise, the student must be enrolled a minimum of six on-campus hours to be eligible for summer insurance coverage.
For reinstatement of the Plan to become effective anytime during the semester, students must show proof of involuntary cancellation by their insurance plan within 30 days of the cancellation.
For additional information, please contact the Student Health Insurance Office located in the Financial Aid Office or call (217) 581-5290. 

www.eiu.edu/~textbks/: Basic textbooks for courses are rented to students through the Textbook Rental Service at a per credit hour charge. Students not returning textbooks by announced deadlines at semester or term ends have five days in which to return late textbooks and pay a $10.00 per book late fine. Upon the expiration of the five-day grace period, all textbook and late fine charges are posted to the student’s account and are non-refundable. Lost textbooks must be paid for at current list price.  Students may also be required to pay for textbooks in which they have written or highlighted, which have been subjected to unusual wear, or which have any visible signs of water damage. Graduate students may purchase rented textbooks until the official midterm published in the Class Schedule in order to qualify for a full or partial rental fee refund.  Graduate students may purchase individual textbooks on a per course basis and are eligible to receive a pro-rata refund of the textbook rental fee for each course. Textbooks can also be purchased during the established sales period for each semester/tem but will not qualify for any textbook rental fee refund.

cats.eiu.edu: The main office for CATS is located at 1336 McAfee.  The mission of CATS is to provide Eastern Illinois University with comprehensive services in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of technology-enhanced materials in support of courses and programs.  It also promotes and supports research and development of creative, innovative, and effective uses of established and emerging technologies by the university community.
The CATS’ staff members are committed to helping students, faculty, staff, and administrators at Eastern in the use of current and new technologies.   Their goal is promote an academic environment conducive to the exploration and application of innovative uses of technology for teaching, research, and service.  Their expertise extends to areas such as the identification and development of emerging technologies, learning theory for diverse populations, instructional design, computer programming, digital media, graphic design, computer-mediated communications, curriculum integration, and distance learning.
Students at Eastern are encouraged to contact CATS and to provide insights into meeting their technological needs, especially for instructional purposes.  Examples could include the use of emerging technologies in the classroom, the creation of research and group presentations, the development of multimedia productions, and the utilization of delivery techniques relative to distance learning classes supported through the School of Continuing Education.  Students are also able to directly use technology resources in many enhanced classrooms across campus supported by Media Services, including the TITLE Room (Technology-Integrated Teaching and Learning Environment) in 1205 McAfee. 
•http://cats.eiu.edu/laptop/• Eastern Illinois University does not require students to bring personal computers to campus or to purchase computers once enrolled. While Eastern Illinois University offers access to computers through computer labs around campus, many students find that owning a computer is more convenient and enhances their academic experience. For students who prefer to purchase a laptop computer, Eastern Illinois University makes recommendations for minimum specifications, which will be academically appropriate and compatible with the EIU network. Major computer manufacturers offer special educational promotions to Eastern Illinois University students. Links to these discounted offers and recommended specifications are available from the Laptop Referral Purchasing Program web site listed above.  
•http://cats.eiu.edu/atac/labs/ataclabs.php• Several computer labs are available for student use on-campus, some are supported by the Academic Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC) and others through the academic departments within the colleges. The Gregg Computer Lab in the Triad Building is staffed with technical professionals who are members of the CATS’ staff and is designed as an “open lab” housing PCs, MACs, and CITRIX workstations. Three ADA-compliant PCs are also available for students needing to utilize JAWS, Win Braille, or other specialized software for sight and hearing impairment; in addition, a Braille printer is accessible.  A multimedia area has also been established for students to use when developing classroom presentations or working on classroom projects. The multimedia workstations contain video editing software which can be used for producing digital video presentations, authoring DVDs, or converting old media like VHS tapes to DVD or CD-ROM format. Students also have access to document cameras, Starboards, SMART Boards, videoconferencing equipment, digital cameras, and TurningPoint student response systems in order for them to prepare and practice before using this type of equipment in the classroom.  The Café/Lounge section is designed to give students a place within the lab to sit down and enjoy a beverage or snack, meet in small groups to discuss class projects, or access wireless connectivity with their own laptop.
•http://cats.eiu.edu/training/registration/index.asp• CATS also offers hardware and software training to students. In particular, graduate assistants are encouraged to participate in campus-wide TECnet workshops produced through the Technology for Graduate Assistants (TGA) program to better prepare them for their assistantship duties. Graduate students may attend technology training workshops offered in four areas of concentration: distance education/online learning, communication presentation, Web/digital presence, and research. Certificates are issued upon completion of specified hours at the various levels for attending the workshops. Many of these workshops are held in the CATS Training Lab in 1214 McAfee. Other technology training opportunities are sponsored by the academic colleges, Booth Library, Gregg Computer Lab, and Instructional Technology Services (ITS).
CATS is a campus resource committed to providing quality service to all members of the EIU community.  Technology is a dynamic field; the competence of students, staff and faculty to deal effectively with changes in the use of technology will be critical to success in the future.