The History of Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville

The Very Beginning of SIUE

Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville was founded in the late 1950s and has grown steadily in terms of population and advancements ever since. In 1955, talk of higher education began when locals, including some board members, thought that the St. Louis, or Southern Illinois area, was lacking a facility for people wanting to be educated after high school. (“About the University''). On May 5th, 1955,”the board members of the Edwardsville Chamber of Commerce established a College Planning Committee'' in order “to invite representatives of the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University to meet with them to discuss ways and means of establishing a public institution of higher learning in Southwestern Illinois” (“SIUE 50th Anniversary Historical Timeline''). Aside from the leaders of the community putting forth effort, 150 locals met to form the Southwestern Illinois Council for Higher Education, the SWICHE, in the fall of 1956 (“SIUE 50th Anniversary Historical Timeline''). With the combined help between the empowered people and citizens of the region, SIUE held their first class in the Alton Residence Center on July 1, 1957 (SIUE 50th Anniversary Historical Timeline ''). 

Historical Ties Today 

Even after Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville's recent 50th Anniversary this past decade, SIUE still retains ties to their history. For instance, some of the same buildings from the 1950s are still being used today, like The Schools of Dental Medicine (“About the University”). Aside from the building itself keeping its ties from the past, most former students also keep connections with the local area. “More than sixty percent of SIUE alumni live within 50 miles of campus” (“About the University”). Previous students of SIUE generally stay close to Edwardsville; a big factor of living in the Edwardsville area is how accessible to St. Louis it is. The impact of the history of Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville was clearly important in the late 1950s, but still continues to share its importance today. 

The Description of Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville

What is SIUE all about?

Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville is an affordable university located in Carbondale Illinois that not only allows students to prepare for their future, but also gives an unforgettable college experience. Overall, SIUE is ranked the 663rd best college in the country and 26th best college in Illinois (“Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Data & Information Overview”). The actual campus of SIUE offers many diverse buildings that allow students to focus and endure to each of their specific interests within their studies. For example, some unique facilities include a “dental medicine clinic, museum, arboretum, greenhouse, engineering labs, clinical nursing facility, observatory, applied research and technology park, corn-to-ethanol research center, biotechnology laboratory incubator, pharmaceutical care lab, vivarium and research labs, theater, radio & tv studios, gardens and nature preserves” (“Campus General Information”). With the university offering many different facilities, students get a better grasp within their study field by being able to work in different environments that smaller colleges (or universities) might not offer. Aside from the amenities offered, the university also has hands-on facility members that can assist or aid students when needed. “The student to faculty ratio at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is 19 to 1, which is high when compared to the national average of 15 to 1” (“Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Data & Information Overview”). With the ratio being lower than the average, facilities members can individualize each students’ needs in the classroom more effectively than a larger populated university. The University of Southern Illinois Edwardsville permits students to diverse buildings for their choice of career paths and provides dedicated facility members to help students with a successful future and preparable college experience. 

Diversity Within the Students

Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville is a university that invites students of all ages, race, and gender to see what their university has to offer. Approximately 10,400 attend SIUE each year (“Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Facts & Information”). Out of those students, almost 6,000 are women, leaving the remaining population male (“Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Facts & Information”). Furthermore, SIUE not only is offered to both genders, but also many ethnicities. Mainly, the population of the students is white (73.6%) and African American (13.8%) (“Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Facts & Information”). Although the university is mostly white and African American populated, smaller percentages of students with different ethnicities attend the university; in addition, “The overall diversity score for SIUE is 71.59 out of 100, meaning that it is more diverse than most schools in the country,” (“Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Data & Information Overview”). SIUE provides an affordable, positive college experience for opposing genders and all ethnicities. 

Admission of Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville

Submitting an Application

Upon admission, all colleges and universities provide their own process by which the facility members decide on acceptance; with SIUE, the process is not stressful or elaborate, but simple. SIUE’s application process requires two main components: forty dollars and a high school transcript (“Apply to SIUE”). The forty dollar application fee can sometimes be waived by applying during a certain time frame or if an applying student is financially unstable. The high-school transcript can be sent over through guidance counselors within your school through email or mail. Although official test scores are not required, applicants are still able to provide scores, such as the SAT or ACT, if desired. Also, applicants can apply early to SIUE, however, early-action decisions are not available. The regular deadline for admissions is May 1st, 2022 for the Fall of 2022 semester (“Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Facts & Information”). Other admissions might require test scores and/or lengthy essays, but SIUE keeps the admission process effortless and straightforward. 

Acceptance Statistics

In the past, statistics showed the percentage of students accepted and the breakdown of various factors. In general, “86% of 7,306 applicants were admitted” in the fall of 2021; within the 86%, roughly 60% of students admitted are women (“Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: Acceptance Rate, Requirements & Admissions Information”). As far as test scores went, only three percent of all applicants submitted their SAT score (“Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Data & Information Overview”). “SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing scores ranged between 485 and 625. Math scores were between 495 and 600,” (“Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Data & Information Overview”).  Statistics show that the fall of 2021’s admissions accepted more females than males with only a small percentage of the accepted population using their SAT scores.