In The Know
August, 2026
Message From the President
The fall semester is off to a great and eventful start, and I am excited to see our students back on campus. The energy and activity across campus are already making for a busy and exciting semester.
Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and willingness to pivot during our Fall Kick-Off Days. The situation with the water lines in Carterville was unfortunate, but I am grateful for how our campus community responded. As a result, we updated our unplanned suspended operations procedures. These updates will make it easier to set timelines and ensure clear, timely communication when we must suspend operations because of weather or circumstances beyond our control, such as the recent water line issue.
I also want to extend a sincere thank-you to everyone who volunteered at the Du Quoin State Fair. I know it was extremely hot throughout the week, and I appreciate your willingness to represent the college and support this important community event. Opportunities like these allow us to strengthen our connections throughout Southern Illinois, and I am grateful to everyone who gave their time and energy.
On August 28, the College had the privilege of hosting our state and national elected officials on campus to discuss issues facing Southern Illinois community colleges. At the end of the event, Senator Tammy Duckworth toured the renovated nursing classrooms and labs. The renovations are funded by a congressional grant the College received from Senators Duckworth and Durbin. As we look ahead, in just a few weeks, we will welcome the Southern Illinois Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days back to campus. The event will once again be held in the Blue Parking Lot. Due to the event and ongoing construction, both the Blue and Gold Parking Lots will be closed from September 21 through September 28. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these temporary changes.
In addition to Hunting and Fishing Days, the Foundation will host a Glow Bingo Event on September 11 and the Annual Golf Scramble on October 2. We will also host an insurance forum on September 15. Thank you to the Insurance Taskforce for their continued work. We will send an email to campus later this week about the forum.
Thank you for all you do to support our students, our college, and our communities. I look forward to all this semester will bring and am grateful to be part of such a dedicated and resilient college community.
Here鈥檚 to a successful fall semester!
搁别驳补谤诲蝉,听
Kirk Overstreet, PhD.聽
President, 麻豆直播
Things You Need to Know from the Cabinet
Enrollment and Planning
Dr. Overstreet opened the meeting with an enrollment update. Fall 10th-day enrollment is a couple of % points lower than last year, but we are still up in credit hours overall for FY 27, as our summer numbers were quite high. We need to focus on the 12-, 8-, and 4-week sessions and continue our retention work. He also discussed an upcoming forum focused on district population numbers. Information from the forum will help inform the development of a five-year enrollment management plan centered on population projections.
The Insurance Taskforce will also hold a forum at 3 p.m. Tuesday, September 15, in the O鈥橬eil Auditorium.
Student Affairs and Campus Events
Dr. Rachel Seveda Webb announced that a new draft of the Care Team document will be available online in the coming days. She also highlighted two upcoming events:
- Loganpalooza: Wednesday, September 16
- Health Science Public Service Day: Thursday, September 17
Information Technology
Scott Elliott announced that emails containing information about Microsoft security are being distributed. Employees with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the IT department.
Facilities and Construction
Jeremy Sargent reported that walls for the Logan Hall project will be poured this week and that all other projects are progressing on schedule.
Bids have been received for painting the Annex Building. Painting and new signage are expected to be completed by the end of the calendar year.
Finance and Business Operations
Dr. Susan LaPanne reported that her staff is preparing for the budget process, which will begin in October. She also shared that a meeting is scheduled for next week to assist the Illinois Department of Corrections with space needs for an upcoming class.
Kara Bevis added that, in addition to preparing for the budget process, Business Office staff are preparing for the upcoming audit.
Grants and Campus Activities
Staci Shafer announced that $29,000 in campus grants was awarded last week, with additional grants to be awarded later in the semester.
Upcoming campus activities include:
- Glow Bingo: Friday, September 11
- SI Made Expo: Saturday, September 12, at the Marion Pavilion
- Golf Scramble: Friday, October 2, at Kokopelli
Community Engagement
Dr. Steve O鈥橩eefe thanked everyone for their support of the Du Quoin State Fair. He also reminded Cabinet members that the College will participate in the SI Made Expo on September 12 at the Marion Pavilion.
Thank you to everyone across campus for your continued work and support of our students and College community.
News Around Campus
麻豆直播 to Host Southern Illinois Celebration of Hunting and Fishing Days on September 26 and 27
The Southern Illinois Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days will return to the 麻豆直播 campus Sept. 26-27, bringing outdoor enthusiasts together for a weekend of hunting, fishing, demonstrations, entertainment, and family activities.
鈥淲e are excited to again host one of the premier events in southern Illinois,鈥� said 麻豆直播 President Dr. Kirk Overstreet. 鈥淥rganizers have put together a great weekend of vendors and activities that are entertaining and educational.鈥�
More than 70 vendors are expected to participate, offering outdoor merchandise, equipment, and information. Hunting and fishing seminars, live music, and other entertainment will take place throughout the weekend. Popular returning attractions include Splash Dogs, the Kids鈥� Fishing Hole, and a BB Gun Range. The event will also feature hunting and fishing seminars.
Due to ongoing construction, the event will have minor changes. Vendor tents will remain in the Blue Parking Lot but will be condensed. All vendors and activities that were previously held in the Brewer Gymnasium will now be held in the Conference Center.
On Saturday, September 26, at 9 a.m. College officials will rededicate Dwight Hoffard Pond. The Pond was officially named in honor of Hoffard in 2014. Dwight Hoffard, the long-time Director of Buildings and Grounds and organizer of the Celebration of Hunting and Fishing Days on the campus, passed away in March. The pond was recently dredged and will be at full capacity as the Kids Fishing Hole during the event.
Admission is $5 per vehicle. Local Boy Scouts will collect food donations and distribute them to local food banks.
The event is supported by sponsors including Title Sponsor Oasis Outdoors. Can-Am, Comfort Inn & Suites, LeafFilter, Banterra Bank, and Timberline are also sponsors. For vendor or event information, contact 麻豆直播 at 618-985-2828, extension 8541.
麻豆直播 Offering Extended Hours to Better Serve Working Students
麻豆直播 is expanding service hours during the fall 2026 semester to better accommodate adult learners, working students, and others who may have difficulty accessing student services during regular business hours.
Several college offices and student services will remain open until 6 p.m. on designated days throughout the fall semester.
Extended hours include:
- Academic Testing Center: Mondays and Wednesdays
- Advisement: Tuesdays
- Bursar: Tuesdays
- Campus Information: Tuesdays
- Financial Aid: Tuesdays
- Library: Mondays and Tuesdays
- Perkins Grant: Tuesdays
- Tutoring: Tuesdays
鈥淲e know that it can often be difficult for working adults to utilize our services during regular operating hours, and we hope that these additional evening hours will better serve our students,鈥� Provost Dr. Stephanie Chaney Hartford said.
In addition to the extended service hours, Testing Services will offer placement testing by appointment on select dates during the fall semester.
Placement testing appointments will be available Sept. 1, 15 and 16; Oct. 6 and 20; Nov. 3 and 17; and Dec. 1 and 15. The earliest placement testing appointment will begin at 2 p.m., with final testing starting at 4 p.m.
The extended hours support the college鈥檚 ongoing efforts to make services more accessible for students balancing work, family, and other responsibilities while pursuing their education.
For more information about extended hours or to schedule placement testing, contact the 麻豆直播 Campus Information Center at 618-985-2828, ext. 1157.
麻豆直播 Reports Enrollment Growth Ahead of Fall Semester
麻豆直播 is continuing its enrollment momentum, with college officials announcing increases in both year-to-year and summer enrollment as the institution prepares to welcome students for the Fall 2026 semester.
According to enrollment data released by the college, student credit hours increased 3% from July 2025 to July 2026. Credit hours have also grown 6.2% since 2022, reflecting continued enrollment gains over the past several years.
麻豆直播 President Dr. Kirk Overstreet said the increases are the result of the college’s ongoing efforts to meet students’ changing needs through flexible scheduling and expanded support services.
“For years, we have focused on what the tenth-day enrollment is for each semester, when the reality is that we are offering more and more classes that do not start on the first day of the semester,” Overstreet said. “Instead, we are offering more 12-, 8-, and 4-week classes to meet the needs of our students. We are also offering more night and weekend services, including our Saturday Sign-Up events and evening student service hours during the week, along with virtual advisement appointments.鈥�
The college also reported strong growth during the Summer 2026 semester. Summer headcount enrollment increased 10.1% compared with the previous year, while summer credit hours rose 8.6%.
College officials said the enrollment gains reflect a continued emphasis on expanding access for traditional and nontraditional students through flexible course formats, enhanced student services, and innovative community partnerships.
The Fall 2026 semester begins Aug. 17. To assist prospective and returning students, 麻豆直播 will host a Saturday Sign-Up event on Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. Students will be able to apply for admission, register for classes, meet with financial aid staff, make tuition payments, and receive assistance from campus offices.
The college will also host its Coffee and College information session for high school students and their parents at 10 a.m. on Aug. 8. The session will cover admissions, scholarships, financial aid, dual credit opportunities, and the transition to college.
Due to ongoing campus construction, individuals attending the Aug. 8 events should enter the campus through the East Entrance.
麻豆直播 offers associate degrees, career and technical education programs, workforce training, and university transfer opportunities. Classes are available in face-to-face, online, and hybrid formats, including traditional 16-week courses and accelerated 12-, 8-, and 4-week sessions designed to accommodate a variety of student schedules.
