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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE),
3 located in the second largest metropolitan area in the State of
4 Illinois, will celebrate its 50th Anniversary on September 24,
5 2007; and
 
6     WHEREAS, SIUE currently serves nearly 13,500 students from
7 101 Illinois counties, 43 other U.S. states, and 46 nations;
8 and
 
9     WHEREAS, Since its inception, the institution has directly
10 influenced the rate of individuals earning four-year degrees in
11 the St. Louis Metropolitan area of Southern Illinois, up from 3
12 percent in Madison and St. Clair counties in 1957 to 20 percent
13 today; and
 
14     WHEREAS, SIUE has conferred more than 90,000 degrees in its
15 history, with more than 75,000 alumni; and
 
16     WHEREAS, More than 2,700 undergraduate and graduate
17 degrees are conferred annually through programs in the College
18 of Arts and Sciences and the schools of Business, Dental
19 Medicine, Education, Engineering, Nursing, and Pharmacy; and
 
20     WHEREAS, SIUE contributes roughly $356 million to its

 

 

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1 regional economy, according to an Economic Impact Study
2 released in May 2006, and more than 37,000 alumni live in the
3 region and contribute to the economy; and
 
4     WHEREAS, SIUE's values of citizenship, excellence,
5 integrity, openness, and wisdom are instilled in its students,
6 preparing them to be exceptional citizens and leaders following
7 graduation; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Over the last 50 years the institution has played
9 a major role in elevating the quality of people's lives, as
10 well as their earning potential in Illinois, as well as
11 nationally, and internationally; and
 
12     WHEREAS, SIUE has improved the quality of the lives of the
13 people of East St. Louis and the surrounding communities,
14 helping more than 8,000 people in 2006 through services,
15 training opportunities, and programs at the SIUE East St. Louis
16 Center; and
 
17     WHEREAS, The School of Dental Medicine, rated among the top
18 dental schools in the nation, is the only dental school in
19 Illinois outside Cook County and the only dental school within
20 250 miles of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area; the dental school
21 provides more than $50,000 in free oral health care to children
22 annually through Give Kids a Smile Day and more than $30,000

 

 

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1 annually in care to low-income and uninsured patients who
2 otherwise might go untreated; and
 
3     WHEREAS, SIUE has been ranked two consecutive years among
4 U.S. News & World Report's America's 15 Best Colleges, along
5 with Harvard University, MIT, and other prestigious
6 institutions, for its Senior Assignment Program, an
7 integrative learning experience required for all seniors prior
8 to graduation; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The University's Senior Assignment Program also
10 was ranked as a model for learning assessment in the country by
11 the American Association of Colleges & Universities in January
12 2007; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The University, after finishing fourth nationally
14 in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup among NCAA Division
15 II schools in 2006, and making appearances in Division II
16 tournaments in men's basketball, volleyball, men's soccer,
17 women's soccer, softball, baseball, men's and women's golf, and
18 men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, is moving
19 its quality intercollegiate athletics program forward to NCAA
20 Division I status; and
 
21     WHEREAS, As stated by SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift:
22 "At SIUE, we owe our very existence to a social compact with

 

 

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1 the State of Illinois that we entered into 50 years ago. We add
2 value to people's lives by providing access to higher education
3 not just access to enrolling in a university, but access to a
4 college degree and the improved quality of life that comes with
5 it. I'm very proud of the fact that SIUE has conferred more
6 than 90,000 degrees in its history to-date. Our alumni have
7 helped to transform our region to one of the fastest growing
8 areas in the State of Illinois"; therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
11 proclaim September 24, 2007, as Southern Illinois University
12 Edwardsville Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14 presented to Vaughn Vandegrift, Chancellor of Southern
15 Illinois University in Edwardsville.