ILLINOIS STATE E-LUMNI NEWS - Volume 3, No. 2
October 2, 2003

SCHROEDER HALL REHAB BEGINS
After years of planning, playing 'musical offices' around campus this summer, and some nerve-wracking last-minute hold-ups on state funding, the rehabilitation of Schroeder Hall is now well under way.

Home to the Criminal Justice Sciences, History, Politics & Government, and Sociology & Anthropology departments and one of the largest classroom buildings on campus, Schroeder will undergo an external and internal renovation which will take up to four years to complete. The project will include upgrading the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems of both wings of the building as well as replacing heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, electrical distribution and lighting systems, fire alarm system, and water and sewer systems. All hallways and classrooms will be removed and then rebuilt, resulting in improved classroom facilities, better offices, and nice department suites.

Of great excitement to the whole campus is the fact that the facility will be modified externally to resemble other Illinois State Georgian buildings.

To read about this project and see renderings of what the building will look like when finished, please see www.schroeder.ilstu.edu.

FREE BUS RIDES FOR ILLINOIS STATE STUDENTS AND STAFF
Beginning September 1, Illinois State University and the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System began offering Universal Access to riders showing an Illinois State student or faculty-staff ID. In addition, bus service times and routes have been expanded specifically to meet student needs.

According to Marabeth Clapp, assistant vice president of Business Services, "Our goal in establishing a fare-free ridership program is to encourage students and others to consider public transportation as a viable alternative to driving and parking on campus" to possibly reduce traffic congestion and parking overload.

For details, see the Media Relations news story.

LANDS' END MERCHANDISE NOW AVAILABLE WITH REDBIRD LOGO!
Illinois State is the most recent major university to join Lands' End's "alumni collection" program, where customers can purchase items with their favorite college or university's logo on it. No matter where you live, you can now purchase high-quality items with the Redbird logo, either in the Lands' End catalog or online.

Items from Lands' End's Alumni Collection that have the Redbird logo are licensed products of Illinois State University. Therefore, your purchases produce royalties which support the Redbird Education Scholarship Fund and other funds for general advancement of the University, at no added cost to you.

To access the Lands' End Alumni Collection, visit the Alumni Merchandise Web page.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES STUDENT LOAN CONSOLIDATION PROGRAM
Interest rates are at some all-time lows! To help alumni take advantage of the falling interest rates for their student loans, the Illinois State University Alumni Association has teamed with Nelnet to offer student loan consolidation. Borrowers who choose to consolidate can lock in this year's unprecedented low rate for the entire life of the loan and dramatically reduce their monthly payment.

To learn more and find out if you're eligible for loan consolidation, please visit our Nelnet Web page.

HOMECOMING 2003 SET FOR OCTOBER 13-18

* Decorating Contest for Homes, Businesses
It's the return of a tradition that began on the ISNU campus in 1927 -- the Homecoming Decoration Contest! Alumni -- wherever they live -- are invited to join faculty/staff and campus departments in showing their Redbird pride and helping to put the campus and community in the Homecoming spirit by decorating the location of their choice: residence, commercial/business, or campus department. Awards will be given based on the use of this year's Homecoming theme, Redbird Magic, as well as originality, use of red and white, and use of Illinois State University's name and/or images.

Entries within Bloomington-Normal will be judged in person. However, if you're far away from campus, you can still participate by mailing or E-mailing three photographs of your decorated house/business for consideration. To participate, complete the downloadable entry form. Get your decorating team together right away, because the deadline for submissions is Friday, October 10th!

* Event Details Available on the Web
If you're thinking about coming back for the variety of activities Homecoming weekend, you can make your plans and pre-order football or tailgate tickets all by using the Web. Some useful links:

Master schedule of activities, parade information, 5K run information, parking information, and more at the main Homecoming Web page.

40th, 45th, and 50th Class Reunions (Classes of 1963, 1958, and 1953): Alumni Services Reunions Web page.

Football tickets: Athletics Web site.

Tailgating information: Athletics Web site - tailgating Web page.

Alumni Tailgate Tent tickets: Alumni Services online registration Web page.

If you have any other questions about Homecoming, please ask! isualum@IllinoisState.edu

CONTEST RESULTS: WORDS OF WISDOM FOR NEW GRADS
In response to our call for your "words of wisdom" to give some good starting-your-life advice to our newest graduates, more than 40 of you wrote in to share your thoughts. Here is just a sampling:

"What I wish someone had told me was: It is VITALLY important to contribute to your 401K, 403b, and/or IRA FROM THE VERY FIRST PAYCHECK, not after student loans are paid, or next year, or at some time in the future. The power of COMPOUNDING of investments is one concept I left college WITHOUT!"

Rosemary A. (Lohnes) Timke
'67 Elementary Education
Retired school administrator
The Villages, FL

"Integrity is one of your greatest assets -- don't lose it. Whether you're teaching grade school, running a small business, raising a family, or working in a large corporation, you will be measured by your integrity. . . ."

Jeff Ricketts
'83 Applied Computer Science
Assistant Vice President, Information Technology Services, SBC Communications, Inc.
St. Charles, IL

"The best part of your life just ended. Now hurry, GET TO WORK!"

Tim Finn
'88 Management Information Systems
Account Executive, Liquid Container/Plaxicon
Orland Park, IL

THANKS to everyone who submitted something. And CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of the Alumni Association golf shirt: Don Schaffer '78 of Roswell, Georgia!

SPECIAL FEATURE: UNIVERSITY SEEKS YOUR INPUT FOR "EDUCATING ILLINOIS," THE CAMPUSWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN
Students, faculty, staff members, and alumni are being asked to help update Illinois State University's strategic plan, "Educating Illinois."

Created by the University community in 2000, Educating Illinois is the University's action plan for distinctiveness and excellence. The plan, based on five core values and containing 15 goals with 79 action items, has been receiving national attention in higher education for its effectiveness. It has proved an extremely valuable "road map" for the campus community in keeping Illinois State on a path toward continued improvement, especially in light of the University's challenging financial situation.

The plan called for a formal review and update in 2003. A draft of the updated Educating Illinois is now available online. The Educating Illinois coordinating team invites all Illinois State alumni to join the University community in reviewing the plan and providing input. Contact information is available on the Web site.

Our thanks to you in advance for your participation!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Details on alumni events can be found on our Events Calendar Web page.