 "Photo:")
For Justin Peterman, a warm welcome from faculty was the clincher when choosing SIUC over Illinois State University.
Peterman, a junior transfer student from John A. Logan College, said he decided to enroll in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts as an information systems technologies major because of the welcome the faculty in the college provided. Peterman joins more than 2,000 students studying in the college this semester.
"Teachers here make me feel more welcome than ISU," Peterman said.
The faculty strives to give students the technical expertise to prepare them for success and adapt in the constantly changing industries they will join, according to the college's mission statement.
This is advanced through corporate partnerships with companies such as Boeing, Toyota, General Motors and Chrysler, which have helped the college reach a $7 million donation goal over the past five years, said Michael Ellis, associate director of Institutional Advancement.
Founded in 1950, the college offers 13 undergraduate programs, two associate degree programs, three graduate programs and potentially more to come.
One of the graduate certificate programs, medical dosimetry, is waiting approval for a master's degree, Dean Paul Sarvela said. Students with this certificate work with doctors for treatment in cancer and radiology.
As the college works to constantly adapt the programs for new fields, faculty and staff help lead the college in a direction that is "never boring."
"We provide an outstanding educational program to our students, and when they leave they are highly employable," Sarvela said.
Demarcus Hamilton can be reached at 536-3311 ext 254 or youngmh@siu.edu.
Popular Majors: The most popular majors for ASA students are architecture (273 students), aviation flight (200 students), and automotive technology (192 students).
Location: The Applied Science and Arts building is located across from the SIU Arena, and adjacent to the Engineering building in the back.
Enrollment: 2008-09: Not available until 10-day enrollment numbers released.
2007-2008: 2,619 total undergraduates (1,729 male, 890 female)
2006-2007: 2,674 total undergraduates (1,788 male, 886 female)
Dean: Paul Sarvela started as interim dean in 2002 and took on full position the following year.
Popular Professions: Architect, radiologist, dental hygienist, pilot, automotive technician
Schools within College: School of Architecture, School of Transportation, School of Allied Health, School of Information Systems and Applied Technologies
Distinguished Alumni: Artist John Axton is a 1967 graduate of SIUC's commercial art program. He went on to become a full-time painter and is known for his simple images that allow viewers to use their imagination. He received an "Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award" from SIUC in 1988. Axton's work is in permanent collections of the Pratt Museum in New York and The Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe, N.M.
Student Comments: "I like the faculty. They know what they're doing. They have a world of experience and teaching is not a second job." Brett Ussher, junior from Phoenix studying information systems technologies.
