To the University Community:

I am incapable of imagining the anguish and trials of the people of the Gulf Coast who are in the midst of one of the most profound natural disasters in modern history. I can neither understand nor communicate the challenges of day to day life under the circumstances faced by so many.

Chancellor Walter V. Wendler

There is much that the people in the Southern Illinois University Carbondale community want to do to help, and we are working on a means to coordinate the generosity, compassion and concern resident in those we call our family, our friends, our neighbors, our students, our faculty and our staff. We will soon have some ideas about how we might address collectively the outreach that is being demonstrated by individual members of our campus and extended community. We will be communicating these in the next few days.

As you all know we are operating under a special dispensation for students who either are enrolled or planned to attend any university in the hurricane affected area. A copy of our initial plans is part of the special edition of Spotlight. We will extend every opportunity to students and their families should they choose to continue interrupted studies at Southern. I have heard many questions from people and in order to be clear, I want to address a few of the issues here. If students are without transcripts or records, we will accept them at their word. We will waive the formal application process so that students may immediately enroll in class and begin their studies. Students will be enrolled in courses where space exists and their needs require. If students are having difficulty accessing funds or need financial aid, we will enroll them and work out details later. Students needing a place to live will be accommodated with housing on campus as available, and in the greater community, as the people of Southern Illinois extend the right hand of fellowship. If students are from out of state, we will charge in-state tuition rates, we will treat them as Illinoisans. International students, who may be in our country to study at an affected university, who now don’t have a place to go, will be accommodated, and then we will work through the Immigration, Customs and Enforcement and other federal agencies to do what is necessary. I am confident, our faculty, compassionate and caring as always, will work with students who enter classes late -- all with whom I have talked said they see it as a fundamental duty, an honor, not a burden or an inconvenience. This is the best of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Some have been asked about a student with ill-will, who might try to take advantage of the university and our good intentions. While there may be one or two, the cost of not responding with dispatch and passion is far greater to bear than the possibility of being cheated. Of this there is no question in my mind. Our rules and regulations exist for normal circumstances. We are not under normal circumstances at this time

The misery and suffering evidenced over the past week will turn to strength and encouragement over the coming days, weeks and months. We must build a bridge to that future in a way that is as rare as the event to which we respond.

I know we will.

I appreciate all you will do to help Southern, and those who come calling in a time of profound need.

Sincerely,