By Britni Bateman
Southern Illinois University is preparing to open a new front door to campus life. The Tedrick Welcome Center, now under construction at the university’s main entrance off U.S. Highway 51, is designed to strengthen recruitment, elevate first impressions, and serve as a central point of connection for students, alumni, donors, and the surrounding community.
Scheduled for completion in May 2026, the 44,000-square-foot facility will serve as the home of the SIU Foundation and include a 14,000-square-foot welcome center that functions as a central hub for campus engagement. Campus tours, open houses, orientations, alumni and donor engagement, and special events will be anchored in the new space, providing a welcoming and cohesive introduction to SIU.
“This building is going to blow students away and help us seal the deal,” SIU Chancellor Austin Lane said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
The project marks SIU’s first major on-campus construction in more than a decade. Named for Roger and Sally Tedrick, whose $6 million leadership gift was instrumental in launching the project, construction of the Tedrick Welcome Center is funded entirely through the SIU Foundation. The building is supported through a combination of Foundation reserves, fundraising, and borrowing and will require no taxpayer dollars, tuition revenue, or student fee monies. No state funds are being used to construct the Tedrick Welcome Center.
Enhancing the Student Experience
For prospective students and their families, the Tedrick Welcome Center will be the gateway to SIU. Admissions tours will begin in the building, offering a warm and intentional welcome while showcasing the university’s academic strengths, student opportunities, and campus life through modern, interactive displays and guided experiences.
The east lobby will serve as the primary access point for large visiting groups, with interactive branding and Saluki imagery welcoming students as they begin their campus visit. Designed to help visitors better envision themselves at SIU, the space creates a centralized and consistent starting point for recruitment and orientation activities.
By improving how students experience campus from their first visit, the welcome center aims to strengthen recruitment outcomes and student confidence in their decision to attend SIU. Current students will also benefit from expanded opportunities for involvement, networking, and access to university resources within the space.
“The Tedrick Welcome Center will give students and families a clearer sense of what SIU offers from the very beginning,” Dan Korte, president of the SIU Foundation Board of Directors, said. “It creates a more intentional and welcoming experience that helps students see how they can thrive here, both inside and outside the classroom.”
A Home for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
The southern wing of the Tedrick Welcome Center will house the SIU Foundation, creating a centralized home for fundraising and alumni engagement efforts. The building is designed to serve as a welcoming space for donor engagement, alumni gatherings, and stewardship activities, supporting meaningful connections with those who invest in SIU’s mission.
The southern wing includes a 26,827-square-foot office area designed to support the Foundation’s growing staff and reflect the essential role philanthropy plays in advancing student success and strengthening the university’s future.
“Having a dedicated space for the SIU Foundation within the Tedrick Welcome Center strengthens how we engage alumni and donors on campus,” Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation, said. “It allows us to better share the impact of philanthropy, deepen relationships, and create more meaningful connections between our supporters and the students they help make successful.”
Currently, the SIU Foundation is temporarily housed in University Hall. The Foundation relocated there in August after the university informed the SIU Foundation that it must vacate Colyer Hall, a dilapidated building on the former Greek Row.
Connecting the Community
In addition to its role in recruitment and philanthropy, the Tedrick Welcome Center is designed to strengthen SIU’s connection to the region. The main visitor center, a 14,000-square-foot space filled with natural light, will be capable of hosting conferences, lectures, seminars, and catered events for up to 300 people.
Interactive exhibits throughout the building will highlight SIU’s academic programs, research, and campus resources, offering the public access to stories and spaces that are often unseen. Alumni and community members will also have opportunities to gather, reconnect, and share their Saluki experiences.
“The Tedrick Welcome Center creates a space where the community can better experience the breadth of what SIU contributes to the region,” Korte said. “It serves as a welcoming destination that reflects the university’s role as an educational, cultural, and economic anchor for Southern Illinois.”
A Vision Realized
Located on the former site of McAndrew Stadium, the Tedrick Welcome Center reflects SIU’s investment in its future while honoring the university’s past. The facility brings together recruitment, storytelling, philanthropy, and community engagement in one intentional space.
As construction continues, the Tedrick Welcome Center stands as a symbol of collaboration, generosity, and momentum, positioning Southern Illinois University to make a strong and lasting impression for generations to come.