Southern Illinois University Carbondale leaders spent April on the road visiting high schools, meeting with community members and hosting alumni events across all 17 counties during the annual Saluki Takeover Tour Southern Illinois.
The monthlong initiative combined student recruitment, alumni engagement and community outreach, reinforcing SIU’s commitment to the region.
“This is a labor of love for us,” Chancellor Austin A. Lane said. “We are committed to Southern Illinois, and we’re going to continue showing up for these communities and for our students.”
The tour included visits to approximately 55 high schools, where Lane and members of the SIU admissions team met with students, counselors and educators. The team also surprised admitted students with “Put a Lid on It” moments, recognizing their decision to attend SIU.
In addition to school visits, the SIU Foundation hosted five Chancellor’s Receptions across Southern Illinois, bringing together alumni, students and community members for evenings of connection and university updates.
The tour kicked off March 31 at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center in Makanda, where nearly 300 attendees gathered at Freeberg Hall to launch the initiative.
The second stop took place April 7 at Pyramid Acres Marina at Lake of Egypt, where nearly 150 attendees gathered for a waterfront reception.
The tour continued April 16 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Mount Vernon, hosted by SIU alumni Mike and Hope Carbonaro, where more than 50 guests attended the Chancellor’s Reception.
On April 21, the tour stopped in Carterville at 62 Social House, owned by SIU alumnus Doug Deaton, welcoming nearly 250 attendees for the venue’s first official event.
The final Southern Illinois stop was April 23 at 1860 Public House in Red Bud, where nearly 70 alumni, students and community members gathered to close out the regional tour.
At each reception, Lane highlighted SIU’s national momentum, including its designation as a Research 1 university and Opportunity University. Southern is one of only 21 institutions nationwide to hold both designations from the Carnegie Classification.
SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec emphasized the impact of donor support.
“One in five students receives a scholarship because of the generosity of our donors,” Kupec said. “That support changes lives every day.”
Throughout the tour, SIU leaders also met with community partners, local officials and education leaders to strengthen relationships and expand opportunities for collaboration.
Lane said the tour reflects a long-term strategy to keep students in Southern Illinois and build stronger connections between the university and the region.
“We heard concerns years ago about students leaving this area for college,” Lane said. “We made a commitment to change that, and this tour is part of that work.”
University officials said the Saluki Takeover Tour continues to grow each year, with increasing attendance, stronger partnerships and expanded recruitment efforts.
“This is about building something lasting,” Lane said. “We’re investing in our students, our communities and the future of Southern Illinois.”
The Southern Illinois tour is part of a broader Saluki Takeover Tour initiative that includes stops across the country, connecting alumni and recruiting students while supporting the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign. To date, the campaign has raised more than $467 million toward its $500 million goal. The tour began in 2021 and has expanded its reach each year, with past stops in Chicago, Springfield, Texas, Florida, St. Louis, Southern Illinois, Hollywood, Indianapolis and Washington, D.C.
In the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to more than 2,100 students.