Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the SIU Foundation drew a crowd of more than 1,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members Friday, May 1, to celebrate the grand opening of the Tedrick Welcome Center, marking a major milestone and a new front porch to the university at its main entrance.
The 44,000-square-foot facility will serve as the new home of the SIU Foundation and a central hub for campus visits, events and engagement. Hundreds more visitors attended a public open house Saturday, May 2, touring the building and exploring its interactive features.
“This is the building we want students to walk into first,” said Chancellor Austin A. Lane. “This is where they begin to understand what it means to be a Saluki. They will see the greatness happening at SIU and quickly realize how special this place is.”
Lane emphasized the distinct role the Tedrick Welcome Center will play in the campus experience, complementing other key facilities.
“This is where we welcome students,” he said. “Once we wow them here, we serve them across the street at the Student Services Building, and we engage them in the Student Center. Each space has a purpose, and this building is what will attract and capture future Salukis.”
The dedication ceremony, held inside the building’s flex space, featured remarks from university and foundation leadership.
“This is a great day for Southern Illinois University,” said Dr. Dan Mahony, president of the SIU System. “We could have built a building just for the SIU Foundation, but we chose to think bigger. This welcome center is a difference maker for the entire university, and it would not be possible without the vision of the SIU Foundation Board and the support of the Board of Trustees.”
Serving as emcee, Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation, highlighted the building’s features and its role in shaping first impressions.
“This is 44,000 square feet dedicated to telling the Saluki story,” Kupec said. “With 11 interactive displays, personalized welcome experiences and spaces designed to engage visitors, this is a place where students can immediately see themselves at SIU. It is, without question, the best welcome center in the state of Illinois.”
Kupec also emphasized the project’s funding model.
“Not one dollar of state appropriations or student fees was used to build this facility,” he said. “This was made possible by our donors, the SIU Foundation and a commitment to invest in the future of this university.”
A highlight of the program included remarks from lead donors Roger and Sally Tedrick, whose $6 million gift helped launch the project.
“The decision to make this gift was simple. It was the right thing to do,” Roger Tedrick said. “This university gave our families the opportunity to succeed. We believe in what is happening at SIU, and we wanted to do something that would help attract future students and support this institution for generations to come.”
Tedrick reflected on both his and Sally’s deep-rooted connections to the university and the role it played in shaping their families’ futures.
“My parents moved our family to Carbondale so we could have access to an education they could not otherwise afford,” he said. “This campus was our backyard. It shaped who we are, and giving back is a way to honor that legacy.”
He said Sally’s family shared a similar story. Her parents moved to Carbondale in the 1950s, and her father worked as a contractor who helped build student housing near campus. Her mother earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from SIU, and all five daughters in the family attended the university.
“This institution gave both of our families a start,” Tedrick said. “When you have that kind of impact on your life, giving back is something you feel called to do.”
Judge Phil Gilbert, chair of the SIU Board of Trustees, spoke to the Tedricks’ deep ties to the university and their lasting impact.
“This gift was never about recognition,” Gilbert said. “It was about the past, present and future of this university. This building now stands as the front porch of SIU, welcoming students, alumni and visitors and representing everything this institution has become.”
Dan Korte, president of the SIU Foundation Board of Directors, reflected on the project’s origins and its long-term impact.
“This changes everything,” Korte said. “What will happen in this building in the years ahead will inspire future students and donors. It gives us a place to showcase the Saluki spirit and the life-changing impact of this university.”
Korte said the project grew from a need to relocate the SIU Foundation and evolved into a broader vision for campus.
“We didn’t just want to build office space,” he said. “We wanted to create a front porch for this university, a place that welcomes people and tells our story. This building represents transformation and shows what is possible when people come together around a shared vision.”
Greg Cook, emeritus board member of the SIU Foundation Board of Directors, said the idea for the project had been years in the making.
“We knew the Foundation needed a new home, but we also knew this had to be something more,” Cook said. “This location and this concept give the university a prominent, welcoming front porch that benefits everyone who comes to campus.”
Following the program, the Marching Salukis performed as the crowd gathered for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Surrounded by university leaders and dignitaries, Roger and Sally Tedrick cut the ribbon, officially opening the facility. The SIU Foundation also presented the Tedricks with a 3D model of the building in recognition of their leadership and generosity.
The Tedrick Welcome Center stands on the former site of McAndrew Stadium and was completed in approximately 20 months, ahead of schedule and under budget. The facility anchors campus tours, orientations, alumni engagement and major events while housing SIU Foundation operations.
“This is a building you would expect to see in a major city,” Kupec said. “And it is right here in Carbondale, serving as a bold statement about the future of Southern Illinois University.”
SIU is one of only 21 universities nationwide to hold dual Carnegie Classification designations as a Research 1 institution and an Opportunity University, placing it among an elite group recognized for both high research activity and student access.
The Tedrick Welcome Center also reflects the momentum behind the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign. To date, the campaign has raised more than $467 million toward its $500 million goal, supporting scholarships, facilities and initiatives that enhance the student experience.
For more information about the Tedrick Welcome Center, visit siuf.org/twc.