Eastern Illinois University’s interdisciplinary studies program is set to move out of the college of education and take up residence under the office of student success effective June 1. 

The change comes as a result of IDS seeking more resources to help continue the education of students served by the program, according to Jacqueline Janesku, a senior advisor for IDS based out of Chicago. 

“We will be more visualized under student success,” Janesku said. 

Some of the new resources Janesku hopes to gain from the program include an updated website and better relations as IDS advisors will now be located near other academic advisors. 

This move isn’t IDS’ first rodeo, according to Janesku. 

The program began as the board of governors in 1973, which was designed for schools all across the state of Illinois. 

It was later retitled as the general studies major at Eastern that served those who started college but never finished. The primary age demographic found within the program consisted of people around their mid-30s, just as the IDS program does today, functioning primarily through online courses. 

The general studies major eventually found its way into Eastern’s college of education under the oversight of Dean Laretta Henderson. Henderson has expressed interest in broadening the program to accommodate more traditional aged students between 18 and 32 years old. 

Her reasoning for this, she said, is so that students both current and returning, young or old, can find an education that sets them up for a successful career even if Eastern doesn’t have a pre-designed program for them. 

“There are jobs in the 21st century—that will be created in the 21st century—that we don’t know exist,” said Henderson. “We have to prepare students to be nimble, to have text skills and to be critical thinkers.” 

IDS’ move out of the college of education originally was planned to take residence under the college of liberal arts and sciences due to the IDS program primarily taking courses from there. 

This decision was later changed to see IDS go under the college of student success after Henderson held conversations with Eastern Provost Ryan Hendrickson, a decision acting Dean of Student Success Michael Gillespie is very excited about. 

“I’m excited to see how we can evolve the program,” said Gillespie. “If I could capture it in a word, I think the word I would use would be ‘exhilarating.’” 

The move will put IDS centrally located on Eastern’s campus. The program will move into McAfee Gym as a part of the facilities reinvestment plan released earlier in the year. Gillespie said he’s excited.

“It’s going to have a physical presence [on campus],” Gillespie said. “Students are going from housing up to Physical Science and so this is like the main heartbeat of campus.” 

With the move, Gillespie said he seeks to dispel the notion that IDS is a last place for students to go.

“I think misconception really comes in is that we view pathways in higher education as very prescribed and specific, and that a general education degree is not that lucrative,” he said.

Gillespie said students are always being pushed into programs and careers within higher education and not given the full freedom to choose their own path.

 “It’s not that sexy,” Gillespie said. “It’s just not that prestigious, but my argument for the opposite of that is it gives people who are curious that opportunity.” 

Luke Brewer can be reached at 581-2812 or at lsbrewer@eiu.edu.