Southern Illinois University Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale , Illinois , United States , in the southern region of the state , with multiple campuses . Glenn Poshard is President of Southern Illinois University . Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees . The university is governed by the nine member SIU Board of Trustees . Seven members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate . Two members are elected by the student bodies of the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses . Southern Illinois University Carbondale . Founded in Carbondale in 1869 as Southern Illinois Normal College , Southern Illinois University Carbondale ( SIUC , usually referred to as SIU ) is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system and is the fourth oldest of Illinois ' s thirteen ( 13 ) state universities . SIUC includes eight ( 8 ) college s and three ( 3 ) schools : the Graduate School and the School of Law in Carbondale and the School of Medicine in Carbondale and Springfield ( see below ) . Considered to be a " National Research University , " SIUC offers Associate , Baccalaureate , Post - Baccalaureate , Masters , and Doctoral degrees in 222 academic programs . In the Fall of 2010 , SIUC had 15 , 141 undergraduates , 4 , 896 graduate students , and was the alma mater of over 212 , 000 living alumni . Southern Illinois University Edwardsville . Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ( SIUE ) is the St . Louis Metro East campus of the SIU system . The main campus in Edwardsville is situated on of scenic woodland and lakes with bicycle and walking paths throughout . SIUE also operates the School of Dental Medicine campus in Alton , the East St . Louis Center , and School of Nursing ' s satellite campus in Springfield . Begun as residential centers of SIUC in 1957 , SIUE celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007 . Once known as a " commuter school , " SIUE has in recent years transformed itself into a residential university . SIUE includes the College of Arts and Sciences and seven ( 7 ) schools , including the Graduate School and the new but highly regarded School of Pharmacy on the Edwardsville campus and the School of Dental Medicine in Alton . The SIUE center in East St . Louis provides clinical and practicum experiences for SIUE students and a broad range of assistance to the community in the arts , education , health , and social services . Considered to be a " Comprehensive Regional Masters ' University , " SIUE offers Baccalaureate , Post - Baccalaureate , Masters , and Doctoral degrees in 135 academic programs . SIUE is especially known and respected ( highly rated in USNEWS ) for its Senior Assessment Program . In the Fall of 2011 , SIUE had 11 , 428 undergraduates , 2 , 807 graduate students , and 86 , 493 living alumni . Satellite schools . Southern Illinois University School of Medicine . The Southern Illinois University School of Medicine ( SIU - SOM ) is a part of SIUC that operates its first year program in Carbondale and the final 3 years in Springfield . The SIU - SOM also offers a wide range of medical residency programs including ; Dermatology , Emergency Medicine , Family Medicine , General Surgery , Internal Medicine , Medicine / Psychiatry , Neurology , Obstetrics and Gynecology , Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation , Otolaryngology , Pediatrics , Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Psychiatry , Radiology , and Urology . Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine . The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine ( SIU - SDM or SDM ) is a part of SIUE and operates in Alton on the campus of the former Shurtleff College . The school opened in 1972 and enrolls about 200 dentist students . Southern Illinois Edwardsville School of Nursing . Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing not only has academic programs on the Edwardsville campus , but it operates a cooperative program with SIUC in Carbondale , and it has a small campus in Springfield which offers graduate level courses nearby the SIU School of Medicine .