Proposal: This proposal supports UIS theatre students attending the 2027 American College Theatre Festival Region 3 Conference. Students will participate in workshops, panels, performances, and collaborations with theatre professionals and peers from across the region. The experience will strengthen their artistic development, expand their professional networks, and increase UIS’ visibility in regional theatre.

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Proposal: This proposal will make core Computer Science course materials more accessible to students who are blind or have low vision. In collaboration with the Office of Digital Accessibility (ODA), the project will create expert-verified versions of code, diagrams, memory structures, and assessment materials that work effectively with existing screen readers. An AI-assisted authoring tool and on-demand explainer will help instructors produce concept-level descriptions at scale and allow students to explore technical diagrams interactively. Reusable templates and guidance will extend these accessibility practices across the Computer Science department.

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Proposal: Born to Teach will bring local high school juniors and seniors to UIS for a day of hands-on learning about teaching careers and campus life. Participants will engage in faculty-led education sessions, meet current UIS students, and learn about academic programs and enrollment. The event will strengthen partnerships with area school districts while helping UIS cultivate and recruit the next generation of educators.

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Proposal: This proposal would fund the weekly Healthy Snack Station in the Student Affairs Suite. By offering fresh fruit, beverages, and a welcoming place to connect, the station supports student wellness while creating informal opportunities for students to build relationships with staff and learn about available resources, preserving a valued campus tradition that promotes belonging, engagement, and care.

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Proposal: Pre-Law Day will bring approximately twenty practicing attorneys and twenty UIS pre-law students together for workshops, continuing legal education, and small-group career conversations. Students will gain candid guidance about law school, legal specialties, and professional practice while building relationships that may lead to mentoring, internships, and employment. The event will also deepen UIS’ connections with the Illinois legal community and showcase the expertise of its programs and faculty.

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Proposal: The AI Bootcamp will provide UIS faculty and staff with a full day of applied learning focused on responsible and effective uses of artificial intelligence in teaching and research. Sessions will range from foundational AI literacy to hands-on workshops for building chatbots, AI tutors, and other course tools, with opportunities for participants to share campus innovations. The event will turn strong interest in AI into practical skills, tangible resources, and a stronger university community of practice.

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Proposal: This proposal will support undergraduate psychology students as they conduct research and present their work at the Midwest Psychological Association conference in Chicago. Conference participation will provide professional experience, faculty mentorship, networking opportunities, and exposure to graduate programs while showcasing UIS student scholarship. Students will bring their learning back to campus through STARS presentations and classroom visits, helping strengthen a sustainable culture of undergraduate research.

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Proposal: The One-Button Studio will give faculty a simple, self-service space for recording polished instructional videos with professional audio, lighting, visual backdrops, and annotation tools. By reducing technical and scheduling barriers, the studio will help instructors create timely, focused, and engaging content for asynchronous courses. The result will be stronger teaching presence, more consistent course materials, and an improved learning experience for students.

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Proposal: This proposal will establish a computational chemistry platform at UIS using WebMO, a user-friendly interface for molecular modeling, calculations, and visualization. Students will be able to connect abstract chemical concepts with simulations, compare computational predictions with laboratory results, and gain experience with an important area of modern chemistry. The platform will support new and existing courses while creating a shared teaching and research resource for faculty and students across the university.

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Proposal: The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will give UIS students hands-on experience preparing taxes while providing free assistance to individuals and families in the community. Students will apply classroom knowledge in a supervised, service-oriented setting and develop practical professional skills. The program will strengthen community engagement, support workforce development, and enhance UIS’ reputation for applied learning and public service.

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Proposal: This proposal will expand a successful birthday-card tradition into a monthly campus celebration open to students and employees. A welcoming table in the Student Union will offer a shared treat and cards signed by campus leaders, giving community members a simple but meaningful way to feel recognized. With minimal cost, the initiative can promote belonging, appreciation, well-being, and retention across UIS.

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Proposal: This proposal features a one-day interdisciplinary AI and Science hackathon and public showcase. Teams will use open or appropriately authorized datasets in astronomy, environment and energy, or public health to define a tractable scientific question, build or adapt a baseline model, assess its limitations, and prepare a short presentation with guidance from faculty and invited mentors. Introductory templates, a beginner track, and varied roles in domain knowledge, coding, visualization, and communication will make the event accessible to participants without prior AI experience. Modest awards will recognize scientific reasoning, collaboration, and clear communication.

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Proposal: This initiative will provide hands-on financial literacy and empowerment workshops for residents and clients of Sojourn Shelter & Services. UIS faculty and students will help participants build practical skills in budgeting, banking, credit, and financial independence while gaining meaningful service-learning experience. The partnership advances UIS’ civic engagement mission by supporting survivors as they work toward long-term stability and by preparing students to apply their knowledge with empathy in the community.

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Proposal: This proposal will support the Second Annual Midwestern Undergraduate Public History Conference, the nation’s only undergraduate conference focused on public history and museum studies. Hosted at Innovate Springfield, the event will showcase student work, connect prospective graduate students with UIS faculty and alumni, and strengthen partnerships with universities and public-history organizations across the region. Building on a successful pilot, the 2027 conference will support graduate recruitment, student professional development, alumni engagement, and the visibility of UIS’ Public History program.

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Proposal: UIS will host the 10th Annual Central Illinois STEM Fair, bringing K–12 students and families to campus for hands-on demonstrations, exhibits, and conversations about STEM education and careers. Good Idea funding will reduce transportation and meal barriers so more schools and families can participate. The event will expand access to STEM, showcase UIS programs and people, strengthen regional partnerships, and help establish a sustainable annual fair on campus.

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Proposal: Taking UIS Around the World will present a three-concert series featuring The Sweet Nothings and Central Illinois musicians who perform living global folk traditions. Each concert will pair cultural context with music from traditions such as Balkan, Greek, Irish, Mexican, Caribbean, Filipino, and other regional styles. Co-hosted by Sociology/Anthropology and Art, Music, & Theatre, the series will enrich UIS’ interdisciplinary ethnomusicology curriculum while inviting the campus and wider community to engage with global cultures through live performance.

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