About the Center
Online learning at the University of Illinois Springfield began with the establishment of the Office of Technology-Enhanced Learning (OTEL) in July 1997 with a grant from the U of I Online. In December 2008, UIS received approval to establish the Center for Online Learning, Research, and Service.
Since 1997, UIS has moved to the forefront of institutions engaged in online learning and the uses of technology in instruction.
UIS faculty members’ responsiveness to adopting the Internet and other technologies for instruction has been followed quickly by their scholarship focused on online learning and emerging educational technologies.
UIS is building upon this record of accomplishment through the Center for Online Learning, Research, and Service (COLRS). The Center is the UIS hub for the study and application of online learning pedagogy, technology, and best practices. The Center:
- Provides support for both original scholarly research and the dissemination of results.
- Builds synergies between discovery research and the enhancement of current online education practices.
- Informs, empowers, assists, and supports the faculty of UIS in the delivery of courses, degrees, and certificate programs through the Internet.
- Builds exciting new online collaborations among educational institutions, government agencies, and businesses.
UIS is a member of the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), EDUCAUSE, the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET), and the Illinois Council on Continuing Higher Education (ICCHE).
Learn about the hallmarks of the UIS Model of Online Education.
Learn more about COLRS through our Annual Impact Reports.