6.14.22 

Dear UIS Colleagues:  

New Student Orientation is in full swing, and if you are on campus this summer, I hope you get a chance to get outdoors to enjoy our beautiful grounds. We’re so proud of UIS Baseball, taking us further in the playoffs than ever before, although it didn’t end as we had hoped. Congrats to the team and coaches for this milestone in our university history!  

New Information 

Salary Increases 

President Killeen announced the authorization of a merit-based salary program for all faculty, academic professional and civil service staff across the University of Illinois System. The increase takes effect Aug. 16. More information will be shared soon about how UIS will implement the program.

Search Committee Nominations

I am accepting nominations for faculty, staff and students to serve on two important upcoming national searches — one for the next Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and another for the next Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration. It is important to receive these nominations this month so Chancellor Designee Gooch may appoint the committees in July, with the committees beginning their work immediately after the start of the fall semester. It is hoped that the successful candidates will join UIS sometime between January and June 2023. Please forward any nominations, including self-nominations, to Kelly Walraven at kwalr2@uis.edu by 5 p.m. June 27. Student nominations should include the individual’s undergrad/grad level and program of study (i.e., on-ground junior majoring in communication; online grad student majoring in business), and faculty/staff should include their division, unit and job title.

UIS Policies Website 

A new UIS Policies website has been created that will streamline the approach to creating and maintaining university and unit-level policies. The new website is searchable by policy type, audience or keyword. The rollout of the new page includes an update to the Policy on Policies. 

UIS Community Garden Wednesday Worknights 

The UIS Community Garden hosts weekly worknights from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays all summer. Even if you’ve never gardened, students and employees are welcome to join the garden coordinator, Emily Jones, who will teach you anything you need to know to lend a hand.  

Sustainable Cost Reductions Task Force 

UIS is launching a Sustainable Cost Reductions Task Force this summer. The task force will meet with department leaders and their employees to look for opportunities to improve processes and identify cost-savings opportunities, then make recommendations to the Chancellor’s Cabinet for consideration. Bryan Rives, director of UIS Performing Arts Services, will serve as the task force chairman. 

Juneteeth 

The Center for Lincoln Studies will host a Juneteenth Lecture Series discussion, “Cause & Effect: Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation,” at the Illinois State Museum 1-3:30 p.m. June 17. The event will be livestreamed, too, and registration is required. Don’t forget, although the official Juneteenth National Independence Day is June 20, UIS employees have a day off to honor this special day on Friday, June 17.  

Take me out to the Ballgame  

Join UIS alumni and friends at Busch Stadium on Saturday, June 25, for the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs game. Your registration includes a game ticket, indoor air-conditioned suite, outdoor stadium seats, buffet meal, snacks and bar service. Spaces are limited. 

HR Updates

Two new human resources systems are coming this summer. Cornerstone will replace HireTouch, and JDXpert is a digital solution for creating job descriptions across the UI System. Read more on Orbit. The State Universities Civil Service System has announced it will be moving away from in-person exams to credential reviews for most civil service classifications. UIS employees can help job applicants by encouraging them to outline in their application, in detail, duties and responsibilities in their past roles to help with evaluations of their credentials. If you have questions about this

transition, please contact uishr@uis.edu.

Information that Bears Repeating 

Host a Fall Welcome event 

Fall Welcome is looking for campus departments to host an event the first week students are back on campus. Submit your online form on UIS Connection by clicking “forms” in the top navigation bar. Welcome Week learning goals are self-awareness, connections and inclusion. 

HyFlex Teaching Summer Workshops 

COLRS is offering workshops on HyFlex teaching this summer. Workshops are approximately one hour, and attendance is mandatory for anyone interested in receiving the $500 stipend for converting a course to HyFlex format. HyFlex stipend applicants will be required to submit a syllabus, as well as HyFlex lesson plans, through the mid-term for their course. Workshop dates are via Zoom at 11 a.m. June 20 or 11 a.m. July 20.

Celebrating our Star Power 

Congratulations to staff in the UIS Office of Electronic Media for winning a Silver Telly for their collaborative work with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency on its Safe2Help Illinois Choose Kindness Video.  

You will hear from me one more time in this format before Chancellor Designee Gooch officially takes the wheel on July 1. We’re all eagerly anticipating her arrival, and I’m enjoying all the touchpoints with you all as I wrap up my time at UIS. Don’t hesitate to reach out in these last few weeks.

Karen 

Karen M. Whitney, PhD 

Interim Chancellor  University of Illinois Springfield