The following is an excerpt of a story published by The State Journal-Register on July 14, 2023.

"A new Institute that will address diversity, equity, inclusion and justice issues across central Illinois is in the works on the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield.

The institute will offer academic programs that focus on Race, Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice in the fall.

"We’re just thinking about where we need to be going in the future, where our students are coming from, what kind of world are they going into and how can they be prepared for that," said Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Mariam Wallace. "We wanted to give people a chance to grapple with different questions and have those difficult conversations so we can meet the students where they are in the world."

Read the SJ-R Article online