8.21.23

Happy Monday, UIS!

I hope you enjoyed the last few weeks of summer break! One of my highlights was spending some time at the Illinois State Fair with Orion. I’m sure you share my excitement to welcome many of our students back to campus this week! Mark your calendars for our Faculty-Staff Kickoff from 3 to 5 p.m. this Thursday in the Student Union ballroom as we set the tone for a great academic year. Don’t forget to bring an item for the UIS Cares food pantry to be entered into a drawing for some UIS swag.

New Information

UIS Mobile App

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the UIS mobile app! On the app, students and employees can access academic resources, dining options, interactive maps, campus news, upcoming events, safety guidelines, and a wealth of other advanced features. Download it today.

Freshman Move-In

I can’t wait to greet our incoming freshmen as they begin to move into the residence halls this week. Be sure to make the most of any opportunities you have to interact with our new students and help them acclimate to our beautiful campus!

Financial Aid 101

To provide a greater awareness about the value and return-on-investment of a college education, we have launched a comprehensive financial literacy campaign called Financial Aid 101.

Fall COVID-19 Guidance

We continue to monitor community levels for COVID-19 and are in regular consultation with UI System experts regarding current and anticipated infection rates in our area. An uptick in COVID-19 cases is expected this fall, so please follow these guidelines to help prioritize everyone’s health and safety:

• If you’re sick or develop COVID-19-related symptoms, stay home and follow public and medical health guidelines on when it is safe to return to work or class.  
• If you have COVID-19, isolate for at least five days. If after five days your symptoms are improving, you can exit isolation but should wear a mask around others for an additional five days. 
• It is strongly encouraged that you get vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date on COVID-19 vaccine boosters, especially those with risk factors for severe infection. New vaccines targeting the most recent variants will be available in September or early October.
• Practice good hygiene, washing your hands often and avoiding touching your face.
• Students can access testing at UIS by appointment through Health Services. Employees should access testing through their medical provider.

New Training for Hiring Managers and Search Committee Members

In alignment with UIS’ commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, the Access & Equity Office is requiring all hiring managers and search committee members participating in AP and faculty searches to complete a new training beginning in October. The training will provide guidance on mitigating bias, how to attract diverse candidates and integrating inclusive practices into the candidate evaluation processes. Stay tuned for more info.

Prairie Stars Family Weekend Oct. 13-15

We're gearing up to create a weekend of unforgettable memories, and you can be a part of the excitement by becoming an event sponsor. The deadline to submit your Family Weekend Proposal is Sept. 22.

Library Commons Construction Update

The construction of our university's highly anticipated Library Commons has been delayed. Unfortunately, the current bidding climate, increased materials costs and the challenges contractors face with labor force availability demand that we take necessary measures to ensure the successful completion of this project within our budget constraints. Our Facilities team is working closely with representatives from the Library, Center for Academic Success and Advising, the Career Development Center, Information Technology Services, and our architectural and engineering teams to undertake a thorough value engineering and re-design process to achieve this. As of now, the re-design process will conclude toward the end of the Fall 2023 semester, and we plan to bid for the project this winter and start construction early next summer. More information will be shared with the full university community in the near future.

Ethics Training Change

This year, the annual ethics training will not close at 5 p.m. Oct. 31 as it has in the past. Instead, it will remain open, but any employees completing the training after the deadline will be disciplined for noncompliance. This will allow noncompliant employees to complete the training before the makeup window in January 2024. If you have any questions, you may contact Donna McNeely, U of I ethics officer.

Carnegie Elective Classification in Leadership for Public Purpose

UIS will be filing a letter of intent to apply for a Carnegie Elective Classification in Leadership for Public Purpose. This effort will be led by Travis Bland, interim dean of the College of Health, Science and Technology, and Jamarco Clark, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. The application is due Dec. 1.

Information that Bears Repeating

Grad Week Sept. 25-29

Notify the Grad Week Planning Committee of your intent to participate by filling out this form by Aug. 28.

UIS Professional Development Retreat

Lock in your seat for the Professional Development Retreat on Sept. 15 for Civil Service/Academic Professional staff and faculty. If you are interested, you must register by Aug. 31.

Celebrating our Star Power

Assistant Professor of Computer Science Xiang Huang and Associate Professor of Math Science Liang Kong have been awarded a highly competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

Fall Welcome begins Friday — thanks to our Student Affairs team for leading the way in helping all of our UIS students settle into the new academic year. Let’s make it a great one!

Janet

Janet L. Gooch, PhD

Chancellor University of Illinois Springfield