UIS NorthStar Initiative
NorthStar is our guide to operationalizing the UIS Strategic Compass through the reshaping of our university for operational efficiency and academic excellence to ensure long-term sustainability and relevance.
UIS seeks to be a resilient, adaptable and market-aligned academic institution. To achieve this, we must maintain our student-centered approach and focus on action items that will position UIS to be fiscally sustainable, market-relevant and growth-minded.
UIS' Three NorthStar Priorities for Academic Year 2024-25
Priority 1- Academic Portfolio Review & Prioritization: Conduct an academic portfolio review to ensure all programs are on a sustainable path to meet IBHE enrollment and completion standards.
- Timeframe: Complete review by end of Spring 2025 semester.
- Additional information: Academic Portfolio Review Task Force
Priority 2- Deficit Reduction: Achieve an annual budget balance of zero by 2029.
- Hiring Freeze: In place as of September 2024. All requested positions and salary increases must first be reviewed by the Strategic Staffing Committee, comprised of the chancellor and vice chancellors.
- Mid-cycle budget cuts: Proposals for 2-, 3- and 4-percent cuts were due to iVCFA Ken Kriz by Nov. 1. Hearings took place in November with the University Budget and Planning Committee.
- Second-half Fall 2024 enrollment push: This effort proved successful with a 4.56 increase in credit hours as compared to Fall 2023. Our next effort will focus on winter intercession.
- Voluntary Separation Plan: This initiative is currently under review and will be shared in early 2025.
- Other initiatives: Developing a strategy for use and distribution of the remaining Strategic Investment Fund dollars (approximately $1.1 million); exploring funding model changes in areas that generate non-state dollars; a space utilization study; and continued reviews of our scholarship distribution.
Priority 3- Student Retention: Improve student persistence, reduce dropout rates and increase graduate rates.
- Eliminate barriers to persistence
- Continue focus on high-impact practices
• Forum Recordings •
Aug. 22, 2024: UIS Faculty-Staff Academic Year Kickoff
Oct. 16, 2024: Fall Employee Info Session
Feedback and Questions
Have questions, concerns or ideas? Share them via the NorthStar Strategic Priorities Feedback Form. Submitted questions may be used to develop an FAQ in the future.
Have a success story to share related to one of our three NorthStar priorities? Send it to chancellor@uis.edu.
Latest News
Hiring Freeze
Announced in the Chancellor’s newsletter on Sept. 16, 2024, any new position requests that come forward must have approval by unit and/or division leadership and will be evaluated by the Strategic Staffing Committee. This includes requests to backfill new vacancies. Hiring managers are encouraged to think creatively about how to meet operational needs when vacancies occur before requesting a replacement hire. Essential positions will be allowed to be filled.
Program Portfolio Review
As shared in the Provost’s September newsletter, we initiated a review of our academic portfolio this fall to assess the long-term sustainability of our program offerings. This will include an external market analysis of our programs to better assess how our programs meet the needs of students and the regions we serve. We have assembled a working group composed of faculty and others recommended by the Campus Senate, academic colleges and administration to help move this important work forward and to identify the best mechanisms to keep the university community informed.