Academic Affairs News - November/December 2023

From Provost Schwab

Dear colleagues:

As we approach the end of the year, I want to express my appreciation to the UIS community for making my first semester here such a good experience. I am especially grateful for the many conversations I have had with individuals and units across campus and the willingness of students, staff, and faculty to share some of the great things going on as well as areas where we can improve. Many of the opportunities for improvement will take time, and I look forward to working together to make UIS the best institution it can be.

This time of the semester can be challenging as everyone is pushing toward the finish line. People are tired, stress levels are elevated, and pressures of the holidays and active crises around the globe all add up and can affect individuals in myriad ways. In addition to reaching out to others for support, if you feel you need additional assistance and are an employee participating in the State health plan, the Employee Assistance Program can be a valuable resource during difficult times. Students looking for assistance may contact the Counseling Center. In all of this, I hope that you are able to keep the big picture in mind and recognize the value you bring to UIS and our community. Thank you for your good work, and have a peaceful and restful holiday.

Provost's open office hours

• Watch for Spring 2024 open office hour dates for faculty/staff and for students to be published in January.

Opportunities to make a difference

• Digital Accessibility - Adopting inclusive design practices, such as creating accessible documents, canfoster a culture of diversity and inclusion and drive innovation while improving the user experience for our students, our colleagues, and the community we serve.  COLRS offers easy-to-follow how-to guides for creating accessible materials. If you want additional help, our Digital Accessibility Remediation Team (DART) can remediate your digital content to meet the accessibility requirements outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Email colrs@uis.edu to get started.

New resources

• Segregation of Duties - This new OBFS policy 9.1.2 mitigates the risks of non-segregation of duties by prohibiting certain role combinations for enterprise-wide systems. Access to enterprise-wide applications by an employee with a prohibited role combination is only allowed after obtaining advance approval for an exception request. Read more about the Segregation of Duties policy and access the exception request form.
• AI Risk Awareness - AI is an algorithm (such as ChatGPT) that can be used to create new content including audio, code, image, text simulations and videos. AI is considered an electronic service. Pcard users will now complete a form to ensure they understand and acknowledge potential risks along with appropriate AI use and compliance with applicable university policies and regulations. Link to AI Risk Awareness information and forms.
• New Software Request Form available – Looking for software not available through the U of I Webstore? This form will reduce contract timelines, streamline the collection of information, and create efficiencies in the requisition/contract process. Read more about the New Software Request Form.

News worth celebrating

• Professor Hinda Seif helped organize and run three Community Teach-ins in October as part of the Chicago Monuments Project: Pilsen Latino Legacies. Link to Pilsen Latina Legacies recap videos
• UIS student Lilian (Lily) Georgiou (History), with support from a Chapin Award, presented "The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Arab Orthodox Community,” at the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) conference in Montreal, Canada this November as part of the Undergraduate Research Workshop hosted by the Committee for Undergraduate Middle East Studies. This project grew out of Dr. Kristi Barnwell's HIS 373: ECCE Reading Arab Pasts course.

Important dates

• February 12, 2024 – Deans submit new academic program Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) II proposals; other SIF II innovative idea proposals due to the Provost. SIF I resubmissions due.

Newsletter contact: Monica Kroft