From Provost Schwab
It is now officially Autumn, which is reinforced by the subtle changes in foliage and the shifting hours of daylight. I have talked with quite a few members of the UIS community recently who have expressed their disbelief that we are already six weeks into the semester. It is comforting to know that it is not just me that feels like time is passing at an accelerated pace.
I am always amazed at the beauty and fury of the natural world, and I was reminded of both in the last week. On a personal note, I am floored by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, in particular in the communities of western North Carolina where I have many close ties. On the flipside, I was finally able to visit the Emiquon Nature Preserve and UIS’ Therkildsen Field Station last week on a lovely fall day. I have spent much of my career connected in various ways with Field Stations and working, studying, and teaching in the field, and I can say that Emiquon is a gem of a resource that I hope more of the UIS community can take advantage of for its experiential learning opportunities or simply to visit for a chance to slow down and soak in some time in nature.
There are great things happening across the university and much work ahead for us all. In the midst of everything, I hope that you are able to take time for yourself and for those dear to you and enjoy the season. Take care.
Brandon
Provost's Open Hours
Faculty and staff are invited to Provost’s Open Hours - Wednesday, October 30, 1-3pm, check in at BRK 339.
You are welcome to stop by and sign in for an opportunity to chat with Provost Brandon Schwab on a first come, first served basis.
Important Initiatives
HLC Quality Initiative - Focus Group Invitations Coming Soon
In a spring 2024 survey to students, faculty, and staff to understand the priorities of our university, three main themes emerged:
- Improving student retention and graduation rates.
- Improving student services.
- Assessment of general education outcomes.
This fall, focus groups will be used to ask stakeholders to expand on these themes and to investigate whether any emerging topics have yet to be considered. Watch for an announcement soon from the Provost’s Office.
If you are interested in being included in the participant pool, please email the Office of Undergraduate Education.
High Impact Practices (HIPs) - Meet Ryan Flynn
Ryan Flynn is UIS’ new High Impact Practices (HIPs) Program Director. In this position, he is working with university members to explore how high impact practices deployed at UIS, such as internships, communities of learning, undergraduate research, and other programs, positively impact retention and graduation.
This ambitious project is possible thanks to a multi-year US Department of Education Title III Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant.
Opportunities to Make a Difference
Mental Health Symposium
The University of Illinois System invites students and employees to the system-wide "Advancing Student and Employee Health and Well-Being as a Health Promoting University" event on October 9, 1-3 p.m. The event will explore the concept of a Health Promoting University (HPU) as an institution that integrates health into its culture and operations. Factors like academic pressure and social isolation can negatively impact the mental health of students and staff. To promote mental health, an HPU implements changes in settings and systems, such as redesigning spaces to encourage interaction and providing mental health resources. Becoming an HPU involves commitment, community engagement, and the development of health-focused policies across the campus. We hope you can participate.
After receiving emails from interested members of the UIS community, we will create a pool of possible participants to contact about their availability on the dates we have scheduled the Zoom focus groups.
Speaker Series Event Proposals Invited
The Office of Undergraduate Education is accepting ECCE Speaker Series proposals for Spring 2025 events through Friday, October 18, at 5 p.m.
Funding up to $1,000 is available for a live event. In addition, limited travel funding is available for transportation and lodging.
Funding up to $500 is available for a hybrid event in which the presenter appears via Zoom to a live audience seated in the auditorium.
If you have questions about the proposal process or have an idea for an event, but are not sure how to proceed, please contact Kimberly Craig.
Human Trafficking at Illinois College Campuses - November 4 Webinar
Faculty and staff are invited to participate in the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking webinar on Monday, November 4, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Aimed primarily at faculty and staff who work with students, the webinar will provide information on human trafficking, indicators to look for, and resources available to universities. Join the Teams webinar.
News Worth Celebrating
University Scholars Award
Heather Bailey, UIS professor of history, was presented with the University Scholars Award at a luncheon on Monday, September 30. Provost Brandon Schwab presented the award, the highest faculty honor from the University of Illinois System, on behalf of EVP/VPAA Nick Jones. Only one faculty member receives the prestigious award annually at UIS.
Current faculty honored with the University Scholars Award in past years include: Lynn Fisher, Rosina Neginsky, Svet Braynov, John Martin, Lan Dong, Hua Chen, David Bertaina, Elizabeth Kosmetatou, Peter Shapinsky, Richard Gilman-Opalsky, Yanhui Guo, Sudeep Sharma, Jennifer Martin, and Shipra Gupta.
Fall Grant Activity
From July 1 to date, UIS has submitted 51 proposals to external funding agencies, totaling close to $11 million in requested funds. These numbers are an extraordinary achievement of our faculty talent and efforts if we consider that the total number of proposals submitted last year was 58, and the amount of funding for the year was $18.6 million.
With our new Grants Writer, Sam Coad, on board, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs anticipates working closely with faculty to refine proposals and identify potential funding sources.
Resource Refresh
OIRE Website Debut
The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE) has a new website which includes a page with quick access to public dashboards of UIS and UI System data. You will also find information about current projects and initiatives.
Human Subjects Research and Grant Writing Workshops
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs will provide multiple workshops on Human Subjects Research and Grant Writing this fall.
One-to-One Training for My UI Financials
University Accounting and Financial Reporting (UAFR) offers one-on-one training sessions for My UI Financials. If you’d like to take advantage of this opportunity, email your personalized training request.
Important Dates
- Thursday, October 3, 11 a.m. - Faculty Personnel Process workshop - Preparing a Narrative and Portfolio, BRK 416 or join the workshop via Zoom
- Wednesday, October 9, 1-3 p.m. - U of I Mental Health Symposium - Advancing Student and Employee Health and Well-Being as a Health Promoting University. Register for the Mental Health Symposium
- Tuesday, October 15 - Good Idea Fund decisions announced
- Friday, October 18 - Speaker Series proposals due
- Wednesday, October 30, 1-3 p.m. - Provost's Faculty-Staff Open Hours, Check in at BRK 339.
Suggestions for future content?
We are interested in hearing from you about topics you would like to see covered in the Provost’s Office monthly newsletter. Send suggestions to Monica Kroft.