1.13.24
Happy Monday, UIS!
It’s exciting to welcome our students back for the first full week of Spring 2025 classes. Last year brought incredible successes, including academic and athletic achievements, new student experiences and vibrant community events. You can read more about UIS’ Seven Star Successes of 2024 on Orbit.
New Information
Mid-Cycle Budget Reductions
On Jan. 7, the Chancellor’s Cabinet voted to reduce FY25 state fund budgets by an average of 3%. These mid-year cuts were announced to deans and directors in October. Since then, Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (IVCFA) Ken Kriz engaged the University Planning and Budget Committee (UPBC), consisting of representatives from all colleges and divisions, in a decision-making exercise to get their input on the relative cuts. The UPBC heard budget presentations from deans and division heads and voted on recommended cuts via an anonymous voting process. The mean recommendations of the UPBC were then shared with the Chancellor’s Cabinet, which made the final decision on cuts through an anonymous voting process and a round of open discussion. While the final reduction averaged 3%, the cuts for each college and division ranged from 2 to 4 percent. Deans and division heads will be receiving memoranda from the IVCFA this week detailing their college/division reduction.
For other strategic updates, visit the NorthStar website.
Employee of the Year Celebration
Join us from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Student Union Ballroom as we honor the 2024 Employees of the Month and announce the Employee of the Year. Details are available on Orbit.
A Call to Think: Engaged Citizenship
Join me and Steve Schwinn, professor at the UIC College of Law, for the inaugural event of the new Chancellor’s Thinkers Series. Professor Schwinn and I will discuss Engaged Citizenship and take questions from the audience. The event is from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Jan. 29 in Brookens Auditorium—no RSVP necessary. The Chancellor’s Thinkers Series seeks to inspire diverse perspectives and encourage intentional thinking within our community and will feature esteemed guests from a variety of disciplines. Watch for more events in the future!
Oral History Project
In celebration of the university's upcoming 55th anniversary, Alumni Relations is leading a UIS Alumni Oral History Project, titled “Storied – The 55th.” Alumni are invited to share their stories, which will be preserved in a book celebrating the university's impact on their lives and who they are today. You can learn more about the project on Orbit.
Electronic W-2/1042-S/1095-C
To access your W-2, 1042-S, and 1095-C forms electronically, please consent for electronic access by 10:59 p.m. Jan. 15. Click the Pay tab on the System HR website. Once you consent, electronic access will continue annually. Without consent, printed forms will be mailed to your listed address by Jan. 31. More details are available on Orbit.
Upcoming ITS Workshops
ITS is hosting weekly 30-minute hands-on workshops on a variety of topics. The first workshop, “Leveraging Email Tools to Find Work-Life Balance,” will be from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 14 in UHB 2028 or via Zoom. There is no need to register beforehand. Find the Zoom link and explore upcoming workshop topics on Orbit.
Zoom Update
If you use the Zoom Desktop client, update your software to the most recent version. Starting Feb. 1, older versions will be retired, and users on versions below 6.0.4 (Windows) and 6.0.2 (macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Intune) will no longer be able to log in or join meetings. Learn how to update your software on Orbit.
2025 Illinois Innovation Network Social Innovation Workshop
The Illinois Innovation Network is hosting a social innovation workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 22 in the Student Union. Participants will learn about funding opportunities, how to strengthen their funding applications, and gain insights from successful projects. Learn more or register online.
UIS Mail Services Rate Increase
In December, Mail Services instated a new monthly chargeback to cover the university’s costs associated with printing and labeling Ground Advantage, UPS and USPS mail pieces. If you have questions about this change, please contact Director of Campus Services Patty Sullivan.
Department Newsletters
In the January Human Resources Newsletter, HR is kicking off the year with a new Development Series. The first session is “Meet HR” from 9 to 10 a.m. Jan. 22 in the Student Union Ballroom. Other newsletter topics include an update on new employee orientation and a reminder about Academic Impressions.
Facilities and Services’ January Newsletter topics include an in-depth explanation of the PAC Plumbing Infrastructure Renovation, HSB lab modernization, a note about classroom scheduling, and more.
The most recent AI Newsletter shares a list of AI news and articles, both relevant to higher education and in the greater AI landscape; an audiobook called, “Teaching with AI,” other upcoming AI events across the U of I System, and an upcoming event on Academic Impressions.
Find department newsletters on Orbit.
Information that Bears Repeating
RISE Professional Development Day
Register by Jan. 15 for the Spring 2025 Professional Development Day, which takes place Jan. 31 The retreat will focus on workplace communication, featuring workshops such as, “Managing Power and Politics in the Workplace” and “Thriving Through Strategic Conversations.” Mirrored morning and afternoon sessions are available with a box lunch in between to accommodate all schedules.
2025 Calendars Available
Get ready for the new year with Campus Services’ 2025 Calendars. Choose from four designs for $2 each. Place your order today!
Celebrating Our Star Power
Miriam Wallace, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, was elected to the executive council of the Modern Language Association, which fosters diverse voices and supports the humanities. Read more on the UIS Newsroom.
Teresa Seacrist, parking manager in Facilities and Services, was named Employee of the Month for November 2024. Her nominator praised her pleasant and helpful attitude, dedication and ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
Jacob Friefeld, director of the Center for Lincoln Studies, received the Caroline Bancroft History Prize from the Denver Public Library for “The First Migrants,” a book he co-authored with Richard Edwards. Published by Bison Books, the book examines the migration of Black homesteaders to the Great Plains from 1877 to 1920. Learn more on the UIS Newsroom.
Getting to Know You
Carissa Isenberg has spent most of her career as a fifth-grade teacher, but through her experience working on district-level committees, she found an interest in research and evaluation methods in educational settings. That led her to her current position as the program coordinator for the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. One thing you should know about Carissa is that she considers herself an “indoor nerd.” She loves challenging herself with trivia nights, playing board games, and attending musicals and escape rooms. Read more on Orbit.
Join me in welcoming all of our students back to campus this week!
Janet
Janet L. Gooch, Ph.D.
Chancellor
University of Illinois Springfield
P.S. If you have a topic you’d like me to consider for my newsletter, submit your idea here. I love to highlight your news, events and accolades.