12.11.23

Happy Monday!

It’s finals week, which means we’re nearing the close of a wonderful semester. In fact, we’re celebrating our summer and fall graduates today with refreshments 3-5 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. Stop by and congratulate them while you’re out and about on campus. Thanks to Student Affairs and the Alumni Association for hosting this fun event.

New Information

UIS Bookstore Coupon

The UIS Bookstore and Follett are offering faculty and staff a 25% off appreciation coupon for the whole month of December!

UIS Calendars

With the new year approaching, new UIS calendars are available. Review the designs created by Campus Services and place your order here.

Save the Date: EOY

The Employee of the Year celebration is scheduled for 3:30-5 p.m. Jan. 25 in the Student Union. Mark your calendars, and plan to come out and support your colleagues!

Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee

I am pleased to announce that I have finalized the 2023-24 membership of the Chancellor’s Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee (IAAC). The IAAC comprises faculty, student-athletes, staff and administrators. The committee facilitates collaborative communication and counsel for the athletic department on matters relating to student-athlete academic welfare, academic integrity and the educational objectives of the university. A full announcement, including a membership roster, is on Orbit.

Lactation Rooms

Lactation rooms are available in PAC 491/492 and Student Affairs Building Room 11 to support nursing parents (employees, students, contract employees) and their partners.

Protection of Minors Policy

Updates were made to the University of Illinois System Policy: Protection of Minors to provide additional clarity for volunteers, contractors and other designated individuals. For more info, read the Protection of Minors FAQs or the Protection of Minors Resources.

Snow Removal and Parking

With winter approaching, there will be times when Facilities will implement a “Snow Parking Day” to clear parking lots of snow. Learn what that means and how your usual parking location would be affected.

Exploring Graduate School this Spring

Our online Graduate School Week events continue Jan. 29-Feb. 2 as a great recruitment tool under a new name, Exploring Graduate School. Academic programs should register to host a webinar by Jan. 12.

Information that Bears Repeating

SECA Results

The SECA campaign has officially ended, and UIS employees donated nearly $30,000. Thank you for your generous support.

Holiday Happy Hour

Join us for music, drinks and appetizers to celebrate the season 4-5 p.m. Dec. 19 in the Student Union Ballroom. Register here by the end of today!

Celebrating our Star Power

Congratulations to two groups of students who won awards at the Reimagine Our Future Undergraduate Sustainability Competition at UIUC. The students entered the competition as part ofAssociate Professorof Environmental Studies Megan Styles’ Introduction to Sustainability class.

• Charles Wheeler, Lucas Baronello, Saharra Murphy, Caila Riggs and Michelle Check won one of two $1,000 second-place awards for their project, “Farm to School: A Shared Investment for a Healthier Future.”

• Karmyn Flesch, Nadia Wilson, Emily Rhodes and Gabriella Sanchez won a $500 third-place award for their project, “Zero Food Waste: Solutions for UIS.”

Our two competitive UIS Esports teams, Super Smash Bros. and Valorant, reached the quarterfinals in the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) playoffs, placing in the top eight overall. Students interested in joining the competitive team in the spring can try out Jan. 13-14. For additional details, contact Jay Swenson.

Lisa Bowen is our November Employee of the Month! She is the classroom scheduling administrator for UIS Facilities and Services. Her supervisor, Aaron Stewert, said, “Lisa is the pinnacle of an ideal employee. She leads with the same contagious positivity in every collaborative project she partakes in and guides students to the appropriate resources when interacting with them.”

As you can see, there is still a LOT going on, even though we are nearing the holidays. Make sure to take time for self-care, no matter how small, while we wrap things up and coast into the holiday festivities. The next UIS Update won’t be sent out until the new year, so I wish you all the best and hope you are able to spend time with those who matter most.

Janet

Janet L. Gooch, PhD

Chancellor

University of Illinois Springfield