4.17.23

Good morning,

We are certainly in our “busy season” at UIS, with lots of exciting end-of-term activities, Springfest and final steps with most of our administrative searches. Last week was our annual STARS Symposium; I am so sorry I wasn’t on campus to attend but heard it was a great event. Congratulations to all involved!

This week, I am looking forward to attending the Faculty Honors Reception later today, and then will head to Washington, DC, for Advocacy Day — I am excited for the opportunity to share our university’s points of pride with our elected representatives, DC alumni and system colleagues.

New Information

Student Commencement Survey

We are seeking student feedback on the UIS commencement experience to best understand what matters most to students on their graduation day. Feedback will help inform how UIS approaches our annual commencement ceremony in the future. All UIS students have been invited, via email, to take this survey, which is open April 17-28. Please encourage students to complete the survey so we can plan a ceremony that is filled with meaning and joy for them and their loved ones.

SHIELD Site Closing April 27

The SHIELD COVID-19 testing site on campus will be permanently closing April 27 due to decrease in demand and the upcoming closure of the Springfield SHIELD lab. Employees who have used this site for COVID-19 testing should instead seek testing via their medical provider or an at-home test. Students who are symptomatic should contact UIS Health Services, which will continue to provide COVID-19 testing to students as warranted.

Annual Evaluation Season

The Annual Evaluation Process for Academic Professional and Civil Service employees began April 1. Evaluations are due to Human Resources by June 2. An updated electronic version of the evaluation form is available. More information on the annual evaluation process can be found on the Human Resources website. Annual Evaluation training for supervisors is 9-10:30 a.m. April 26:Supervisor Training Zoom Link

Health and Safety Fair

The annual Health and Safety Fair is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, in TRAC. This event is free and open to the public.

Listening Sessions Concluded

Thank you to all who participated in a campus-climate listening session with me over the past several months. I met with dozens of faculty and staff, both individually and in small-group settings, and I appreciate the opportunity to hear their perspectives about UIS. I will be summarizing the themes I heard with my administrative team as my next step.  

Information that Bears Repeating

Executive Search Updates 

• Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs/Provost: Finalists will be on campus beginning April 24. Dr. Vickie Cook and Dr. Ty Dooley are co-chairing the search.
• Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs: We expect to make an announcement soon. Search committee chair is Dr. Vickie Cook.
• Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration: We expect to make an announcement soon. Search committee chair is Dr. Jeff Lorber.  
• Dean of the College of Health, Science and Technology: We expect to make an announcement soon. Search committee chair is Dr. Frances Shen.
• Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences: Two additional finalists are on campus this week. Search committee chair is Dr. Devin Hunter.

HR Programs
Save the date for these upcoming HR events:

• April 28: Annual Retirement and Recognition Ceremony, 9-10:30 a.m., Student Union Ballroom
• May 15: End of Academic Year Party for employees, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Student Union North Patio

Summer at UIS
Registration is open for summer classes, which begin June 5. UIS offers two terms of affordable summer classes to help both current students and those from other colleges or universities meet their goals. Upper-level and general education courses are available to fit busy schedules. Reduced fees this year make it more affordable than ever, so please spread the news! Learn more: uis.edu/summer

Commencement Volunteers Needed

The UIS Commencement ceremony is May 13 at the Bank of Springfield Center. We are expecting approximately 700 graduates to join us for this special day. Please consider signing up to volunteer.

Academic Impressions: Free online professional development
Don’t forgot about our university-wide subscription to Academic Impressions. Courses are offered both in real-time and on-demand.

Upcoming courses include:

• Inclusive Retention Strategies for Underrepresented Faculty, April 19
• Privilege and Its Role in Enhancing Equity, May 17
• Leading Change From Where You Are: Strategies for Faculty, June 7

Popular on-demand courses include:

• DEI Foundations: Implicit Bias in Higher Education
• DEI Foundations: Intersectionality in Higher Education
• Women’s Leadership Success in Higher Education
• Setting up the Supervisory Relationship: Understanding and Adapting Your Supervisory Style
• Conflict Management: A Practical Workshop for Leaders

Rave Guardian App

UIS offers the Rave Guardian safety app, which you can install on your cellphone. Guardian allows any user with a smartphone to activate a “panic button” that will immediately alert police to a problem and open communications between the user and Campus Police. This connection provides a GPS location (if active on your phone) for the Campus Police to aid in locating the user. Additionally, Guardian has a precautionary timer that acts as a digital alternative to a campus walking escort. Users can set the estimated time needed to walk to a destination; if that time expires and the user has not canceled the timer, Campus Police will call to ensure that the user is safe.

Celebrating our Star Power

Congratulations to our CARE and CAPE winners, who were announced April 5. Jamie Weber, administrative assistant for Brookens Library, was honored as our CARE winner, and Ashley Hall, director of the Student Union, was named our CAPE winner. Congratulations to all who were nominated and to everyone who put on such a special program to honor our amazing Civil Service and Academic Professional staff!

The Harry and Deborah Berman Sabbatical Award has been presented to Jennifer Martin, associate professor in the School of Education. She will receive $3,000 to support her research during her sabbatical leave. You can read more about her sabbatical plans on the UIS Newsroom.

Earth Week begins April 20. Thanks to the Campus Senate Committee on Sustainability, the ECCE Speaker Series and UIS Environmental Studies for planning some great activities. Details are here.

Have a great week,

Janet

Janet L. Gooch, PhD

Chancellor

University of Illinois Springfield