Dear Faculty and Staff —
On February 16, at halftime of the men’s basketball game, student-athletes who have achieved a 3.4 or higher GPA will be recognized and honored. The seniors in this group will be escorted by a faculty member who has been influential at UIS. It would be wonderful if faculty members could be in attendance to witness this student-athlete recognition. Game time is 7:30 pm Thursday.
A meeting with the chief academic officers of the various Illinois campus institutions began the week noting that the Governor’s budget address noted is scheduled for Feb. 16. Travel rates on University business have been increased to .655 per mile (effective January 1, 2023); and in the future, will be tied to the federal reimbursement rate and changed accordingly.
Discussions continue with select departments on DFW rates recognizing that there are variable reasons for high rates, especially in some introductory disciplinary classes. AVC Shawn Boyne is available to work with departments on this issue and measures used in other universities to successfully reduce DFW rates particularly among freshmen and sophomore classes which have a direct impact on student retention.
Another complex issue is the balance between on-ground (in-person) and online course offerings by academic programs. It is essential that the course balance prior to COVID interruptions be sought again – where about 35% of courses scheduled in each program only were scheduled for online delivery. Since chairs, heads, directors and faculty are currently preparing next fall’s schedule, and we have students complaining that very few in-person course offerings are available in certain programs, we now can return to earlier course offering patterns. Not only are in-person offerings essential for resident international students, there are both graduate and undergraduate students who enrolled here specifically for repetitive, in-person contact with professors in classrooms. Your classroom presence is meaningful for every student. Please, I request your cooperation with a return to more on-ground classes in academic programs throughout the University.
Colleagues on the Dean’s Council met on Wednesday to review current issues: critical future technology issues including Chatbots, personnel expenses by programs, the upcoming strategic investment fund proposals, and intentional teaching effectiveness.
The Chancellor, Janet Gooch, was the focus of a beautiful and impressive investiture ceremony on Wednesday, February 8. I am grateful that so many in academic affairs were present for this formal event which marks the beginning of her UIS leadership.
Additional meetings included the University Planning and Budget Committee with views exchanged about the Strategic Investment Fund proposals; the Personnel Policies Committee with views exchanged about sabbatical leave denials, the proposed new student teaching evaluation instrument, and annual performance reviews; and the Campus Senate on Friday where discussions also occurred on teaching effectiveness.
Thank you,
Linda
Linda M. Delene, PhD
Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (VCAA) and Provost
University of Illinois Springfield
PROVOST’S RECEPTION:
PAC Atrium Lounge
3 to 5 p.m. Friday, February 10, 2023
OPEN OFFICE HOURS:
SLB Room 104
2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, February 14, 2023