The University of Illinois Springfield provides students with unique learning opportunities at the UIS Field Station at Lake Springfield and the Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon in Lewistown. Dr. Tom Rothfus is the director of the field stations and spoke to Community Voices about the research being conducted and how it benefits the local habitats.

After years of trying and coming close, the Illinois-Springfield baseball team finally broke through and earned its first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II national championship.

It will have to wait before claiming its first victory at the finals. The Prairie Stars came, saw and were quickly conquered, as their bats went cold in back-to-back losses to Point Loma and Rollins.

The UIS Performing Arts Center has created a new program called Our Stage / Our Voices. Director of Artistic Programs Carly Shank and Artist in Residence Reggie Guyton spoke to Community Voices about the program and how it will help give a voice to under represented communities in the performing arts.

For the first time in program history, the University of Illinois Springfield baseball team will compete in the NCAA Division Two World Series. The Prairie Stars beat Quincy University in a doubleheader to punch their ticket to the Cary, North Carolina.

"Now you have a real chance to go win it all," UIS head coach Ryan Copeland said. "You really do. You're one of eight teams. A good game here. Some luck here and there and you're fighting for a national championship. It's pretty cool to say out loud."

A new state mandate is requiring high schools to give students the chance to take at least one computer science course starting next school year.

The Illinois School Board of Education is making it a standard and amending the School Code.

However, before the classes can be offered teachers will need to be licensed for the course.

Rhyann Morris with the University of Illinois Springfield's admission department said this is leading many districts to work out agreements with universities like UIS.

The following is an excerpt from University of Illinois Springfield Interim Chancellor Karen Whitney. The column appeared in The State Journal-Register on May 24, 2022.

For the 650 students who walked across the stage at the BOS Center Saturday to receive a diploma from the University of Illinois Springfield, graduation day had no shortage of anticipation and meaning.

No. 7 the University of Illinois Springfield baseball team woke up Great Lakes Valley Conference champions Monday morning and now turn their focus to the NCAA Tournament.

University of Illinois Springfield Police officers are helping people in Ukraine.

In a social media post, officials said they are donating eight used body armor vests. Those vests will first be sent to the Illinois State Police, who will then send them to the US/Ukrainian Resistance Foundation.

Armor vests are replaced by UISPD every five years, according to officials. “The vests are usually surplussed, but this year they decided to help Ukraine.”

University of Illinois Springfield students had the chance to pet miniature horses and therapy dogs as a way to reduce stress leading into finals week.

The event was one of several Relax with Campus Recreation events planned through the week.

This story aired on WAND TV on May 3, 2022. Watch the story online.