Dear Colleagues,
As we approach the middle of the semester and spring recess, I hope you are finding opportunities to enjoy a bit of the milder temperatures and slowly increasing minutes of daylight. I know that I welcome the change and appreciate the reminder that many things in life are cyclical.
At the University of Illinois Springfield, we're incredibly proud of our students' drive and ambition. We know many of you are planning for the next step in your academic and professional journeys, whether it's graduate school, a professional licensure, a certification or developing new skills to advance your career. We wholeheartedly support your pursuit of excellence.
Dear Colleagues,
I start this month’s newsletter with a bit of enrollment news now that we have passed 10th-day census. We are slightly up in total headcount (4,401) and student credit hours (+2.22%) compared to last spring. This is good news, and I thank everyone for their efforts in retaining and recruiting students. Here are a few take-aways:
I am watching the snow fall for the first time this season and appreciating how our lovely campus changes appearance throughout the year. It has been a busy fall semester, and I hope you are poised for a strong finish and looking forward to the coming holidays. Good luck managing the projects, presentations, papers, exams (and grading!) ahead. Please read below about some training and informational sessions coming up, including a session on the new UIS Course Survey app (Dec. 4) and a webinar on countering human trafficking on college campuses (Dec.
I write this month’s note while listening to the wind and rain outside, watching the falling leaves, and thinking about what might come following the Presidential election. I hope that everyone that was eligible to vote did so, and feels a sense of pride in participating. Personally, I will be happy to have the election behind us, but also recognize that no matter the outcome, there will not be a magic switch that changes the political discourse and division that exists in the country.
The Provost's Leadership Team is pleased to announce 12 of 23 Good Idea Fund (GIF) proposals submitted for AY 24-25 have been awarded full or partial funding. Read about funded proposals as well as outcomes of last year's Good Idea initiatives.
It is now officially Autumn, which is reinforced by the subtle changes in foliage and the shifting hours of daylight. I have talked with quite a few members of the UIS community recently who have expressed their disbelief that we are already six weeks into the semester. It is comforting to know that it is not just me that feels like time is passing at an accelerated pace.
Welcome to the Fall Semester! It is great to have more life on campus after a busy (and short) summer. I want to thank everyone who attended the Faculty & Staff Kickoff and a wonderful New Student Convocation and Party on the Quad. I commend our Student Affairs colleagues for the great events that will hopefully become a terrific UIS tradition that grows over time.
Do you have a Good Idea that could help make a positive difference for UIS? We are pleased to announce the availability again this year of one-time (non-recurring) funds to support implementation of good ideas from UIS staff and faculty. A wide range of ideas will be considered with the goal to fund projects with broad impact to the University.
According to UIS policy, each academic year the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost notifies the UIS community of the names of those among the faculty scheduled for tenure review and second or fourth year reappointment review. Listed below are the names of the faculty members scheduled for reviews this academic year: