6.27.22 

Dear UIS Colleagues:  

It’s hard to believe that today is my last Monday as your interim chancellor. Chancellor Designee Janet L. Gooch arrived on campus today, and we will work side-by-side over the next four days as she prepares for her first official day as chancellor on Friday, July 1.

New Information 

COVID-19 Update 

• Good news: Sangamon County has returned to the “medium” COVID-19 level. Face coverings are once again optional in all spaces except for clinical settings and classrooms. More guidance on classrooms will be shared in the coming days.
• UIS will no longer offer on-site Shield COVID-19 testing after June 29 for the university community or public. Unvaccinated students and employees will be provided information on how to meet their weekly testing requirement later this week. 
• We are no longer conducting in-house contact tracing for students, faculty and staff who test positive for COVID-19. If you test positive, follow CDC guidelines for isolation and informing close contacts. 
• The next COVID-19 campus briefing is scheduled for 1 p.m. July 7.

UIS Career Connect Change 

Beginning July 1, UISCareerConnect will be powered by Handshake. This vendor change will affect both students and employees who either hire or support students’ career development via jobs, internships and career exploration assistance. If this change affects your program or department, watch for an invitation to the Handshake system soon. 

Nameplate Pronouns 

Employees can now have their preferred pronouns added to their office nameplate. All other standards remain in place. If you are interested in having your nameplate updated with your preferred pronouns, please submit a work request and include your name as you would like it to appear, along with your pronouns. 

Brookens Parking 

Parking Operations has installed two 15-minute meters at the upper parking level at Brookens. If you use this area for parking, please remember to feed the meter.

Go Vote 

Tomorrow, June 28, is primary election day in Illinois. If you haven’t already, be sure to cast your vote. The Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center will provide a shuttle to the poll at Lincoln Land Community College from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. UIS is proud to be designated as a Voter Friendly Campus by the nonpartisan organizations Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs in Higher Education.  

Information that Bears Repeating 

UIS Community Garden Wednesday Worknights 

The UIS Community Garden will host weekly worknights 4-6 p.m. all summer. Even if you’ve never gardened, students and employees are welcome to join the garden coordinator, Emily Jones, who will teach you anything you need to know to lend a hand.  

Celebrating our Star Power 

Congratulations to Web Specialist Paul Pinneo who was named UIS Employee of the Month for June. Paul’s nominator describes him as “a great team player.” 

Congratulations to Political Science Professor Jason Pierceson, who has a new book out about a recent landmark LGBTQ-rights case. The book is titled, “Before Bostock: The Accidental LGBTQ Precedent of Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins.” 

What a ride these past two years have been. I will be leaving with a full heart and immense pride for the great and very important work we accomplished together since July 2020: the safety and education of our students and staff during a pandemic, issues of social justice, an academic reorganization, a successful Reaching Stellar campaign and so much more. I am incredibly grateful to you, our students and the UI System for the opportunity to walk and work beside you. There is more to be done, but I leave confident that you will take up the challenge. It’s not goodbye. It’s farewell for now. 

Go Stars! 

Karen 

Karen M. Whitney, PhD 

Interim Chancellor  University of Illinois Springfield