Hello, UIS—
Thank you for your warm welcome during my first full week on the job as your new Chancellor. I’m honored to follow such a smart and caring leader like Chancellor Whitney, and I’m impressed by all the changes you’ve navigated over the last two years, even in light of the biggest challenges many of us have ever faced. We’re perfectly poised to launch into the next chapter!
For the foreseeable future, I plan to continue communication with you via this semimonthly newsletter, and I’m also hoping to meet with many of you over the next several months, though I do ask for your patience as I work with the Chancellor’s Office staff to get everything scheduled. To best help us stay organized, I ask that requests for meetings or other invites be sent to Kelly Walraven, executive assistant to the Chancellor, at kwalr2@uis.edu.
New Information
COVID-19 Briefing
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the COVID-19 briefing on Thursday—we had a great conversation. If you were unable to attend, you can watch the recording here: uis.edu/chancellor. We will gather virtually for a briefing in August before the start of classes to discuss our protocols for the fall semester. Watch your email for the date and time. Following August, briefings will be held on an as-needed basis.
Enrollment Update
Summer enrollment was a success with a 1.9% increase over last year at census, plus some additional positive signs of growth. Thank you to the interdisciplinary committee that met over the past year and others throughout the university who worked to remove barriers to enrollment and provide course offerings that supported the needs of our students. Fall enrollment is looking promising, although we’re mirroring the national trend of lagging registrations. Enrollment Management is working hard to yield students who are admitted.
- Applications are up 80%
- Admitted students are up 84%
- Intent to enroll is up 58%
- International students are up 52%, with more still in the queue from our partner, Shorelight
Cybersecurity Training
New cybersecurity training is now live. Remember, all employees must complete a brief, quarterly training to remain compliant with UI System requirements. Learn more on Orbit under Announcements.
Reaching Stellar Campaign Concludes
UIS successfully completed its Reaching Stellar comprehensive fundraising campaign on June 30. The $40 million goal was met in August 2021, but fundraising continued through the fiscal year. Reaching Stellar resulted in significant funding for scholarships, academic programs, the Center for Lincoln Studies, the Student Union (made possible with significant student support), and several areas of outreach, including but not limited to the Illinois Innocence Project, NPR Illinois, and Performing Arts Services. The total amount raised during the campaign will be announced at the campaign celebration Sept. 15.
Information that Bears Repeating
COVID-19 Testing
As of June 29, UIS is not providing on-site COVID-19 testing for the campus or community. We are communicating with unvaccinated students, faculty and staff who still must test once per week on how to stay compliant. Watch your email or Orbit for more information as it becomes available about the future of our on-campus testing strategy.
Celebrating our Star Power
Welcome to Loren Easter, our first-ever program director for Military and Student Services. He is an Illinois National Guard retired lieutenant colonel and brings 27 years of experience to UIS to support our military-connected students. Read more about his experience and this new role.
Congrats to Jodi Hallsten Lyczak, who was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Adjunct of the Year Award. Hallsten Lyczak has taught at UIS for the past three years to meet the Communication Department’s needs in gender and organizational communication courses. This award recognizes the teaching accomplishments of a UIS adjunct (per course) faculty member who has taught a minimum of four semesters at UIS in the previous three years.
Again, thank you for your support thus far. I hope you’re enjoying these summer months with time spent with family and friends. Let me know if you have recommendations for running routes and outdoor activities as I get to know Springfield!
Janet
Janet L. Gooch, PhD
Chancellor University of Illinois Springfield