8.16.23
Dear Colleagues —
Welcome to a new academic year! I can’t wait to see our campus re-energized as our faculty and students return this week and next. I hope you had a great summer and are ready to have an amazing year helping our students achieve their goals!
It takes a strong team to do the important work we’re tasked with in higher education. With that in mind, we’ve spent this summer gearing up for an academic year that is focused on lifting up the UIS community through intentional engagements focused on professional development, culture-strengthening and belonging. We’re calling this initiative “UIS Rise,” and as we announce programming related to these goals, you can expect to see the Rise branding included.
Over the next month, we have two UIS Rise initiatives in which I hope you can participate:
UIS Faculty-Staff Academic Year Kickoff | 3-5 p.m. | Aug. 24 | Student Union Ballroom
Formerly referred to as our faculty convocation, this event is a renewed all-employee assembly intended to kick off the new academic year together! You will hear briefly from me and each vice chancellor about our goals for this year, and we will share introductory information about our newest faculty colleagues and administrators. We will cap off the event with snacks and time to catch up with colleagues. Anyone who brings an item to donate to the UIS Cares food pantry will be entered into a drawing for some UIS swag!
UIS Professional Development Retreat | 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Sept. 15 | PAC and Student Union
In response to faculty and staff feedback, we are offering a Professional Development Retreat next month for Civil Service/Academic Professional staff and Faculty. A multidisciplinary team of UIS colleagues has developed an exciting half-day retreat focused on Workplace Wellness — because UIS is best when we feel our best! Sessions will offer the opportunity to understand how to challenge the culture of stress.
Two tracks are available. Both Tracks 1 and 2 will include a continental breakfast in the PAC first-floor lobby provided by the U of I System Wellness Committee; keynote address in Sangamon Auditorium by local wellness professionals Dr. Nicole Florence and Wendi Schutte with Memorial Wellness Center; and then a choice of two breakout sessions offered by UIS and UI System faculty and staff.
Track 1 includes: Retreat Sessions (continental breakfast, keynote address and two workshops) in the PAC & Lunch Panel in the Student Union Ballroom: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The lunch panel will include a boxed lunch and a panel discussion featuring the event’s workshop presenters.Note: Space is limited in Track 1, and registration will be closed when we meet capacity.
Track 2 includes: Retreat Sessions only (continental breakfast, keynote address and two workshops): 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. — Performing Arts Center. No capacity limits expected.
Register online by Aug. 31.
This is the first of two professional development retreats we plan to offer this academic year; look for a second in Spring 2024. Please reach out to Melissa Mlynski or Kelsea Gurski with questions.
I strongly encourage you to take advantage of these UIS Rise opportunities as well as future initiatives we’ll be announcing in the near future!
The promise of a new academic year is so exciting, and I hope you feel as energized as I do. Let’s have an amazing year together!
Janet
Janet L. Gooch, PhD
Chancellor
University of Illinois Springfield