11.13.23

Happy Monday, UIS!

November has been packed full of exciting events and programming so far, and perhaps the best is yet to come: It’s time for our annual Lighting of the Colonnade! At 5:15 p.m. this Friday, join me as we kick off the holiday season. You have put in so much effort to make this a great semester, so let’s enjoy this annual opportunity to build community with our students as we prepare to finish the year strong.

New Information

Strategic Investment Fund

Provost Brandon Schwab recently announced that the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) Review Committee has completed review of Fall 2023 resubmissions. All four proposals resubmitted this fall have been fully or mostly funded for a total of $1,017,158.

• HDC Counseling and Therapy Training Center and PSY Training and Research Labs: $141,144 (Carrie Switzer, Tiffany Nielson, Sheryl Reminger, Timothy Hakenewerth)
• Centralized Equipment Facility in Teaching and Research: $409,614 (Tom Rothfus, Amy McEuen, Megan Styles, Miranda Andrews, Tih-Fen Ting)
• Reinventing Possible in Education II: $251,450 (Beth Hatt, Celest Weuve)
• BS Degree in Environmental Science: $214,950 (Tih-Fen Ting)

With previously committed SIF funds of $360,646, the total committed to date is $1,377,804. We look forward to several more resubmissions in January, in addition to fresh applications for SIF Round II.

International Education Week

Colleges and universities across the country are celebrating International Education Week, and I’m thrilled that UIS is part of this greater initiative that recognizes the diversity of our campus community. View our entire schedule of exciting events happening this week!

Supervisor Training

The Office of Human Resources is sponsoring an all-day Supervisor Training this Wednesday, Nov. 15, in PAC 160. Please register for the event here.

Visual Arts Gallery’s Silent Auction

The UIS Visual Arts Gallery’s annual silent auction and benefit will take place both online and in person today through Dec. 7. Works will be on display at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery Dec. 4-7. There will be a final bidding reception at the gallery from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 7. All proceeds will support the gallery.

AI Initiatives and Achievements

The Office of Web Services has developed an AI at UIS page to promote and highlight the AI initiatives and achievements at UIS. Learn more about how you can promote AI here.

Study Away

Students can earn academic credit while experiencing another culture. Study away courses in China, Dominican Republic, Japan, Spain and Taiwan are available in summer 2024. Encourage students to visit the Study Away website to learn about the benefits of studying abroad and how to apply.

Winter Accelerated Courses

Winter intersession classes begin Dec. 18. These five-week accelerated classes are offered outside of our traditional full-semester dates to provide students an opportunity to get ahead in their educational journey or simply take a course that interests them. Registration is open through Dec. 15.

FAFSA Simplification

The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is undergoing a facelift as the result of the FAFSA Simplification Act passed by Congress in December 2020. The new application will be a simpler and more streamlined application process for students and families who apply for financial aid. However, this year, we will see an altered timeline. While the FAFSA has launched in October in recent years, this year it will be delayed until sometime in December. This means that student financial aid packaging will be impacted by the delay. Please see Financial Aid’s FAFSA Simplification website for more information.

Information that Bears Repeating

Fall Employee Information Session

Thank you to everyone who attended our Nov. 7 information session focused on budget and enrollment. We intend to do another update on these critical topics in the spring semester. If you have any suggestions or questions, please send them to chancellor@uis.edu.

SECA Campaign

Our UIS workplace giving campaign wraps up Wednesday. With $27,000 pledged so far, we need your help to reach our goal of $36,000. Thank you for considering this opportunity to give back to our community through SECA. Together, we can demonstrate the spirit of care and service that defines UIS. Use this donor form to make a payroll donation or a one-time gift.

ID Center

The ID Center no longer accepts cash. You may pay for i-cards and photos with a debit or credit card, or with Apple Pay or Google Pay. For replacement i-cards, you may also pay with Campus Cash.

Celebrating our Star Power

The UIS Alliance for Experiential Problem-Based Learning has been awarded a $699,190 federal grant to develop tolerance, diversity and anti-bias training for law enforcement. The Alliance will develop instructor-led training and scenario-based tabletop exercises intended to improve officers’ decision-making, reduce unfavorable police encounters among underrepresented populations and strengthen police and community relations.

Sibel Oktay’s book, “Governing Abroad: Coalition Politics and Foreign Policy in Europe,” has been awarded the International Studies Association’s 2022 Foreign Policy Analysis Best Book Award. Sibel is an associate professor in the School of Politics and International Affairs.

Molly Harms has been honored as the student recipient of the Student Laureate Award from the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. Only one UIS student is selected each year for this prestigious award.

Eighty-six students this year went door-to-door in Springfield collecting 5,455 pounds of canned goods and other non-perishable food items. This was part of the annual Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods event.

Join me in congratulating Ty Dooley, who has been appointed as the interim associate dean in the College of Public Affairs and Education. Ty, who is an associate professor and has served as director of the School of Public Management and Policy, will start his new role Jan. 1.

The next newsletter will come after Thanksgiving. I wish you all a great holiday celebrating with family and friends!

Janet

Janet L. Gooch, PhD

Chancellor

University of Illinois Springfield