12.9.24
Happy Monday, UIS!
With finals in full swing, winter break is just around the corner. It will be a little quiet on campus without our students, but this time gives us an opportunity to decompress and prepare for the spring semester. I invite you all to the Holiday Happy Hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 18 in the Student Union Ballroom. The event will feature music, drinks and appetizers to celebrate the season. Release time will be in effect. RSVP on Orbit.
New Information
Save the Date: Rise Professional Development Day – Jan. 31
Save the Date for our next Rise Professional Development Day on Jan. 31. More information will be shared soon on Orbit.
Cybersecurity Training Reminder
Quarterly cybersecurity training is due Dec. 23. Note that this training is different from any previous training that you may have completed.
Campus Mail Holiday Schedule
Mail Services will operate on its regular schedule through Dec. 23 and re-open Jan. 2.
2025 Calendars Available
Get ready for the new year with Campus Services’ 2025 Calendars. Choose from four designs for $2 each — order yours today!
Personal Space Heaters Prohibited
Please do not use personal space heaters in university buildings. Our facilities are designed to maintain temperatures within OSHA-compliant settings to ensure safety, comfort, and productivity. Personal space heaters disrupt these systems and can overload electrical circuits. Read more on Orbit.
Information that Bears Repeating
2025 Commencement
The 2025 commencement ceremonies will take place May 9 and 10 in Sangamon Auditorium. There will be three ceremonies, divided by college:
- 7 p.m. Friday, May 9: College of Health, Science and Technology
- 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10: College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and College of Public Affairs and Education
- 3 p.m. Saturday, May 10: College of Business and Management
The number of tickets per graduate will be established once we have a clearer picture of the number of students who register to participate. We also will provide several overflow seating options on campus featuring a livestream of each ceremony. Visit the commencement site for additional details as they are confirmed.
Dynamic Program Pages
The Office of Web & Digital Strategy, Enrollment Management and Marketing have launched Dynamic Program Pages to enhance our academic program websites. These updates improve brand consistency and enhance user experience and accessibility. For more information, visit Orbit.
NorthStar Initiative
NorthStar is our guide to operationalizing the Strategic Compass as we seek to position UIS to be a more resilient, adaptable and market-aligned academic institution through strategic, action-focused priorities. Read more about our NorthStar priorities on Orbit.
Course Articulation and Renumbering
To make UIS as transfer-friendly as possible, please consider the following ways to help improve the student transfer experience:
- Increase the number of course-to-course articulations that count toward specific student degree requirements instead of having transfer credits accepted as electives only
- Renumber UIS upper-division courses that are taught at the lower-division level at most other colleges/universities as lower-division
Celebrating Our Star Power
Lydia Schillinger, customer service coordinator for the University Bursar, is now a Certified Customer Service Professional, earning her certificate from the National Customer Service Association.
Getting to Know You
Jessica Bailey is a proud mother to son, Remington, 2, and her dog, Raven, a 4-year-old standard poodle. At UIS, she serves as the institutional scholarship coordinator for the Office of Financial Aid, where she loves providing excellent customer service and working with her amazing team. Read more about Jessica on Orbit.
Let's have a great week,
Janet
Janet L. Gooch, Ph.D.
Chancellor
University of Illinois Springfield
P.S. If you have a topic you’d like me to consider for my newsletter, submit your idea here. I love to highlight your news, events and accolades.