1.27.24

Good afternoon, UIS–

I’d like to kick off the newsletter with some exciting news: Our online bachelor’s degree programs have been ranked among the top 40 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Thank you all for your dedication and hard work to make this achievement possible. Read more about our rankings on Orbit.

New Information

Voluntary Separation Plan

As part of the NorthStar strategic visioning initiative, UIS has launched a Voluntary Separation Plan to address budget challenges and offer eligible employees an incentive. Employees with appointments over 50% FTE who haven’t submitted a resignation or retirement notice can apply between Jan. 27 and Feb. 28. Decisions will be shared by March 14. Visit Orbit for details.

BOT Recap

The Board of Trustees voted Thursday to increase the base tuition rate for Illinois-resident undergraduates enrolling in Fall 2025 at UIS by 2% and room and board costs by 4.4%. Also during the meeting, our request for honorary degrees for 2025 Commencement was approved; the Center for Lincoln Studies received approval as a permanent center;  Pattie Piotrowski, dean of the Library, partnered with her counterparts in Urbana and Chicago on a very informational presentation about the criticality of modern university libraries as student-centered learning facilities; and President Killeen mentioned Kyle Blount's grant (see Star Power) and a recent visit to Emiquon during the state tour. We're looking forward to hosting the March meeting on campus. As a reminder, you can access recordings of board meetings on the BOT website. 

Donor Scholarship Distribution

The process for distributing donor-funded scholarships to UIS students is improving. The timeline for awarding these scholarships will be reduced from approximately four months to two months at most, which will greatly help students—particularly incoming students—affirm their choice to attend UIS. This new process also will allow for funding to be distributed to more students and better communication with donors. In the coming weeks, representatives from the divisions of Advancement and Enrollment and Retention Management will be sharing more details with academic programs. UIS awards approximately $1 million from about 250 donor-funded scholarships each year to more than 300 students. 

Employee Listening Session on AI

Leaders of the AI Steering Committee will host a listening session from noon to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 5 in UHB 2021. This session is designed for faculty and staff to bring questions that they have about generative Artificial Intelligence and its use in their jobs and on campus. There will not be a presentation, but the input from attendees may lead to future presentations that address topics that are shared. Questions that may be asked of attendees include: What skills or knowledge do you feel you need to effectively use Gen AI in your job? How do you think UIS can better prepare students for a future where Gen AI plays a significant role? 

Acting Title IX Coordinator

Donald Kamm is serving as Acting Title IX Coordinator while we conduct a search for our next AEO leader, which is anticipated to be complete later this spring. He can be reached at titleix@uis.edu.  

Good as Gold: Springfield Volunteer Awards

Submit your nominations to recognize the achievements of local volunteers and nonprofits. Nominations are due Feb. 14, and the ceremony will be April 21. Visit Orbit to review the award categories.

Reduce Natural Gas Consumption

There is a critical need to reduce natural gas consumption on campus. Take steps to help decrease energy usage as part of a broader sustainability effort. Visit Orbit to find ways that you can contribute.

ITS Workshops

ITS will host a 30-minute workshop from 9:30 to 10 a.m. on Feb. 6 in UHB 2028 or via Zoom. The workshop will focus on Jabber, a "soft phone" tool that allows employees to make and receive calls to their office number on their cell phone or laptop/desktop. Learn more on Orbit.

Supporting Student-Athletes

Faculty play an important role in supporting student-athletes, whether by accommodating missed classes for athletic events, completing progress reports, or assisting students recovering from concussions. Faculty also receive free admission to UIS athletic events—I encourage you to attend and cheer on our student-athletes! Learn more by visiting Orbit.

COLRS Annual Impact Report

The COLRS Annual Impact Report for AY 2023-2024 is now available! You can learn about the unit's projects, partnerships, and activities by reading through its interactive report on Orbit.

Alumni Gala

UIS will present the 2025 alumni and service awards during the annual Alumni Gala on Feb. 21 at the Student Union. The event will recognize four distinguished individuals for their professional achievements, service to the university and contributions to society. Read more about this event on the UIS Newsroom.

Department Newsletters

Topics in the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs January newsletter include internal review for grant proposals, merging UEIs, call for photo submissions and how to connect with students and collaborators from other universities. You can read more on the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs’ Resource & Training page.

Information that Bears Repeating

RISE Professional Development Day

The Spring 2025 Professional Development Day, is this Friday, Jan. 31. Everyone who registered will receive an email later this week with event details, including your breakout session selections. 

SRI Congress

Registration is open for the 2025 Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress June 16-19 in Chicago. Tickets are available at an Early Bird rate, and a limited number of scholarships are available. SRI Congress is convened by the Belmont Forum and Future Earth, and this year is co-organized by the University of Illinois System.

Policies Open for Comment

The university community has the opportunity to comment on proposed university-level policies or significant policy revisions. For at least two weeks prior to taking final action on a proposed policy or significant policy revision, the draft policy will be made available to view online along with a comment form. Please check the policy hub frequently to see any policies that are available for open comment.

Employee of the Year Celebration

Join us from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Student Union Ballroom as we honor the 2024 Employees of the Month and announce the Employee of the Year. Details are available on Orbit.

Chancellor’s Thinkers Series

Join me and Steven D. Schwinn, professor at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Law, for the inaugural Chancellor’s Thinkers Series from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Jan. 29 in Brookens Auditorium. This event is free and open to the UIS community and public.

Celebrating Our Star Power

Jason Keran, Mail Services, was named the Employee of the Month for December. “Jason has been handling the duties of the mail center single-handedly,” said Patty Sullivan, his supervisor, who also praised him for his friendliness, sense of humor, and quick problem-solving. Read more about Jason’s exceptional work on the UIS Newsroom.

Kyle Blount, assistant professor in the School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability and Public Health, received a four-year, $397,498 grant from the National Science Foundation to study how irrigation and water restrictions affect urban water cycles across different climates and cities. The grant will support curriculum development, fieldwork, and data analysis opportunities for UIS students, helping them gain valuable skills. Read more about Dr. Blount’s research on the UIS Newsroom.

Getting to Know You

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Have a great end to the month, and I'll touch base again in February,

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.