UIS to offer new graduate certificate in legal aspects of education

The Educational Leadership Program at UIS will offer a Graduate Certificate in Legal Aspects of Education beginning with the 2005 fall semester. The program comprises 18 hours of graduate coursework and will be offered only online.

Dr. Scott Day, EDL chair, and Dr. Margaret Noe, EDL faculty and program director, explained that the new certificate program is designed to provide opportunities for educational leaders to increase their knowledge of legal issues that may affect them professionally and also to enable them to meet statutorily mandated requirements for professional development and certification. Read more>>

Pre-White House Conference on Aging summit cancelled

“The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action,” a Pre-White House Conference on Aging summit scheduled for Friday, July 29, at UIS, has been cancelled. Those who had registered may be interested in an upcoming conference that the UIS Gerontology concentration will cosponsor with Memorial Medical Center in September. Read more>>

UIS to host College Summit for high school juniors

UIS will host College Summit -- a program for bright high school juniors who might be unlikely to go to college unless given early, personal exposure to a college campus and the college application experience -- for four days beginning Friday, July 22. The summit includes a walk through financial assistance application procedures and discussions on how to prepare for college while still in high school. Read more>>

UIS publication to be included in prestigious academic index

State Politics and Policy Quarterly, a publication of UIS, has been tapped for inclusion in Thomson/ISI’s Social Science Citation Index, one of the most prestigious academic journal indexing services in the world.

Christopher Mooney, professor of political studies at UIS and with the IGPA, is the SPPQ founding editor. He explained: “The SCCI is one of the primary research tools used by scholars around the world. Inclusion is the gold standard of excellence for academic journals in the social sciences.” Read more>>

UIS to be site of Pre-White House Conference on Aging summit

UIS will be the site of “The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action,” a Pre-White House Conference on Aging summit to be held from 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, July 29, in the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus.

Speakers will be Carolyn Peck, assistant professor of Human Services-Gerontology at UIS, and Julie Hubbard, executive director of the Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland. Following discussion among participants, an afternoon roundtable session will formulate recommendations to be forwarded to delegates at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging, which will be held in Washington in December. Read more>>

WUIS News Director Rich Bradley receives prestigious Lee award

Rich Bradley, veteran news director of WUIS-WIPA Public Radio, has received the prestigious 2005 Leo C. Lee Award, presented by Public Radio News Directors, Inc. The award honors those who “demonstrate a lasting commitment to public radio journalism and who exemplify the ideal, spirit, and passion of the profession.” Previous recipients include such notable NPR figures as Carl Kasell (1996), Ira Glass (1999), and Linda Wertheimer (2004). Read more>>

Book by UIS professor receives high praise

A new book by UIS faculty member Barbara Burkhardt has received excellent reviews in several major newspapers and other publications, including the Chicago Tribune, which called the book “brilliant.” William Maxwell: A Literary Life is the first major critical study of the renowned Illinois writer’s life and work.

The book has also been praised by USA Today, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly. It will be reviewed in the New York Times on July 17. Read more>>

Bill Wheelhouse named WUIS general manager

Bill Wheelhouse, long-time statehouse bureau chief for WUIS 91.9 – WIPA 89.3 Public Radio, has been named general manager of the station effective August 16, pending approval of the U of I Board of Trustees.

Wheelhouse has been WUIS statehouse bureau chief since 1995, leading award-winning state capitol coverage for the 12-station Illinois Public Radio network. He succeeds Brad Swanson, who retired in December 2004 after 28 years of service to WUIS, and station News Director Rich Bradley, who has been serving as interim general manager since Swanson’s retirement. Read more>>

UIS receives $1 million gift for new rec and fitness center

UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen announced today a gift of $1 million from the Hoogland Family Foundation of Charles and Kathleen Hoogland for the campus' soon-to-be constructed recreation and fitness center.

“We are very grateful for the support of the Hoogland family, whose generosity will allow us to build an even better recreation and fitness center for our students,” said Ringeisen.

The gift will bring the total cost of the center to $14.1 million, a figure that is expected to be approved by the U of I Board of Trustees at its regular meeting July 14 in Chicago.

During a news conference today, Charles Hoogland said he and his family want to support UIS in its efforts to build the campus and develop student life. “This university is a great asset to this community, and the success and well-being of its students is a key factor in its ability to continue moving forward,” Hoogland said.

Read more>>

Design for new recreation and fitness center unveiled

The design for a new recreation and fitness center at UIS was unveiled today at a campus news conference, pending U of I Board of Trustees approval expected to take place during the board’s regular meeting July 14 in Chicago.

The 57,513 net-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will be located just west of Kiwanis Stadium on the south edge of campus.

“The center will advance our efforts to enhance campus life and provide a range of activities for students and staff, younger and older, whether they live on campus or commute to campus,” said UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen. Read more>>

UIS hosts celebration of Peruvian Independence Day

UIS will host a celebration of Peruvian Independence Day from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, July 23, at Cinco DeMayo, 3751 S. Sixth St. Rd., in Springfield. The evening will feature authentic Peruvian food, entertainment, and dancing. Read more>>

Major gift for rec center to be announced

A major gift for the new recreation and fitness center at UIS will be announced and the design for the center will be unveiled.

10 a.m. Wednesday, July 13, UIS Gymnasium, located in the Student Life Building.

Read more>>

UIS Cox Children’s Center receives IBM grant

Cox Children’s Center at UIS has received an IBM On Demand Community Grant that has provided the center with approximately $3,500 worth of new computer equipment, including a Young Explorer work station for the preschool classroom – complete with desk, computer, monitor, printer, keyboard, and software.

Center Director Stacey Hembrough noted, “As a nationally accredited facility, Cox Center feels that it is essential to give children access to elements that promote quality and that prepare them for life.” Read more>>

WUIS to host Bluegrass Birthday Bash

Public Radio WUIS will host a Bluegrass and Barbecue Birthday Bash beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 10, in Parking Lot B on the UIS campus. The public is invited to the event, which is part of the station’s year-long 30th anniversary celebration.

The afternoon will include children’s musical activities, tours of the WUIS studios, barbeque from Turasky’s Catering, and performances by Bluegrass Breakdown host Mark Mathewson and The Lovell Sisters Band. Read more>>