Student overcomes many obstacles to earn degree

The serious injuries that Veronica Schulz-Lehr suffered in a motorcycle accident nearly three years ago were just the latest setbacks on her path toward a college diploma, but on May 10 she graduated from UIS with a bachelor's degree in Social Work.

An article in the May 10 State Journal-Register profiles Schulz-Lehr's determination.

Download a pdf of the article
20080510-SJR-ManyDetours.pdf

UIS will receive portion of scholarship fund

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has announced that his efforts to negotiate an additional $3.5 million in scholarship funds for college students in Illinois have been a success. The money will be available beginning in the fall 2008 semester. UIS will receive $18,500 to distribute based on students' financial need.

An article in the April 29, 2008, State Journal-Register gives more details about Giannoulias' plan.

Download a pdf file of the article
20080429-sjr-ScholarshipFund.pdf

Mary Jane's Cafe opens

Mary Jane's Cafe, the new coffee shop located in the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS, is open for business. The cafe is named for Mary Jane MacDonald, the first librarian hired at Sangamon State University, and offers a varied menu.

In an article in the April 27, 2008, State Journal-Register, Kathryn Rem talks with cafe operator Tyler Buckley and University Librarian Jane Treadwell about the new facility.

Download a pdf file of the article
20080427-sjr-MaryJanes.pdf

Campus faces accessibility issues

A number of students and faculty members with disabilities find the UIS campus less than fully accessible. Articles in the April 27, 2008, State Journal-Register outline the problem, as well as the administration's response.

Download a pdf file of the articles
20080427-sjr-Accessibility.pdf

UIS' new Emiquon Field Station opens

UIS has opened its new state-of-the-art field station at the Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve, on the Illinois River near Havana.

State Journal-Register reporter Chris Young attended the ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Friday, April 25, and spoke to station director Michael Lemke as well as to officials from Dickson Mounds Museum and the Illinois chapter of the Nature Conservancy. UIS, Dickson Mounds, and the Nature Conservancy are partners in the project, which will provide learning opportunities not only to students and scientists, but to the general public.

Download a pdf file of the article
20080426-sjr-EmiquonFieldStationopens.pdf

Online courses are popular at UIS

More than half – 53% – of the students enrolled at UIS for the 2008 spring semester are taking at least one course online, and more than 30% are taking classes only online.

In fact, the number of UIS students taking online classes has increased each semester for the past 20 semesters. Reporter Chris Dettro took a look at the subject in an article than appeared in the April 24, 2008, State Journal-Register.

Download a pdf file of the article.
20080424-sjr-OnlineGrowing.pdf

UIS students' Earth Day project offers public reminder

A service-learning project undertaken by a group of UIS students for Earth Day will help remind everyone that storm drains are not meant as a handy place to dump household waste.

An article in the Springfield State Journal-Register on April 22, 2008, reported on the students' work. In a related article in that day's "Living Green" insert, UIS Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Tih-Fen Ting talks about steps individuals can take to reduce their carbon footprints.

Download a PDF file of both articles:
20080422-sjr-EarthDay.pdf

Spring Enrollment down slightly

UIS enrollment for the spring '08 semester is down nearly 4 percent. While no one can say exactly why, part of the reason might be changed requirements for the campus' largest academic program, computer science. Projections for the fall semester remain good.

An article in the March 26, 2008, State Journal-Register reports on spring enrollment figures for UIS, Lincoln Land, and Springfield College.

Download a PDF file of the article:
20080326-sjr-EnrollmentDown.pdf

Emiquon Field Station will open this spring

When UIS' new Emiquon Field Station opens this spring, the partnership that has been established among the university, the Nature Conservancy, and Dickson Mounds Museum will allow for a sharing of resources as well as educational and research programs that would previously have been very difficult.

An article in the February 2, 2008, State Journal-Register reports on the progress of construction and gives readers a preview of the possibilities the facility has to offer.

Download a PDF file of the article:
20080202-sjr-EmiquonFieldStation.pdf

Experience with UIS Innocence Project directs student to law school

Erica Nichols graduated from UIS' Legal Studies department in May 2005. Now in her second year as a law student at Drake University, she says that her involvement with the university's Downstate Illinois Innocence Project helped shape her decision to enter law school.

An article in the January 7, 2008, Springfield State Journal-Register profiles Erica's work with the Innocence Project's investigation into the case of Herbert Whitlock.

Download a PDF file of the article:
20080107-sjr-NicholscreditsInnocenceProject.pdf

Judd calls for new management model

Professor Richard Judd believes that businesses need to adopt a new management model to succeed in the 21st century.

He outlines what this means in an article that appeared in the State Journal-Register/Springfield Business News on December 5, 2007.

Download a PDF file of the article:
20071205-sjr-JuddOnManaging.pdf

UIS featured in look at city's expanding campus life

The growing number of residential students at UIS has created the need for expanded facilities in a number of areas.

Chancellor Richard Ringeisen discussed recently completed projects and some that are underway, as well as others planned for the future, in the Springfield State Journal-Register’s special Outlook 2008 section on Education and Careers. The section was part of the Wednesday, November 14, edition.

Download a PDF file of the article:
20071114-sjr-ExpandingFacilities.pdf

UIS earning a reputation for innovation, quality

UIS is earning a national reputation for innovation and quality. Provost Harry Berman outlines the reasons why.

The Springfield State Journal-Register published Berman's article on its Op-Ed page on November 12, 2007.

Download a PDF file of the article:
20071112-sjr-BermanOpEd.pdf

Brian McMillen focused on the team

State police officer Brian McMillen, killed in the line of duty on October 28, was a UIS graduate who played basketball for the Prairie Stars from 2004 to 2006. UIS Athletic Director Rodger Jehlicka said that McMillen was a "true model of the student-athlete."

Springfield’s daily newspaper, the State Journal-Register, published an article about McMillen's career and dedication as an athlete on October 30, 2007.

Download a PDF file of the article:
20071030-sjr-McMillenfocusedonteam.pdf

UIS receives award for online education

UIS has received national recognition for promoting online education. The Sloan Consortium, based in Needham, Massachusetts, honored UIS with the Excellence in Institution-Wide Online Teaching and Learning Program award.

The Springfield, Illinois daily newspaper, the State Journal-Register, featured the award in an article on October 23, 2007.

Download a PDF file of the newspaper article:
2007_SloanAward_SJR_Oct23.pdf

Opening day at The TRAC featured in SJR

The new UIS Recreation and Athletic Center (The T.R.A.C.) opened it's doors to faculty, staff, and students on Tuesday, September 18, 2007. The Springfield, Illinois daily newspaper, the State Journal-Register featured the center on its front page on Wednesday, September 20. They also included a photo gallery on their website.

Download a PDF file of the SJR front page: 20070920-SJR-RecCenterOpens.pdf