Eck ends 31-year career with Prairie Stars

After 31 years, today is the first day Joe Eck is no longer with the Prairie Stars’ men’s soccer program, first with Sangamon State University and, since 1995, with the University of Illinois Springfield.

Eck, 54, announced his retirement earlier this month, citing family and employment reasons. Eck has worked at the university since 1981 and is assistant director for planning at the Department of Facilities and Services.

He said the school’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II status has “drastically increased” the paperwork associated with his part-time job as soccer coach.

Eck's story was featured in an October 26, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091026-SJR-Eck-ends-31-year-career.pdf

Bernard Schoenburg: New job for Jaeger

Bethany Jaeger, who has been Statehouse bureau chief for Illinois Issues magazine since early 2006, is leaving that job to become a management consultant for Kerber, Eck & Braeckel in Springfield.

Jaeger, 29, of Chatham, is an Algonquin native who has a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield. She interned with Illinois Issues as part of her master’s program in 2004.

Jaeger's departure was featured in Bernard Schoenburg's column in an October 22, 2009 edition of the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091022-SJR-Schoenburg-Jaeger.pdf

Eck says he'll retire after UIS' season

Joe Eck is retiring as the University of Illinois Springfield men’s soccer coach at the end of this season, leaving a program he has been a part of since 1979.

Eck announced Thursday he’s stepping down after eight seasons as head coach. He’s leaving the coaching ranks, but not college soccer. Both of his children will play for NCAA Division I soccer programs next year and he doesn’t want to miss out on their college experiences.

Eck's announcement was featured in a October 2, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091002-SJR-Eck-to-retire-as-UIS-soc.pdf

Rich Bradley signs off at WUIS

Friday was pretty much like any other weekday for Rich Bradley, news director at WUIS radio at the University of Illinois Springfield. That is until the last 45 seconds of his seven-minute noon newscast, when he acknowledged he is retiring and thanked his listeners.

Bradley, 69, will officially retire on Oct. 1, which also is his 35th anniversary at the university station.

Bradley's story was featured in a September 26, 2009 edition of the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20090925-SJR-Rich-Bradley-signs-off.pdf

Radio Legend Retires

After 35 years on the air WUIS radio News Director Rich Bradley anchored his last newscast on September 25, 2009.

WICS-TV 20 Anchor/Reporter Carl Madonna featured Bradley in a report aired on September 24th on the 5:00 p.m. news. Bradley talks about some of the big stories he's covered and his feelings on leaving the station he helped create.

Watch the video of the report online:
http://www.wics.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wics_vid_599.shtml

Australian ambassador to speak in Springfield

The Australian ambassador to the United States will kick off the 2009-10 Ambassador Series, a Springfield tradition that brings people face-to-face with ambassadors from around the world.

Vicki Megginson, associate chancellor for development at the University of Illinois Springfield, said 100 to 130 people have been attending the series, but the sponsors have increased their outreach this year.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we have more attend,” she said.

Megginson's comments were featured in a September 21, 2009 edition of the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20090921-SJR-Australian-ambassador-t.pdf

Law degree pays off for UIS compliance officer

Sports have always been a part of Alison Fitzgerald's life, now she's brought that passion to the University of Illinois Springfield.

The 26-year-old is consumed with athletics as it relates to the Great Lakes Valley Conference and NCAA Division II. Fitzgerald is the assistant director of athletics for compliance at the University of Illinois Springfield. It’s her job to know the NCAA and GLVC rules and regulations and keep the Prairie Stars’ athletic department in line with them.

Fitzgerald was featured in a September 11, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article.
20090911-SJR-UIS-compliance-officer.pdf

Grunzke hired as baseball coach for UIS

UIS athletic director Rodger Jehlicka announced Friday that Brian Grunzke will coach the baseball program at the university starting in the 2010-11 school year.

The news was featured in an August 21, 2009, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article
20090821-SJR-baseballcoach.pdf

Bradley announces retirement from WUIS

Since January 1975, WUIS has had only one news director, and public radio listeners around Springfield have woken up to Rich Bradley’s voice for more than three decades.

But this week, Bradley announced he would retire from the station at the end of September.

Bradley's career and upcoming retirement were the focus of an August 6, 2009, feature in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article
20090806-SJR-RichBradley.pdf

Furlough days a possibility for U of I

A message from University of Illinois President B. Joseph White and the chancellors at the three U of I campuses went out alerting staff and faculty that unpaid furlough days may be considered as a way to alleviate any budget deficits.

The topic was featured in a July 22, 2009, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the story
20090722-SJR-furlough%20days.pdf

UIS names new head athletic trainer and assistant trainer

UIS has named a new head athletic trainer and an assistant trainer. Les Mitkos has been named the head trainer, and Debra Fitzl will be the assistant. They will begin their duties July 16.

The topic was featured in a July 1, 2009 article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article
20090701-SJR-newathletictrainers.pdf

UIS would get new public safety building under capital construction plan

Springfield-area state lawmakers say the $29 billion capital construction plan they approved this spring illustrates their top spending priorities brought to them by their communities.

As part of the plan, UIS would be able to build a new 10,000-square-foot public safety building on the west side of campus with $4 million included in the proposed capital bill. The building is greatly needed, as the current police department is housed in an old farmhouse.

The capital plan was the topic of a June 8, 2009, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article
20090608-SJR-capitalplan.pdf

Berman focuses on COPLAC visit in column

UIS Provost Harry Berman wrote an editorial column in the May 16, 2009, State Journal-Register in coordination with the UIS Commencement Ceremony.

The column focused on a recent visit from representatives of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), an organization of leading small, public liberal arts colleges and universities throughout the country. UIS is seeking membership in this organization, and during the site visit, the university had a chance to look at itself through the eyes of others.

Download a PDF of the column
20090516-SJR-Bermaneditorial.pdf

Commencement in Photos

UIS celebrated Commencement on Saturday, May 16, 2009.

View a photo gallery of the Commencement Ceremony on the Web site of the State Journal-Register here.

Chancellor explains his side of conflict with faculty

Richard Ringeisen, chancellor of the University of Illinois at Springfield, said long-standing tensions between the UIS administration and faculty led to recent events that included the resignations of three coaches and a no-confidence vote in him by some faculty members.

The subject was a part of an April 27, 2009, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article
20090427-SJR-facultyadminconflict.pdf

White tells campuses to prepare for tough times

In a recent campuswide memo, U of I President Joseph White said that he has told leaders at the three campuses to prepare for tough economic times over the next year and a half. White said the university should expect to face possibilities such as reduced state support, students with greater need for financial assistance, and leaving vacant positions unfilled.

Download a pdf file of an article from the October 28, 2008, Chicago Tribune
20081028-CT-PrezsaysLeanTimesAhead.pdf

UIS move into NCAA means change

UIS officially joined the NCAA Division II, Great Lakes Valley Conference, on October 8, 2008.

In an article that appeared in the State Journal-Register on October 9, Prairie Stars coaches talked about what the move meant for their teams.

Download a pdf file of the article
20081009-SJR-CoachesGladtobeinGLVC.pdf

Gas prices affect athletics, too

An article in the September issue of the Springfield Business Journal discussed the impact of rising gas prices on local businesses. Correspondent Raegan Hennemann also spoke with UIS Athletic Director Rodger Jehlicka about its effect on college sports. Jehlicka noted that UIS coaches have several options to avoid going over budget. Download a pdf file of the article:
20080900-SBJ-AffectofGasPrices.pdf

Documentary by Dave Antoine to be shown

"Springfield Had No Shame," a documentary by UIS staff member Dave Antoine, will be shown on September 15 as part of the campus' series of events commemorating the city's 1908 race riot.

In an article that appeared in the September 8, 2008, State Journal-Register, reporter Pete Sherman talked with Antoine about his experiences producing the film.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080908-SJR-DocumentarybyDaveAntoine.pdf

Alcohol 101

Many college students, away from parental oversight for the first time, indulge their new-found freedoms by drinking too much, too often.

The August 12, 2008, State Journal-Register ran an article that took a look at the problem and how some campuses are responding to it. Valerie Scarbrough, an alcohol and drug prevention counselor at UIS, was among those interviewed.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080812-SJR-Drinking%20101.pdf

U of I employees to get raises

The July 22, 2008, State Journal-Register reported on a campuswide memo from UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen stating that U of I employees would be receiving pay raises averaging 1.5 percent. The raises are merit-based and will be funded through tuition, state money, and internal reallocations.

Download a pdf file of the article
20080722-SJR-UofIPayHikes.pdf

Chancellor Ringeisen profiled in Springfield Scene

Chancellor Richard Ringeisen had a long and successful career before he came "home" to UIS. The May/June 2008 edition of Springfield Scene Magazine features a profile of the Chancellor by Ed Russo.

Download a pdf file of the article

20080515-SSMag-Chancellor.pdf

Heupel takes "Issues" into a new era

Illinois Issues, the public affairs magazine published by UIS' Center for State Policy and Leadership, is entering a new era with veteran statehouse reporter Dana Heupel as executive editor.

An article in the May 2008 edition of the Springfield Business Journal profiles both Heupel and the magazine.

Download a pdf file of the article.
20080509-SBJ-Heupel.pdf