Founded in 1970 as Sangamon State University, UIS has strong traditions that include:

• the centrality of teaching;
• lively intellectual and social
  interactions among faculty, students, and staff;
• small classes taught by faculty members;
• an emphasis on inter disciplinarity and innovation in teaching;
• a commitment to serving non-traditional as well as traditional bachelor’s and master’s degree students;
• and public affairs as a unifying theme in teaching, scholarship,and service.

Since joining the University of Illinois in 1995, UIS has continued this legacy while adding a residential, integrated, interdisciplinary
honors program for lower-division students, and a doctoral program in Public Administration.

UIS has become recognized as a leader in offering the newest generation of non-traditional students innovative education and individualized faculty attention through select,
high-quality online courses and degrees.