The College of Business and Management takes pride in developing an environment of engagement, innovation, and impact both in teaching and scholarly activity.  A few highlights of some of the many accomplishments are listed below.

Engagement

  • The Sean and Taryn Grant/Landmark Auto Trading Lab provides students access to 12 Bloomberg Terminals and opportunities to build hands-on skills in financial analysis, investment research, and data-driven decision-making.
  • The High School Stock Trading Competition brings together more than 240 students from public and private high schools, who collectively execute more than 13,500 trades while exploring financial markets in a competitive environment.
  • Bloomberg workshops introduce high school and UIS students to industry-standard financial technology, offering practical experience and insight into careers in business and finance.
  • The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program connects students with meaningful community engagement through free tax preparation services, helping clients receive more than $115,000 in refunds this past tax season.
  • The Springfield Minority Business Institute equips minority entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders with practical financial knowledge through hands-on workshops focused on business and data analysis tools.
  • The Beta Gamma Sigma Induction Ceremony recognizes outstanding academic achievement and leadership, welcoming 65 new members into the premier international business honor society this past spring.

Innovation

  • The Circular Economy Startup Simulator, funded through a $39,960 Illinois Innovation Network grant, leverages augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence to foster entrepreneurship and innovation among emerging youth leaders across Illinois.
  • The Artificial Intelligence Campus Learning Community, established by Dr. Neetu Singh and Dr. Hei-Chi Chan, sponsors AI-focused initiatives including UIS Day of AI, which engages approximately 400 high school students and community members in exploring the potential of artificial intelligence.
  • Continuous enhancements to Assurance of Learning processes strengthen academic quality and support ongoing accreditation efforts through the AACSB Continuous Improvement Review, including the implementation of assessment tools through Peregrine.

Impact

  • New internship partnerships expand career-focused experiential learning opportunities. Connecting students with organizations including YMCA, Girls on the Run, Chick-fil-A, Hanson, Indiya Consignment Boutique, O’Shea Builders, Mason City Limits Comedy Club, and the UIS Outreach Office.
  • Recognition at the 2026 Midwest Association for Information Systems Conference highlights the impact of faculty-student research collaboration, with Atharva Chaskar earning the Best Research-in-Progress Paper Award for research on mobility misalignment and transit-walkability gaps.
  • The Burks Oakley II Distinguished Online Teaching Award recognizes Dr. Nathan Steele’s excellence in student-centered online and blended instruction.
  • The Faculty Engagement Award honors Dr. Minh Tam “Tammy” Schlosky for contributions to experiential learning, professional development, student competitions, and industry partnerships.
  • The Pearson Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes Dr. Shipra Gupta’s commitment to active learning through simulations, workshops, and experiential projects.
  • An academic exchange at Tecnológico de Monterrey strengthens global partnerships and expands opportunities for collaboration in research, teaching, and student engagement.
  • Recognition of alumni Emmanuel Mikaelson, Eli Cook, and Craig Fiorito in the Springfield Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class highlights the professional achievements and community impact of UIS graduates.

Publications in Top Journals

The faculty of the CBM consistently publish in top-tier journals as ranked by the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) Journal Quality List. The following is just a small sample of the rigorous research published by our faculty:

Coskun, M., Gupta, S., & Burnaz, S. (2020). Store disorderliness effect: shoppers’ competitive behaviours in a fast-fashion retail store. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 48(7), 763-779. (ABDC Category: A).

Farshadkhah S., Van Slyke, C. & Fuller, B. (2021). Onlooker effect and affective responses in information security violation mitigation, Computers & Security, 100(1), 1-16. (ABDC: A)

Gholami, R. Singh, N., Agrawal, P., Espinosa, K., & Bamufleh, D., Information Technology/Systems Adoption in Public Sector: Evidence from Illinois Department of Transportation, Journal of Global Information Management, Accepted. (ABDC Category: A).

Gholami R., Emrouznejad A., Alnsour, Y. Kartal, H.B., & Veselova, J. (2020). The Impact of Smart Meter Installation on Attitude Change towards Energy Consumption Behavior among Northern Ireland Households, Journal of Global Information Management 28(4), Forthcoming. (ABDC Category: A).

Goel, S., & Karri, R. (2020). Entrepreneurial aspirations and poverty reduction: The role of institutional context. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 32(1-2), 91-111. (ABDC Category: A).

Sharma, S., Elfenbein, H. A., Sinha, R., & Bottom, W. P. (2020). The interpersonal effects of emotional expressions in negotiation: A meta-analysis and future directions for research. Human Performance. In print. (ABDC Category: A).\