Proposal: Add on to the current AI server shared resource to continue to meet faculty and student needs. For students, the AI cluster provides hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI tools, preparing them for the rapidly evolving workforce. For faculty, it enhances teaching by enabling the integration of advanced AI models into coursework and classroom activities. For researchers, it supports computationally intensive projects in artificial intelligence, data science, and beyond, fostering collaboration across departments.

Amount funded: $5,000

Proposal: Develop a structured student creator program that empowers students to pitch, produce and share content that authentically represents student life. Through training, incentives and access to portable “creation kits,” this initiative will strengthen campus storytelling while giving students tangible benefits, including content for professional portfolios and career-ready skills in digital media.

Amount funded: $2,390

Proposal: Offer a two-day workshop to prepare undergraduate students for the modern, data-driven workforce. Through applied, tool-based learning, they will build competence in tracking and analyzing SEO performance, social media engagement, and customer behavior—skills that are increasingly in demand across industries. The workshop will foster a mindset of data-driven thinking, enabling students to translate analytical insights into actionable marketing strategies. Most importantly, it will enhance their career readiness and employability by aligning their capabilities with the current expectations of employers in digital marketing, analytics, and related fields.

Amount funded: $2,500

Proposal: Add service and community-based learning components to the UIS public health program by developing opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students to participate in and lead hands-on public health-oriented activities on campus and in the community.

Amount funded: $5,000

Proposal: Collaborate on celebrations and activities to bring staff together on our campus and provide a morale boost for everyone, while sharing our Prairie Pride.

Amount funded: $2,000

Proposal: Support UIS student participation in the 2026 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), which will: Provide students with professional experience in presenting their work to diverse academic audiences; foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration; expose students to graduate school pathways and professional networks; highlight the innovative research occurring at UIS, thereby reinforcing the institution’s commitment to cultivating the next generation of scholars; elevate UIS visibility and further echo UIS is the top public regional university in the Midwest.

Amount funded: $5,000

Proposal: Offer a professional development conference in the spring of 2026 for local/regional mental health practitioners as well as the campus community similar to last year’s event.

Amount funded $2,000

Proposal: Take a small delegation to GVSU to explore operations and arrange meetings with our counterparts at the Knowledge Market, to get their thoughts as we finalize operational strategy and start to design training and focus on implementation of the Knowledge Market Model for the Library Commons.

Amount funded: $1,143

Proposal: Support student participation in the SCALE Conference (Student Creatives and Artists Leading Entrepreneurship), a two-day regional gathering dedicated to helping student artists develop the skills, tools, and networks needed to build sustainable creative careers.

Funded: $3,500

Proposal: Foster a strong sense of community among academic advisors on campus, which is crucial for creating a positive and collaborative work environment. Encourage employee engagement by providing activities that celebrate and recognize the valuable contributions of our academic advisors.

Amount funded: $1,000

Proposal: Build a community showing and discussion event grounded in the showing of the "What's Left Behind" documentary will allow hard conversations to occur on campus and in the community. The documentary demonstrates empathy clearly as a connector to those who do not have lived experiences. Furthermore, the documentary explores factors contributing to gun violence applicable to other forms of violence and transferrable to varied population sizes.

Amount funded: $1,000

Proposal: Create a cohort of ‘competencies ambassadors’ among teaching faculty to build on existing university initiatives, and embed NACE career readiness competencies and skills into assignments. The project will culminate in two showcases for faculty participants and students to share experiences and insights with the broader university community.

Amount funded: $1,000

Proposal: Expand on CHST’s successful STEM outreach in AY24–25 through new partnerships with KidZeum, the Illinois State Museum, the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (IL DoIT), and other community organizations. Building on our strong record at regional STEM fairs, we will create additional opportunities for K–12 students, families, and teachers to explore STEM pathways at UIS.

Amount funded: $5,000

Proposal: Create a community-centered, student-led initiative that confronts the problem that practices of democracy, particularly thoughtful deliberation and the ability to engage across differences, are decaying in 21st century America. The DCI will work across the diverse community in Sangamon County, Illinois to bring together local high school students, UIS undergraduates, and community organizations in a series of events designed to foster civic engagement and thoughtful deliberation.

Amount funded: $1,500 

Proposal: Design learning experiences that enhance UIS students' AI literacy through hands-on activities and teamwork under faculty guidance, while fostering meaningful community engagement and promoting the responsible and ethnical applications of AI knowledge. This will also serve as a strategic tool for outreach and recruitment of prospective students
who are eager to engage with emerging techs and real-world challenges.

Amount funded: $3,000

Proposal: Expand the summer life science research program at UIS for students enrolled at Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC), with an overall goal of recruiting talented
community college students from LLCC in the life science and in the long-term, to increase investment in research at UIS.

Amount funded: $5,000

Proposal: Building on success from last year, APAC and CSAC are joining forces to promote employee community across units by hosting several social events, including a hot chocolate bar in the winter.

Amount funded: $1,000

Outcomes: More than 80 employees participated in the Treat Yourself social in the Library, with a lot of smiles and great conversation.

Proposal: A professional creative writer will be invited to campus to do a reading of their work and to host a workshop for students, to give students the chance to interact and engage with a writer from a similar background, providing feedback, inspiration, and guidance in their own studies.

Amount funded: $2,500

Outcomes: Felicia Zamora was invited to UIS for a poetry reading, and the Diversity Center's Buenas Vibras student group participated in a book club event to prepare for the visit and build community.

Proposal: A two-day intensive, on-site workshop will be offered for secondary education social science teachers who seek to increase their awareness of sources and enhance their approaches to teaching about the historical and contemporary experiences of Native Americans in the land now called Illinois.

Amount funded: $5,000

Proposal: NEW MUSIC SPRINGFIELD (NMS), which began as a pilot program last spring with funding from a Good Idea grant, will present performances of contemporary and experimental music and offer opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members to participate in performances and even compose new works. 

Amount funded: $3,000

Outcomes: New Music Springfield hosted three concerts on campus this season, which engaged 15 performers and 115 audience members (some of whom joined the performers) from UIS and the surrounding community.

Proposal: Two field trips to the UIS Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon (TFSE) will be arranged for UIS faculty wishing to learn more about incorporating the Emiquon Preserve into their courses and research.

Amount funded: $770

Outcomes: Unfortunately, the Good Idea did not proceed as planned due to lack of faculty participation.

Proposal: A bocce ball court will be built on campus for faculty, staff, and students. The outdoor court will be available for casual play as well as intramurals and potentially league play. 

Amount funded: $4,930

Outcomes: The Grounds Crew and Campus Recreation Staff teamed up to roll out the bocce ball courts, which debuted with a summer lunch league for UIS employees. 

Proposal: "Throwing Thursdays" will create an opportunity for students, staff and faculty to learn a new skill while having fun together. It will give added value to the UIS community by offering a unique opportunity to be creative and gain an appreciation for the ceramic arts. In addition, it will help increase awareness of the studio arts and the incredible facilities that UIS provides. 

Amount funded: $2,500

Proposal: An immersive half-day field trip experience will be hosted on campus, anticipated for late March, 2025, to engage students from regional high schools, bring them to the UIS and introduce them to the exciting world of AI and its diverse career paths. Students will engage with industry leaders, local business partners, UIS faculty, and current students through informative presentations and interactive sessions.

Amount funded: $5,000

Proposal: Finance faculty will collaborate with Advancement to organize the Springfield Finance Society (SFS) to bring together finance students and professionals in Springfield and nearby areas. Professional development-oriented and networking events will be arranged for finance professionals across all sectors such as agriculture, banking, government, and medical. 

Amount funded: $2,000

Outcomes: An initial on-campus strategic planning event was organized with UIS staff, faculty, students, and finance professionals from the Springfield community. 

Proposal: The Department of Counseling and Social Work (CSW) will organize and deliver a one-day professional development conference specifically supporting mental health practices to foster inclusivity. Tentative session topics include neurodiversity, LGBTQ communities, racial trauma, and supervision.

Amount funded: $4,000

Proposal: The College of Health, Science and Technology (CHST) will hire two students as STEM Digital Solutions
Assistants to digitize key college processes. Adopting digital solutions will improve efficiency and compliance, and foster a culture of innovation that aligns with the university’s commitment to advancing STEM education.

Amount funded: $4,800

Outcomes: A student Web Design Intern made significant progress in establishing a strong foundation for digital transformation efforts with CHST, transitioning procedures to a more streamlined, app-based system.

Proposal: The College of Health, Science and Technology (CHST) will purchase promotional and interactive STEM activity materials to more actively participate in K-12 STEM fairs and enhance community outreach initiatives.

Amount funded: $2,000

Outcomes: Twelve faculty and several graduate and undergraduate students participated in major regional STEM events, each reaching over 1500 K-12 students, science teachers, and families.

Proposal: Computer Science and Math faculty will recruit and mentor six undergraduate and graduate Computer Science and Data Analytics students to obtain real-world work experience by completing AI/Data Analytics projects to automate processes in HR, Facilities, and Performing Arts. 

Amount funded: $4,956

Outcomes: Students created a web app for HR chatbot (almost complete), began projects for several other units, and presented at UIS STARs.

Proposal: Student Affairs (also providing matching funds) will take the lead in ordering and distributing shirts and other UIS gear to create a greater sense of belonging and pride for current and prospective members of the UIS community as we proudly wear our blue on Fridays. 

Amount funded: $3,000

Outcomes: Ordered 600 navy UIS shirts; distributed 75% through Student Union and athletics events.

Proposal: Host a day-long conference that will bring leaders in key areas of the Springfield Black community to the UIS campus and contribute to the university’s efforts to move forward on equity and issues of belonging, creating space for our students to actively engage with community leaders from a historically disenfranchised and minoritized racial/ethnic group

Amount funded: $5,000

Outcomes: Launched participatory action/community research project “Unveiling Black Springfield: Exploring Historical Roots and Present Realities,” completed ECCE speaker series on 1908 race riot descendants, secured $30,000 grant-funded project “Journeys to Justice: Reckoning with Illinois’ History and Legacy of Anti-Black Terror.”

Proposal: UIS Life Sciences faculty will offer a summer pilot research program to recruit talented Lincoln Land Community College students to the life sciences. Students will receive training in research ethics, safety, and basic research techniques before engaging in laboratory research with UIS faculty. 

Amount funded: $5,000

Outcomes: Successful pilot program with Lincoln Land Community College. Students gained laboratory skills, developed research projects, and presented findings. Two participating students are enrolling at UIS in Fall 2024; one enrolling at UIUC in neuroscience; one continuing at LLCC with plans for UIS enrollment.

Proposal: Accounting, Economics and Finance faculty and staff from the Office of Engaged Learning will create experiential learning opportunities for students by identifying industry partners and pairing five UIS students with finance industry professionals in this pilot job shadowing experience. 

Amount funded: $3,750

Outcomes: Three students successfully completed professional development and job shadowing. The program was highly effective in equipping students with soft and hard skills in finance and helping them build connections with finance professionals.

Proposal: Study Away faculty will partner with Marketing on a campaign to raise awareness and help more students perceive study away as possible, keeping their focus on completing the several steps necessary to enroll, receive funding, and complete the impactful experience. 

Amount funded: $4,860

Outcomes: Digital and internal marketing campaigns increased awareness and interest; metrics demonstrated increased website access and engagement.

Proposal: Music faculty will pilot a program of experimental, avant-garde, and contemporary music. The inclusive program will highlight composers and performers from groups historically excluded from the world of concert music and include performers from UIS and the surrounding community as well as reaching out to local public schools. 

Amount funded: $5,000

Outcomes: Presented two concerts, created new-music program and ensemble. Positive audience and performer feedback.

Proposal: APAC and CSAC will partner to foster a stronger sense of community and a positive, inclusive, collaborative working environment among UIS employees by creating opportunities for engagement, enrichment, and entertainment on and off campus. 

Amount funded: $3,000

Outcomes: Organized employee engagement events.

Proposal: Student Union staff will provide students with most-requested school supplies from the UIS CARES Supply Stop leading up to finals week. Kits will also include information about Union extended hours for finals week and other resources that will help students de-stress during finals. 

Amount funded: $400

Outcomes: Prepared and distributed 200 student success kits in fall and 140 in spring for finals week.

Proposal: The Psychology Department and Psychology Club will offer an assortment of quick psychology activities to engage current and prospective students during the semester and Open House days. This hands-on experience with psychological principles will highlight our fun and welcoming campus where students can engage in hands-on and active learning experiences.

Amount funded: $1,000

Outcomes: Participated at four recruitment events and engaged students in demonstrations.

Proposal: TRAC will provide students from rural and urban backgrounds the opportunity to explore recreation on the water, in addition to current offerings of canoe and kayak trips. Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs) will offer another great way to explore Lake Springfield and Sugar Creek, providing students with an additional healthy outdoor outlet from their academics and a break from technology. 

Amount funded: $4,000

Outcomes: Purchased six commercial-quality stand-up paddleboards for summer/fall use.

Proposal: The Cox Children’s Center will partner with several other UIS units to launch a Parent Closet to support student-parents and encourage retention and recruitment by providing necessities such as diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, children's clothing, children's books and toys, and more. 

Amount funded: $2,846

Outcomes: Unable to complete project; space could not be secured.

Proposal: The addition of three large format 3D printers and a CO₂ Laser Engraver will provide Orion Lab learners with more reliable access to newer and different machines so they can express their ideas more quickly with shorter wait times. A community outreach program that will teach rapid prototyping is also planned. 

Amount funded: $3,959

Outcomes: Purchased three 3D printers and a Laser Engraver, increasing lab presence. Increased filament usage from 3 to 12-15 rolls per month.