Building Closure and Remote Operations Information for Summer 2026

Starting May 11, 2026, the UIS Public Affairs Center will temporarily close due to major plumbing work that requires a full building water shutdown. The Center for State Policy and Leadership will be operating remotely until further notice and staff will not be able to meet with walk-in visitors. If you need assistance, please email us at cspl@uis.edu or call 217-206-6576 and leave a voicemail. All voicemail messages will be delivered by email. You may also refer to our CSPL Staff Directory if you need to get in touch with a specific person.


The Center for State Policy and Leadership promotes evidence-based policy and practice in the public sector.

This Center’s mission is carried out through research that informs public decisions and understanding; internships, training programs, and applied problem solving that strengthens public leadership; and journalism that educates and engages citizens in public affairs. The Center:

  • Researches, evaluates, and helps form effective public policy,
  • Educates citizens on public affairs issues, and
  • Provides leadership and professional development programs.

The CSPL Office is currently unavailable to meet with walk-in visitors. To meet with a member of the team, please email cspl@uis.edu.

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Vision 2021 and Beyond

Learn how the Center for State Policy and Leadership has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, and where The Center is headed in the future.

Have you identified a need or problem we can assist you to solve?  Do you have any feedback or ideas?  Please tell us – CSPL Survey


Capitol Connection Blog

CSPL enthusiastically joins in partnership with the College of Public Affairs and Administration (CPAA) to administer and connect with you via The Capitol Connection Blog

UIS Colonnade and Quad

Illinois Innocence Project 

University of Illinois Springfield students are helping to free the wrongfully convicted by interning and volunteering at the Illinois Innocence Project on campus.

Graduate Public Service Internship 

The Office of Graduate Intern Programs seeks experiential learning opportunities at state and local government agencies for UIS graduate students.

The Graduate Public Service Internship Program (GPSI) is ranked as one of the Illinois’ premier governmental internship programs.

The Center: News

News

Child simulation lab
Mar 28, 2022
UIS awarded $720,000 in federal appropriations to support the Child Protection Training Academy
The University of Illinois Springfield Child Protection Training Academy, part of the UIS Alliance for Experiential Problem-Based Learning, has been awarded $…
drone shot of UIS campus
Mar 17, 2022
How to get started inside of the halls of power
Barbara Van Dyke-Brown, director, Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program at UIS discusses this unique and highly successful program that educates students…
drone shot of UIS campus
Mar 11, 2022
The COVID-lution's waves of variants increasingly affect children and health workers
The UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership and the Community Health Roundtable hosted, “A Long and Winding Road: How COVID-19 Has Evolved and…
drone shot of UIS campus
Feb 18, 2022
UIS, Community Health Roundtable webinar to focus on local economy after two years of COVID-19
The University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy and Leadership and the Community Health Roundtable will host a virtual webinar titled…
State Capitol
Feb 16, 2022
UIS and the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation Speaker Series to discuss “Creating an Equitable and Inclusive Health Care System in Illinois”
The University of Illinois Springfield and the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation (ILBCF) Speaker Series will discuss “Creating an Equitable and…
COVID-19
Feb 16, 2022
UIS and Community Health Roundtable to host a webinar on the local economy and businesses after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic
The University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy and Leadership and the Community Health Roundtable will host a free virtual public webinar…
drone shot of UIS campus
Jan 28, 2022
Jessica Miller
drone shot of UIS campus
Jan 20, 2022
Sangamon County health department reports four new COVID-related deaths, monthly total 20
The Sangamon County Department of Public Health reported four COVID-19 related deaths Wednesday, putting the total at 20 for January. Later Wednesday, Gov. JB…