Other Programs

Necessary Steps Necessary Steps

The Necessary Steps Mentoring program (NSMP): is a Living Learning Community that was established in 2009 at UIS. It is designed to transition first-generation students to the challenges and demands of college life. First-generation is defined as students whose parents/guardians have not graduated from a four year college or institution. Necessary Steps is intended to assist in the transition from high school to college, as well as, transforming our students into scholars. The program also has a book written by Dr. Clarice R. Ford “Necessary Steps: Roadmap for First Generation College Student Success.” The advantages of joining Necessary Steps are abundant. Each freshman in the program will be paired with an experienced Necessary Steps student. This person will act as a mentor, friend, and confidant that is dedicated to helping students become acquainted with life at UIS. To apply to the program, you can fill out our application form!

If you would like to see our most recent webinar about the NSMP, check out The Life of a First-Generation College Student webinar.

OUCH! OUCH!

OUCH! That Stereotype Hurts Remaining silent in the face of stereotypes or bias allows hurtful attitudes to flourish. Individuals who may want to speak up are not equipped with tools to do so. The learning objectives of the OUCH! program are to understand the impact of stereotypes and biased statements; recognize why people do not speak up in the face of bias and stereotypes; and provide tools for speaking up against stereotypes. We use a combination of video and discussion to teach participants the potential impacts of stereotypical comments and behaviors, and we practice six possible responses they may use to become proactive allies. Ouch! that Stereotype Hurts© by Leslie C. Aguilar belongs to the Walk the Talk® Company which is a registered trademark of Performance Systems Corporation.

Sisters Informing Sisters About Topics on Aids Sisters Informing Sisters About Topics on Aids

This program is currently on pause.

S.I.S.T.A. is a peer-led, skill-building intervention project to prevent HIV infection in African American women. The overall goal is to reduce sexual risk behavior by heterosexually-active African American women at highest risk for HIV. S.I.S.T.A. is packaged by CDC's Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions project. The intervention project is delivered in 5 sessions and includes discussions of self-esteem, relationships, and sexual health. Each of the sessions has a specific goal and objectives. It is important to conduct all 5 sessions. Depending upon the clients, the sessions may last 2 hours or longer.

Session 1: Ethnic/Gender Pride
- Goal: Generate a discussion about being African American and female, having pride in oneself, and valuing oneself.
Session 2: HIV/AIDS Education
- Goal: Provide factual and statistical information on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, correct misconceptions about HIV/AIDS, and discuss the importance of protecting oneself
Session 3: Assertiveness Skills Training
- Goal: Teach women how to differentiate between assertive, aggressive, and nonassertive behaviors, and teach skills for initiating assertive qualities.
Session 4: Behavioral Self-Management
- Goal: Decrease clients' anxiety about condom use, demonstrate and role-play how to use condoms, and discuss reasons that women do not insist on using condoms.
Session 5: Coping Skills
- Goal: Initiate discussion about coping with life experiences, including the link between alcohol and AIDS, coping with alcohol and sex, and coping with negative responses. This session also serves as a review of the previous sessions.
Booster Sessions
- The booster (refresher) sessions are offered after the project is completed. Each session lasts 2 hours. These booster sessions provide an opportunity for clients to ask more questions and provide peer support. Although 2 booster sessions are recommended, they are not required.
For Further Information contact: 217-206-6333

NCBI NCBI

The University of Illinois Springfield is in the process of becoming a campus affiliate of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI). NCBI is an international non-profit leadership development network dedicated to the elimination of racism and other forms of oppression. Rooted in an understanding of individual, community, and systemic change, NCBI leaders work with public and private organizations to further:

Cultural competence,
Collaboration and partnerships,
Effective relationships within and across group identities.

UIS will soon offer two NCBI programs: the Prejudice Reduction Workshop and the Controversial Issues Process Workshop. Prejudice Reduction Workshop: This award-winning workshop consists of a series of incremental, participatory activities that empower individuals of all ages and backgrounds to take leadership in building inclusive communities in their workplaces and neighborhoods. It teaches people, for example, to celebrate their similarities and differences and recognize the misinformation that people have about various groups. Controversial Issues Process Workshop: The Controversial Issue Process was designed to train leaders to deal with tough controversial issues in a way that builds bridges. It provides a structured methodology for airing and listening to entrenched positions on both sides of an issue and then reframing the issue to take the concerns of both sides into account. The NCBI Controversial Issue Process gives leaders a new way to take on some of the most heated controversies: abortion, death penalty, employment equity, gay-lesbian marriages, assisted suicide. Discussing these emotional issues is so difficult for even the most seasoned leaders, because the question they raise challenge core cultural and religious beliefs.

Bonner Leader’s Program Bonner Leader’s Program

The UIS Bonner Leader's Program will select up to eight students who attain unconditional admission to UIS for scholarships through the program. To be chosen, students must submit an application to the UIS Diversity Center, demonstrate an interest in community service, apply for need-based financial assistance through the UIS Office of Financial Assistance, and represent diversity. The mission of the Bonner Leader Program is to transform the lives of students and members, the life of their campuses, their local communities, and the world through service and leadership. The Bonner Program is designed to heighten the overall education students and members receive by asking them to engage in ongoing service work and helping them develop the experience, skills, knowledge and values necessary to make that work meaningful and lasting. Students are eligible to receive up to $4,000 annually for tuition and education expenses such as books, living expenses, and fees. Bonner Leaders are also encouraged to enroll in a two-year term with the Bonner AmeriCorps program and complete 900 hours of service during that time period. Upon successful completion of the term of service, the students will receive the AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust, which can be used to repay student loans, pay current educational expenses, or pay for future education at an institution of higher learning. For Further information, please contact: 217-206-6333

GLDP/CLDP GLDP/CLDP

GLDP(Grassroots Leadership Development Program)

The GLDP is a ten-week, bilateral, government-oriented training program of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) for student leaders and local public officials. It is designed to bridge the widening gap in American society between citizens and the officials who have been elected to represent them. Students who participate will better understand how government works and have the opportunity to share their ideas with officials for how to better serve the Latino community. Click here for the GLDP application GLDPApp (pdf).

CLDP (Collegiate Leadership Development Program)

The CLDP is a seven-week, interactive, bilateral program for Latino student leaders and UIS staff, faculty, and administrators. It is designed to focus on how to formulate, exercise, and influence policy, especially that which pertains to the outreach, recruitment, and retention of Latino students and staff. The program allows students to meet and interact with university personnel with whom they otherwise might not, and it allows personnel to gather feedback, ideas, and suggestions from students.

Not Bullying at UIS Not Bullying at UIS

Facts About Bullying

Bullying is the most common form of violence in our society; between 15% and 30% of students are bullies or victims.
Bullying is more dominant in boys than girls; however, this difference decreases when considering indirect aggression (such as verbal threats).
Between 1994 and 1999, there were 253 violent deaths in school, 51 casualties were the result of multiple death events.
It is an unacceptable anti-social behavior that is learned through influences in the environment, e.g., home, school, peer groups, even the media.
25% of teachers see nothing wrong with bullying or putdowns and consequently intervene in only 4% of bullying incidents.

Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience :

Depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities (May persist into adulthood).
Decreased academic achievement—GPA and standardized test scores—and school participation. More likely to skip school.
A very small number of bullied children might retaliate through extremely violent measures. 12 out of 15 school shooting cases in the 1990s, the shooters had a history of being bullied.

Resource: www.stopbullying.gov

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This program is currently on pause.

GLDP(Grassroots Leadership Development Program)

CLDP (Collegiate Leadership Development Program)

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