April-May 2026

From Provost Schwab

Dear Colleagues,

With final exam week and commencement in sight, my message is simple: thank you. Commencement reminds us why our work matters—students crossing the stage, families and friends cheering, and futures opening because of the learning and support you provide.

Together, we make a difference.

As we finish the academic year, I hope we can celebrate small wins, extend grace, and support colleagues and students through the final projects, presentations, and exams.

Even with a full spring, I’m encouraged by our progress: the Library Learning Center taking shape outside my window; programs envisioning what’s next through Academic Program Review; and preparations underway for our HLC reaffirmation. Updates on Academic Affairs initiatives are always available on the OIRE website, and you’ll see below an opportunity to provide input on the process for selecting a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

I also want to acknowledge that the past few weeks have been difficult for our university community. Reaching a tentative agreement on the next tenured/tenure-track contract is an important step. I will be thinking a lot over the coming weeks about what the next year can and should look like. I am committed to doing what I can to help foster a sense of mutual purpose and mutual respect. That is certainly not something I can do on my own and I welcome the partnership of all who are willing to contribute to that effort. In the meantime, I wish you a positive end to the academic year and a fulfilling summer ahead.

Brandon

---

Connect with the Provost

Important Initiatives

Accreditation Progress: Preparing for HLC Reaffirmation

Preparation continues as we move toward our comprehensive evaluation for reaffirmation of accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission. Progress updates will be shared on the 2027-28 Comprehensive Evaluation webpage.

Student Voices Matter: NSSE Participation Underway

First-year and senior students may continue to participate in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) that compares UIS students' undergraduate experiences with experiences of students at other universities. Invitations to complete the survey have been sent to qualifying students' UIS e-mail addresses. Results help drive changes in policies and practices. Please encourage your students to complete the survey.

Opportunities to Make a Difference

Business Modernization and Transformation - Your Input Welcome

President Killeen recently shared an update on the University of Illinois System’s Business Modernization and Transformation initiative. In short: over the next several years, we’ll replace Banner (our current Enterprise Resource Planning system, or ERP) with a modern, cloud-based system that brings finance, HR, and student information into a more integrated, easier-to-use experience.

What this means for staff and faculty

• Timeline: This is a multi-year transition.
• What you’ll see: A more straightforward, user-friendly system with fewer workarounds and less duplicate entry.
• Where we are now: We’re still early in the process, and many details are still being defined.
• How you can shape it: The project team will engage functional users directly. You can also learn more and share feedback (use the engagement form at the bottom of the page).

How will this impact UIS Academic Affairs directly?

For colleges and other Academic Affairs units, this is a chance to simplify processes and improve how we use data to support students and the academic mission. Our input will help ensure the new tools work well for the UIS academic enterprise.

What we’re working toward

Today, many processes require customizations, workarounds, and redundant steps across separate systems. This initiative is an opportunity to streamline how we work and make routine tasks easier. In practical terms, we’re aiming for a system that is:

• Intuitive and user-friendly 
• Better connected, reducing duplicate data entry and manual workarounds 
• Designed for higher education, supporting the full student lifecycle 
• Less reliant on system maintenance, allowing more focus on strategic priorities 
• Adaptable over time 

Learn more about vendor options, the timeline, and ways to ask questions or get involved.

News Worth Celebrating

Communication Grad Receives Outstanding Master's Project Award

The recipient of this year’s Chapin Outstanding Master’s Project Award was Bwayisak Tanko, a graduate of the Communication program. She created a documentary film titled “Accents and Acceptance: A Documentary Film about the Communication Experiences of UIS International Students from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America during Acculturation in the USA.” Tanko discussed her research and production of the film at the recent Student Technology, Arts, and Research Symposium (STARS). Dr. Kat Novak, Professor in the School of Communication and Media, served as Tanko’s thesis adviser. The award is supported by the Nancy Lanphier and Charles Armstrong Chapin Endowment Fund.

UIS Faculty Honored for HLC Peer Review Leadership

Lan Dong, Professor of English and HLC co-chair, was honored at the recent HLC Annual Conference with the HLC Peer Corps 2026 Rookie of the Year Award.

According to the HLC website, "HLC’s peer reviewers are expert volunteers who play an essential role in assuring the quality of our member institutions. They are trained to evaluate colleges and universities and provide guidance to help them continuously improve."

Provost's Office Temporary Locations - May 13

The Public Affairs Center (PAC) plumbing renovation is moving forward on schedule (that's part of the "news worth celebrating"), and the PAC will be closed to occupancy during a water shutoff. Beginning May 13, most Provost's Office staff will work from several temporary locations around campus for approximately four weeks. Several staff will also be working remotely during this time. We will be transitioning to our new spaces Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12, and we'll share a temporary directory as soon as we're settled in.

• UHB first floor - Brandon Schwab, Monica Kroft, Lupe Trejo, Matt Abrell
• UHB third floor - Cecilia Cornell, Fumika Brudnak, Brian Moore, Sara Powell, Mark Morten
• LRH - Mike Roth, Michele Gribbins, Matt Suda, Harsha Chamala
• Pennyroyal - Lucia Vazquez, Sam Coad, Carissa Isenberg

We anticipate a smooth transition with assistance from the Facilities and Services moving support team and ITS staff, and we appreciate the hospitality of Enrollment & Recruitment Management, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Residence Life (more "news worth celebrating").

Resource Refresh

Reminder: International Travel Insurance - No Exceptions

The Business & Finance International Travel Insurance web page has been updated to state that for travel commencing on or after July 1, 2026, failure to enroll in international travel insurance in accordance with university policy will result in reduced or non-reimbursement of travel expenses and possible restrictions on future work-related travel. If the travel was purchased with a university TCard, a noncompliance will be issued to the cardholder. This policy has been in place since 2024, and exceptions will no longer be approved.

Read more on the UIS Health, Safety, and Insurance web page.

Newsletter Notes

Subscriptions and suggestions

Suggestions for future content: We are interested in hearing from you about topics you would like to see covered in the Provost’s Office monthly newsletter. Send content suggestions

Newsletter opt-in: The Academic Affairs newsletter is sent to employees in the Division of Academic Affairs monthly during the academic year. If the newsletter was forwarded to you or you found it in Orbit, and you would like to be added to the distribution list, please contact Monica Kroft. We would be glad to send to you directly.

Newsletter archives: Find links to recent newsletters on the Academic Affairs "News" page.

Important Dates

• Wednesday, April 29, 3:30-5 pm - Provost's Open Hours - Check in at UHB 2003
• Tuesday, May 5, 2:30-4 pm – Faculty Honors Reception - Register now
• Saturday, May 9, 12:30 pm - Commencement - CHST, CLASS, BOS Center
• Saturday, May 9, 5:30 pm - Commencement - CBM, CPAE, BOS Center

Office of the VCAA/Provost
Contact: Monica Kroft