October 2026

From Provost Schwab

Colleagues,

With the midpoint of the semester approaching and the first fall colors beginning to arrive, I’ve been thinking about how important it is to protect time for rest and self-care. I know this is a demanding point in the term, and I encourage each of you to care for yourselves and one another. The care we offer our students is strongest when we also make room for our own wellness. This month’s University of Illinois Mental Health and Wellbeing event offers one meaningful opportunity to pause, connect, and strengthen those practices together.

Along with a focus on wellbeing, Academic Affairs continues to make meaningful progress on several important initiatives. Colleagues are advancing the advising Quality Initiative, preparations for the revised course scheduling grid are underway, and teams across the university are contributing evidence and documentation in support of accreditation efforts. I am grateful not only for this progress, but also for the collaboration, patience, and thoughtful engagement colleagues are bringing to each of these projects.

I also want to offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone strengthening our academic community through assessment work, mentoring, student support, research activities, and efforts to expand access and success for all learners. The time, care, and expertise you bring to this work matter deeply. Those things, along with the teaching taking place every day in the classroom, online, in the lab, or out in the field, make a lasting difference for our students and the entire university.

Thank you for the many ways you care for our students, support your colleagues, and contribute to our shared mission. I hope October brings you moments to pause, engage, and enjoy the season as you continue the important work ahead.

Brandon

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Connect with the Provost

Important Initiatives

Assurance of Student Learning Day (ASLD) 2027

You are invited to the 2027 Assurance of Student Learning Day (ASLD), a forum for sharing and strengthening student learning and assessment across UIS. The event will be held Friday, February 12, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m, location TBD. Coffee and snacks will be provided.

Faculty and staff are invited to present 5- to 7-minute Lightning Talks to colleagues on topics such as using assessment results to improve teaching and learning, aligning assessment with accreditation, demonstrating student success in high-impact practices, and using data to enhance engagement. Submit a Lightning Talk proposal by October 31 or nominate a colleague.

For questions, email Steven Feldman, Associate Director of Assessment and Accreditation.

Coming Summer 2027: A Revised Standardized Course Scheduling Grid

Through the HLC Quality Initiative, UIS continues to advance efforts to improve the student advising experience. One important outcome of this work is the development of a revised Standardized Course Schedule and Final Exam Schedule, both of which will be implemented beginning in Summer 2027. These changes reflect the valuable feedback and ideas shared by students, faculty, and staff over the past year, and we appreciate the community's ongoing partnership in this effort.

Opportunities to Make a Difference

Grant Writing Mentorship Awards: Apply by November 9

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs invites full-time faculty to apply for the Grant Writing Mentorship Awards. This program supports faculty who are developing external grant proposals of $10,000 or more to agencies such as NSF, NIH, USDA, DOE, and NEH.

Selected faculty will be paired with a mentor and will have 12 months to develop and submit an external proposal. Participants who successfully submit their proposal may receive up to $1,000 in professional development funds. Preference will be given to pre-tenured faculty.

Mental Health Awareness and Support

This year's University of Illinois Mental Health and Wellbeing virtual event will feature Dr. Bryan Sexton, chief wellness officer of Duke Health Integrated Practice and director of the Duke Center for the Advancement of Wellbeing Science. Dr. Sexton's keynote will introduce new bite-sized tools focused on gratitude, as well as awe and wonder. His research has demonstrated that simple, practical strategies can improve wellbeing, with benefits that can endure over time. He'll demonstrate multiple wellbeing tools in real time, so we can explore and reset our wellbeing using evidence-based strategies.

Registration is required for the Thursday, October 8, 1-3 p.m. event.

Supporting First-Gen College Students

Nearly half—47%—of our incoming Fall 2026 first-year class at UIS identifies as first-generation, up from 24% in 2015. Navigating higher education without family experience can present hidden hurdles; but simple, intentional practices can make a transformative difference. Explore the UIS First Generation Initiative page to discover ways you can make a difference.

News Worth Celebrating

Celebrating Our University Scholar

Faculty and staff are invited to help celebrate our newest University Scholar at the University Scholars Award Luncheon (USAL) on Wednesday, October 14. The highest faculty honor from the University of Illinois System, the University Scholars Award recognizes exceptional faculty excellence in teaching, scholarship, and research. One faculty member receives the award annually at UIS. Registration is required for this event.

Resource Refresh

Where to Find . . .

Wondering where to find links to automated forms, screenshots and tips, Academic Affairs procedures, and more? Check the Academic Affairs Internal Website. If you don't find what you need, please reach out to Monica Kroft.

Trying to decipher an acronym? Explore the UIS Acronym Guide.

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 to Monica Kroft.

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

• Thursday, Oct. 8, 1-3 p.m., U of I Mental Health and Wellbeing Annual Event. Register for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Annual Event (registration required).

• Wednesday, Oct. 14, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., University Scholars Award Luncheon. Register for the University Scholars Award Luncheon (registration required for faculty and staff).
• Thursday, October 15, 3-4:30 p.m., Fall Employee Information Session, Brookens Auditorium
• Wednesday, October 21, 3:30-5 p.m., Provost's Open Hours, sign in at UHB 2009

Office of the VCAA/Provost
Contact: Monica Kroft