Hello, UIS —
In three weeks, we’ll welcome students back to campus—can you believe it? Summer has flown by, but I know we’ll all be ready for campus to come back to life with the excitement and buzz of a fresh year on the horizon. Speaking of excitement, congratulations to UIS Baseball’s Quinn Gudaitis, who was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the Major League Baseball Draft last week, and to Zion Pettigrew, who signed as a free agent with the Washington Nationals. They played key roles in the baseball program’s historical record this year (48-11). Let’s all send Quinn and Zion our best wishes!
New Information
COVID-19 Testing
Weekly testing continues to be required for all unvaccinated students, faculty and staff who are on campus or who work in an off-campus UIS facility. Please watch your email for instructions on how to stay compliant with this requirement.
Downtown Innovation Facility
The Board of Trustees has approved the purchase of a building in downtown Springfield that will serve as our university’s part of the UI System’s Illinois Innovation Network and will become home to Innovate Springfield, UIS’ innovation and business incubator. Learn more on Orbit about the location and plans.
Academic Reorganization
A few final approvals at the BOT meeting last week confirmed that our academic reorganization is complete! I’m in awe of how much you accomplished in three years during a pandemic. You’ll notice an uptick in changes on the website and in messaging to reflect our new structure and to share this information with our audiences. Congrats on wrapping up this important project!
Annual Evaluations Survey
This year, Human Resources launched a new electronic form for completing annual performance evaluations. All new processes have room for improvement, and HR is seeking your feedback about this year’s evaluation system through Aug. 5. Learn more on Orbit under Announcements.
Move-In Day Volunteers
Residence Life is seeking volunteers to assist with Fall 2022 Move-In on Aug. 16. This is a wonderful way to meet new students, welcome families to campus and celebrate the start of the year. If you are interested in helping out, please sign up on the Move In Volunteer Sign Up Sheet. The first tab explains each volunteer role, and the second tab is where you will enter your name and email in your preferred shift. Please contact Talor Mourning with any questions.
Information that Bears Repeating
COVID-19 Briefing
We will gather virtually for a COVID-19 briefing in August before the start of classes to inform our protocols for the fall semester. Watch your email for the date and time. Moving forward, briefings will be held on an as-needed basis.
Celebrating our Star Power
Welcomes and introductions are in order!
- Melissa Beisel, new director of Residence Life, will oversee housing operations for more than 900 students living at UIS. Melissa comes to UIS with more than 20 years of experience. Her appointment is effective Aug. 1.
- Emmons King, interim head coach for Cross Country and Track and Field for the 2022-23 school year, steps up from his position last year as assistant coach. Thank you to former head coach Tyler Pence, who will continue to support the program as the assistant coach.
- Summer Quesenberry, women’s basketball head coach, comes to us from Alderson Broaddus with nine seasons under her belt as a collegiate head coach.
Congrats to Samaryia Magee, program/student advisor in the Diversity Center, our July Employee of the Month! Her nominator calls her a “passionate advocate and mentor for students at UIS.” She coordinates a variety of programs, including those that specifically support first-generation college students. Great job, Samaryia!
Enjoy these last few weeks of summer break with friends and family!
Janet
Janet L. Gooch, PhD
Chancellor University of Illinois Springfield