Author
Janet L. Gooch, Ph.D.
Publish Date

9.15.25

Happy Homecoming Week, UIS!

This is one of the best times of the year to come together as a campus community, showcase our school spirit and enjoy all that UIS has to offer. You can check out the full schedule of events on the homecoming website. 

A highlight of the week will be Friday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new Library Commons at 1:30 p.m. on the quad near the Student Union. I hope you’ll join us for this exciting milestone in our campus history, then stick around for the Prairie Star Block Party, men’s and women’s soccer games and the evening bonfire and fireworks. And don’t forget to show your Prairie Star pride by wearing blue every Friday! 

On Saturday, I’ll be running in the Prairie Stars 5K, and I’d love for you to join me. There’s still time to register. Let’s make this Homecoming Week one to remember!

New Information

New Economic Impact Report 

A new report shows UIS contributed nearly $1 billion to the Illinois economy, supporting more than 9,000 jobs across the state in fiscal year 2023. It also finds that a student with a bachelor’s degree from UIS earns about $33,900 more each year than a person with a high school diploma or equivalent working in Illinois. These outcomes highlight UIS’s role in preparing students for successful careers while strengthening the state’s economy.

Growth in freshman enrollment

This fall, UIS welcomed 312 first-year students—a 19% increase from last year. New students continue to cite our academic programs, supportive community and career-focused outcomes as reasons why they chose UIS.

Overall enrollment is down 5.7% from last year, due largely to a decline in international students. In response, UIS is expanding virtual outreach, offering more individualized admissions guidance and strengthening global partnerships. Read more on UIS Newsroom.

NorthStar Updates

UIS has completed scorecard reports for 154 programs as part of the Academic Portfolio Review. These reports provide data to guide decisions about how we can strengthen programs, align with workforce needs and create new opportunities for students.

The prioritization results have been shared with Unit Executive Officers, and programs will provide response plans this semester. You can access these reports under the Academic Portfolio Review page. This milestone marks an important step in advancing our NorthStar Initiatives.

Search for Assistant Vice Chancellor for Facilities and Services

We’re excited to announce three finalists for the UIS assistant vice chancellor for facilities and services position. Each candidate will visit campus and share their vision in an open forum, and we encourage faculty and staff to attend, ask questions and provide feedback.

  • Finalist #1 – 3 p.m. Sept. 16
  • Finalist #2 – 3 p.m. Sept. 18
  • Finalist #3 – 2 p.m. Sept. 22

All forums will be held in the Student Union Ballroom. Candidate resumes and details on how to share your feedback will be provided at the sessions.

Apply for CSAC Professional Development Funding

Civil service employees have the opportunity to apply for up to $1,200 in funding to support their professional development. Applications should be approved by their supervisor and submitted by 5 p.m. Sept. 23. This funding is a great way to invest in your career growth and expand the impact you make at UIS.

HSB 3rd Floor Renovations

Renovations are underway on the third floor of HSB to create a Centralized Lab Equipment Facility. Rooms 329 and 330 will be redesigned as a shared space for housing lab instruments, making them accessible to all labs within HSB. The project is expected to be completed by February 2026. Read more on Orbit.

Fall Accelerated Classes begin Oct. 20

Please encourage students to register for a fall accelerated class. This is a great opportunity for students to catch up, get ahead or simply take a course on an interesting topic. A full list of classes is available here.

Introducing the Student Philanthropy Program

The Student Philanthropy Program is a student-led initiative to build a stronger UIS for future generations. Leadership team members will help launch the program, creating a legacy of giving while gaining valuable professional and interpersonal skills.

Here’s how you can help:

  • Nominate students you think would be interested in this program. 
  • Spread the word to students in your classrooms or departments—your support is essential to building this program.
  • Connect with student leaders who will be reaching out to deans, directors and program chairs to introduce the program, making it easier for you to engage and support their initiatives.

For more information, contact Charles J. Schrage in the Division of Advancement.

2024-25 UIS Faculty and Staff Campaign Results 

The 2024–25 UIS Faculty and Staff Campaign achieved a record-setting 55.04% participation rate, with 426 employee donors contributing $244,939 to support 111 programs, scholarships and initiatives across campus. Thanks to your generosity, you are making UIS a special place to learn, work and grow. Learn more on Orbit. 

Department Newsletters

The Strategic Communication September Newsletter highlights updates from Web and Digital Strategy that may require your attention, and star power highlights from the Strategic Communication team.  

The Human Resources September Newsletter features the Employee Development Series, the new Exit & Onboarding Notification System, the Know Your U Event and Supervisor Development Day.

Upcoming Events

  • Homecoming Week: Sept. 14-20. Celebrate Prairie Star pride all week with soccer, volleyball, the Block Party, bonfire, fireworks and the Prairie Stars 5K. These events bring together alumni, students, faculty, staff and the Springfield community.  
  • Chancellor’s Thinker Series: A Call to Think: Enduring Legacy of Lincoln: 5-7:15 p.m. Sept. 15. Brookens Auditorium. The Chancellor’s Thinkers Series invites featured experts from diverse fields to engage in dialogue with Chancellor Gooch, encouraging new perspectives and intentional thinking. Join Jacob Friefeld, director of the Center for Lincoln Studies, to discuss the relevance of Lincoln’s principles today and how they might guide us through current challenges.
  • Constitution Day: To commemorate the formation and signing of the United States Constitution, the Center for State Policy and Leadership is hosting three events for the UIS community.
  • Library Commons Groundbreaking: 1:30-2:30 p.m. Sept. 19. On the quad near the Student Union. Be part of a historic moment as UIS breaks ground on the new Library Commons, a student-centered hub designed to transform learning, collaboration and campus life. The program will feature remarks from university leadership, a ceremonial turning of the dirt and refreshments. 
  • Friday Night Star Parties: 8-10 p.m. Every Friday in Sept. and Oct. (excluding Halloween). UIS Observatory. Join UIS astronomers in exploring the night sky.
  • 10th Annual Prairie Stars 5K: 8:30 a.m. Sept. 20. TRAC. Run or walk through our scenic campus in the Prairie Stars 5k to cap off homecoming week. Registration is just $25 and includes a commemorative T-shirt. 
  • ECCE Speaker Series: The Power of Latinidad in a Fractured World: 6 p.m. Sept. 24. Brookens Auditorium. In celebration of Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month, join award-winning author and equity strategist Carlos Andrés Gómez for an engaging, interactive workshop exploring the complexity of Latinidad and identity.
  • Employee Development Series: Planning Events on Campus: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Sept. 29. Student Union Ballroom. Planning an event on campus? Learn the essentials of campus reservations, agreements, timelines and safety and risk management to help your events run smoothly.
  • 1st Annual UIS Digital Accessibility (A11Y) Workshop: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 1. Location TBD. Join the Office of Digital Accessibility in their inaugural workshop to connect with peers, learn about the latest accessibility updates (including ADA Title II changes) and share best practices. Register today.
  • Fall Employee Information Session: 3-4:30 p.m. Oct. 16. Brookens Auditorium. Join UIS leadership updates on NorthStar initiatives and other key developments across campus. The program will conclude with a Q&A segment, giving attendees the chance to ask questions directly to the chancellor, provost, vice chancellor for finance and administration and vice chancellor for enrollment and retention management.

Check the employee events calendar on Orbit for more opportunities to learn, connect and celebrate together.

Information that Bears Repeating

Join an AI Special Interest Group

Help shape the future of AI at UIS! Faculty and staff are invited to join a two-month effort to develop guidelines and recommendations for AI in Governance; Ethics, Legal & Compliance; Teaching & Learning; Operations; and Research & Development. Apply on Orbit by Sept. 19.

Support Resources Available 

UIS recognizes that some members of our university community may be experiencing stress or uncertainty connected to current events. Support is available through the Employee Assistance Program and immigration resources. I encourage you to extend grace to yourself and others, check in on friends and colleagues and reach out for help if needed. Learn more about available resources on Orbit.

Notice of Applications for Tenure and Faculty Reappointments  

Each academic year, the Provost shares with the UIS community the names of faculty members scheduled for tenure and reappointment reviews. These reviews are an important part of maintaining excellence in teaching, research and service at UIS. For 2025–26, the review cycle includes nine candidates for tenure, 12 for second-year reappointment and seven for fourth-year reappointment. Faculty, staff and students with firsthand knowledge of a candidate’s performance are invited to contribute input for inclusion in the candidate’s personnel file. Additional details, including the list of candidates, are available on Orbit.

Founders Day Registration Open  

UIS will kick off 2025 Founders Week with its first Founders Day on Oct. 7, hosted by Innovate Springfield. The event celebrates entrepreneurship and Illinois’ innovation ecosystem with networking, demos, a keynote and panel on venture capital and government collaboration and a preview of the new Innovate Springfield space in downtown Springfield. This event is free and open to the public. Learn more and register.

Windows 10 End of Support — Action Required 

Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 in October 2025. To ensure continued security and compliance, any devices still running Windows 10 after this date will no longer be permitted on the network. Learn more on Orbit.

Celebrating Our Star Power

The COVID Stories exhibit, a collaboration between the University of Illinois Springfield and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, runs Sept. 26–Oct. 23 in the SIU School of Medicine library. The following UIS employees played a role in making this exhibition possible: Livia Arndal Woods, Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson, Brytton Bjorngaard and Clay Stalter.

Chancellor Janet L. Gooch has been selected for a four-year term on the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact. The committee plays a key role in making college athletics more fair and inclusive by ensuring that student-athletes from all backgrounds have equal opportunities and a voice in shaping policies. Learn more on UIS Newsroom.

Kelsea Gurski, Brian Clevenger, Wendy Smith and Miriam Wallace have been selected as a 2025–26 President’s Executive Leadership Program (PELP) Fellow. This highly competitive program admits fewer than 25% of applicants. It provides leaders with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of higher education issues while building the skills needed to guide public institutions at the university and system levels. 

Getting to Know You

Headshot of Steven Johnson Jr.

Steven Johnson Jr., associate vice Chancellor for student engagement, values connecting with students and creating meaningful experiences beyond the classroom, especially through planning homecoming. Inspired by Beyoncé’s creativity and resilience and grounded by the values of hard work and gratitude instilled by his family, he strives to be a model for future generations. Read more about Steven on Orbit.

Happy homecoming week!

Janet

Janet L. Gooch, Ph.D.
Chancellor
University of Illinois Springfield

P.S. If you have a topic you’d like me to consider for my newsletter, submit your idea here. I always appreciate the opportunity to showcase your news, events and accomplishments. Highlighting the outstanding work happening across our campus community allows us to celebrate your achievements, promote engagement and share the many ways UIS continues to make a positive impact.