Instructional Support

The Center for Online Learning, Research, and Service (COLRS) supports UIS faculty, instructors, teaching assistants, and staff.

Note: Instructional design and multimedia projects will be approved and completed based on the availability of COLRS staff and institutional priorities.

Contact

Connecting with COLRS Staff

Having problems? Feeling stuck? Planning for future semesters? COLRS staff are here to assist you! Our staff provide support for online, blended, and technology-enhanced teaching, as well as faculty support for Canvas, and more.

Research Consultation

COLRS provides leadership for research on online and blended learning at UIS. It joins faculty and community members from across the institution and the nation in the collaborative pursuit of research which furthers knowledge in the field and improves the quality of online education.

Specific goals include:

UIS Online

For over 20 years, UIS has been a leader in Online Education. More than 50 programs at UIS are taught entirely online. Learn more about our online programs through our hallmarks and our online education fact book.

Teaching Resources

The Center for Online Learning, Research and Service (COLRS) provides support in the areas of faculty developmentinstructional design, and learning theory as it relates to the use and exploration of technologies to enhance online learning.

Services

COLRS is here to serve and support faculty and staff at UIS. Our staff is happy to meet with you in our space, your office, or virtually.

Instructional Tools

When constructing and expanding an online course, the technologies that faculty can incorporate provide endless learning possibilities for students and creative course design opportunities for faculty. COLRS provides tools to help you evaluate and enhance your online course design including Cidilabs DesignPlus and the UIS Online Course Quality Assurance Rubric. In addition, COLRS supports technologies that enhance or support your online course, including Harmonize, Respondus Monitor, and Turnitin.

Staff

Meet Our Staff

Emily Boles

Chief Online Learning Officer and Director

Emily joined COLRS in 2006 and moved into the COLO role in 2025. She provides one-on-one consultations, developmental trainings, and support for instructors to enhance online, blended, and hyflex teaching.