The University of Illinois Springfield will host five Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series events during the spring 2026 semester. The series presents events that promote and adhere to the value of engaged citizenship, cultural awareness and respect for diversity.

ECCE Speaker Series events, which are free and open to the public, include:

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to register for the Career Connections Expo at the University of Illinois Springfield. The Expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 20 at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS campus.

In addition to the Expo, registered employers are invited to participate in a pre-Expo networking event called the C2C (College to Career) Exchange, which will give them the opportunity to connect with faculty and staff before the Expo begins.

2026 RISE Professional Development Retreat

This year’s RISE Professional Development Retreat, set for Feb. 6, will introduce and support the CARE Framework, a university-wide approach that focuses on creating a culture of caring and strengthening student-centered practices through Communication, Action, Respect and Empathy.

Sessions will be offered both in the morning and afternoon, with a shared keynote lunch experience for all participants.

The annual Fulton-Mason Eagle Day, hosted by the University of Illinois Springfield Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon and other partners, will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 7 at multiple locations along the Illinois River in Fulton and Mason counties. The free public event offers visitors opportunities to learn about bald eagles and regional wildlife through live raptor programs, hands-on science activities, hiking and wildlife viewing.

The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to present “What is the Poesis of Dis-Possession? Cartographies of Spirit and Signal,” an exhibition featuring the work of Trinidad-born, Chicago-based artist Sherwin Ovid. The exhibition opens Jan. 12 and runs through Feb. 19.

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Janet L. Gooch will host a conversation with Mylas Copeland as part of her Chancellor’s Thinkers Series event titled “A Call to Think: We’re All in This Together.”

WHEN: 5 p.m. Dec. 3

WHERE: UIS Student Union Ballroom, 2251 Richard Wright Drive
(visitor parking available in Lot J)

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield invites the public to a virtual panel discussion, “From City Halls to Statehouses: Lessons from the 2025 Elections.” The event will bring together top political scholars, journalists and UIS alumni to break down key local or statewide races in New York City, New Jersey, Virginia, Minnesota, Illinois and beyond.

WHEN: Noon Nov. 20

WHERE: Zoom

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Active Minds student chapter, Department of Psychology, Volunteer and Civic Engagement, Capital Scholars Honors Program and Counseling Center will host the nationally touring Send Silence Packing display. The all-day display inspires action for suicide prevention and connects participants with local and national mental health resources.

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Janet L. Gooch will host a conversation with Mylas Copeland as part of her Chancellor’s Thinkers Series event titled “A Call to Think: We’re All in This Together.”

WHEN: 5 p.m. Dec. 3

WHERE: UIS Student Union Ballroom, 2251 Richard Wright Drive (visitor parking available in Lot J)

The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) Visual Arts Gallery is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary with its annual silent auction and benefit. This annual fundraising event features a diverse collection of original art, reproductions, decorative objects and crafts donated by artists and community supporters. This year’s auction will be held both online and in person, making it easy for collectors and supporters across the region to take part.