Department URL
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
The best advice I have ever received is to always ask “why.” Whether asked literally or figuratively, that question helps create clarity and perspective, challenges the status quo, encourages creativity and supports independent thinking.
Our offices (Diversity Center, Women’s Center, and Gender and Sexuality Student Services) will be closed from Wednesday, July 3rd, through Sunday, July 6th. We will resume regular operations on Monday, July 7th. You may email diversity@uis.edu, and we will respond to you as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience and look forward to connecting with you upon our return.
Best Wishes,
Daniel A. Aguilar M.A.
(He, Him, His)
Interim Director, Diversity Centers
University of Illinois Springfield
SLB 22C
Holiday Resources
Holiday Resources
Appreciating Diversity During the Holidays:
- Learn about other celebrations. Carve out some time from online shopping or a Holiday TV show to learn about another culture's celebrations during this time. Watch a TV special on other celebrations, do a Google search on a holiday, or check out books at your local bookstore while gift shopping.
Official UIS News
UIS announces 2024 Black History Month events
The University of Illinois Springfield will host several events to celebrate Black History Month (BHM) 2024 during February. The theme of this year's celebration is "BHM 2024 Roots and Rhythm."
* = Event is open to the public
Hispanic/Latinx/e Heritage Month
Hispanic/Latinx/e Heritage Month 2025 Events
As part of the Diversity Center's Mission to create an inclusive campus environment, we host cultural/heritage months and awareness weeks. While the month and events have a culture or identity associated with them, all events for the month are open to all students.
Women of Color Initiative
While this initiative is designed to support women-identifying students of color and their allies, it welcomes students from all backgrounds who are allies to women of color to provide an empowering, educational, and inclusive environment for all students.
Prompted by feedback from members of our U of I community, a system-wide group is working to add “Middle Eastern or North African (MENA)” as an option for an individual’s race or ethnicity in our University systems. The option to document “MENA” as your racial or ethnic identity in My UI Info is now available. Updates to the University’s student systems will be communicated separately at the appropriate time.
To make changes to your profile:
Black History Month
Black History 2026: Roots. Triumph. Resistance.
In alignment with our mission to foster a supportive environment for all students, the UIS Diversity Center values and encourages individuals of all backgrounds and identities to engage with our programs and initiatives.