Edgar Gasca came to UIS because he knew he would be known by his name, not a number.

The small campus community was ideal for the first-generation college student. He is studying counseling psychology with hopes of becoming a mental health counselor or a therapist.

He knows reaching his goal will be easier thanks to the scholarships he has received. The generosity of others has allowed him to focus on his studies and involvement at the Diversity Center.

In a fiscal year marked by a return to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Illinois’ fundraising totals hummed right along.

The University of Illinois System and the UI Foundation pulled in their fourth-largest fundraising total on record in the fiscal year that ended June 30, with $446.1 million in new gifts, grants, pledges and deferred commitments.

The UI system’s three campus fundraising initiatives have exceeded the initial $3.1 billion combined goal, raising $3.26 billion since the campaigns began in 2017.

The Center for Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield has been busy since officially opening its doors just a few months ago.

The Center is one of the five priorities of Reaching Stellar. The fundraising campaign, which hit its $40 million overall goal in August, continues until June 2022 as it raises funds to enhance the excellent opportunities the University offers its students, faculty, staff and larger Springfield-area community.

The Illinois Innocence Project at UIS has freed or exonerated 20 people since it was founded 20 years ago.

On campus in Springfield, it’s known for the powerful display of flags each Wrongful Conviction Day in October, where one flag is displayed for every innocent person exonerated from prison.

But IIP also is known for giving both undergraduate and law school students real-world experience that shapes them into the next generation of defenders of the innocent.

Our Funding Statement

Since 1976, UIS Star Parties have welcomed 50,000 – 100,000 people to the wonders of the universe. These events are one of the very few free science education programs for kids and families in Central Illinois. We need your support to sustain the program’s excellence.

The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) announced that the Reaching Stellar Campaign hit its $40 million goal on August 13.

University officials said the campaign is far from finished, as Reaching Stellar will continue into June 2022 to support its five priority areas, which include scholarships, academic excellence, the Center for Lincoln Studies, “the public good” and facilities & technology.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on August 30, 2021.

The College of Business and Management has heard for years from students who said they would consider pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree – if it was offered online.

“We would say, ‘One day, one day,” CBM Associate Dean Jorge Villegas said. “That day has arrived.”

In October the CBM is set to launch its online MBA program, as well as a master’s degree in Finance. In the pipeline for 2022 are online master’s degrees in Cybersecurity Management, Health Care Informatics and Human Resource Management.