8.18.25
Greetings, colleagues. We are just four days from the start of a new academic year!
I’d like to invite you to join me on Thursday, Aug. 21, for an afternoon of connection, celebration and community as we launch the 2025-26 academic year together. Please wear your UIS blue and help us welcome our newest Prairie Stars!
Here’s what’s planned:
- 2:30–3:45 p.m. – Faculty & Staff AY25-26 Kickoff, Student Union Ballroom
Join me and members of the Chancellor’s Cabinet for updates on the year ahead. Bring a donation for the UIS Cares Food Pantry or School Supply Stop for a chance to win UIS swag. The session will be recorded and shared on Orbit for those unable to attend. - 4–4:30 p.m. – New Student Convocation, Sangamon Auditorium
Faculty and staff should gather at 3:45 p.m. on the north patio of the Student Union to walk together to Convocation. No regalia is required—just your enthusiasm to welcome our new students. - 4:30-8 p.m. – Party on the Quad
Stick around after Convocation for an evening of food, music and celebration with our campus community.
These events are designated as “approved activities.” With prior approval and operations permitting, non-exempt civil service employees may attend without loss of pay. I hope you’ll join me for this exciting afternoon as we come together to launch the new academic year!
New Information
myUIconnect Launch for Students
As of Friday, Aug. 15, the myUIS system has been retired and replaced with myUIconnect, a platform that offers students an improved, user-friendly experience. To learn more, visit Orbit.
Sign up to be a Welcome Table volunteer
Sign up to be a Welcome Table volunteer at key campus locations to help students and visitors find their way, answer common questions and create a welcoming atmosphere.
Call for Program Proposals
Submit a breakout session proposal for the Student Leadership Summit, by Aug. 8. This year’s theme is "Written in the Stars: Charting Your Leadership Journey," focused on helping student leaders recognize their unique paths, discover their guiding values and build meaningful connections that shape their constellation of influence.
New Minor in Public Leadership
Starting this academic year, the School for Public Management and Policy is launching a new minor in Public Leadership. This interdisciplinary leadership curriculum will equip students in any major field of study with leadership skills focused on the public good.
New STEM Programs
The College of Business and Management is launching two new programs for AY25-26. The new program in Marketing updates the degree designation away from a BBA program to a BS program. The new MBA in Management Science expands the MBA program and offers a new concentration for prospective students.
UIS earns national recognition for commitment to first-generation student success
UIS was named one of 60 new members of the FirstGen Forward Network for 2025-26, recognizing its strong commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students.
Sangamon Experience Documentary Selected for Film Festival Screening
Sangamon Experience’s documentary, “Soul & Soil: Farming in the Sangamon River Valley,” has been selected for screening at the Iowa Independent Film Festival, on Sept. 5. The documentary tells the stories of 10 individuals who have spent their lives farming throughout the Sangamon River Valley.
Department Newsletters
The August Human Resources Newsletter includes information on the Protection of Minors policy, remote work agreements, employment verification, injury reporting and upcoming employee training opportunities.
Remember, you can subscribe to department newsletters to receive an email notification when they are posted.
Upcoming Events
- AI Detection Workshop: 3-4 p.m. Aug. 20. Join ITS and COLRS staff for their Demystifying AI Detectors workshop in person (location TBA) and on Zoom.
- Faculty-Staff Academic Year Kickoff: 2:30-4 p.m. Aug. 21. Learn our playbook for the upcoming year, and meet new faculty and administrative staff. Directly following Kickoff, we’ll walk to Sangamon Auditorium for New Student Convocation to show our support for our newest Prairie Stars, followed by a party on the Quad.
- Foot in the Door Fair: Looking to hire students this fall? Sign up by 5 p.m. Aug. 21 to be an employer at the Foot in the Door Fair on Aug. 28. Contact Kathyy Battee-Freeman with questions.
- Visual Arts Gallery is proud to present “L’Éphémère”: An exhibition by Rosalyn Schwartz runs Aug. 25-Oct. 2 at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery. A public reception is set for 5:30–7:30 p.m. on Sept. 4. At 3 p.m. on Sept. 19, Schwartz will join Allison Lacher (director of the Visual Arts Gallery) and Robert Sill (director of collections and research at the Illinois State Museum) for a conversation on the exhibition’s themes and her broader work.
- Employee Development Series: Leaves of Absence: 9-10 a.m. Aug. 26. Virtual. Heather Moore from the Office of Human Resources will cover everything you need to know about leaves of absence.
- Artists in residence at UIS Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon debut works: 1-4 p.m. Aug. 28. Therkildsen Field Station. Artists in residence at the Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon will debut original works inspired by the Emiquon Preserve during “Summer Projects Unveiled.” The event is free and open to the public.
- UIS Professionals Network Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. Aug. 28. MSF&W Consulting. Hosted by Sam Ganci, vice president of MSF&W Consulting and social chair of the UIS Professionals Network, the group will hold a public happy hour where prospective members can meet current participants, learn more about the initiative and hear from university leadership. RSVP today.
Check the employee events calendar on Orbit for more opportunities to learn and engage across campus.
Information that Bears Repeating
NorthStar Updates
The Provost is currently reviewing program scorecard results in consultation with the Deans. These scorecards, developed through the Academic Portfolio Review, summarize validated program-level data to support data-informed decision-making. The results will be shared with unit executive officers and the broader university community in early September.
Library Commons
Construction for our new Library Commons building is continuing to progress on schedule as we prepare for the fall semester. Pattie Piotrowski, university librarian and dean of library instructional services, gives a preview of the student-centered project in a column posted on Orbit.
Parking Permit Renewal
If you purchase your parking permit through payroll deduction, your permit is automatically renewed and has been delivered to your campus address. If your parking permit does not automatically renew, please visit the Parking Operations site to purchase a new parking permit.
ITS transitions to UISPreauth network
Information Technology Services (ITS) is transitioning personal devices from the UISBYOD wireless network to the UISPreauth network to improve compatibility with a wider range of devices, including gaming consoles, smart TVs and other equipment that cannot connect to UISWifi.
If you currently have a device connected to the UISBYOD network, follow the instructions on Orbit to migrate your device(s) to the UISPreauth network.
Digital Student ID
All students can now access their Digital Student ID through the UIS Mobile App. This ID can be used to check in at campus events and to verify student status for discounts at businesses. It's also a convenient option for students who may not come to campus to receive a physical ID. Faculty, please let your students know about this new feature available in the app.
Celebrating Our Star Power
Congrats to Brian Clevenger, associate vice chancellor for enrollment and retention management, who recently earned the Strategic Enrollment Management Endorsement from the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers.
Anne Moseley, director of engagement and curator of Sangamon Experience, has been selected as one of the Illinois Jaycees Outstanding Young Persons of Illinois for 2025 for her academic leadership and accomplishments.
Clay Stalter, senior photographer for the Office of Marketing and Brand Strategy, received an honorable mention in the University Photographers Association of America annual competition in the people and portraits category for a photo of Heather Bailey, the 2024 UIS University Scholar.
Getting to Know You
Alex Payton serves as an admissions and records associate. Her journey into higher education began as an undergraduate, where she admits she “wasn't the best student.” She is especially proud of overcoming her anxiety to pursue her master’s degree, where she now maintains a 4.0 GPA. Her growth and perseverance have been guided by mentors like Dr. Jessica Flynn, who offered invaluable support both academically and personally.
Outside of work, Payton enjoys spending time with family and friends. She is an avid Formula One fan, following races with friends across the globe, and a dedicated hockey enthusiast, cheering for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Let’s have a great fall semester full of learning, new experiences and community!
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