UIS expands opportunities for study abroad

The Global Experience Program at UIS has expanded its opportunities for study abroad with the signing of three new student exchange agreements.

The addition of the University of Colima in Mexico, Saitama University in Japan, and Murdoch University in Australia brings the number of international institutions with which UIS has formal affiliations to eight. Those who are interested in being an exchange student next fall should apply by February 1. Read more>>

Scholarship donors and recipients honored

The donors and recipients of scholarships for 2005 at UIS were honored at a luncheon held on campus November 16. See a list of scholarships and the students who received them>>

Visual Arts Gallery seeks donations for silent auction

UIS' Visual Arts Gallery will host its Annual Silent Auction fundraiser Monday, November 28, through Thursday, December 1. Artworks will be on display for silent bids each day in the gallery and the event will conclude Thursday evening with a reception and final bidding from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Donations of artwork in any medium will be accepted through November 23. Read more>>

Armstrong scholarship recipients announced

Three graduate students in UIS' Public Affairs Reporting program – Crystal Lindell, Rebecca O’Halloran, and Ann Sanner – have received James E. Armstrong Scholarships for 2005.

Given in memory of the late publisher of the Illinois State Journal and the Illinois State Register, predecessors of the State Journal-Register, the scholarships are awarded to PAR students who have demonstrated strong interest and potential in the field of government and political reporting. Read more>>

UIS to present original play, “Degrees of Lucky”

“Degrees of Lucky,” a one-act play by Judith Schlessinger Dyer, will be presented at 7 p.m. Monday, November 28, in the PAC Studio Theatre.

The play tells the story of two breast cancer survivors who meet after years of corresponding by e-mail. Dyer, who died on November 6, 2005, had battled a recurrence of her own breast cancer over the past two and a half years. She wrote “Degrees of Lucky” in a UIS playwriting class. This will be its first public performance. Read more>>

ACCESS 4 marks 20 years on the air

ACCESS 4, Springfield’s public access television station operating from the UIS campus, will observe its 20th year of service to the community with several special retrospective programs. Segments of “Celebrating 20 years of Public Access Television” will air Sunday, November 13, at 4:30 p.m.; Monday, November 14, at 8:30 p.m.; Wednesday, November 16, at 5:30 p.m.; and Friday, November 18, at 9 p.m. Read more>>

Faculty member receives Fulbright grant to teach in Bangladesh

Mohammed Shahidullah, an adjunct faculty member for programs in UIS' Colleges of Public Affairs and Administration and Liberal Arts and Sciences, has received a Fulbright Scholar grant to teach and do research with BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Shahidullah, who also works as a state demographer for the Illinois Department of Public Health, will spend six months teaching biostatistics and doing research in program evaluation on HIV/AIDS prevention at BRAC’s John P. Grant School of Public Health. Read more>>

Criminal Justice honor society inducts 15 at UIS

Fifteen new members were inducted into the Epsilon Chi Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the national criminal justice honor society, during ceremonies held November 8 at UIS. Alpha Phi Sigma, the only national honor society for criminal justice majors, recognizes the academic excellence of undergraduate and graduate students. Read more>>

Lecture examines floodplain conservation and biodiversity

“The Paraná River Floodplain and Conservation: Sustaining Biodiversity in Brazil” is the topic of a lecture to be presented from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 16, in PAC conference room F. UIS is presenting the program as part of its Emiquon Field Station initiative. Featured speaker will be Dr. Sidinei Thomaz from Maringá State University, Brazil.

Brazilian environmental agencies have recognized the ecological importance of the Upper Paraná and its floodplain, and three conservation units have been created to protect the area. Unfortunately the region is also suffering a number of ecological impacts. Read more>>

UIS among sites for national debut of controversial film

UIS will present two debut screenings of the controversial film Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. The first is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 15, in PAC room 3 C. This screening is sponsored by the Institute for Legal and Policy Studies at UIS. United Students against Sweat Shops will sponsor a second screening at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, November 17, in PAC room 3F.

Both screenings are free and open to the public; however space is limited and advance reservations are required. For more information and to reserve a spot>>

UIS music groups to present Fall Showcase Concert

Music groups at UIS will present their annual Fall Showcase Concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 18, in the Studio Theatre. The program will feature the UIS Band, Chorus, Chamber Orchestra, and World Percussion ensembles performing a wide range of musical genres.

Highlights from the chorus will include a 16th century madrigal, a Gershwin classic, a barbershop piece, and folk songs. The orchestra's performance will range from the French Baroque to tangos from Argentina. The band’s program will feature a march and selections from traditional and contemporary jazz charts. Read more>>

U of I students may apply for Brundage scholarships

Applications for the annual Avery Brundage Scholarship competition for U of I students who excel in both academics and athletics are being accepted now through Tuesday, January 31, 2006. Full-time students, including incoming freshmen, graduate, and transfer students, may apply. Read more>>

UIS to host discussion of the media and innocence cases

“The Media and Innocence Cases,” a presentation by Maurice Possley, investigative reporter with the Chicago Tribune, will be presented from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m., Tuesday, November 8, in UHB 2024.

Possley was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2000 and 2001 for his work with other reporters on prosecutorial misconduct and the death penalty. Former Governor George Ryan cited these reports as playing a significant role in his decision to empty Death Row in 2003. Read more>>

Ambrose receives IPCSA Exemplary Service Award

Tom Ambrose, senior training coordinator in the Institute for Legal and Policy Studies at UIS, has been named recipient of the Exemplary Service Award presented by the Illinois Probation and Court Services Association. This award is presented annually to an individual in recognition of his or her dedication and commitment to furthering probation and court services.

Michael Torchia, president of the IPCSA Executive Board and director of the Sangamon County Adult Probation Department, noted in making the presentation that Ambrose's "diligent efforts have helped to advance training programs into the 21st century." Read more>>