UIS students connect with donors at Scholarship Luncheon

The University of Illinois Springfield recognized scholarship donors during the annual Scholarship Luncheon on October 29, 2014. Over 275 people attended the celebration in the Sangamon Auditorium lobby. For many of the donors it was their first time meeting the students they support.

“I think it’s such a great idea and so unique to UIS to bring the donors and the recipients together,” said Kathryn Eisenhart, a scholarship donor and UIS emeritus associate professor of Legal Studies.

Senior Political Science major Gloria Dandridge would not have been able to attend UIS without the support of a scholarship.

“It has made a huge difference. This is the first semester that I didn’t have to take out student loans,” said Dandridge. “I was able to buy books and pay for classes and everything.”

Donors Micah and Peggy Bartlett know how a quality education can benefit a person for a lifetime. Micah earned his degree in accounting from UIS. Now he’s decided to give back to his alma mater.

“I was a recipient of scholarships when I was a student,” said Micah. “For us, this is a wonderful way to pay it forward and support education.”

Scholarships have made it possible for Shyleen Studley to earn her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. She’ll be eligible to graduate next year thanks to the support.

“I didn’t even think college was a possibility,” said Studley. “Now I’m graduating next year and it’s overwhelming to see how far I’ve come.”

Both Dandridge and Studley are thankful for the help they’ve received and hope to one day pay it forward.

“It just inspires me to be able to give back when I get in the position to do so,” said Dandridge. “I’m grateful.”

Cultures on display at the annual UIS International Festival

The University of Illinois Springfield hosted the 37th annual International Festival on October 24, 2014 at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on campus. The theme of the festival was "One World, One Beat!”

The festival gives international students a chance to share their cultures with fellow students and members of the Springfield community. The festival featured food and entertainment from several African nations, China, India, Ireland, Peru, Turkey, Scotland and more.

“It’s really the one time a year when we get to know about different cultures,” said Natalie Fung, a sophomore business administration major. “This school is really diverse, but we never really get to know about each other.”

Siddharth Modali came to UIS from India to study Management Information Systems. He’s glad to be able to share his culture and learn about others.

“I came to the United States to pursue my master’s and have interaction with all of the international students,” said Modali. “I’m very happy I’m doing what I wanted to.”

For other students, such as biology major Stephaine Ijaola, they come to the festival to share their culture and also enjoy the free food.

“I think it’s just awesome to get to see everyone’s different cultural backgrounds,” she said.

The International Festival is the longest running student event on the UIS campus.

UIS survey finds high level of support for "millionaire’s tax" among likely Illinois voters

A survey by the University of Illinois Springfield Survey Research Office, part of the Center for State Policy & Leadership, finds almost two-thirds of Illinois voters plan to vote in favor of an advisory referendum on the November ballot, which asks if they support increasing taxes on individual income of more than $1 million.

The online survey asked participants about their level of support on a variety of different tax issues and found that 63.1% of Illinois likely voters report that they will support this referendum, commonly referred to as the “millionaire’s tax.”

The highest level of support is among female voters, younger voters, and voters identifying as Democrats. For example, 71.4% of voters age 18-24 report that they support this referendum compared to only 57.6% of voters 65 and older. More than three-fourths of Democratic voters support the referendum compared to less than half of Republican voters. Interestingly, there are not significant differences among income groups. While individuals earning more than $120,000 annually report the lowest amount of support, all other income groups support the measure at relatively equal levels.

The online panel participants were recruited by Qualtrics and include 723 likely Illinois voters. The survey results were weighted using 2010 exit poll data and included two quotas (age and region of the state). The overall margin of error is +/- 3.7 percentage points. Complete question wording and methodology is available at www.uis.edu/SurveyResearchOffice/.

For more information on the survey, contact Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office, at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu.

UIS Poll: Rauner and Quinn in dead heat among likely voters; Rauner leads among enthusiastic voters

An online survey conducted by the University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy and Leadership’s Survey Research Office shows that Gov. Pat Quinn and challenger Bruce Rauner are in a virtual tie less than a month before election day.

The online panel participants were recruited by Qualtrics and include 723 likely Illinois voters. Challenger Bruce Rauner leads slightly 43.1% to 41.3% with 14.0% still reporting that they are undecided. These results are within the margin of error and indicate that there is no clear favorite in the gubernatorial race. In the other statewide race, Senator Dick Durbin leads challenger Jim Oberweis 50.4% to 34.9% (14.1% undecided). Generally, Democratic candidates lead Republican candidates in the U.S. House of Representative races, 43.1% to 32.4% (24.5% undecided).

Likely voters were also asked about their level of enthusiasm and whether they are more enthusiastic than usual about voting in the upcoming elections or less enthusiastic than usual. Of those who reported that they are more enthusiastic, Bruce Rauner has a nine percentage point lead (49.2% to 40.3%, 10% undecided).

“This poll has results very similar to telephone polls released in the past several weeks, indicating that the gubernatorial election is still too close to call,” said Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office. “Using this technology allows us to be in the field at a time when traditional survey methods are expensive, and Illinois residents are experiencing telephone polling fatigue.”

This is the first time the UIS Survey Research Office has conducted an online panel and is part of their ongoing effort to test innovative survey methods.

The survey results were weighted using 2010 exit poll data and included two quotas (age and region of the state). The overall margin of error is +/- 3.7 percentage points. Complete question wording and methodology is available at www.uis.edu/SurveyResearchOffice/.

For more information on the survey, contact Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office, at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu.

UIS announces $2.4 million raised for Student Union

University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Susan J. Koch announced private gifts totaling $2.4 million earmarked for the new Student Union Tuesday during a campaign kickoff party on campus.

Significant gifts have been received from Dr. Shirley Baer, Jack Dolan, Bill and Mary Schnirring, recent UIS honorary degree recipient Evelyn Brandt Thomas, and Robert and Marilyn Uteg through a bequest.

The 50,000-square-foot Student Union building at UIS is expected to open in late fall of 2016. It will house dining services, a high-end coffee shop, many lounge spaces, and a Student Leadership Center with offices for student leaders and workspaces for projects. A ballroom with adjoining catering facilities will accommodate 350-450 people at banquets and will also serve as conference space. A large plaza for outdoor events will surround the north and west ends of the building. Community members will be able to schedule activities in the ballroom/conference spaces or on the plaza through UIS Conference Services.

The total cost of the project will be $21.75 million. In 2012, UIS students approved a referendum to increase student fees to cover about half of that cost. Learn more about the Student Union project at www.uis.edu/studentunion/.

For more information, contact Jeff Lorber, UIS vice chancellor for development, at 217/206-6058 or jlorber@uis.edu.