A group of seven University of Illinois Springfield students and three faculty members are spending their summer conducting research in Ghana, West Africa as part of an international study abroad trip.
The UIS students and faculty are investigating the prevalence and risk factors for diabetes, hypertension and hepatitis C co-infection with HIV among the Ghanaian population. They are also assessing water quality by collecting samples from local sources and testing for coliform, E. coli and other harmful properties.
The UIS delegation arrived in Ghana on June 5 and will finish their research on July 24 when they return to the United States. They are partnering with the University of Health and Allied Sciences School of Public Health in Hohoe, Ghana.
“Ghana offers opportunities for exceptional educational experiences within a diverse multi-cultural environment,” said Josiah Alamu, UIS associate professor and chair of public health. “UIS students are gaining clinical, laboratory, and fieldwork experience on this trip. They are also learning about a new culture, which will help make them better global citizens.”
In addition to Alamu, UIS faculty members Dennis Ruez, associate professor of environmental studies, and Kamau Kemayo, associate professor of African-American studies, are also part of the trip.
UIS students and faculty have previously traveled to West Africa in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 to conduct water quality and other public health assessments in The Gambia.
This is the first time that UIS has sent students to Ghana for a summer study abroad program.
The University of Illinois Springfield is welcoming hundreds of new students and their parents to campus during summer KickStart Orientation events in June, July and August. A total of six different orientation sessions are planned.
The two-day overnight events helps students understand UIS requirements, meet their fellow classmates and learn their way around campus.
“We’re doing an overview of information for parents and students,” said Lisa McGuire, UIS director of new student orientation and parent relations. “They’ll meet with an advisor, they’ll register for classes and they’ll get their UIS ID card.”
Incoming freshman Kloee Schmulbach of Spaulding says she chose the University of Illinois Springfield because it is close to home. She’s planning to live on campus, but is comforted by the fact she’s only 15 minutes away from home.
“I’m really excited,” she said. “It doesn’t feel right to be out of high school, so I’m excited to take the next step towards my education.”
Trenton Newberry, an incoming freshman from Anna, Illinois, is a little further from home. He decided to come to UIS because of its location in the state capital. He plans to major in political science.
“I think it will be a lot easier than a bigger campus to make meaningful relationships and being in the state capital for political science it will be really nice to find internships and other opportunities,” said Newberry.
Student Orientation Leader Autumn Harris says she looks forward to welcoming new students to UIS each summer. She says the orientation leaders at her freshman orientation impacted her decision to attend UIS, now she’s excited to welcome the next generation of students.
“I’m looking forward to interacting with them,” she said. “I want to get to know the incoming freshman, so that way when they come for school I want them to be able to come talk to me.”
Incoming student Natalie Kirkbride of Pana feels she made the right decision in attending UIS.
“You get the University of Illinois degree, but you don’t have to go to Champaign or Chicago to get it. You’re kind of close to home and a smaller campus and it’s really nice to be here,” she said.
McGuire hopes that students leave KickStart Orientation with the information they need to succeed at UIS.
“I hope they feel more comfortable, that parents have an understanding, as well as students, about the resources here on campus and they meet the people that are here to help them.”
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has awarded a 2017-2018 Superior Merit Award designation to the University of Illinois Springfield SHRM student chapter for providing superior growth and development opportunities to its student chapter members.
This is the second year in a row that UIS has earned the distinction.
Over the past year, the UIS SHRM chapter has held educational events for students, attended a diversity workshop, participated in th
e state conference and competition, published an article, hosted a fundraiser and volunteered.
Sonia Vo, former UIS SHRM president said, “The organization functions as an important vehicle for promoting the field of human resource management to UIS students. It was created to encourage and support student, especially those in a management major, in creating, building, and continuing their career preparation.”
The SHRM student chapter merit award program, which began in 1972, was created to encourage student chapters to require ongoing excellence in the following areas: student chapter requirements, chapter operations, chapter programming and professional development of members, support of the human resource profession, and SHRM engagement.
