Tuesday, December 14, 2010

UIS signs online transfer agreement with Ozarks Technical Community College


The University of Illinois Springfield has signed a new transfer agreement with Ozarks Technical Community College located in Springfield, Mo. The agreement is designed to provide a seamless transfer for qualified OTC students into online programs at UIS.

A signing ceremony was held on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 at Ozarks Technical Community College’s Springfield campus. UIS Chancellor Harry Berman and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Tim Barnett were in attendance.

“Vice Chancellor Barnett and I were warmly welcomed by our colleagues at OTC, who share our commitment to high quality online education,” said Berman. “We’ve made a virtual bridge from Springfield, Mo., to Springfield, Ill., that will enable OTC graduates to complete their baccalaureate degrees, expand their career opportunities, and add to the economic strength of southwest Missouri.”

Online programs at UIS are continuing to grow with a nearly 15% increase in the number of credit hours being taken online this semester. A total of 17,172 online credit hours being taken this fall compared to 14,955 online credit hours last fall. A total 1,364 online majors are enrolled at UIS, a 4.8% increase from the previous fall semester.

OTC Online is experiencing a similar jump in online enrollment with 2,327 students taking the majority of their classes online. The college has a total of 4,104 students who are taking at least one online class.

For more information contact Derek Schnapp, director of Public Relations at 217/206-6716 or email dschn3@uis.edu.

Photos provided by Ozarks Technical Community College

Friday, December 10, 2010

UIS partners with the Illinois National Guard to teach troops about Afghanistan



The University of Illinois Springfield has partnered with the Illinois National Guard to educate troops being deployed to Afghanistan. They discussed the country’s history, culture, public health needs, and economic structure among other topics during a recent series of classes.

“To be able to assist with those types of things is an incredible boost to the war effort and to the education of our soldiers,” said Col. Gary Schmitt of the Illinois National Guard.

The Guard approached UIS, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the City of Springfield and Sangamon County about forming a partnership. The result was a three-day training session for about 40 soldiers called “Infrastructure 101”.

The first phase was hosted by UIS at the Public Affairs Center on Dec. 10, 2010. UIS faculty members Adriana Crocker, Kathy DeBarr, Michael Lane, Shahram Heshmat, Don O’Neal and Ali Nizamuddin shared their knowledge of the country with the troops.

“We have faculty with a broad range of interests and some of our faculty with experience, either growing up in the region or having traveled extensively in the region,” said Pinky Wassenberg, dean of the College of Public Affairs & Administration.

The idea behind the partnership is that it will continue once the troops are deployed to Afghanistan. The troops will be able to phone or email the professors as consultants to questions that may occur in the field.

Thursday, December 02, 2010

UIS professor's Beatles podcast the second most downloaded on iTunes U

The University of Illinois Springfield has reached a major milestone on iTunes U, a cross-platform multimedia distribution and learning environment that offers free educational content. The service is available to 200 million iTunes software users worldwide.

Professor Michael Cheney’s podcast “Unit 1: Beatles as Mosaic” was recently listed as the second most downloaded podcast on iTunes U. Cheney, a professor of Communication, teaches an online Liberal Studies course on The Beatles. “The Beatles: Popular Music and Society” series has also been listed for the first time in the “Noteworthy” section of iTunes U.

“I use podcasts in the class as a way to complement the material students are already studying and to provide them with poignant references and information to enhance their understanding of the course,” said Cheney.

Cheney’s “Unit 1” was downloaded 23,744 times during the week of Nov. 14. That doesn’t include numbers since it was highlighted in the “Noteworthy” section. All 39 Beatles podcasts combined have been downloaded over 395,000 times since they were launched. The Beatles podcasts are the most popular series offered by UIS on iTunes U. Cheney predicts downloads could triple after the most recent spotlight.

His three to four minute podcasts began during the 2005 fall semester. He also offers them in his Political Communication and Writing for Public Relations classes. The weekly podcasts include lectures and supporting material. Students use Apple’s iTunes software to listen to the recordings. The service is offered free of charge to both students and the university.

“I started using podcasts because I felt there were a lot of things students should know, but could not be identified and presented to them in a small compact unit like a webpage or a couple pages out of a book,” he said.

More than 800 universities have active iTunes U sites. Other institutions using the site include Stanford, Yale, MIT, Oxford and UC Berkeley, which all distribute their content publicly on the iTunes Store.

You can listen to Cheney’s podcasts by visiting the UIS iTunes U page at http://itunes.uis.edu/. For more information contact Cheney at 217/206-8271 or email mchen1@uis.edu.

Friday, November 19, 2010

UIS dedicates flag wall honoring international students



The University of Illinois Springfield is honoring international students through a new display of 63 foreign flags in the Sangamon Auditorium lobby. A dedication for the display was held on Friday, November 19, 2010.

The flags represent the countries from which students have traveled to attend UIS over the past 40 years. The university currently has a population of 195 international students from 43 different countries.

“The reason we put these flags up is to recognize the role these students play in making UIS both a diverse and an excellent educational institution,” said Tim Barnett, vice chancellor of Student Affairs at UIS.

International student Abhineet Singh decided to come to Springfield from India because of the friendly environment. For him seeing his countries flag on display shows the university cares.

“This is very important to me being an international student getting recognized and appreciated by the university is a really good thing,” said Singh.

Other students like Driss El Akrich, who is from Morocco, agree the flags are a great addition to the UIS campus.

“I really appreciate it. It does make you more proud to be part of UIS and to enjoy diversity, not only to embrace it, but to see it on display,” said El Akrich.

UIS Chancellor Harry Berman thanked the staff members who made the flag display possible calling it “beautiful”. He also made a prediction about UIS’ future when it comes to international outreach.

“If I were to identify one way in which UIS five years from now will be different than the UIS of now it is in the degree to which we have international students here and we have our students traveling internationally,” said Berman.

Monday, November 15, 2010

UIS Downstate Illinois Innocence Project receives major grant to use DNA testing in actual cases



The University of Illinois Springfield’s Downstate Illinois Innocence Project with the support of the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership has been awarded a $687,448 grant to clear downstate Illinois innocence cases where DNA testing might decide the outcome. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin helped to facilitate the grant, which is one of the largest in UIS’ history.

The United States Department of Justice Bloodsworth Grant, named in honor of Kirk Bloodsworth, the first DNA death penalty exoneration case in the U.S. in 1993, will provide funding for DNA laboratories to conduct testing, investigators to locate evidence and attorneys to represent inmates in filing post-conviction DNA testing motions.

“In Illinois, we’ve seen firsthand how innocent people can get their lives back by taking advantage of post-conviction DNA testing to solve old cases and exonerate the wrongly convicted,” Durbin said. “The Downstate Illinois Innocence Project has worked to ensure fairness and accuracy in the justice system, including directly participating in three exonerations.”

The project will initially focus on 30 cases out of over 400 requests it has received. Those 30 cases will be further reviewed to determine if the evidence can be tested or retested for DNA and if the likelihood is that the individual is actually innocent of the crime for which they were convicted.

"As of today 261 individuals nationwide have been exonerated using DNA testing. Thirty of those are already from Illinois," said Larry Golden of the UIS Downstate Illinois Innocence Project. "The backlog on requests for testing is huge. We know that DNA is the most important forensic tool to identify or exclude a perpetrator of a crime. This grant will give the project the resources to follow up with investigation and DNA testing of the many requests we have from people who may actually be innocent."

As part of the grant, the project is collaborating with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Law and the Southern Illinois University Law School to have students assist in the review of the cases and the filing of motions to have the evidence tested. The Innocence Project is housed in the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership, which assists in bringing grant money to campus.

“This grant epitomizes the good that can be done by linking academic and student opportunities with real world problem solving,” said David Racine, interim executive director of the center. “The grant will allow even more UIS students to participate in and learn from the project’s important work. We plan to build on the grant to obtain even greater support for the students and faculty of the campus.”

Bloodsworth is scheduled to visit the UIS campus and speak on the topic of wrongful convictions on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information contact Larry Golden at 217/553-7171 or email lgold1@uis.edu. More information about the Innocence Project can be found on their website at www.uis.edu/innocenceproject/.

Monday, November 01, 2010

UIS students collect a record 8,354 pounds of food for the Central Illinois Foodbank

Student volunteers at the University of Illinois Springfield collected 8,354 pounds of food during the annual Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods competition on Halloween night. That’s nearly double the 4,450 pounds of food collected last year for the Central Illinois Foodbank during the October 31 event.

Seventeen teams of UIS students canvassed assigned Springfield neighborhoods collecting non-perishable food items. The teams visited the neighborhoods before Halloween, distributing door hangers that explained the project. The canned food drive is part of the UIS Holiday Stars Project, a campus-wide service initiative giving focus to UIS’ efforts to make a difference in the local community during the holiday season. The effort now shifts to the UIS campus, with a goal of collecting additional canned foods to reach an overall goal of 10,000 pounds by December 2, 2010.

Prizes were awarded to the top three student groups collecting the most food. The top five groups include the first place Lamda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society with 798 pounds, the second place Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity and Psychology Club with 779 pounds, the third place Goodfellas/Goodgirls student group with 760 pounds, the fourth place Christian Student Fellowship with 642 pounds and the fifth place Monstars student group with 632 pounds.

For more information about the UIS Holiday Stars Project, contact Jordan Jeffers, volunteer services coordinator, at 217/206-7716, or go to www.uis.edu/holidaystars.

Friday, October 29, 2010

President of China's Harbin University of Science and Technology visits UIS



The University of Illinois Springfield is strengthening its partnership with China’s Harbin University of Science and Technology. A delegation, including the President of Harbin University, visited UIS on Friday, October 29, 2010.

The two schools want to grow their partnership to allow for the further exchange of students and faculty members. Already, UIS has welcomed visiting faculty members from China and now the hope is to give students from both schools exchange opportunities.

“I hope that this visit will be the beginning of more visits by faculty and students from the Harbin University of Science and Technology,” said UIS Chancellor Harry Berman.

College of Business and Management
Dean Ronald McNeil helped arrange the delegation’s visit to the United States and recently traveled to China to meet with administrators at Harbin.

“In a global world we need to understand our cultures better to compete, to work together and collaborate, so it gives us that opportunity,” said McNeil.

Harbin is the largest province-owned engineering university in the Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China. The university has four campuses and a total enrollment of around 21,000 students.

“To work together it means these things will happen to benefit Springfield, to benefit our students and benefit Illinois,” said McNeil.

While in Springfield the group also toured Hanson Engineering, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Illinois State Capitol.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Lynn Pardie named Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

University of Illinois Springfield Acting Chancellor Harry Berman has appointed Dr. Lynn Pardie to serve as Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective January 1, 2011, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its November meeting. Pardie will replace Berman in his position as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, which he will continue to fill until the end of this year.

“Her administrative experience, her scholarship, and the respect she has earned as a UIS faculty member and administrator since 1989 make her a great choice to lead Academic Affairs through this important period of transition,” said Berman.

Since 2006, Dr. Pardie has served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education and Research, providing broad oversight and advocacy for graduate education, research administration, and advancing faculty and student scholarship. She had prior administrative experience as Interim Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and as Chair of the Psychology Department.

Dr. Pardie received her Ph.D. in psychology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She came to UIS in 1989 as an assistant professor of psychology, then was promoted to associate professor in 1995 and to full professor in 2005.

She is highly regarded by her colleagues. Dr. Pardie received the Faculty Excellence Award in 2005 in recognition of accomplishments in teaching, scholarship, and service. She has published work on stress-illness relationships, sex bias in psychological research, and sexual orientation issues. She supervised many students’ theses and has been a strong contributor to important campus endeavors, including strategic planning, curriculum and policy development, academic program review, faculty and staff mentoring and development, and institutional research. She has been a long-time member of the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB) and has chaired that committee for the past six years.

Several faculty and staff will pick up Dr. Pardie’s current responsibilities during her service as interim VCAA. The duties of Dr. Cecilia Cornell, associate professor of history and director of the Whitney M. Young fellowship program, will be expanded to include broad oversight of graduate education. Dr. John Barker, currently a member of the IRB, will take on administrative tasks associated with the IRB. Leslie Defrates, assistant to Dr. Pardie, will assume a broader range of administrative tasks associated with oversight of the graduate assistantship program.

“I am well aware of Dr. Pardie’s reputation as a collaborative administrator, and I am confident that she will lead the division energetically in ways that continue the progress that UIS has been making in teaching, scholarship, and service,” said Berman.

For more information contact Derek Schnapp, director of Public Relations at 217/206-6716 or email dschn3@uis.edu.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

UIS founded New Century Learning Consortium adds Hampton University as ninth member

The New Century Learning Consortium (NCLC), founded at the University of Illinois Springfield has added Hampton University as its ninth member. The Consortium is designed to assist universities in implementing high quality, large-scale online and blended learning programs.

“We are delighted to have Hampton University join the consortium. Hampton University has a long history of academic excellence and is one of the top historically black universities in the world. The university’s Hampton U Online program offers a growing number of doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s degrees fully online.” said Shari McCurdy Smith, NCLC director and associate director of the Center for Online Learning, Research, and Service (COLRS) at UIS.

The Consortium plans to expand to 14 institutions by May of 2010. Consortium activities include developing a clearinghouse of online classes where there is excess capacity; shared research projects; shared IT expertise to support building infrastructure capacity; and peer support at the upper administration, dean, and faculty member levels. NCLC was founded utilizing a grant from the Sloan Consortium, who is also providing funding for the expansion.

"We are most excited about our newest member of the consortium, Hampton University. They are a university with a 150-year-long tradition of excellence in academics and one of the emerging leaders in online learning in the U.S. We are looking forward to establishing close working relationships with Hampton University as part of the New Century Learning Consortium." said Ray Schroeder, director of COLRS and founder of NCLC.

The member institutions are dedicated to developing vigorous online and blended learning initiatives to expand and stabilize student enrollments.

Current members are University of Illinois Springfield; California State University Easy Bay, Hayward; Southern Oregon University, Ashland; Chicago State University; Oakland University, Rochester Hills, Michigan; University of Southern Maine, Portland; Louisiana Tech University, Ruston; SUNY Empire State College, Saratoga Springs.

For more information about the Consortium, contact Shari McCurdy Smith at 217-206-7360 or email smccu1@uis.edu.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

UIS colonnade selected as 2010 Official City Ornament



The University of Illinois Springfield is proud to have been selected by the St. Joseph’s Home as the centerpiece of the 2010 Official City of Springfield Ornament.

“It’s a great honor for us to be recognized by St. Joseph’s Home on our 40th anniversary in this way,” said UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen.

The ornament features the UIS colonnade, which was completed in the summer of 2005. It quickly has become the major landmark of the university.

“The university is indeed a worthy addition to this wonderful group of buildings and landmarks that define not only the infrastructure of our city, but our very identity as community members here in Springfield,” said Terri Hempstead, development director at St. Joseph’s Home.

A ceremony naming the colonnade as the official city ornament was held near the landmark on October 13, 2010. Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin read a proclamation making the ornament’s title official.

“There’s no better Christmas gift that you can go and give right now and once you start giving that gift people expect that,” said Davlin.

The Ornament is the eighteenth collectible design in the series depicting local landmarks and events. Each ornament is die-cut, hand-assembled, 24-karat gold-plated, and made in the U.S.A. No more than 5,000 of these ornaments will be produced. Each comes with a signed and numbered certificate.

The ornament program supports the mission of St. Joseph’s Home, which has relied on the generosity of Springfield benefactors since the ministry began in 1903. In its first 17 years the ornament program has generated approximately $600,000 to support the home’s ministries.

Ornaments are now available at these Springfield locations: St. Joseph’s Home, UIS Bookstore, St. John’s Hospital gift shops, Tinsley Dry Goods, the Illinois State Museum Store, Heartland Credit Union, Vono Medical Supply, Pleasant Nursery, Pease’s Candy, Wild Birds Unlimited, Bank of Springfield, and It’s All About Wine.

For information on how you can order an ornament online visit the UIS 40th Anniversary website.

Monday, October 11, 2010

UIS celebrates Homecoming 2010



The UIS community celebrated 40 years of history and showed off their Prairie Star pride during Homecoming 2010.

Participants packed the campus for the annual Homecoming Parade and Pet Parade, BBQ & Lawn Party and UIS Students vs. Alumni/Faculty/Staff Basketball game on Saturday, October 9. The day began with the 2nd annual UIS Homecoming 5K Run/Walk and "Through the Decades" Brunch.

Earlier in the week a Homecoming Pep Rally was held, followed by Mashed Potato Sculpting on Tuesday. Students were also given a chance to make their own spirit wear, treated to a performance by the Neo-Futurists, a homecoming dance and much more.

Students spent time volunteering at Ball Charter Elementary in Springfield on Friday as part of the Prairie Star Service Event. It’s UIS’ traditional way to end the week by giving back to the community.

View photos from Homecoming 2010 on Flickr

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Freshmen paint recycling mural at Founders Hall



A group of freshmen students is leaving a lasting mark on Founders Residence Hall at the University of Illinois Springfield. They’re painting a mural to encourage fellow students to recycle.

“Recycling is really important in today’s society. We’ve done a lot to this earth and it’s not good and if we don’t take action soon we’re really going to regret it,” said Cheyenne Stephens, freshman psychology major.

The students are painting the mural as part of their UNI 101 class, which introduces first year students to the college experience. The class teaches study habits, organization and time management, but that’s not all.

“We have to do a project around campus to help make the campus look a little bit nicer,” said Megan Johannsen, freshman biology major.

Class members came up with the design for the mural and sketched it on their own. They then approached Housing Director John Ringle about the mural. He approved the idea and the students’ idea became a reality.

“It’s something that kids will see everyday and it gives some lively color to the residence halls,” said Keenan Eberlin, freshman clinical laboratory science major.

The mural is located above the Founders Hall recycling bins, which are next to the front desk.

Monday, September 20, 2010

UIS honored with two national awards for excellence and leadership in online learning

The University of Illinois Springfield is being recognized with two awards from the Sloan Consortium, a national group of online educators, for excellence and leadership in online learning.

The online Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership (MTL) program is the recipient of the 2010 Outstanding Online Program Award.

“The competition for this award was particularly strong this year, and the selection committee felt that the UIS online program was exemplary,” said Burks Oakley II, chair of the Awards Selection Committee for the Sloan Consortium.

A distinguished committee of leaders in higher education was responsible for evaluating the nominations. They praised the MTL program in the award nomination saying it “provides a high quality program to teachers in rural sections of Illinois who would not otherwise have the opportunity to complete a graduate degree.”

The MTL program, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is designed specifically for educators in a classroom situation who wish to assume leadership roles in their environments. Coursework is conducted entirely online and all projects are designed with a classroom application focus. Since 2001, the MTL program has made it possible for 593 teachers to obtain their masters degrees and become leaders in their schools. The program is represented by students from 27 states and 5 international countries.

“To be the recipient of this award speaks to the quality and rigor of the curriculum, our talented faculty and providing access for educators wherever they live,” said Scott Day, associate professor & chair of the Department of Educational Leadership.

MTL students consistently express satisfaction with their learning experience, including course and fairness, instructor and peer interaction, and provision of support services. Karen Swan, James J. Stukel Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership at UIS, was responsible for nominating this program for this prestigious award.

Ray Schroeder, director of the Center for Online Learning, Research, and Service (COLRS) at the University of Illinois Springfield is the recipient of the inaugural A. Frank Mayadas Leadership Award. The award is the highest individual recognition offered by the Sloan Consortium and was voted on by a committee of leaders in higher education.

“The selection committee felt that Schroeder's leadership in the field of online learning on a national scale has been, and continues to be, transformative,” said Oakley.

Shari Smith, associate director of COLRS at UIS, was responsible for nominating Schroeder for this prestigious award.

“I am humbled by this award. It is a high honor to be recognized by my colleagues across the country for leadership in our field with an award named for the ‘father of online learning’ Frank Mayadas, who has meant so much to our university and to me personally,” said Schroeder. “This recognition is rightly shared by our wonderful colleagues at the Center, our faculty, and by the staff of UIS who collectively have built UIS online into a model that is widely recognized, respected and emulated for excellence in online learning.”

The Sloan Consortium is an institutional and professional leadership organization dedicated to integrating online education into the mainstream of higher education, helping institutions and individual educators improve the quality, scale, and breadth of education. Membership in the Sloan Consortium provides knowledge, practice, community, and direction for educators. Originally funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, it is now a non-profit, member sustained organization.

UIS has been awarded three Outstanding Achievement Awards by the Sloan Consortium in 2002, 2003 and 2006. No other university in the country has received more outstanding achievement awards. UIS was recognized with an Institution-Wide Excellence Award in 2007 and the Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education in 2008.

The Outstanding Online Program Award and Mayadas Leadership Award will be presented to UIS during the 16th Sloan Consortium International Conference on Online Learning in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, November 4, 2010.

For more information contact Derek Schnapp, director of Public Relations at 217/206-6716 or dschn3@uis.edu.

Thursday, September 09, 2010

UIS sets a record with 5,174 students enrolled



The University of Illinois Springfield is celebrating its largest fall enrollment in the institution’s 40-year history. The total number of enrolled students at UIS is 5,174. It is a 4.29% increase (213 students) over last fall’s total of 4,961 students.

“To say we are excited would be an understatement. For our enrollment to surpass 5,000 marks a milestone for us. That number has been an informal goal for quite a number of years and it shows once again recognition of the high quality education that UIS provides,” said Chancellor Richard Ringeisen. “We all have made retention of students a top priority and our staff, faculty and administrators are to be congratulated for those efforts. UIS continues to be met with tough economic conditions, but we also continue to provide the highest possible level of educational experience. We are very pleased.”

There are 3,197 undergraduates at UIS this fall, compared to 3,027 last fall semester (a 5.6% increase). The number of graduate students climbed to 1,977, up 43 students from last year.

“We continue to grow as a university and the retention of students is a big part of our success,” said Interim Director of Admissions Lori Giordano.

The number of students living on campus remained the same as last fall, with 1,089 students living in UIS apartments, townhouses, and Lincoln and Founders residence halls.

Online learning sets records

Online programs at UIS are continuing to grow with a nearly 15% increase in the number of credit hours being taken online this semester, according to Ray Schroeder, director of the Center for Online Learning, Research, and Service. A total of 17,172 online credit hours being taken this fall compared to 14,955 online credit hours last fall.

The number of students majoring in online degree or certificate programs grew by 63 students. A total 1,364 online majors are enrolled at UIS, a 4.8% increase from the previous fall semester.

“UIS continues to lead the way in online learning. Every semester since we began offering online classes a dozen years ago, the number of online credit hours taken by our students has increased,” said Schroeder.

Overall more than 55% of UIS students (2,850 total) are taking at least one online class this fall.

“While public universities in California and elsewhere are cutting back enrollments, UIS is expanding both online and on campus. This past spring we led all public universities in Illinois in online enrollments for college,” he said.

For more information contact Derek Schnapp, director of Public Relations at 217/206-6716 or email dschn3@uis.edu.

Friday, September 03, 2010

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin discusses textbook affordability at UIS



U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) held a news conference at the University of Illinois Springfield on September 2, 2010 to discuss the College Textbook Affordability Act.

Durbin authored the legislation, which went into effect in July. The law, designed to bring down costs for financially struggling students, requires publishers to provide professors with the price of a textbook, which colleges must then include in their course catalogues.

“I found many times that professors literally didn’t know how much the book cost. Now the professors would be advised in advance the cost of a textbook,” said Durbin.

The act also requires that textbooks and supplemental materials sold as a bundle must also be sold individually.

“I personally know several students that have saved hundreds of dollars a semester thanks to his law,” said Matt Van Vossen, UIS student government association (SGA) president.

Durbin isn’t stopping at just making traditional textbooks more affordable. He’s introduced a new bill, which if passed, would provide financial incentives for universities to move towards online textbooks.

“I think the world of textbooks as we see it today is going to change dramatically. I don’t think textbooks will go away completely, but I think more and more textbooks will be available online,” said Durbin.

Durbin is encouraged by programs, such as Rent-A-Text, which was launched on the UIS campus this summer. Students have the potential to save up to 50% off the price of a new textbook through the program.

“I think this rental program is a great program. I know myself, I saved over $200,” said Erin Wilson, an SGA senator who spoke at the news conference.

For more information on Rent-A-Text read our previous UIS Newsroom coverage

Thursday, September 02, 2010

Three Human Development Counseling degrees receive national accreditation



The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has awarded accreditation to three programs in the Department of Human Development Counseling at the University of Illinois Springfield.

The Community Counseling and School Counseling master’s programs have been awarded full reaccreditation for an eight-year period through March 31, 2017. The Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling (MCFC) master’s program received a two-year accreditation for the first time through October 31, 2012.

“Reaccreditation of our Community Counseling and School Counseling areas of study speaks volumes about HDC faculty’s commitment to excellence in preparing students for professional practice and initial accreditation of our Marital, Couple and Family Counseling area of study has been 15 years in the making,” said Bill Abler, chair of the Department of Human Development Counseling.

The accreditation decisions were made after the review of self-study documents, a visit by the CACREP team and the institutional response to the visiting team's report.

“This was our first attempt at accreditation review of the MCFC program. We are excited that the MCFC program received accreditation for a two-year period,” said Larry Stonecipher, dean of the College of Education & Human Services.

Stonecipher credits Abler along with faculty members Holly Thompson, Nithya Karuppaswamy, and Jim Klein for their time, energy, and commitment to achieving accredited status for all three programs.

For more information contact Bill Abler, chair of the Department of Human Development Counseling at 217/206-7567 or email abler.bill@uis.edu.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

UIS-founded New Century Learning Consortium adds SUNY Empire State College as eighth member

The New Century Learning Consortium (NCLC), founded at the University of Illinois Springfield has added the State University of New York, Empire State College as its eighth member. The Consortium is designed to assist universities in implementing high quality, large-scale online and blended learning programs.

“We are very pleased to have Empire State College join the consortium. Empire State College is an institution with a strong history of quality online learning programs. Its Center for Distance Learning (CDL) is one of the largest providers of online learning in the state of New York,” said Shari McCurdy Smith, NCLC director and associate director of the Center for Online Learning, Research, and Service (COLRS) at UIS.

SUNY Empire State College is pleased to join the New Century Learning Consortium, said Meg Benke, Vice Provost for Global and Online Learning at Empire State College. The college recognizes the need for inter-institutional cooperation.

“We are particularly interested in efforts to promote degree completion and faculty exchange,” she said.

The Consortium plans to expand to 14 institutions by May of 2011. Consortium activities include developing a clearinghouse of online classes where there is excess capacity; shared research projects; shared IT expertise to support building infrastructure capacity; and peer support at the upper administration, dean, and faculty member levels. NCLC was founded utilizing a grant from the Sloan Consortium, who is also providing funding for the expansion.

"NCLC is an exciting initiative that brings together state universities spread across the U.S.," said Ray Schroeder, director of COLRS and founder of NCLC.

The member institutions are dedicated to developing vigorous online and blended learning initiatives to expand and stabilize student enrollments.

Current members are University of Illinois Springfield; California State University Easy Bay, Hayward; Southern Oregon University, Ashland; Chicago State University; Oakland University, Rochester Hills, Michigan; University of Southern Maine, Portland; and Louisiana Tech University, Ruston.

For more information about the Consortium, contact Shari McCurdy Smith at 217-206-7360 or email smccu1@uis.edu.

Friday, August 27, 2010

UIS students volunteer as part of annual Service-A-Thon



Nearly 30 students from the University of Illinois Springfield ended their first week of classes by volunteering at three locations around Springfield. The effort was all part of the annual Welcome Week Service-A-Thon organized by the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center.

“We’re having fun. It’s not like we’re just stuck here because we have to be. All of us want to be here just to give a little extra,” said Jessica Yocum, a junior biology major.

Yocum volunteered at Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach where she helped sort medical supplies and prepare them for shipment.

“It’s great to have young people here and they’re so hard working and so focused. They’re doing a really great job,” said Jill Hawkins of Hospital Sisters.

UIS volunteers also helped build a new walking trail for the community at Ball Charter School and mulched trees at Springfield’s new Southwind Park.

“I know when I was little I always hated mulching, but now doing it with my friends makes it a much better experience,” said Kendra Tucker, a freshman psychology major.

The students say they enjoy volunteering because they meet new friends on campus and leave with a sense of pride knowing they helped out.

If you would like to learn more about service opportunities at UIS visit the Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center’s website or email volunteer@uis.edu.

UIS cuts ribbon on new LGBTQ Resource Office



After years of hard work the University of Illinois Springfield officially cut the ribbon on its new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) Resource Office on August 26, 2010.

“What really brought me here was the excitement and the newness of this, the position is brand new, the office in many ways is new,” said Kerry Poynter, UIS’ first ever LGBTQ Resource Office Director.

LBGTQ students have been pushing for a resource office to help them deal with issues like coming out to their parents and to improve relations with fellow students.

“It’s a pretty emotional experience to see it opening. A lot of people have invested a lot of time and energy to have this happen today,” said Renee Rathjen, a senior political science major.

The new 750 square foot office offers a safe space for LGBTQ and allied students to meet one another and show support. Poynter hopes the office will help bring the community together, reach across cultural lines and open up dialogue amongst students.

“It’s exciting for me to bring all those people together and all that energy together and really shape something for the future here,” he said.

Poynter has previously worked for LGBTQ resources offices at Duke University in North Carolina, Columbia University in New York City and New York University.

“It’s very affirming to know that the institution is willing to put its money where its mouth is and say we really support you and we’re going to provide the services you deserve,” said Rathjen.

Poynter plans to conduct an assessment program this semester to bring students together and let them talk about their experiences at UIS. The goal is to use that information to shape the mission of the office.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Chancellor's Picnic kicks off the 2010-11 academic year



Chancellor Richard Ringeisen welcomed new and returning students, faculty and staff during his annual picnic on August 24, 2010. Nearly 700 people showed up for the event featuring free hamburgers, hot dogs, brats and other food.

“This is so much fun, because the semester is just beginning and students don’t feel a lot of pressure yet and neither do the faculty,” said Ringeisen.

The picnic is designed to give students a chance to meet the chancellor, faculty and other staff members that will be important during their time on campus.

“If we went to a bigger school we probably wouldn’t have that opportunity to have a one-on-one with the chancellor. Here he noticed me from before and this time I actually got to know him,” said De’Anna Winters, a senior communication major.

Ringiesen credits the popularity of the picnic with an increasing number of students who are choosing to live on campus.

“It’s been growing and growing over the last few years,” he said.

Senior psychology major Britni Prusa came to the picnic with other members of the UIS volleyball team.

“It’s a nice way to meet people, especially for the freshmen,” she said.

The celebration is part of Welcome Week 2010, which includes a variety of events designed to get students involved on campus.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Rent-A-Text program saving students money on books



The University of Illinois Springfield Bookstore, which is operated by Follett Corporation, is offering a Rent-A-Text program to students for the first time.

The program began during the summer semester, but has really taken off as students return for fall classes. Over 1,300 textbooks have been rented so far at the bookstore. UIS students have saved nearly $45,000 combined.

Students have the potential to save up to 50% off the price of a new textbook through the Rent-A-Text program.

“We think it’s very attractive for the students and I think it will be a positive attraction for this campus,” said Stephen Chrans, assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs.

Senior Communication major Cassie Oswald usually buys her books, but this year she rented and saved nearly $250.

“Most people would rather rent a book if it’s not in their major field of study than buy the book and be stuck with it at the end of the year,” said Oswald.

Some students like senior Social Work major Arianna Adams usually buy books for cheaper prices online, but this year she’s saving more by renting.

“It’s a really cheap way to get your books. It’s an easy process to rent and then bring them back,” said Adams.

Follett currently is offering nearly 7,000 textbook titles for rent nationwide. Instructors at UIS are asked to commit to using the book for several semesters before it’s available for rent.

Students can shop for books at the campus store or online through the Follett website, which even offers home delivery for the cost of shipping.

Fifteen new faculty join UIS for fall 2010

Fifteen new faculty members have joined the University of Illinois Springfield for the 2010 fall semester. Six will teach in programs within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; four will teach in the College of Public Affairs and Administration; one in the College of Education and Human Services; three in the College of Business and Management; and one will teach in the library.

Kristi Barnwell is a lecturer of History at the University of Illinois Springfield. Professor Barnwell received her B.A. in History from the University of Massachusetts in 2002, and an M.A. and Ph.D. (expected in 2010) in History from the University of Texas at Austin. She taught courses in the history of Islam and the history of the Middle East at the University of Texas in 2009 and 2010.

Professor Barnwell’s research focuses on the creation of the states of the Persian Gulf in 1971 in the context of Arab nationalist movements and British Decolonization in the Middle East. Other areas of research include Jordanian-American relations in the 1960s and the development of historical narratives in the United Arab Emirates.

Her personal interests include travel, knitting, reading, kayaking, and roller coasters.

Lisa Chen is a lecturer in Accountancy in the College of Business and Management at the University of Illinois Springfield. Professor Chen received her B.S. in Psychology from Beijing Normal University in 1985, M.S. in Accounting in 2006, and is a Ph.D. candidate in Accounting at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Lisa was on the faculty at the Beijing Normal University from 1985 to 1991. She has taught undergraduate courses in financial accounting and managerial accounting.

Professor Chen’s research interests are on behavioral aspects of accounting performance, corporate governance, and information system. She is an active member of the American Accounting Association and the International Association for Accounting Education and Research.

She enjoys gardening with her twins and likes being involved in their competitive swimming activities.

Corey Hoelscher is an assistant professor of Mathematics at the University of Illinois Springfield. He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2007 and his bachelor’s degree from New York University in 2002. Before coming to UIS, Corey served as Hill Assistant Professor at Rutgers University for three years.

Professor Hoelscher’s research interests are in geometry, and he studies higher dimensional objects having large amounts of symmetry.

His personal interests include travel, cooking, politics, and the outdoors.


Darla Honn is an assistant professor of Accountancy. Dr. Honn earned a doctorate in Accounting from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, in 2010. She has nearly twenty years of experience teaching financial and managerial accounting, most recently at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (SIU-C), and at the University of Central Missouri.

Her primary research interest involves the impact of cognitive and environmental factors on accounting performance. Dr. Honn has earned various research and academic awards including the Walker Fellowship (2007-2008), Pontikes Research Award (2007 and 2008), and the SIU-C Dissertation Award (2009). She is an active member of the American Accounting Association and the Missouri Association of Accounting Educators.

She enjoys spending time with her five children, ages 10-21, watching competitive softball, and horseback riding.

Gwen Jordan is an assistant professor of Legal Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield. Professor Jordan initially earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, (1983) and her J.D. from the University of Denver, College of Law (1986). She began her career practicing criminal law as a deputy district attorney for the eighteenth judicial district in Colorado. After prosecuting cases for five years in county, district, and juvenile courts in both urban and rural settings, she left the practice of law to study issues of race and gender in the criminal justice system. Jordan received her M.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC), with a graduate concentration in Women’s Studies in 1993. At the doctoral level she expanded her studies to the history of race, gender, and women in our legal systems, political institutions, and reform movements. Jordan received her Ph.D. in U.S. History from UIC in 2004. From 2005 to 2008, Jordan was the J. Willard Hurst Legal History Fellow at the Institute for Legal Studies, University of Wisconsin Law School. In 2008 Jordan began a two year position as visiting assistant professor of criminology at Northern Illinois University.

Professor Jordan’s primary expertise and teaching interests are in U.S. legal history, law and society, constitutional law, woman and the law, and social reform movements with an emphasis on race and gender and transnational associations.

For leisure, she prefers being outdoors – running, skiing (on water or snow), gardening, and hiking. She also loves to travel to places far and near, but most enjoys spending time with family.

Dave Kube is a visiting assistant professor of Visual Arts at the University of Illinois Springfield. He received his B.A. in Graphic Design with a minor in Communication from UIS in 2007 and an M.F.A. in Photography from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art in 2009. Dave has taught as an adjunct at multiple schools around the Midwest and in Pennsylvania since 2005. He currently resides in Peoria, Illinois where he continues his artistic practice.

Professor Kube’s artwork is engaging, contemporary, and at times, humorous. Based upon the ideas of queer theory, Dave questions how identity is placed upon gay men and their reactions to this often socially stigmatized counter-culture. Without pedantic preaching, he explores issues of vulnerability and misunderstanding in relation to gay experiences.

His personal interests include traveling and experiencing other cultures and countries such as Europe (Italy, London, Netherlands, France), Japan, and Mexico. He loves going to art museums and galleries, live theater, and movies. He is extremely interested in contemporary art and culture, and enjoys reading about queer theory and theories involved with visual culture.

Michael Lane is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of Illinois Springfield. For the past three years, Dr. Lane has served two years as a clinical assistant professor and one year as a visiting assistant professor, fulfilling the same position that he will now be entering as a tenure-track assistant professor.

Dr. Lane received his B.S. in Education from Western Illinois University (WIU) in 1971, an M.S. in Education with a major in Educational Administration from WIU in 1977, and an Education Specialist degree from Western Illinois University in 1995. He completed the requirements for his doctorate of education from Illinois State University in 2006. His doctoral work was in the field of public school administration. He spent over thirty years in the field of public school education, serving in the following positions during that time period: teacher, coach, assistant junior/senior high principal, principal (elementary, junior high, high school levels), assistant superintendent, and superintendent.

Dr. Lane’s research interests lie within the realm of educational reform, rural education, and the effectiveness of online teaching and learning. He recently was appointed as a Center for Online Learning, Research and Service (COLRS) Faculty Research Fellow at UIS.

His hobbies include reading and serving in leadership and musical activities at his church. He also enjoys watching football at both the university and professional levels.

Michael G. Miller is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and the Institute for Legal, Legislative and Policy Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield. Miller received a B.A. in Political Science and Business Administration from Concordia College, an M.A. in Political Science from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a Ph.D. in Government from Cornell University.

Miller’s broad research focus is on American elections and political behavior. To date, his work has sought to evaluate the effects of public election funding programs and other electoral reforms in the American states, the relationship between candidate gender and electoral outcomes, and how citizens respond to political scandal.

Originally from Minot, ND, Miller is an avid runner and father of three whose first job after college was as a lead guitarist in a rock band. He is also a lifelong, diehard fan of the Minnesota Vikings.

Amanda Poffinbarger is an instructor of Biological Sciences in the Biology Department at the University of Illinois Springfield. She received her B.S. in Zoology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (SIU-C), in 1997 and M.S. in Zoology, also from SIU-C, in 2000. Ms. Poffinbarger’s thesis was on nesting habits of fishes. From 2000 to 2009, she was on the faculty at Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, where she taught courses in introductory biology, environmental science, and human physiology. She has also taught as an adjunct instructor for Danville Area Community College, Lake Land College and Parkland College.

Her hobbies include travel, golf, and reading. She is also an animal lover, with two cats, a parrotlet, a rabbit, and a chinchilla.

Shuang-Yueh Pui is an assistant professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois, Springfield. She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Idaho in 2004, M.S. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Bowling Green State University in 2007, and a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Bowling Green State University in 2010. During her time as a graduate student at Bowling Green State University, she taught courses in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

Professor Pui’s research interests focus on the role of individual differences in judgments and choices that people make, especially as it pertains to the workplace; the lay perceptions that people have toward standardized personnel selection procedures; and the role of customer and coworker hostility on employee’s well-being and performance.

Her personal interests include traveling to new and unique places; training for a cycling tour; and training for a triathlon.

Sarah Sagmoen is a visiting assistant professor in the Library Instructional Services department at Brookens Library at the University of Illinois Springfield. Sarah received her B.S. in English Education from Illinois State University in 2006 and her master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Dominican University in 2008. After completing her MLIS, she was the night time supervisor at Loyola University Chicago’s Lewis Library in downtown Chicago. She came to UIS in November of 2009.

In addition to her role as an instructional librarian, Sarah manages the Information and Reference Desk. While managing the day-to-day functions at the desk, she is working to implement new technologies to support reference services at Brookens Library. Her research interests include Web 2.0 technologies and the role of social media in academic library settings. She serves on the Brookens Library Web Committee, Library Cabinet and Publicity Committee, as well as the Campus Senate Undergraduate Council

Her person interests include reading, cooking, movies, new technology and gadgets, and spending time with friends and family.

Gloria Simo is an assistant professor of Public Administration at the University of Illinois Springfield. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from Northern Illinois University, with major emphasis in Public Administration, Public Policy, and Urban Studies. She has more than ten years of administrative experience in federal and local government and has taught for almost twenty years in both graduate and undergraduate programs in public administration, public services, urban studies and political science. Most recently she was on the faculty of DePaul University’s School of Public Service from 2000 to 2010, where she primarily taught graduate courses in metropolitan planning and research methods, including needs assessment, program evaluation and the graduate level capstone, while serving as the assistant director of DePaul’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development.

Dr. Simo’s research interests include the implementation and challenges of cross-sector collaboration, especially during times of extreme events, as well as needs assessment and evaluation studies in urban planning, housing and community development and the value of field work in graduate education. Her most recent publications are based on the multiple field study experiences she led in New Orleans and Southwest Louisiana following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike.

She has a special interest in the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright and of the long-term impact his work has had on arts, architecture and community planning. She volunteers for a number of nonprofit and faith-based organizations, especially those focused on social justice and housing for the elderly and less fortunate, especially the homeless. She also enjoys swimming and boating, practices yoga and the feldenkrais methods, and is trying to learn golf.

David Towers is a visiting instructor in Psychology at the University of Illinois Springfield. He received his B.S., B.A., M.S. and Ph.D., all in Psychology, from the University of Arizona. His Ph.D. was awarded in 2007. He comes most recently from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he has been a postdoctoral fellow.

His research interests include cognitive neuroscience, psycho-physiology of attention and executive function in psychopathology.

His personal interests include woodworking, home improvement and theatre.

Junfeng Wang joins the Department of Public Administration as an assistant professor. Dr. Wang received her B.S. in Geophysics from China University of Mining & Technology in 1991, an MPA from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Pembroke in 2002, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte in 2008. She taught courses including analytical methods, program evaluation, and introduction to public administration at UNC, Pembroke, for two years.

Dr. Wang’s research focuses on urban development policy, environmental policy, comparative studies, and GIS application. Her most recent research focuses on assessing the health impacts of brownfield redevelopment.

Her personal interests include cooking, working out, shopping, and gardening.

Yuanyuan Zhou is a visiting assistant professor of Management in the College of Business and Management at the University of Illinois Springfield. Dr. Zhou teaches international management and strategic management. He received his M.A. in Management from Ohio State University in 2003, and a Ph.D. in International Management from Ohio State University in 2008.

His research interests are in the areas of international management, innovations, and strategic management. Dr. Zhou’s research has been published in the Journal of World Business.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

U.S. News & World Report gives UIS top ranking for third consecutive year

U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 Edition of America’s Best Colleges ranks the University of Illinois Springfield as the top regional public university in the state of Illinois and the fourth best public university in that category in the entire Midwest. This is the third straight year that UIS has achieved those rankings.

The prestigious rankings placed UIS at 22 on a list of 142 top public and private colleges and universities in the 12-state Midwest region that includes, in addition to Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota. The ranking puts UIS in the top 15 percent of universities in the Midwest.

“We are on the right path, in bold pursuit of our strategic vision to become one of the top five small public liberal arts universities in the nation,” said UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen.

U.S. News also gave UIS a high ranking in its “Least Debt” category for being among only five universities in the Midwest with students who graduate with the lightest debt loads. UIS was the fourth best on the list with a total of 64 percent of its students graduating with an average debt of $14,717.

The rankings are based on several key measures of quality including peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.

UIS is known around the world as the liberal arts campus of the University of Illinois. The campus offers 23 bachelor’s degree programs, 20 master’s programs and 1 doctoral program. Students thrive in small classes and engage the world through relevant courses and internships. UIS is recognized for preparing leaders for government and public service, and is nationally known for online learning. UIS has four colleges: business and management; education and human services; liberal arts and sciences; and public affairs and administration.

For more information contact Blake Wood, UIS Campus Relations at 217/206-6716 or email bwood8@uis.edu.

Thursday, August 05, 2010

UIS celebrates 40 years of achievement and service

The University of Illinois Springfield is celebrating 40 years of history, while looking forward to educating future generations of leaders in government, public service, business and the liberal arts and sciences.

The 40th anniversary celebration at UIS began this month and will run through January 2011 with a variety of special events to mark the occasion. As part of the celebration, look for special banners throughout downtown Springfield that have been placed on light poles.

Founded in 1969 as Sangamon State University the school has awarded more than 32,600 bachelors, masters and doctorial degrees over the last 40 years. UIS has alumni living in all 50 states and 44 foreign countries. In Sangamon County alone the university has 9,709 living alumni members. UIS had educated 28% of the college-educated workforce residing in the city of Springfield.

“This is a very exciting time for the community and our university as we celebrate the 40-year history of our university. Our students, our faculty, staff, our many friends in the community, and of course our families and even our pets have at one time or another been an integral part of our history. This celebration is for everyone, so I hope the entire community, on and off campus, will enjoy our celebratory events. We all feel excited about what this university has become and are equally excited about the road ahead,” said Richard D. Ringeisen, UIS chancellor.

In the beginning, the 746 acre campus was an upper-division university for undergraduate juniors and seniors and graduate students. On July 1, 1995, Gov. Jim Edgar signed legislation reorganizing higher education in Illinois. Sangamon State University became the third campus of the University of Illinois. UIS welcomed its first group of freshman students in August 2001, when the Capital Scholars Honors Program was launched. The Board of Trustees later approved a new general education curriculum in September 2005, which allowed UIS to welcome even more freshman to campus.

UIS has not only grown academically over the years, but physically. When the campus was founded it consisted of a handful of temporary buildings surrounded by open fields. Construction of Brookens Library, the first permanent building on campus, began in 1972 and later opened in 1976. The Public Affairs Center featuring Sangamon Auditorium would later open its doors in 1980. The campus would continue to grow with the addition Health & Sciences Building, Lincoln Residence Hall, the state-of-the art University Hall, The Recreation and Athletics Center (TRAC) and Founders Residence Hall.

Today, UIS is known around the world as the liberal arts campus of the University of Illinois. Students thrive in small classes and engage the world through relevant courses and internships. UIS is known for preparing leaders for government and public service, and is recognized nationally for online learning. UIS has four colleges: business and management; education and human services; liberal arts and sciences; and public affairs and administration. The campus offers more than 40 degree programs.

For more information on the anniversary contact Derek Schnapp, director of Public Relations at 217/206-6716. For a complete history of SSU-UIS, 40 years in photos and a complete list of all 40 year anniversary events visit www.uis.edu/40years

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

New U of I President getting to know UIS



University of Illinois President Michael J. Hogan used the word “beautiful” to describe the UIS campus during his first official tour on July 26, 2010.

During his visit to the Springfield campus, Hogan met with leaders, talked about the budget and took a look around campus.

“The old and the new, each in their own way are very pretty,” said Hogan following the tour.

Hogan says he’ll be on the UIS campus on a regular basis as the search for a new chancellor begins. He also plans to work closely with current Chancellor Richard D. Ringeisen to monitor the financial crisis the University is now facing.

“I want to make sure and I don’t think I have to worry about this at all, that each of the campuses is pursuing their distinct and very special mission,” said Hogan.

The visit wasn’t Hogan’s first to the campus. UIS hosted a welcome celebration on May 13, 2010 after he was named the 18th president of the University of Illinois.

“Today, I think was wonderful from start to finish,” said Chancellor Ringeisen.

Hogan was selected from a field of 208 candidates for the University of Illinois presidency and emerged as the top choice in the seven-month search because of his uncommon combination of scholarship, university leadership experience and achievement.