Monday, December 23, 2019

Susan Koch: Resolving to pursue a graduate credential

The following is an excerpt from a column by University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Susan Koch. This column appeared in The State Journal-Register on December 21, 2019. 

With the first day of January just a few days away, the time-honored tradition of making a New Year’s resolution may be on the minds of SJ-R readers. For the nearly half of Americans who make a resolution each year, self-improvement — including the decision to enhance one’s educational attainment — is among the most likely commitments. For more and more adults who have a bachelor’s degree, that commitment results in the pursuit of a graduate credential — a master’s degree, doctoral degree or, perhaps, a graduate certificate.

The graduate education experience can also build new skill sets and accelerate both professional networks and personal growth. Today, the highest percentage ever of American adults (more than a third of the adult population) has at least a bachelor’s degree and about 13.1 percent also have an advanced degree. The trend toward increasing educational attainment is evident at UIS where this year about 37% of our students are pursing graduate work in one of more than 20 areas of study.

What are the benefits of earning a graduate credential? What are the opportunities at the University of Illinois Springfield to do so? I recently had an enlightening conversation with several graduate program leaders about who pursues a graduate degree and why it can be a valuable investment. 

Among the most robust graduate programs at UIS are the master’s and doctoral programs in Public Administration. According to Professor Adam Williams, who directs the MPA, the program is one of the top five such programs in the country — with applicants not only from Illinois but also from across the United States.

“State and local government are our main areas of focus,” says Dr. Williams, “and we typically have about 200 students pursuing their degree either on campus or online.” “Our location in the state capital provides unique access to a community of public affairs scholars and practitioners,” adds Williams, “and the master’s program as well as specialized certificates in areas such as labor relations, community planning, nonprofit management, public procurement and child advocacy are especially useful for working professionals who need to gain more knowledge for efficiency and effectiveness in their current jobs and to advance in their careers.”

Som Bhattacharya, Dean of the College of Business and Management, is fond of saying he came to UIS from Florida almost a year ago for two reasons. He wanted to live where he could experience all four seasons and, more importantly for this discussion, he saw a “lot of potential in the College of Business and Management.”

“For students coming to our MBA program with professional experience,” says Dean Bhattacharya, “we no longer require the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) – which has ceased to be a good predictor of success in MBA programs. We are also creating graduate micro-credential programs in areas like data-analytics, cyber-security and negotiations to better serve local and regional employers.”

According to research on human behavior, a New Year’s resolution (with commitment behind it) can present a real opportunity for self-improvement. With so many options available at UIS, earning a graduate credential presents a prospect for self-improvement that is a valuable investment.

Friday, December 20, 2019

UIS chancellor 'optimistic' about university presence downtown

University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Susan Koch said Thursday she is “optimistic” about submitting a proposal and eventually securing funds for a university presence in downtown Springfield.

Koch, in an interview with The State Journal-Register, addressed recent discussion prompted by a peliminary proposal from the Springfield-Sangamon Growth Alliance calling for a downtown university campus shared by UIS and Southern Illinois University. The campus would be located between Second and Fourth streets to the west and east and Washington and Monroe streets to the north and south.

The proposal raised concerns from some area property owners about being displaced. Several businesses — such as the Sangamo Club, J.P. Kelly’s Pub and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association — are within that boundary.

“I’ve seen those renderings, of course, and I had a meeting with (SSGA executive chairman) Dan Dungan not too long ago and we talked about those renderings,” Koch said. “So your question is, do they represent our vision? My answer to that would be, they could.”

Growing the University of Illinois Springfield in downtown is absolutely a possibility, Koch said. “I don’t know right now whether that’s where this will all settle.”

The article appeared in the State Journal-Register on December 20, 2019.

Read the entire story online.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Men's Basketball: Dan Soetan puts up double-double in 90-76 win over Missouri Western State

Dan Soetan put up 27 points and 10 rebounds in the Prairie Stars' 90-76 win over Missouri Western State.

UIS gets some time off before their next game, which is set for January 2nd at Bellarmine.

This story appeared on WICS Newschannel 20 on December 18, 2019.

Watch the story online.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Men's Basketball: Prairie Stars on guard to go far

Keymonta Johnson already knew University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball coach Matt Brock quite well and his penchant for man-to-man defense from their time together at Missouri Baptist University. When Brock decided to make the move from National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to NCAA Division II and replace former UIS coach Bill Walker this past offseason, Johnson wanted to come along.

“When he came here, I was like, ‘Why not?’” Johnson said of Brock, who spent the previous four years at MBU. “He knows the game of basketball. He’s a numbers guy. I just trust and believe in him. He knows what to do and how to put players in the right position to win. It’s all about winning, so I trust coach Brock.”

Johnson, a Decatur MacArthur High School graduate, knows he made the right decision. The 6-foot-3 junior transfer is one of the team’s top scoring threats and the Prairie Stars’ leading rebounder, averaging 13.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. “This is definitely the right place because everybody on the team plays hard,” Johnson said. “They want to win.”

The Prairie Stars are off to one of their best starts since joining the D-II ranks in 2009 and set a school record 22 3-pointers in their 108-71 rout against Oakland City University on Saturday, Dec. 7.

This article appeared in The State Journal Register on December 17, 2019.

Read the entire story online.




Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Women's Basketball: UIS women's basketball has 'nothing to lose' in Thousand's first year at helm

Finals week may be over. Casey Thousand's master plan is far from it. It's a fresh start for the University of Illinois Springfield women's basketball team in Thousand's first season at the helm, and the Stars are weathering through the growing pains.

"We're building though each game and learning each game," Thousand said, "and we're getting just a little bit better, which is what we need to do."

What's the biggest thing the Stars need to learn? "Everything," Thousand said with a laugh. "I think it's just getting them to believe in what we're doing," she later added, "and giving them the confidence to do what we want them to do. We know we're a pretty good team, but they need to know it."

The rebuilding effort may be especially challenging for UIS' seven seniors. After three years under Mark Kost, they have to start from almost scratch with Thousand opting for a motion offense as well as man-to-man defense.

"I think their attitudes have been awesome," Thousand said. "We're throwing a lot of things at them with a new staff and everything we have going on. But they've been adjusting and they've been eager."

This article appeared in The State Journal-Register on December 16, 2019.

Read the entire story online.

Monday, December 16, 2019

Women's Basketball: Sangster, UIS beats Harris-Stowe

The University of Illinois Springfield women’s basketball team shook off a cold second quarter with two hot shooting periods in the second half to beat Harris-Stowe State 75-51 at The Recreation and Athletic Center on Saturday. 

Jasmine Sangster led the Prairie Stars with 12 points, five rebounds and four steals. UIS finished 56.5 percent from behind the 3-point line and shot 49.1 percent overall. Katelyn Rosner added 11 points for Prairie Stars.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on December 14, 2019.

Read the entire article online.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

UIS program to offer paid state internships in Chicago area

The popular Graduate Public Service Internship (GPSI) program at the University of Illinois Springfield is expanding into the Chicago area, the school announced Wednesday.

It will offer paid graduate student internships with state government agencies beginning in August 2020.

Students admitted to the program will complete their UIS master’s degrees online, while working a paid internship in the Chicago area.

For the past 45 years, the GPSI program has offered paid internships with government agencies and nonprofits based in Springfield.

“This expansion will allow more students and agencies to participate in this enduring and historically successful program and strengthen the university’s commitment to educating a new generation of public service professionals,” said Sherrie Elzinga, director of the GPSI program.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on Dec. 11, 2019.

Read the entire article online. 


Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Men's Soccer: Falsone earns all-region recognition

University of Illinois Springfield senior forward Mario Falsone earned United Soccer Caoches third team all-region honors.

Falsone led the Stars with six goals, five assists and 17 points. He wrapped his career as the top offensive player in the program’s NCAA era with 19 total goals and 12 assists. He was twice all-Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The Stars finished 9-8-2.

This article appeared in The State Journal-Register on December 9, 2019.

Read the entire article online.

Women's Soccer: UIS’ Maggie Juhlin named second team all-region

University of Illinois Springfield senior forward Maggie Juhlin landed United Soccer Coaches second team all-region recognition.

Juhlin led the women’s soccer team with nine goals and four assists.

The Chatham Glenwood High School graduate also had five game-winning goals, which ranked No. 25 in the nation.

The Stars finished 8-10.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on December 9, 2019.

Read the entire article online.

Monday, December 9, 2019

University of Illinois drops criminal past question from admissions applications

Admissions applications to the University of Illinois campuses are no longer requiring students to disclose whether or not they have a criminal background.

A student-led coalition urged the university to remove questions about criminal and disciplinary history, saying it discouraged potential students from applying, The (Champaign) News-Gazette reported.

To maintain the safety of the campus and to ensure those ultimately admitted do not pose a security threat, the criminal history questions were moved to the point after an admissions decision has been made but before students enroll, "balancing safety and access."

The policy is being adopted for all three university campuses in Champaign-Urbana, Chicago and Springfield. Julian Parrott, assistant vice president for academic affairs for the university's admission system, said if the applicant has been convicted, or charges are pending, they must provide a description of the incident, the outcome and documents such as court records or parole requirements. Pending review of the information provided, a decision will be made whether to admit the student - with or without conditions - or rescind the offer.

This story aired on ABC 7 in Chicago on December 7, 2019.

Watch the story online.

Men's Basketball: Prairie Stars break school record in win

The University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team converted a program record 22 three-point attempts and Chase Robinson knocked down six treys for 30 points to lead the Prairie Stars to a 108-71 victory at the Johnson Center on Saturday.

Four of the five starters for UIS reached double figures. Keymonta Johnson had a double-double, scoring 29 and grabbing 11 rebounds. Jesus Castillo had 12 points and eight boards and Alonso Meana had 11 points, five assists and two steals.

UIS shot 53.3 percent from the floor in the game and 50 percent from behind the arc. After going nine of 20 from deep in the first half, the Prairie Stars put up 61 points in the second half behind 13-for-24 shooting from three-point range.

The 108 point total is also the second most in school history for UIS, as is the 27 team assists.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on December 7, 2019.

Read the entire article online.

Voice your opinions on Illinois’ roads

The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking feedback on the state’s transportation system through its annual Illinois Traveler Opinion Survey, available today through Dec. 31.

“The public’s input is vital for the health of our transportation system. We look forward to learning about your travel preferences, what you think we are doing well and how you’d like us to improve,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman.

The annual survey, conducted in partnership with the University of Illinois Springfield, seeks feedback on topics ranging from road conditions and ice-and-snow removal to commuting habits and driving behaviors.

This story appeared on OurQuadCities.com on December 5, 2019.

Read the entire article online.

UIS Professor pens book: 'Fake News Battle' makes case for regulation

Ha Jae-sik's book "Fake News Battle" is a fresh update about fake news and its irreversible, devastating consequences on the community. The fallout of fake news goes far beyond what we can possibly imagine and what's worrisome is that the entire globe is grappling with the phenomenon, according to the author.

Ha, an assistant professor at the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois Springfield, voices his concerns about social media, claiming it has become a conduit for misinformation, and encourages those who are involved in the media to stand up against fake news. "It's regrettable that social media has become the epicenter of fake news," he wrote. "Conspiracy theories are rampant on social media and they are out of control. It seems inevitable that all members of society, including policymakers and journalists, start a debate about how to regulate disinformation and draw up measures to redress the victims."

According to him, content creators are not the only people to be held accountable. "I think social media companies are not directly responsible for fake news," he told The Korea Times in a recent interview. "Broadly speaking, I think there are three groups of people who are responsible for manufacturing and disseminating misinformation ― social media users who created and uploaded misinformation, internet users who selectively choose information they are to consume in favor of their political orientation and some media outlets that are trying to profit from fake news.

This story appeared in The Korea Times on December 6, 2019.

Read the entire article online.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Chorus concert held at UIS to celebrate the holiday season

Wednesday was the "Viva America" Concert at the University of Illinois Springfield.

The UIS Chorus and the Lincoln Land Community College Choir both performed at the concert.

"I think it provides for a campus atmosphere that is welcoming, inviting and fun. It's the holiday season, so why not celebrate with music?" Yona Stamatis, director of the UIS Music Program, said. 

This story appeared on WICS Newschannel 20 on December 4, 2019.

Watch the entire story online.

Preliminary plan for downtown university campus emerges

Early plans for a new downtown university campus to be shared by the University of Illinois Springfield and Southern Illinois University have emerged, with a local economic development group suggesting a location on the business district’s eastern edge.

The Springfield-Sangamon Growth Alliance has proposed a university campus to be located between Second and Fourth streets to the west and east and Washington and Monroe streets to the north and south. While SSGA interim president and CEO Josh Collins said the proposal is “extremely preliminary,” it is to the point where the group has been quietly meeting with property owners within the potential project’s scope.

Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder and other city officials were also briefed on the proposal in late November. “There’s no concrete proposal on anything. Everything’s kind of in draft one or draft .01,”

In August 2018, UIS purchased downtown Springfield’s Innovate Springfield, a business and social innovation incubator. It was then awarded the first hub of the Illinois Innovation Network, a University of Illinois system-led initiative meant to foster economic growth through research and innovation by connecting satellite hubs spread across the state with the flagship Discovery Partners Institute, a Chicago-based research institute. While the hub is housed at Innovate Springfield’s offices on the Old State Capitol Plaza, university officials have been open about their intentions to find a bigger space in downtown Springfield for the expanded hub and other university programs.

In a statement, UIS spokesman Derek Schnapp said “the university is considering various options for a new and larger location for the downtown hub that includes an expanded Innovate Springfield and additional activities with funding for construction and/or renovation to be provided in part by a recent legislative appropriation that includes $15 million for the UIS hub.” “We’ve had some discussions with SIU representatives about possible collaborations that would enhance further economic development in the region,” Schnapp said. “As discussions continue, we look forward to collaborating with local and state legislative leaders.”

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on December 4, 2019.

Read the entire article online.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Downtown university plan floated

The Springfield Sangamon County Growth Alliance is pitching a major university presence in downtown Springfield that sources say would involve the University of Illinois Springfield, Southern Illinois University and perhaps the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

Plans aren't concrete, but the first public meetings to unveil ideas are expected in January, said Josh Collins, interim president and CEO of the alliance, a public-private economic development group. Collins confirmed that the alliance has contacted property owners in the area. "I would say this is very preliminary right now," Collins said. "There will be at least two public meetings on this, plus other outreach efforts to property owners and businesses. ... I would say there is an anticipation to have more formalized concepts, hopefully, in the first quarter of 2020.

In an email, UIS spokesman Derek Schnapp wrote that the university wants a new location for Innovate Springfield, a business incubator now located near the Old State Capitol that is part of a so-called innovation hub being developed by the University of Illinois that is aimed at helping entrepreneurs. "The university is considering various options for a new and larger location for the downtown hub that includes an expanded Innovate Springfield and additional activities with funding for construction and/or renovation to be provided in part by a recent legislative appropriation that includes $15 million for the UIS hub," Schnapp wrote. "We've had some discussions with SIU representatives about possible collaborations that would enhance further economic development in the region. As discussions continue, we look forward to collaborating with local and state legislative leaders."

This story appeared in the Illinois Times on December 3, 2019.

Read the entire article online.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

New athletic director Peyton Deterding arrives at UIS

University of Illinois Springfield presented Peyton Deterding as its new athletic director Monday at The Recreation and Athletic Center. Deterding replaces Jim Sarra, who resigned in July for undisclosed reasons after holding the position for three years.

Deterding will officially begin his first day next Monday. “I’m extremely excited to be chosen as the next athletic director here,” Deterding said Monday. “But I want to make one thing clear: this isn’t about me. This is about our student-athletes, our coaches and our support staff. Together we will celebrate our victories and become stronger in times when we fall short.”

Deterding, 44, arrives at UIS after spending 12 years at Illinois State University, last serving as the school’s senior associate athletic director.

The UIS men’s basketball team, in fact, last played at ISU on Friday in an exhibition game. Deterding called the Great Lakes Valley Conference a premier league in NCAA Division II and said one of the reasons UIS appealed to him was its ability to grow as a fairly young DII school, moving up from NAIA in 2009. 

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on December 2, 2019.

Read the entire article online.

Monday, December 2, 2019

A Brief History of Thanksgiving

Guest View: A Brief History of Thanksgiving written by Graham A. Peck. He is the Wepner Distinguished Professor of Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield.

In 1867, the popular New York City printmaking firm Currier and Ives published “Home to Thanksgiving.” The print celebrated domestic bliss. Although the roofs of the house and the barn were covered in snow, all was warm within: The grandmother cradled her granddaughter while the young husband warmly grasped the hand of his father-in-law. The print reflected mid-19th century domestic ideals that the American middle and upper classes had come to associate with Thanksgiving.

Yet Thanksgiving was not always a family holiday, but only slowly became one, which reminds us that everything — including holidays — has a history. To understand Thanksgiving now we need to know its past.

This article appeared in the State Journal-Register on November 28, 2019.