Ben Paoletti joins Downtown Springfield Inc.

Ben Paoletti has been hired as a program coordinator for Downtown Springfield Inc., the first time in the organization’s history there have been three full-time staff members.

Paoletti graduated in May from the University of Illinois Springfield and served as the Student Government Association President. He recently completed an internship as a grant writer with the Downtown Heritage Foundation and also worked as a government affairs intern for Illinois Policy Institute.

This story appeared in the Springfield Business Journal on June 17, 2020.

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These are strange and unusual times as we wait out the deadly coronavirus and shelter at home.

Daksh Desai sits alone in his two-bedroom apartment on the University of Illinois Springfield campus, over 8,000 miles away from his home in India. His roommate bagged his belongings and left weeks ago.

Desai wishes he could be doing what he normally does in April — capturing moments of UIS baseball with his camera. Instead, he is playing a baseball video game.

The 24-year-old master’s student in computer science is bummed about the missed opportunities. “I was looking forward to the games and taking pictures, but now everything is so upside down,” Desai said. “This is my last semester and now only one month is remaining until my graduation. I’m not going to get my commencement and my ceremony on May 9. I just miss taking pictures of baseball and softball and every sport I’ve covered.”

This article appeared in The State Journal-Register on April 11, 2020.

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UIS extends decision date, waives enrollment fees for some incoming students

The University of Illinois Springfield is extending the decision date for incoming fall 2020 freshman. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UIS Office of Admission has extended the decision date from May 1 to June 1 to give students more time to learn about the campus and university.

Application and enrollment fees have also been waived for freshman, transfer and graduate students for summer and fall 2020.

UIS is also waiving the essay requirement for freshman and transfer students. Virtual one-on-one appointments with UIS admission counselors and weekly Wednesday webinars are being offered.

This story aired on WAND 17 on April 9, 2020.

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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.

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. 

Susan Koch: A pathway to opportunity for this year’s graduates

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 April 20, 2019.

Today’s UIS Perspectives column appears with finals week fast approaching, students completing end-of-semester assignments and, by last count, 1,273 students eligible to participate in the 48th University of Illinois Springfield commencement ceremonies in a few weeks. 

This will be my eighth UIS commencement and, like every faculty and staff member, I’m proud of our graduates — each of whom has worked with great determination to earn their University of Illinois degree. 

There is no greater satisfaction for me, as Chancellor, than meeting students the fall of their first semester, observing the transformative experience that UIS provides and ultimately sharing with them that special “handshake moment” on the commencement stage. 

This year, Tiffany Wentworth and I will share one of those moments — with her entire family, including her beloved grandmother, proudly witnessing her achievement. A soon-to-be graduate of the Capital Scholars Honors Program and a member of the Prairie Stars volleyball team, Wentworth has had a memorable four years at UIS. 

“When I visited campus, Coach Salinas told me I could be an impact player,” says Wentworth. “Now, a few years later, my teammates have become my family away from home and winning the conference championship this year was the ‘cherry on top’ for me.” 

Wentworth is graduating with honors as one of the first students to complete the new Exercise Science major. She has been accepted to the prestigious University of Kansas Physical Therapy and Rehabilitative Science program where she will pursue her doctorate in Physical Therapy. 

Eric Myers has followed a less traditional path. After earning bachelors and masters degrees in business and working in the health care sector, Myers realized he really wanted to be a teacher.

“I did some research, and the UIS teacher certification program appealed to me,” says Myers, “in part, because it offers an online option that would enable me to continue working and remain close to my family.” Myers is completing his student teaching this spring at Richwoods High School in Peoria and has already accepted a teaching position for next fall at Morton High School in Morton.

“I’m so excited about this new direction,” says Myers. “I learned to ‘think outside the box’ from UIS professors like Jennifer Martin, and my new employer is looking for exactly that.” 

Eight 2019 Commencement participants will be graduating with the doctorate in Public Administration. One of them is Sophia Gehlhausen-Anderson. 

“My mom has always been a huge inspiration to me,” says Gehlhausen-Anderson. “She is from Finland and she always loved to study — earning four masters degrees.” “Balancing work with family and my studies has been the biggest challenge,” Gehlhausen-Anderson continues. “I really appreciated the cohort model in the doctoral program. Members of my class got to know each other well and, with guidance from wonderful faculty, we all learned from everybody. I learned so much.”

The vision statement for the University of Illinois Springfield declares UIS will provide a “pathway to opportunity.” I’m confident we have fulfilled that promise for Wentworth, Myers, Podipireddy, Gehlhausen-Anderson and all the others who will participate in the 2019 commencement ceremonies.   

Read the entire article online.

UIS hosts annual STARS symposium

The University of Illinois Springfield hosted its annual STARS symposium to celebrate the scholarly and creative works of its students.

This is the eighth year that the symposium has taken place.

The event featured the works of over 75 graduate and undergraduate students from all academic disciplines.

Displays ranged from results from students' year-long research, artwork by visual art students and even live music from student musicians.

This story aired on WICS Newschannel 20 on April 19, 2019.

Watch the story online.

Blind UIS graduate opens people’s eyes to possibilities

Raven Wilson has had the help of her service dog, Dana, for the four years she’s been a student at the University of Illinois Springfield.

Wilson, who is blind, has used her 5-year-old black Labrador/golden retriever to help her navigate a journey that’s taken her from her freshman year at UIS to her participation as a marshal for the English department on Saturday during the 47th annual commencement for UIS. 

Wilson, 22, received a bachelor of arts degree in English.

She will be missed “very much,” said Sarah Weaver, director of the Office of Disability Services at UIS. “We have only one student right now who is blind who actually uses a guide dog, and that’s Raven. The other student, who is blind, she uses a guide cane,” said Weaver, who added that Wilson has used the Office of Disability Services for test taking and for receiving alternate formats for books.

”(Raven) has added so much to this campus in the way of educating people about disability, especially a student being blind. She has participated in everything.” Weaver said, for example, Wilson has participated in a student panel that included students with different types of disabilities. "Raven was one of the first ones to jump on board when I suggested that. She has added so much to this campus. I don’t think there’s probably anybody on this campus that doesn’t know Raven, and it’s always a positive thing, too,” Weaver said.

Wilson said professors at UIS have been “really great” in working with her in figuring out alternatives to assignments that are primarily visual.

Wilson tried something new when taking a recent history final. “The professor put the final on a thumb drive, and I was able to put it in my machine (BrailleNote Touch) and complete the final, and they give him back the thumb drive. ... That worked out really, really well,” Wilson said. “That was something new that I tried out, and it really worked out because usually, I’ll go to the office of disabilities to take the tests because I’m usually allotted time and a half, but honestly, I’ve never really needed to use the time and a half except for a few occasions. I normally can finish up in the same time as the rest of the class.”

Among her many activities, Wilson helped start the student organization Awareness Respect Education Ability for disability awareness.

Wilson will be a camp counselor this summer in upstate New York and will travel to England. She hopes to move to North Carolina, searching for permanent work.

“Raven has opened the door and opened the eyes of a lot of people to see that just because someone has a disability that doesn’t mean they can’t accomplish their goals and live a really fulfilling, productive life.”

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on May 12, 2018.

Read the entire article online.

Susan Koch: Public affairs internships lead to success

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 January 20, 2018.

A special commitment to education in public affairs has been central to the mission and vision of the University of Illinois at Springfield since 1970 when Robert Spencer, founding president of Sangamon State University (now UIS), first defined the “professional and vocational objectives” of Illinois’s new state capital university. 

Though a member of the UIS community for just a short time, Sherrie Elzinga, Director of the Graduate Public Service Internship program, knows more about that public affairs commitment than most. 

Before assuming the GPSI Director role in August 2017, Elzinga worked for more than 26 years at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency where, as Chief of Staff, she often observed and mentored students serving GPSI internships. “It’s imperative that we prepare the next generation of competent public servants and this ‘learn-the-ropes experience’ does exactly that,” says Elzinga. “To have the opportunity now as Director to lead and grow the program is really my dream job!” 

About 200 UIS graduate students are part of the GPSI program each year, working 20 hours per week in a state agency internship while at the same time engaging in full time graduate studies at UIS. 

The program is a partnership between the University and more than 20 state offices and agencies, with the agency providing financial support for a tuition waiver and a stipend and the GPSI program providing supervision and coordination. 

Since the program began over 40 years ago, more than 3,500 students have successfully completed the 2-3 year experience, earning a masters degree at the same time they are gaining valuable professional experience and contributing to the mission and success of the agency. 

The majority of those graduates have gone on to successful careers in public service at local, state and national levels — many in the same agencies where they interned. 

Marleigh Andrews-Conrad is one of hundreds of such success stories. After growing up in Springfield and earning an undergraduate degree from St. Louis University, Andrews-Conrad was accepted in the Masters in Public Health and Masters in Human Services dual degree program at UIS and served as a GPSI intern at the Illinois Department of Public Health.

“My GPSI internship was incredibly multifaceted, focusing on a variety of factors that can affect the successful implementation of HIV prevention and care in Illinois,” she reports. “Having the opportunity to consistently practice a variety of ‘real world’ scenarios with the support and encouragement of my GPSI mentor, Janet Nuss, was both motivating and valuable.” 

Andrews-Conrad was honored by the GPSI program in Spring 2017 as recipient of the Brian T. Milbrandt Memorial Intern Award for Excellence. Shortly after completing her internship and masters degree, Andrews-Conrad accepted a position at IDPH working for the Ryan White program, which ensures people living with HIV have access to services that promote health maintenance. 

“As a young professional,” says Andrews-Conrad, “I will always be grateful for my beginnings in public service as a GPSI intern. The experience allowed me to begin a career that aligns with my professional and personal goals and values.” 

As Director Elzinga knows from her years overseeing interns at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the internship supervisor plays a key role in the success of the program. 

Nearly 50 years after defining that commitment to education in public affairs, I think President Spencer would be delighted to see how his vision has come to life in the UIS GPSI program.

Read the entire column online.

UIS enrollment drops 8.7 percent compared to last year

Total enrollment at the University of Illinois Springfield decreased 8.7 percent compared to last fall, while the three-campus U of I system as a whole is up nearly 3 percent, university officials announced Wednesday.

 UIS enrollment went from 5,428 to 4,956 this year, according to student counts taken on Monday, the 10th day of classes.

Chancellor Susan Koch said the enrollment figures released Wednesday were not a surprise and described them as a mixed report.

The university, she said, expected to see a drop in the number of international students, a problem occurring at universities across the country.

UIS has 420 fewer international students at the graduate level this year compared to last, contributing to the overall drop in graduate students from 2,469 in 2016 to 2,024 in 2017.

Koch noted UIS had a record number of graduates last year and concerns from international students regarding whether their visa status could change contributed to the decline.

The majority of international students at UIS hail from India and are drawn to UIS because it offers strong computer science and information management programs, Koch said. “It was beyond our control, and we’re working hard to build it back up,” she said.

While UIS saw a decrease overall, the number of undergraduate students held steady, with 2,932 students enrolled this year, down just 27 from last year.

In addition, the number of students taking classes completely online through UIS increased, with 1,681 students (34 percent of the campus’ total) enrolled in online degree or certificate programs, an increase of 16 students from last year.

UIS also saw an increase in Illinois residents, up from 67 percent last year to 72 percent this year. 

UIS spokesman Derek Schnapp said the number of incoming freshmen from 14 counties in central Illinois has increased from 55 to 84 students in the last 5 years.

Koch said she is optimistic UIS can turn around enrollment and reach the university’s strategic goal of adding 1,000 students by 2025.

Finally getting a state budget in place provides more certainty for Illinois families, Koch said, also noting the university has added several new academic programs, including biochemistry, data analytics, exercise science, information systems security, theater and nursing.

Furthermore, a new student union expected to open in January should improve student life on campus, Koch said. “We’re continuing to make progress and promote the campus and increase our visibility,” she said.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on September 13, 2017.

Read the entire article online.

University of Illinois begins $60M faculty recruiting effort

University of Illinois President Tim Killeen says now the state has a budget the school can officially launch an initiative aimed at recruiting top faculty.

The three-year, $60 million program was announced in May.

The university system said Thursday that the system’s universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield now can make proposals for money to recruit professors.

The objective is to bring in tenured, high-achieving faculty in a broad range of academic disciplines. 

The plan is called the President’s Distinguished Faculty Recruitment Program. Under the program, $10 million would be committed from the university system to recruitment efforts each year, matched by each of the three campuses.

The goal is to hire 10 to 15 new faculty members each year, or 45 over three years.

This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on September 7, 2017.

Read the entire article online.

UIS students raise money for Hazel Dell school

Annette McCarthy of Auburn was tapping into her creative side Wednesday night during a special art fundraiser for Hazel Dell Elementary School.

The fundraiser, “Canvas with a Cause,” was organized by the 18 University of Illinois Springfield graduate students in the Social Justice and Advocacy class, which is part of the Human Development Counseling program. The students wanted to raise money for school supplies for Hazel Dell, and also shine a light on the inequities of public education funding for low-income schools.

Wednesday’s fundraiser was held at the Aqua Sports Club on Lake Springfield. The students raised about $700 to be used so Hazel Dell can buy school supplies such as notebooks, dry erase markers and an overhead projector.

Hazel Dell was singled out because its location at 850 West Lake Shore Drive is close to the UIS campus.

The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on April 27, 2017.

Read the full story online. 

UIS adds six degree programs

The University of Illinois Springfield has added six new majors to its curriculum that are in high demand among incoming students.

Half of the new programs, including biochemistry, are connected to the health field. Students graduating with a degree in biochemistry would be in a good position to pursue careers in medicinal chemistry and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields. For some of the students holding that degree, their first post-college job could be in Springfield.

The six new programs bring the total number of bachelor’s degrees offered at UIS to 31 and the number of master’s degree programs to 20. The university also has one doctoral program.

In addition to biochemistry, the other new bachelor’s programs are in exercise science, theater, public administration and public policy. The sixth new program is a master’s degree in data analytics, which has applications in the medical field and other areas.

All of the new majors started this fall except for theater, which starts next fall.

James Ermatinger, UIS interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost, said the university typically adds about one new program each year.

“A few years ago we looked at our data and noticed that students were requesting certain majors,” Ermatinger said. “We created a task force that identified several new majors. Departments on their own also produced proposals for new majors.”

The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on October 31, 2016.

Read the story online.

Downtown Springfield apartment building going up fast

A four-story apartment building in downtown Springfield for University of Illinois Springfield graduate students is going up relatively fast due to the modular construction technique being used at the site.

While UIS has supported the downtown housing project, it won’t be university-owned housing. The Villas Downtown Springfield will own the $8 million building.

The new building is expected to be ready for students in August.

Clarice Ford, interim vice chancellor for student affairs at UIS, said some students pursuing advanced degrees have internships in downtown government office buildings. She has heard from students who are interested in living in the new building. Some of them don’t have a car, which means the downtown location makes it easier to get to their internship.

“Many students are excited, especially those who are just starting their internship process,” Ford said. “Now they know there is a place they can be housed instead of waiting three or four months as they go around the city looking for housing.”

The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on April 23, 2016.

Read the full article online.

Downtown student housing coming this fall

Starting this fall, the University of Illinois Springfield will offer housing for graduate students who want to live downtown.

A partnership between UIS, Town and Country Bank and Bluffstone, LLC., a student housing development firm, will give graduate students a new option for off-campus housing in the downtown area. Bluffstone, LLC will build a residential complex for students called Villas Downtown Springfield, located on Third and Madison streets.

Kelly Young, director of student housing operations at Bluffstone, believes Springfield is a great place for a student residential complex.

“We know that young people want to live, work and spend money in the same area,” Young said in an interview with Illinois Times.

Since 2012, when a UIS survey revealed the desire for student housing downtown, Dr. Clarice Ford, interim vice chancellor for student affairs, and Dr. Van Vieregge, assistant vice chancellor for student services, have been advocates for the project.

Ford and Vieregge agreed that having UIS students reside downtown is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the university and the city’s downtown.

“Now, UIS residents will have a voice in the downtown area, providing an opportunity for say in new vendors that may be looking to come to here,” said Ford.

Villas Downtown Springfield will have space for 92 residents. The building will offer studio and two-bedroom apartments ranging from $750 to $1,000 per month. There will be a workout area, laundry facility, a coffee shop and a maintenance staff.

The story was reported by the Illinois Times on February 18, 2016.

Read the story online.

Scaled-back student housing complex breaks ground in downtown Springfield

A four-story, 72-unit housing complex geared toward graduate students broke ground in downtown Springfield Monday, but its size has been scaled back from the original proposal earlier this year.

Iowa-based Bluffstone LLC first proposed a five-story building for the southwest corner of Fourth and Madison streets and requested $700,000 in tax increment financing funds from the city. But aldermen rejected the TIF payment in June.

The project, coined the Villas Downtown Springfield, is now planned without TIF dollars as a four-story building on the same site, with 6,000 square feet of commercial and retail space.

The apartments are targeted for University of Illinois Springfield students who are working downtown.

While UIS has supported the downtown housing project, it won’t be university-owned housing. The Villas Downtown Springfield will own the property.

UIS can have up to 300 graduate students in a given school year working at the Capitol or with other state governmental agencies, said Clarice Ford, UIS interim vice chancellor for student affairs.

“Apartment housing is pretty limited in Springfield, especially for our graduate students,” Ford said. “They may have families. They come in all different varieties.”

For UIS to recommend that students live at the Villas, it would need to go through the process of becoming a certified student housing apartment, which could begin when the project is still in the building phase, Ford said.

The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on December 16, 2015.

Read the article online. 

Employers sought for UIS career expo

University of Illinois Springfield is seeking businesses and other organizations for the 2016 Career Connections Expo.

The expo is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at The Recreation and Athletic Center.

UIS, Lincoln Land Community College and ITT Technical Institute co-sponsor the expo, which allows alumni and graduates of the schools to meet with prospective employers from the area.

Employer booth assignments are first-come, first served and early registration is encouraged at uis.edu/career. The registration deadline is 5 p.m. Feb. 5. Additional information is available from the UIS Career Development Center, 206-6508 or employerrelations@uis.edu.

The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on December 16, 2015.

Read the article online.

UIS Students Working To Change Columbus Day To Indigenous People's Day

Monday, October 12th is Columbus Day, the day when Americans remember the life of the man who helped discover North America.

But on the UIS campus, the student government association is trying to pass a resolution to change the October holiday. The resolution would rename the second Monday in October to Indigenous People's Day as a way to recognize certain ethnic groups that have been ignored by history. If the resolution passes, the SGA will form a committee to find ways to celebrate the holiday.

Duane Malany says many students and faculty at UIS support the resolution.

Columbus day is recognized as a federal holiday and observed as a state holiday in Illinois, but UIS students do not get the day off.

This story appeared online on WICS Newschannel 20 on Monday, October 12, 2015.

Watch the story here.

UIS annual film series kicks off Sept. 25

The University of Illinois Springfield kicks off its series of independent and foreign films on Friday, with a movie that’s expected to draw a big crowd, according to UIS director of student life Cynthia Thompson. 

The film, “Sam Lay in Bluesland,” was made this year and profiles Lay, a longtime Chicago blues musician who has played with Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, James Cotton, and other blues greats. At 80, he’s still performing. This documentary, which was deemed “spectacular” by the Chicago Tribune, is not rated.

The second film is an Arabic language film from Saudi Arabia and Germany called “Wadjda.” It’s the story of a spirited girl in Saudi Arabia’s capital who challenges her culture’s views on women and girls.

The last film in the series is the oldest and might be considered a modern classic. “Cinema Paradiso” was filmed in 1988 and is a sweet tale about a young Italian boy who’s inspired by the old movie projectionist in the cinema of his embattled small village. It also is rated PG.

The films are selected by a committee who reviews recommendations submitted by the entire UIS campus, according to Thompson. Typically the series includes four films, but this year it only has three, she said.

When the series was planned, UIS didn’t know what its budget would be due to Illinois’ budget impasse, so organizers planned for one fewer film than usual. Each film is open to the public and free to attend.

This article appeared online on The State Journal-Register on September 23, 2015.

Read the entire article here.

UIS Honors Those Lost in 9/11 Attacks

2,977 American flags lined the University of Illinois Springfield quad Friday; one for each of the victims who lost their life, during the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington DC., and Pennsylvania.

"This is an event that, you know, changed American history. We actually realized this morning, the freshman here this year are the first group that was not in kindergarten, so they would have been in pre-school when it happened. So we fell it's important to make sure remembering this carries on and we never forget it," said Nathan Hoffman with UIS College Republicans.

The display was organized by UIS' College Republicans and the National Young America's foundation.

This story appeared on WICS Newschannel 20 on September 11, 2015.

Watch the story here.