5.19.25
Good afternoon, UIS!
Commencement 2025 has come and gone 鈥� what an amazing two days of honoring our graduates! Commencement is a complex event that takes a large team to execute successfully. Whether you served on the planning committee, volunteered at the ceremonies or served behind the scenes, thank you for contributing to this special moment in our students鈥� and their families鈥� lives!
New Information
Summer Hours
With the start of the summer season, many employees have adopted between May 11 and Aug. 16. Please keep these schedule changes in mind when working with colleagues across campus.
In addition, hours have changed for student-centered buildings to reflect a lower number of students on campus during the summer months:
- Student Union: Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; closed Saturdays and Sundays. Starbucks is closed for the summer.
- TRAC: Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays; closed Sundays.
Construction Updates
The lower level of the Public Affairs Center closes next week as part of the occurring throughout the building over the next year.
Progress toward the start of construction of the Library Commons project is tracking on schedule. Expect to see activity around the future building site (between HSB and the Student Union, along the Quad) later in the summer.
College Leadership Updates
Two items affecting dean leadership at UIS are under consideration by the Board of Trustees at its upcoming May meeting.
Miriam Wallace, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, has been recommended to serve as interim dean of the College of Public Affairs and Education. Interim Dean Ty Dooley will return to his full-time faculty role July 1. We are grateful for his service as interim dean over the past 15 months.
Travis Bland, who has been serving as interim dean of the College of Health, Science and Technology, has agreed to accept the position as CHST dean, pending final approval by the Board of Trustees.
Post Your Employee Announcements on Orbit
Orbit is a communication channel designed to help you share information relevant to employees鈥攊ncluding events, professional development opportunities, open forums, policy updates, and other need-to-know content. Review the to learn what to post and how to get started.
Office of Digital Accessibility Online Office Hours
The Office of Digital Accessibility is offering online from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer. Staff are available to assist with pedagogy, Canvas, multimedia, accessibility concerns and more.
Department Newsletters
Topics in the include the academic portfolio review, HLC quality initiative update, Faculty Mentor Awards and STAR Awards.
Read the to learn about department updates, training opportunities and employee events.聽
Remember, you can to receive an email notification when they are posted.
Upcoming Events
- : The next session of the Employee Development Series is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. May 29 in the Student Union Ballroom. The session will be presented by Ray Rodriguez, senior director of access and equity and Title IX coordinator. Register on Orbit.
- Office of Digital Accessibility: Navigating ADA Title II Changes at UIS Workshop: 10-10:45 a.m. May 29 join for a virtual overview of key ADA Title II updates and digital accessibility resources at UIS. .
- Office of Digital Accessibility: Accessible Documents & Presentations (Word, PDF, PPT) Workshop: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. June 3 and 5. Discover easy ways to improve digital accessibility in your documents and presentations. Laptops are encouraged for in-person participants for this hybrid opportunity. In-person space is limited to 15. .
Check the employee events calendar on Orbit for more opportunities to learn and engage across campus.
Information that Bears Repeating
FY26 Benefit Choice Enrollment
The Benefit Choice enrollment period runs through June 2. If you do not wish to change health, dental, life or dependent coverage, your current elections will continue 鈥� with the exception of Health Alliance. Participants in the Health Alliance Plan must make a new election or their plan will default to the Quality Care Health Plan. Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts require enrollment or re-enrollment each year. Read about the Benefit Choice FY 2026 changes on .
Annual Evaluations
Human Resources updated the Annual Performance Evaluation's structure, rankings and functionality. Evaluations must be submitted by June 6. More information is on .
Instructional Technology Request Form
ITS and Classroom Scheduling Services are for classrooms and instructional technology for summer and fall courses. Separate forms for each course should be submitted by faculty, but submission does not guarantee room assignments, equipment or services.
Website File Uploads
To meet accessibility compliance requirements from the Department of Justice, only PDFs will be permitted for upload to UIS websites moving forward. Please convert and remediate all non-PDF documents by Sept. 31 or they will be removed. Visit the resource for guidance or the article for more information.
Homecoming 2025 Program Proposals
Have an idea for a UIS Homecoming event? by June 16. Homecoming will be Sept. 14-20, and this year鈥檚 theme is 鈥淲ritten in the Stars.鈥�
NorthStar
Stay updated on our three NorthStar priorities by visiting our .
SHRS Updates
System Human Resource Services (SHRS) made key updates on its website pertaining to military leave, tuition waivers and personnel record review. Learn more on .
Celebrating Our Star Power
Ben Hage, director of Innovate Springfield, was accepted into UIDEA, a 12-week accelerator and a launchpad for ideas, experiments, and collaborations around fundraising, donor engagement, and philanthropy.
Yoselin Gonzalez, a building service worker in Facilities & Services, has been named the Employee of the Month for May 2025. Gonzalez was nominated by campus colleagues for her outstanding customer service, dedication, and commitment to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment at UIS. One of her nominators wrote, 鈥淢y teammates and I have talked about the fact that an interaction with Yoselin always brightens the start of our workday. She is such a lovely person鈥攌ind, friendly, and she has a wonderful sense of humor that we all appreciate so much. Yoselin is a treasure.鈥� Read more on .
Several members of our in teaching, service, scholarship and community engagement during the 2025 Faculty Honors Celebration. We also honored those who have been recommended for tenure, promotion and sabbatical. Congratulations!
Getting to Know You
Taylor Lester, program coordinator for the Center for Online 杨贵妃传媒, Research and Service (COLRS), talks about her transition from high school English teacher to her current role and the teachers who impacted her along the way. When she is not at work, she enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons, reading and spending time with her two cats, Zuko and Luna. Learn more about Lester on .
Enjoy the rest of the month. You will hear from me only once in June and July; we'll revert to a semimonthly newsletter schedule in August.
Janet
Janet L. Gooch, Ph.D.
Chancellor
University of Illinois Springfield
P.S. If you have a topic you鈥檇 like me to consider for my newsletter, . I love to highlight your news, events and accolades.