Student Union

Student Union Summer Hours of Operation

hbruc3 — Wed, 14 May 2025 01:20:13 +0000

Student Union Summer Hours of Operation hbruc3 Tue, 05/13/2025 - 20:20

Updated Student Union Hours

hbruc3 — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 15:38:11 +0000

Updated Student Union Hours hbruc3 Thu, 01/02/2025 - 09:38

Student Union Holiday Hours Announcement

hbruc3 — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:12:30 +0000

Student Union Holiday Hours Announcement hbruc3 Mon, 12/16/2024 - 12:12

Summer and Fall Graduate Celebration

hbruc3 — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:47:08 +0000

Summer and Fall Graduate Celebration hbruc3 Tue, 12/03/2024 - 09:47

Faculty and staff are cordially invited to our Summer and Fall Graduate Celebration!

3 to 5 p.m.
Monday, December 9
Student Union Pre-Function Area

Come celebrate and extend your well wishes to our summer and fall graduates! There will be refreshments, a UIS swag raffle and opportunities to connect with alumni, the Career Development Center and International Student Services.

When

Mon, Dec 9 2024, 3 - 5pm

Location

Student Union Pre-Function Area

Event Type

Employee

Faculty

Department

Alumni Relations

Student Affairs

Student Union

Summer and December Graduate Celebration

ahall53 — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:36:32 +0000

Summer and December Graduate Celebration ahall53 Mon, 11/11/2024 - 09:36

Summer and December Graduate Celebration

You are cordially invited to the Summer and December Graduate Celebration at the Student Union on December 9th from 3-5 p.m.

Join UIS Alumni, UIS Student Affairs, UIS Bookstore, Career Development Center, International Student Services and the Student Union in celebrating students who have graduated in summer 2024 and who will be graduating December 2024.

There will be refreshments, a photo booth, pictures with Orion and raffles for UIS Diploma Frames and UIS Alumni Shirts and UIS Alumni Magnets from the UIS Bookstore.

When

Mon, Dec 9 2024, 3 - 5pm

Location

Student Union

Event Type

Student

Department

Student Union

Student Artwork

khobb2 — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 14:10:22 +0000

Student Artwork khobb2 Thu, 08/08/2024 - 09:10

Student Artwork Submissions

Please fill out our Student Artwork submission form to display your artwork in the Student Union!

Student Spotlight

Jae Scott

Kurosawa
(2023)
Acrylic Paint

I was inspired by my appreciation for old films from the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa.

An Imperfect Star
(2023)
Acrylic Paint

At the time of looking for inspiration, I went outside and saw a shooting star after a while. I began to think of the connection between humans and the bright meteor. And how we give meaning to shooting stars to grant wishes. To me, the star is not perfect but tries its best to shine elegantly. And we are able to achieve our greatest wishes and dreams if we put the effort to shine our best in life.

Ashley Martinez Alvarez

Synchronicity
(2023)

The name of my piece is "Synchronicity." It was created this year in April. Synchronicity was painted with Acrylic paint on a round piece of wood. I also used flat-back gems on the piece. When I first thought of this piece, it was last year, 2022. This is a similar version of my other work named "The Reunion."... I gave this piece its own name because it is still a unique piece. My art greatly reflects what I go through in my life. This piece, along with my other piece, "The Reunion," reflects my journey in finding and healing my inner child. This piece speaks explicitly about the meeting between the older and younger versions of oneself.
The setting in this painting is a magical land, one that is hard to access. At the bottom, there is a pond. In this pond, there are two figures. Each of the figures has strings; each of the strings is either painted or made with gems. The small figure on the left is a child, the younger and hurt version on the right. The figure on the right, a much older version, knows who and what that younger version has gone through, so it places its hand upon the head of the kneeling child. Upon this, the strings appear. They reflect the divine timing and the healing process of both figures.
"Synchronicity" is the moment before my next piece, "The Reunion." What I want my audience to understand is as we grow older, we often forget we were once children with hopes and dreams. Although those dreams and hopes have changed, they will always be a smaller, younger version of us to thank. One that keeps us going. The younger version of ourselves might be hurt, but without them, we wouldn't be where we are today.

Our First Life, I Will Always Love You
16 x 20 in.
Acrylic on Canvas

The work describes the story behind two newly born souls. The moment they sensed each other's soul, they knew they wanted to spend every life they could together. They became eternal soulmates.

Hasani Cannon

Lukasa (Memory Board)
(2022)

The piece is an abstract self-portrait in the shape of a Lukasa or a memory board, using recycled material as mnemonic devices for a particular point in the artist's history.

Oba
(2022)

Oba means "ruler" in the Yoruba and Bini languages of West Africa. The piece depicts an Oba surrounded by trash and discarded material in the shape of a pillar.

Savannah Saltsgaver

Hats Off to Lincoln
20 x 24 inches
(2023)
Acrylic Paint on Mixed Media Paper

This work was created for and won 3rd place for the Capital City Visitor Cover Art Contest in Springfield, IL in 2023. Featured in this work is Abraham Lincoln tipping his hat to the signature staples of Springfield, Illinois such as our white-tailed deer, cardinals, and Lincoln's house.

Hydrangeas
20 x 24 inches
(2021)
Acrylic Paint, Piping Bags, Mixed Media

This piece was created by piping an acrylic paint paste onto a canvas to create a large Hydrangea on a two-dimensional surface, as if it was cut rectangular out from a huge bush and hung on a wall.

Student Union Winter Break Hours

hbruc3 — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 16:07:01 +0000

Student Union Winter Break Hours hbruc3 Mon, 12/18/2023 - 10:07

UIS Student Union opens its doors to community members following last Thursday’s storm

bwood8 — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 19:06:15 +0000

UIS Student Union opens its doors to community members following last Thursday’s storm bwood8 Wed, 07/05/2023 - 14:06

Reserve A Space

khobb2 — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:10:36 +0000

Reserve A Space khobb2 Thu, 09/01/2022 - 10:10

Reserve a Space

To book your event at the UIS Student Union, simply follow these steps:

Contact the Student Union to check the availability of the room for the date and time you need.

You can reserve a room in the following ways:

Start your reservation online at UISConnection (RSO’s) or
University Department reservation form
Call the administrative office at (217) 206 8611 (public event requests)
Explore further information about catering

For guidelines about events, please see our Student Union Manual (pdf).

For event planning in the Student Union, please see our Union Event Check List (.xlsx).

Sustainability Initiatives

cogbo2 — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 03:14:19 +0000

Sustainability Initiatives cogbo2 Sat, 01/22/2022 - 21:14

Sustainability Initiatives

LEED

According to the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) website, “LEED certified buildings save money and resources and have a positive impact on the health of occupants, while promoting renewable, clean energy.” The UIS Student Union is proud to have achieved LEED Gold Certification.

LEED Information

The US Green Building Council began the LEED program (Leadership in Energy
& Environmental Design) to encourage, recognize, and standardize what it means to be a “green facility.” Through a series of 4 rankings, LEED certifies buildings in this sustainability-friendly manner. LEED Gold is the second highest ranking, after LEED Platinum.

LEED Choices in the UIS Student Union

To achieve LEED Gold Certification, the University had to make a number of choices. Building materials and furniture had to come from within a certain radius of Springfield, building design had to reduce materials used in the project, and other items such as efficient hand dryers, water bottle filling stations, and more help us achieve this rating.

Energy Conservation:

Energy conservation is the decision and practice of using less energy. For example, turning off the light when leaving a room, unplugging appliances when not in use, or walking instead of driving are all ways an individual can conserve energy. The UIS Student Union works to conserve energy by:

Daylighting – the use of windows and skylights to bring sunlight into the building reduces the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours without causing heating or cooling problems.

Energy Efficient Lighting – with a high quality energy efficient lighting system that utilizes both natural and electric sources along with lighting controls, the UIS Student Union is able to conserve energy. This energy efficient lighting equipment is able to cut lighting operational costs 30-60%, all while enhancing light quality, reducing environmental impacts, and promoting health and work productivity.

Green Roof – a layer of plant material on the roof of the building absorbs rainwater, slowly releasing it through evaporation and plant use. Green roofs help reduce building energy usage and noise levels while increasing the durability and lifespan of the roof compared to conventional ones.

Waste Reduction & Recycling:

Good waste reduction and recycling practices not only save money through reduced purchasing and waste disposal costs, but also influence the future and environmental impacts. Consumers have a responsibility to conserve our natural resources and reduce the amount of waste we dispose of, as well as recycling what is possible. The UIS Student Union works to maintain positive waste reduction and recycling practices with:

Single-Stream Recycling – a system in which all paper fibers, plastics, metals, and other containers are mixed in a collection truck, instead of being sorted by the recycler into separate bins and handled separately throughout the collection process. Both the collection and processing systems are designed to handle this fully commingled mixture of recyclables, with materials being separated for reuse at a materials recovery facility. This makes recycling more user-friendly and accessible, as the recycler does not have to sort their waste themselves.

Reusable Food Containers – plastic to-go containers can be purchased at the cashiers’ station in the UIS Student Union Food Studio for $5 with an i-Card,
debit/credit card, or cash. Once purchased and used, a dirty clamshell can be exchanged for a clean one during the Food Studio business hours, and the dirty one will be washed and returned to the stack. The use of these containers cuts back on the waste produced by disposable containers, as well as encourages students to use sustainable practices in their daily lives.

Flyer Free Building – the UIS Student Union is the only building on campus that does not allow student organizations or groups to use paper flyers to promote their events or activities, but instead encourages digital media and banners to be used for these purposes. This reduces the waste produced by paper flyers that would otherwise be left all over the building and ultimately thrown away, and also encourages students to limit their own use of paper where it is possible.

Water Conservation:

Water conservation includes all of the policies, strategies, and activities to sustainably manage fresh water as a natural resource, to protect the hydrosphere, and to meet the current and future human demand. The UIS Student Union strives to conserve water by utilizing:

Rainwater Harvesting/Catchment System – the roof of the UIS Student Union slopes in such a way that rainwater runs off and is collected in a pond area in front of the building, which is harvested and saved for use during dry periods.

Water Bottle Filling Stations – each water fountain in the Student Union is
equipped with a water bottle filling station that can be used to refill reusable bottles. This is not only much cheaper than constantly buying plastic water bottles, but also is a much more sustainable option than plastic bottles.

Education:

The UIS Student Union implements many sustainability initiatives as a part of its commitment to being as environmentally conscious and friendly as possible, but an integral part of this process is your individual involvement. This means that students, faculty, and community members must have access to education and information regarding these sustainable goals. Events focused on sustainability are often held on campus, and the UIS Student Union works to promote these and boost engagement. In addition to these events and initiatives, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about sustainable practices at the Union, as well as hear any suggestions for improvements.

Student Union

Student Union Summer Hours of Operation

Updated Student Union Hours

Student Union Holiday Hours Announcement

Summer and Fall Graduate Celebration

Summer and December Graduate Celebration

Student Artwork

Student Artwork Submissions

Student Spotlight

Jae Scott

Kurosawa(2023)Acrylic Paint

An Imperfect Star(2023)Acrylic Paint

Ashley Martinez Alvarez

Synchronicity(2023)

Our First Life, I Will Always Love You16 x 20 in.Acrylic on Canvas

Hasani Cannon

Lukasa (Memory Board)(2022)

Oba(2022)

Savannah Saltsgaver

Hats Off to Lincoln20 x 24 inches(2023)Acrylic Paint on Mixed Media Paper

Hydrangeas20 x 24 inches(2021)Acrylic Paint, Piping Bags, Mixed Media

Student Union Winter Break Hours

UIS Student Union opens its doors to community members following last Thursday’s storm

Reserve A Space

Reserve a Space

Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability Initiatives

LEED

LEED Information

LEED Choices in the UIS Student Union

Kurosawa
(2023)
Acrylic Paint

An Imperfect Star
(2023)
Acrylic Paint

Synchronicity
(2023)

Our First Life, I Will Always Love You
16 x 20 in.
Acrylic on Canvas

Lukasa (Memory Board)
(2022)

Oba
(2022)

Hats Off to Lincoln
20 x 24 inches
(2023)
Acrylic Paint on Mixed Media Paper

Hydrangeas
20 x 24 inches
(2021)
Acrylic Paint, Piping Bags, Mixed Media