UIS to host a free public webinar exploring COVID-19 relief for small businesses

The University of Illinois Springfield Office of Economic Development and Innovation, College of Business and Management, College of Public Affairs and Administration and Innovate Springfield will host a free public webinar about COVID-19 relief for small businesses from 12-1:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 1.

The online panel discussion will provide insight into the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on the economy, how to compare and contrast available programs and navigate the application process.

The webinar will be hosted by Bruce Sommer, UIS director of economic development and innovation, and will feature panelists Chris McDowell, chair of emergency medicine at the SIU School of Medicine; Greg Turk, director of investments at the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois; Kevin Lust, director of the Small Business Development Center; and Michael Johnson, regional president of US Bank.

Panelists will discuss the anticipated trajectory and timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic from a medical perspective, how to prepare for large and small-scale economic impact, relief options for small businesses and paycheck protection programs for local business owners.

Participants are encouraged to register for the event at go.uis.edu/smallbusiness, however registration is not required. Join the Zoom presentation online at https://zoom.us/j/3362950210 or dial 312-626-6799 and enter meeting id 336 295 0210.

This webinar is the first in a series aimed at providing the local community with expert information and quality resources to navigate these challenging times.

UIS cancels or postpones events due to the COVID-19 outbreak

In an effort to promote public safety and social distancing, the University of Illinois Springfield has canceled or postponed several events due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The events listed below are the latest to be impacted. Rescheduled event dates will be announced in future press releases.

Investiture for Distinguished Prof. Graham Peck – March 19 – POSTPONED

ECCE “Salt of the Earth” – March 20 – POSTPONED

UIS Music “O Mio Fagotto Caro” – March 21 – CANCELED

Chancellor’s Women in Leadership Reception – March 24 – CANCELED

Dallas, Texas Alumni Network & Learn – March 26 – POSTPONED

UIS Music “Fantastic Beats” – March 27 – CANCELED

Preview UIS – March 28 – CANCELED

ECCE “In Search of Belonging” - March 31 – POSTPONED

UIS Music “Camerata Chamber Music II” – March 31 – CANCELED

ECCE “What I Learned From Teaching in a Prison” – April 6 –POSTPONED

UIS Music “No Strings Attached” – April 7 – CANCELED

Lunch & Learn “Architecture of Place and Sound” – April 9 – POSTPONED

Cyber Defense and Disaster Recovery Conference – April 10 - POSTPONED

Chicago Alumni Network & Learn at Cubs game – April 11 – POSTPONED

UIS Music “Camerata Chamber Music III” – April 14 – CANCELED

ECCE “Zero to Hero” – April 15 – POSTPONED

UIS Music “Basically Beethoven” – April 17 – CANCELED

UIS Theatre “Twelfth Night” – April 16-25 – CANCELED

ECCE “Talking Black in America” – April 17 – POSTPONED

Good as Gold Volunteer Awards – April 20 – POSTPONED

UIS Music “Blue Skies” – April 21 – CANCELED

ECCE “Using Our Voices & Choices” – April 22 – POSTPONED

Health & Wellness Fair – April 22 – CANCELED

Celebration of Philanthropy – April 22 – POSTPONED

UIS Music “Art of Wind Band” – April 24 – CANCELED

ECCE "Water Diplomacy in the Middle East" - April 28 - POSTPONED

Grand opening for The Center for Lincoln Studies – April 29 – POSTPONED

UIS Music “Jazz Café” – April 30 – CANCELED

UIS Community Music School Solo Recital – May 1 – CANCELED

UIS Orchestra Concert &  UIS Music Meet and Greet – May 3 - CANCELED

Lunch & Learn "Historic Settlements" - May 6 - CANCELED

In addition to these event changes, the UIS Performing Arts Center (Sangamon Auditorium) has also announced that it is ceasing all events through May 10. Please check uispac.com for specific updates.

The UIS Visual Arts Gallery will also be closed for the rest of the spring semester. The March 17 artist talk and “Convergence” exhibit are canceled.

UIS Athletics also announced on March 13 that The Great Lakes Valley Conference's (GLVC) Council of Presidents voted unanimously to suspend all activities related to intercollegiate athletics, and cancel the remaining 2020 GLVC Championships due to concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. This action includes all UIS sporting activities.

UIS Speaker Series to screen and discuss the historically blacklisted film “Salt of the Earth”

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will screen and discuss the historically blacklisted film “Salt of the Earth.” The film presents the true story of Mexican-American zinc miners who strike to end unsafe work conditions and unequal wages with their white counterparts. This film and discussion are free and open to the public.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2020

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: “Salt of the Earth” explores themes regarding the role of organized labor, what it means to be American, race and feminism. The film stands out in history as a blacklisted film, swept up in the communist panic of the McCarthy era, but has stood the test of time to give a unique perspective of the American Southwest in the 1950s.

The panel discussion will be led by UIS Professor of Political Science Richard Gilman-Opalsky, UIS Assistant Professor of Political Science Roberto Rincon and Amy Rueff, resource director for the Illinois AFL-CIO. The panel discussion following the film will explore the themes presented and the continued legacy of these topics in the modern day.

This event is co-sponsored by the UIS Women’s Center, UIS Diversity Center, NPR Illinois Foreign & Independent Film Series and the UIS Office of Student Life.

Individuals with disabilities who anticipate the need for accommodations should contact the UIS Speaker Series Office at 217-206-6245 or speakerseries@uis.edu in advance. For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events, visit uis.edu/speakerseries/.

UIS Computer Science Department to host Cyber Defense and Disaster Recovery Conference

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Computer Science Department will host the 14th annual Cyber Defense and Disaster Recovery Conference (CDDR) for local information technology and cybersecurity professionals in the Midwest. This year’s theme is cyber threat hunting and incident response.

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 10, 2020 (registration opens at 7:30 a.m.)

WHERE: UIS Public Affairs Center, 2200 Ernest Hemingway Drive, Springfield

DETAILS: Cyber attacks are on the rise and imposing billions of dollars loss on U.S. companies and organizations annually.

At CDDR 2020, cybersecurity professionals across the country will speak about novel approaches that can be used to detect and track under-the-radar cyber attacks. Such attacks cannot be mitigated by existing conventional defensive countermeasures such as antivirus, or IDS products. They will also speak about modern approaches that companies can employ to contain and manage cybersecurity incidents.

Some of the speakers include Pedram Amini, chief technology officer at InQuest.net; Greg Foss, senior threat researcher at VMware Carbon Black, Brandon Wunderle, manager at CrowdStrike; Chad Johnson, analyst at CrowdStrike; and Michael Springer, senior consultant at Brown Smith Wallace.

The conference is sponsored by Crowdstrike, InQuest LLC and Malwarebytes.

The early bird registration fee for students is $35 and $55 for professionals. After March 15, the registration fee is $45 for students and $75 for professionals.

Those interested in attending the conference can register online at csc.uis.edu/center/conferences/cddr2020/.

For more information, contact Amirreza Niakanlahiji, UIS assistant professor of computer science, at 217-206-6770 or cddr@uis.edu.