University of Illinois Springfield Music Program proudly presents its fall 2019 concert season

The University of Illinois Springfield Music Program is proud to present its fall 2019 concert season.

The roster includes the Faculty Recital Series, the Brown Bag Concert Series, Chamber Concerts by Camerata Scholarship students, and performances by the UIS Band, Cello Choir, Chorus, Flute Choir, Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra.

All events are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, Sept. 24 – Estampe Duo
12 p.m. - Student Union Ballroom pre-function area
Yeonwoo Seo, cello, Hana Lim, piano

Saturday, Sept. 28 – Romance and Passion
7:30 p.m. – Studio Theatre
Estampe Trio & Yichen Li, voice

Tuesday, Oct. 22 – Camerata Chamber Music I 
12 p.m. – Student Union Ballroom pre-function area
UIS Music Scholarship Recipients

Thursday, Nov. 7 – The Saxophone Through Time 
7:30 p.m. – Studio Theatre
Benjamin Nichols, Saxophone

Tuesday, Nov. 12 – Camerata Chamber Music II 
12 p.m. – Student Union Ballroom pre-function area
UIS Music Scholarship recipients

Saturday, Nov. 16 – Jazz Café
6 p.m. – Studio Theatre UIS
Jazz Ensemble, Benjamin Nichols, director

Tuesday, Nov. 19 – Camerata Chamber Music III 
12 p.m. – Student Union Ballroom pre-function area
UIS Music Scholarship Recipients

Friday, Nov. 22 – Out of this World 
7:30 p.m. – Sangamon Auditorium
UIS Band, Bill Mitchell, director

Sunday, Nov. 24 – Spanish Caprice 
7:30 p.m. – Sangamon Auditorium
UIS Orchestra, Yona Stamatis, director

Monday, Nov. 25 – Along the Silk Road
7:30 p.m. – Studio Theatre
Yichen Li, countertenor 

Wednesday, Dec. 4 – Viva America! 
12 p.m. – Student Union Ballroom pre-function area
UIS Chorus, See Tsai Chan, director

Thursday, Dec. 5 – UIS Music Student Recital 
12 p.m. – Polly Roesch Music Room, VPA 33
UIS & UISCMS Student Recital

For more information on the UIS Music Program, visit uis.edu/music/. Questions may be directed to Yona Stamatis at 217-206-6240 or music@uis.edu.

UIS to host a Graduate School Fair to educate students about master’s degree programs

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will showcase its 20 master’s degree programs during the annual Graduate School Fair. Students from any institution who are considering earning a master’s degree or who want to learn more about UIS’ programs are invited to attend.

WHEN: Wednesday, January 23, 2019, from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Student Union Ballroom, 2251 Richard Wright Drive, Springfield

DETAILS: Attendees will receive a $60 application fee waiver for their graduate school application. They will also have the opportunity to speak face-to-face with academic program chairs and representatives. The fair is designed to help students determine which program best fits their needs and interests.

Representative from all graduate programs, including accountancy, athletic training, business administration (MBA), communication, computer science, data analytics, educational leadership, education, English, environmental science, history, human development counseling, human services, legal studies, management information systems, political science, public administration and public health will be in attendance. The UIS Career Development Center, Admissions Department, Graduate Public Service Intern Program, Graduate Assistantship Programs and the Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program will also be represented.

During the first 30 minutes, there will be an informational session featuring Cecilia Cornell, UIS associate vice chancellor for graduate education, who will speak on UIS graduate education and the value of a graduate degree. UIS Director of Admissions Fernando Planas will speak on the application process for graduate school, followed by Myra Kaufman, assistant director for the Office of Graduate Intern Programs, who will speak on assistance programs and paying for your graduate degree.

Registration for this event is encouraged, but is not required. Please register online at https://apply.uis.edu/register/gradfair. Questions may be direction to the UIS Office of Graduate Programs at 217/206-6153 or mkauf5@uis.edu.

UIS to host Diverse Business Opportunity Fair

University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Susan Koch and the University of Illinois System Chief Procurement Officer Ben Bagby will host a Diverse Business Opportunity Fair featuring representatives from several state universities and community colleges.

Diverse businesses in the community interested in doing business with the state of Illinois’ public universities and community colleges are invited to attend the event on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the UIS Student Union Ballroom, 2251 Richard Wright Drive, Springfield.

Working cooperatively with the state universities to increase participation by minority, women, persons with disabilities and veteran-owned firms in higher education procurement is a top priority for the University of Illinois System.

Chancellor Koch recognizes that these types of events are imperative in propelling economic growth and vital to establishing connections and collaborative relationships.

“Not only is our campus able to benefit from connecting with exceptional diverse businesses, other state universities and colleges participating have a vast array of needs that these firms are capable of meeting. Participating in the fair is a great way to gain a better understanding of what those needs are and who the decision makers are,” said Koch.

Bagby said the state has substantial opportunities for diverse firms to participate in the procurement and contracting process. He added, “It’s important that diverse businesses know that the state values their business and are always looking for new ways to expand the diverse supplier network. One way we are doing this is by reviewing the contract renewal process to ensure that the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) policies and goals are properly taken into account before a contract is renewed. This is a great example of a new process where a BEP goal can be established or increased,” Bagby finished.

The Diverse Business Opportunity Fair is sponsored by the Chief Procurement Office and organized by the University of Illinois and is open to all businesses who desire to do business with the state of Illinois public universities and colleges. There will also be prime contractors there who are interested in establishing partnerships with small and diverse businesses.

Businesses who are planning to attend the fair are strongly encouraged to register online.

For more information, contact Jill Menezes, UIS director of purchases, at 217/206-6651 or jmene1@uillinois.edu.

UIS Visual Arts Gallery opens with a dual exhibit from Enos Park Artists-in-Residence

The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) Visual Arts Gallery is proud to present “Interior Space,” an installation developed by artist Allyson Packer, and in cooperation with Springfield residents.

“Interior Space” will open Thursday, July 26, with a reception from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

That same night, the gallery will also feature a one-night-only multi-channel audio installation by ZW Buckley, “faith comes by hearing.”

Both artists are currently in residence at the Enos Park Residency for Visual Artists and were brought to Springfield through a partnership with the UIS Visual Arts Gallery.

To create “Interior Space,” Packer asked Springfield residents to loan out objects that they “choose to hold on to, but do not keep on public display.” These items, culled from the attics, basements, and closets of Springfield, are the basis for this installation.

“Interior Space” does not present objects immediately, but rather engages viewers to find the work.

Assemblages incorporating the gallery’s architectural elements form a larger installation that employs hiding, revealing, and discovering as aesthetic strategies. As viewers explore the work, they encounter spaces where the sentimental becomes strange and the overlooked becomes manifest.

This experience stems from the artist’s curiosity about the intersection of the familiar and the unseen.

“Each night I sleep with my head six inches away from a room I’ve never seen,” Packer said. “It is my neighbor’s apartment, and I find this fact to be both perfectly normal and also very strange. It’s like the first time I had an X-ray and the shock I felt to see the space inside myself. My body, something nearly indistinguishable from my own personhood, was unfamiliar, and contained things that I had never seen. This project explores these emotional and physical spaces.”

“Interior Space” runs through August 11. The exhibit can be seen each Saturday from noon – 4 p.m. or by appointment.

Packer engages viewers to re-envision the boundaries of their shared spaces. She earned her MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her BFA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Packer has recently shown work at Nahmad Projects in London and the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she is preparing for upcoming solo exhibitions at Vitrine in Albuquerque and Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland.

Buckley’s, “faith comes by hearing” exhibit is a multi-channel audio installation exploring the themes of transience and permanence within Springfield’s Enos Park neighborhood.

Recorded through the structures that make up the community, this work translates the sounds of a lively neighborhood as heard by the buildings and objects that so often define it. Symbols of growth and transition abound as the sounds of rain storms, revivals, trains and music are filtered through lamp posts, sculptures and buildings.

The resulting impression is at once both familiar and strange as the ephemeral and enduring intermingle in this unfamiliar fashion. Buckley is an artist and composer from Normal. His work focuses on the intersection between sound, power and visibility as it relates to individuals and communities.

He is an MS candidate at Illinois State University in the Program in Arts Technology.

The Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Sciences Building, Room 201, and is open from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

For more information, visit the UIS Visual Arts Gallery website at www.uis.edu/visualarts/gallery, call 217/206-6506 or email alach@uis.edu.

University of Illinois Springfield to cut ribbon on new $21.75 million Student Union Building

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will officially open the new $21.75 million Student Union Building during a ribbon cutting ceremony. UIS Chancellor Susan Koch will be joined by U of I President Timothy Killeen, Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder and student leadership to cut the ribbon.

WHEN: Sunday, January 14, 2018, at 2 p.m. An open house will immediately follow the ribbon cutting until 4 p.m. 

WHERE: UIS Student Union, 2251 Richard Wright Drive, Springfield

DETAILS: The two-story, 50,000-square-foot student union anchors the campus’s south quad, providing campus dining services, a Starbucks coffee shop, a ballroom with seating for up to 450 people and a Student Leadership Center that houses student government, volunteer offices and workspaces for student organizations.

The first-ever student union will serve as a social hub for student life and foster a greater sense of community on the growing campus. In this signature building, so full of light and activity, students will interact with each other and with faculty, staff, and visitors, creating a vibrant and thriving focal point for life at UIS.

The new facility will fill a void that officials say has grown since UIS became part of the University of Illinois system in 1995. The campus was originally founded in 1969 as Sangamon State University, catering to upperclassmen and graduate-level students, but is now a traditional four-year school that lacked the central gathering place that student unions provide at most colleges across the nation.

For more information, contact Derek Schnapp, UIS director of public relations, at 217/206-6716 or dschn3@uis.edu.

UIS to unveil new Shakespeare Garden, marking the 400th anniversary of the writer's death

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will unveil a new Shakespeare Garden on campus, marking the 400th anniversary of the poet and playwright’s death in 1616. The themed garden will features plants often mentioned in William Shakespeare’s work.

WHEN: Thursday, September 29, 2016, at 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Campus between Brookens Library and the Police Station

DETAILS: William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. The Bard often used plants and gardens as metaphors for life, with many important scenes taking place in garden settings. For example: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” is a frequently referenced line spoken by Juliet to her lover, Romeo, in Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet”.

The Shakespeare Garden, made possible by an award from the University of Illinois’ Chester Fund, will include signs near each plant with the relevant quotation and reference to the appropriate play or poem, as well as a fountain, walkways, and benches.

The centerpiece of the Garden is a life-sized bronze sculpture of the Bard himself, titled “Shakespeare,” by renowned sculptor Gary Lee Price. The sculpture depicts Shakespeare relaxing on a garden bench – an open invitation for visitors to sit beside him for a chat or a photo.

Other Shakespeare events happening on campus include, the UIS Theatre production of “Macbeth”, which will be presented October 28 – 30 and November 3 – 6 in the UIS Studio Theatre. Tickets are available through the Sangamon Auditorium Ticket Office.

UIS to unveil statue of young Abraham Lincoln

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will unveil The Young Lawyer, a 6' 4" statue of Abraham Lincoln sculpted by renowned artist George Lundeen. The statue will be located on the UIS quad west of the colonnade.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 10, 2016, at 11 a.m.

WHERE: UIS quad, between University Hall and the Public Affairs Center

DETAILS: The unveiling celebrates the addition of a new Lincoln-centered landmark at UIS, home of the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair for Lincoln Studies and the annual Lincoln Legacy Lectures, and the seminal host of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln.

Sculptor George Lundeen specializes in detailed, highly polished bronzes of subjects, such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. He also created the popular sculptor of Red Grange that sits outside Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. His commissioned work can be found in private and corporate collections across the country.

The statue was made possible by the John N. Chester Estate Fund, an endowed gift fund created with the intent of adding to the attractiveness of the University of Illinois campuses.

Before the unveiling, Chancellor Susan J. Koch will share a few remarks, as well as University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen and the artist. Guests will also hear from UIS student Faith Hook, Abraham Lincoln Association President Kathryn Harris, and Michael Burlingame, Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS.

The event will be hosted by the UIS Office of Advancement. A reception will follow the remarks and unveiling. The event is free to all attendees. The dress code is casual/business casual.

UIS to break ground on first-ever student union building on campus

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will break ground on its first-ever student union building, a $21.7 million project. University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen will be joined by UIS Chancellor Susan Koch, and Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder for the groundbreaking ceremony.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: UIS South Quad – Parking available in the University Hall or TRAC lots

DETAILS: The two-story, 50,000-square-foot facility will anchor the campus’s south quad, providing campus dining services, a coffee shop, a ballroom with seating for up to 450 people and a Student Leadership Center that will house student government, volunteer offices and workspaces for student organizations. The facility is scheduled to open in January 2018.

More than $5.3 million in gifts have been raised and officials say they will meet their $8 million fundraising goal before the facility opens. The remaining $13.7 million will be paid through campus funds and a construction fee that students approved in a 2012 referendum.

The new facility will fill a void that has grown since UIS became part of the University of Illinois system in 1995. The campus originally catered to upperclassmen and graduate-level students, but is now a traditional four-year school without the central gathering place for students.

William Brothers Construction Inc. of Peoria will be the general contractor for the project. Subcontractors include E.L. Pruitt Co. of Springfield, Commercial Mechanical Inc. of Dunlap and Foster Jacob Electric Inc. of Peoria. Dewberry Architects of Peoria and Workshop Architects of Milwaukee, Wisconsin developed design plans for the new facility.

For more information, contact Derek Schnapp, UIS director of public relations, at 217/206-6716 or dschn3@uis.edu.

UIS Speaker Series features poetry reading and discussion from Slow Lightning

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series presents ‘Cultural Code Switching in America,’ a poetry reading by author Eduardo C. Corral. The event is co-sponsored by the UIS Department of English, UIS LGBTQA Resource Office, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Vachel Lindsay Association.

WHEN: Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room

DETAILS: As part of Queertober, Eduardo C. Corral will present poems from his collection, Slow Lightning, a text that breaks taboos in embracing minority voices, using bilingualism and lyricism to explore the limitations individuals such as him experience.

Corral’s poetry addresses many possibilities as he provides a direct way of engaging with an anti-immigrant and heteronormative society to bring about positive social change.

Corral is a CantoMundo fellow. He holds degrees from Arizona State University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His award-winning poems have been featured in numerous publications including; Best American Poetry 2012, Beloit Poetry Journal, and the New England Review. Slow Lightning, was selected as the 2011 winner of the Yale Series of Younger Poets competition.

Corral currently resides in New York City and teaches at Columbia University.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS Speaker Series examines the unexpected link between temporary populations in Los Angeles

WHAT:       The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE)Speaker Series will explore “Stay” in LA: Temporary Workers and Precarious Duration in Los Angeles, presented by Anne Cong-Huyen.

WHEN:       Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:    Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room

DETAILS:  The global city of Los Angeles has long been notorious for its conflicting representational history. It persists as a destination for workers from the global south searching for opportunities in the hemispheric north.

                     This talk will examine LA as a city where diverse temporary populations struggle to endure and stay, particularly the H1B1 workers from South Asia in the high-tech industry and Latino day laborers. These groups are commonly represented on opposite ends of the economic and social spectrum. However, they are linked by the temporary and racialized nature of their work.

                     Anne Cong-Huyen, coordinator of the Digital Liberal Arts Center at Whittier College in Los Angeles, holds a Ph.D. in English from UC Santa Barbara and is a previous Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Transnational Studies at UCLA. Her research focuses on migration and labor in global cities such as Dubai, Los Angeles and Ho Chi Minh City.       

                     This discussion is co-sponsored by the University of Illinois Springfield Department of English.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS Speaker Series examines how Islam challenges Christian beliefs

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will explore Muslim-Christian differences in today’s society in “Islam, the Catholic Church, and the Future of the World,” with Notre Dame Professor Gabriel Said Reynolds. 

WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

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

DETAILS: This lecture will examine how Islam challenges Christian beliefs, reflect on how the Catholic Church has responded to these challenges through the centuries, and propose ways in which the Church and society might face the newest challenges of Muslim-Christian relations.

Gabriel Said Reynolds is a professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame. He has authored The Qur’an and Its Biblical Subtext and The Emergence of Islam, as well as three volumes on the Qur’an and Christian-Muslim encounters. He has researched and lectured throughout the Middle East and United States.

This speaker series is co-sponsored by the University of Notre Dame Hesburgh Lecture Series and Notre Dame Club of Central Illinois.

For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.

UIS Lincoln Legacy Lectures to commemorate U.S. Voting Rights Act

What: The 13th annual Lincoln Legacy Lectures, presented by the University of Illinois Springfield, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Voting Rights Act of 1965 with "Lincoln and Voting Rights."

When: Thursday, October 15, 2015 from 7 to 9 p.m. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m

Where: Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library at UIS. Overflow seating will be available in the Public Affairs Center, Level 1, Conference Rooms C/D and G, where the audience can watch a large-screen live video feed.

Details: The Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series brings nationally known scholars to Springfield to present lectures on topics that both engaged Abraham Lincoln and the citizens of his era and are still timely today.

This year’s featured speakers are Michael Vorenberg, Associate Professor of History at Brown University, and Ronald Keith Gaddie, President’s Associates Presidential Professor of Political Science at the University of Oklahoma.

Michael Burlingame, the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS, will give opening remarks on “Lincoln and Black Voting Rights,” and serve as moderator.

In the first lecture, Vorenberg will describe “Voting Rights and the Meaning of Freedom: The View from the Civil War Era.” In the second lecture, Gaddie will discuss “Citizenship and Voting Rights in the Modern Era.”

The Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series is sponsored by the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership, in cooperation with the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies.

Cosponsors of this year's event include the Abraham Lincoln Association, UIS College of Education and Human Services, UIS College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, UIS College of Public Affairs and Administration, Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, Engaged Citizenship Speaker Series, Gobberdiel Endowment, Illinois State Historical Society, Illinois State Library, League of Women Voters of McLean County, Springfield Branch of the NAACP, Springfield Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and WUIS/Illinois Issues.

For more information, contact the Center for State Policy and Leadership at 217/206-7094 or visit www.uis.edu/cspl/.

UIS Earth Week 2015 events announced

The University of Illinois Springfield will celebrate Earth Week (April 20-24, 2015) with a variety of events designed to educate students, faculty, staff, and the community about the environment. All of the events listed below are free and open to the public.

Monday, April 20 

ECCE Speaker Series: “Connecting Food, Climate Change and Environmental Advocacy: Lessons from Indigenous Peoples' Climate Justice Movements” 
Kyle Powys Whyte, the Timnick Humanities Chair at Michigan State University’s Department of Philosophy, will speak at 6 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium. He will discuss how people's relations to food can obscure their awareness of how their actions affect the ecosystems on which they depend. Globally, food justice movements are becoming increasingly connected to climate justice movements given how climate change will affect the food system. These movements offer lessons for how food can serve as a powerful connector of people interested in taking action to address climate change. The presentation will be followed by a catered reception.

Tuesday, April 21

Free Electronics Recycling Event 
The UIS Senate Committee on Sustainability, in conjunction with BLH Computers, is hosting a FREE Electronics Recycling event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers will receive items on the north side of Brookens Library, at the loading dock on the first floor level. Visit the BLH Computers web site (http://blhcomputers.com/recycling/) for a complete list of items that will be accepted for free recycling. This list includes: desktop and laptop computers, LCD monitors, printers, keyboards, mice and cables, LCD & Plasma TVs, DVDs, etc.

Wednesday, April 22 

SAGE Earth Day Picnic 
Join the members of Students Allied for a Greener Earth (SAGE), a UIS student group, for an Earth Day Picnic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the UIS quad. Play games, relax and enjoy a sandwich or cookie from Cafe Moxo, or simply drop off your clean plastic bags and clean containers with lids, which will be donated to St. John's Breadline. The picnic is the perfect place to learn more about Earth Day and what SAGE does to promote environmental awareness on the UIS campus and in Springfield.

ECCE Speaker Series: “Greening Broadway” 
In an Earth Day keynote presentation, Donyale Werle, a Brooklyn, NY based theatrical set designer, will speak about her efforts to promote sustainability in the performing arts community and beyond. The event starts at 6 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium. Werle won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for Peter and the Starcatcher in 2012. She constructed the entire Act II set from 100% recycled materials. A member of the Broadway Green Alliance, Werle is a passionate sustainability advocate whose efforts to promote upcycling, recycling, and sustainable sourcing pave the way for both a greener Broadway and a greener society overall. The presentation will be followed by a catered reception.

Friday, April 24 

Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony
Join the UIS Grounds Maintenance Department and the Sustainability Committee for a ceremonial tree planting in honor of both Earth Week and Arbor Day at 10:30 a.m. near the UIS campus pond (next to the UIS Police Station). The tree will be dedicated to the university’s on-going commitment to creating a greener and more sustainable campus.

Earth Week events at UIS are sponsored by the Campus Senate Committee on Sustainability, the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series, the College of Public Affairs and Administration, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Education & Human Services, Students Allied for a Greener Earth (SAGE), Biology Club, Sangamon Auditorium UIS, the Environmental Studies Department, and the Art, Music, and Theatre Department.

For more information on Earth Week events, contact Megan Styles, assistant professor of Environmental Studies, at 217/206-8580 or mstyl2@uis.edu.

UIS celebrates 18th annual Homecoming Weekend

The University of Illinois Springfield invites the local community to celebrate our 18th annual Homecoming Weekend on October 10 & 11. The theme of Homecoming 2014 is “Paint the Cornfield Blue”. The following is a partial list of events. To view a full list of Homecoming activities, visit www.uis.edu/homecoming/.

UIS Homecoming Parade

WHAT: The parade is an annual tradition of Homecoming at UIS. We hope you come out to enjoy the festivities, the UIS band and much more!

WHEN: Friday, October 10, 2014 at 4:15 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Campus – The parade will start in parking lot C-north and end in parking lot G south of the University Hall Building. The best place to view the parade is along Eliza Farnham Drive, near Founders Residence Hall.

DETAILS: Community members are encouraged to attend to watch the parade, enjoy, and learn more about the many student organizations, athletics teams, campus departments, businesses, & nonprofits that participate in the parade.

UIS Homecoming BBQ 

WHAT: The UIS Student Activities Committee (SAC) will host its annual BBQ following the parade. This will coincide with the soccer games.

WHEN: Friday, October 10, 2014 from 4:45 to 7:15 p.m.

WHERE: South Quad near the University Hall Building

DETAILS: Come join us for food, drinks, and fun. There is a cost for non-students. UIS students are free with a valid iCard.

UIS Prairie Stars Men’s and Women’s Soccer 

WHAT: The NCAA Division II men’s and women’s soccer teams will play Rockhurst during the annual homecoming game.

WHEN: Friday, October 10, 2014 – The women’s game begins at 5 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Kiwanis Stadium at UIS

DETAILS: Admission to the games is $8 for adults and children are $3. UIS students, faculty and staff are free with a valid iCard. Following the men’s soccer game, there will be a free fireworks display.

UIS Prairie Stars Volleyball

WHAT: The UIS Prairie Stars Volleyball team will play Bellarmine.

WHEN: Friday, October 10, 2014 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) at UIS

DETAILS: Admission to the games is $6 for adults and $3 for children. UIS students, faculty and staff are free with a valid iCard.

UIS Students vs. UIS Alumni/Faculty/Staff Basketball Game 

WHAT: Students will face off against Alumni/Faculty/Staff in a basketball game designed to foster teamwork.

WHEN: Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Student Life Building Gymnasium at UIS

DETAILS: Admission is free

UIS Prairie Stars Volleyball 

WHAT: The UIS Prairie Stars Volleyball team will play Southern Indiana.

WHEN: Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 3 p.m.

WHERE: The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) at UIS

DETAILS: Admission to the games is $6 for adults and children are $3. UIS students, faculty and staff are free with a valid iCard.

Prairie Stars Athletics Hall of Fame Induction 

WHAT: The first class will be inducted into the new Prairie Stars Athletics Hall of Fame.

WHEN: Saturday, October 11, 2014 (Reception at 6:30 p.m., formal ceremony at 7:30 p.m.)

WHERE: Public Affairs Center at UIS

DETAILS: Celebrate with us as we induct Aydin Gonulsen (coach & administrator), Elias Shehadi (soccer, 1976-1979), Carla (Jimenez) Mills (tennis, 1998-2000), Harold Christofilakos (friend of the Prairie Stars) and the 1986 National Champion Men's Soccer Team to the Hall of Fame.

Guests must preregister for the reception in the Food Emporium in PAC. For $25, guests can enjoy beer & wine along with hors d'oeuvres from 6:30-7:30 p.m. along with light refreshments during intermission of the ceremony. Please register at www.UISPrairieStars.com/HallofFame by October 3.

The ceremony is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis.

UIS holds public forums on possible nickname/mascot change

The Student Government Association (SGA) at the University of Illinois Springfield is seeking feedback from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members about possibly changing the Prairie Stars nickname and mascot.

Three informational public forums will take place on Monday, November 18 at Noon and 5:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room and on Tuesday, November 19 at 9 p.m. at The Recreation and Athletic Center at UIS.

At these forums the SGA and UIS Student Affairs will present information regarding the six names in the race to be UIS’ nickname/mascot (this includes Prairie Stars and Stars).

Following the presentation, the SGA will take general questions from anyone and also issue a ballot initiative to pinpoint your favorite nicknames/mascots from the presentation.

If you are unable to attend one of the forums and would like to provide feedback, please email uissga@uis.edu.

Students invited to have "Chicken Wings with the Chancellor"

WHAT: Students are invited to talk to Chancellor Susan J. Koch about their experiences at UIS during “Chicken Wings with the Chancellor”.

WHEN: Tues., Nov. 5, 2013 at 9 p.m.

WHERE: Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room

DETAILS: The forum will allow students to share their ideas and opinions with Chancellor Koch over FREE chicken wings in an informal setting.

This is the fifth forum in a series designed to create an ongoing open exchange of ideas between students and Chancellor Koch. The idea is to make the campus’ top leader more available to students in a comfortable environment.

This event is co-sponsored by the Black Male Collegiate Society, Black Student Union, Greek Affairs Board, International Student Association, Organization of Latin American Student, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and the Student Government Association.

UIS welcomes new students on Freshman Move-In Day

The University of Illinois Springfield welcomed hundreds of new students and their parents during Freshman Move-In Day on August 21, 2013.

Students were assigned arrival times in an effort to avoid headaches and congestion at Lincoln and Founders Residence Halls. Volunteers helped direct parents to parking spaces, unloaded and carried items, and led students to their new rooms.

Dozens of volunteers from the UIS student organizations and athletic teams assisted with the move-in process.

Fall Semester classes at UIS begin on Monday, August 26. Upperclassmen will return to campus starting Friday, August 23.

UIS makes enrollment easier for transfer students with one-stop "Transfer Express" events

The University of Illinois Springfield is making it easy for transfer students to enroll next fall. Transfer Express is a series of five one-stop, one-day events, beginning on April 27, 2013 and running through August 17, 2013. Students from area community colleges, other universities, and those who never finished college, can get everything taken care of for Fall 2013 classes – in a single day.

Transfer Express will have its first session on April 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Admissions Office in University Hall (UHB). Other dates for Transfer Express are June 22 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.), July 18 (3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.), August 8 (3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.), and August 17 (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

Prospective transfer students should bring their official sealed transcripts and application fee to the sessions. Students can talk to an advisor about transferring credits, fill out an application, be admitted, secure financial aid, and even register for classes before leaving. Veterans and other students seeking application fee waivers are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office prior to arrival at 217/206-4847 or admissions@uis.edu.

No advance registration for Transfer Express is necessary. Students expecting to be admitted should have a 2.00 cumulative transfer GPA on a 4.0 scale, have 30 transfer hours by entry to UIS in the fall, and if they are seeking financial aid they should have filed the 2013-2014 FAFSA (UIS school code 009333). Students must be applying for an on-campus program. Online programs are not eligible.

Questions may be directed to the UIS Office of Admissions at 217/206-4847 or to Transfer Coordinator Raymond Barnett at rbarn2@uis.edu.

UIS to celebrate Black History Month 2013

The University of Illinois Springfield will celebrate Black History Month in February with a variety of events designed to educate and raise awareness. The theme of this year’s celebration is “At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington”. The following is a list of events that are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

Friday, February 1 

Soup and Conversation 
The UIS Diversity Center will hold a Soup and Conversation discussion on Friday, February 1 from 2-3:30 p.m. in the Diversity Center, Student Life Building (SLB 22). Participants can enjoy Gumbo Soup, while discussing the film Soul Food Junkies, which explores family, food, and tradition.

Speaker: Omar Tyree 
Omar Tyree will speak on Friday, February 1 at 7 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center, Room C/D (located on the lower level). Tyree is a New York Times best-selling author, journalist, reporter, poet, screenwriter, songwriter, playwright, event host, lecturer, blogger, publishing consultant and literacy advocate. He won a 2001 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literature in Fiction, a 2006 Phillis Wheatley Literary Award for Body of Work in Urban Fiction, and a 2010 HBCU Legends Award for his tireless work in urban literacy.

Saturday, February 2 

Barber and Beauty Shop 
The UIS Black Student Union and Black Male Collegiate Society will sponsor a Barber and Beauty Shop on Saturday, February 2 from 2-6 p.m. in the Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room. Students will be able to get their hair curled, straightened, cut, etc.

Ebony Ball 
The Ebony Ball, a gala showcasing and honoring African American student leaders, will be held on Saturday, February 2 at 9 p.m. in the Student Life Building (SLB Multipurpose Room). The ball will feature a court, similar to homecoming or prom.

Tuesday, February 5 

Virgil Rhodes Concert 
The Division of Student Affairs presents, Dr. Virgil J. Rhodes, Jr. in concert on Tuesday, February 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center Food Emporium. Rhodes is a jazz historian, jazz promoter, jazz performer and college professor. He was a charter member and still performs under the group name Footprints, which plays jazz endues and festivals throughout the world. Virgil never played a musical instrument, until he was 35. Now twenty plus years later, he is a very skilled player on the flute and saxophone and teaching himself how to play acoustic bass and piano.

Saturday, February 9 

Heritage Bowl 
The Heritage Bowl, a game style academic tournament designed to increase knowledge about African American contributions to society, will be held on Saturday, February 9 from 2-5 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium (lower level Brookens Library). The bowl was created to educate and stimulate the minds of UIS students.

Sunday, February 10 

Celebration of Gospel 
A Celebration of Gospel will be held on Sunday, February 10 from 6-9 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium (lower level Brookens Library). The event will celebrate the history of Gospel music and its artists and musicians.

Wednesday, February 13

ECCE Speakers Series: From Maid to Millionaire
The UIS Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “From Maid to Millionaire” featuring Dr. Rhondda Robinson Thomas on Wednesday, February 13 at 7 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium (lower level Brookens Library). Thomas is an assistant professor of African American Literature at Clemson University. In this multi-media presentation, Thomas will examine the neglected stories of African American domestics in the North, particularly the experiences of young African American women who relocated to Cleveland during the Great Migration and found employment, housing, and recreation at the Phillis Wheatley Association (PWA). The African American female domestic has become an iconic figure in Southern culture, literary texts, and popular films such as The Help and Gone with the Wind.

Saturday, February 16 

Heart of a Collegiate Man 
The UIS Black Male Collegiate Society presents “Heart of a Collegiate Man” on Saturday, February 16 from 2-5 p.m. in the Diversity Center, located in the Student Life Building (SLB 22). Dating and relationship topics will be discussed among participants.

Motown in Yo’Town 
UIS will honor Motown on Saturday, February 16 at 10 p.m. with “Motown in Yo’Town” in the Housing Commons. Motown is a recording label that played an important role in racial integration of popular music. This event will consist of music honoring the greats of Motown, film and stage, celebrating music from then to now. There will be acting, karaoke, dancing, and a classical Soul Train line.

Wednesday, February 20 

Speaker: Evelyn Ivy 
The UIS College of Business & Management will host a presentation by alumna Evelyn Ivy, CPA on Wednesday, February 20 from 4-6 p.m. in the PAC Restaurant (lower level Public Affairs Center). Ivy is the founder and CEO of Financial Keepers, a Springfield-based firm. She holds three master’s degrees from UIS in Educational Technology (2005), Business Administration (MBA) (2008), and Accountancy (2009). Ivy knows what it takes to succeed in school, at work, and in life. If you would like to attend, RSVP before February 14, 2013 to UISGAAccountancy@uis.edu.

ECCE Speakers Series: Governance & Human Rights in Gambia 
The UIS Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “Monitoring Governance and Human Rights in Gambia” on Wednesday, February 20 at 7 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium (lower level Brookens Library). Dr. Alieu Taal, a senior faculty member at the University of The Gambia, will discuss the country’s reputation for human rights abuse and disrespect for the rule of law. International efforts are underway to improve Gambia’s human rights record.

Thursday, February 21 

Poetry Night 
The UIS Black Student Union (BSU) presents Poetry Night on Thursday, February 21 at 9 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center Atrium (PAC third floor). BSU’s annual poetry night features the creative writing and performances of UIS students and local poets.

Friday, February 22 

Black Male Collegiate Society Induction 
The UIS Black Male College Society will induct new members during a ceremony on Friday, February 22 from 5-8 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center (Room C/D).

Saturday, February 23 

Byron Hurt Film Screening & Discussion 
Award-winning documentary filmmaker, published writer, anti-sexist activist, and lecturer Byron Hurt will discuss his film, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, following a screening on Saturday, February 23 at 2 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium (lower level Brookens Library). His popular documentary examines representations of gender roles in hip-hop and rap music. Hurt is also the host of the Emmy-nominated series, "Reel Works with Byron Hurt." His latest film, Soul Food Junkies, was released in 2012 and aired nationally on PBS’ Emmy award-winning series, Independent Lens. For more information, visit www.BHurt.com.

Dance Festival 
The UIS Black Student Union (BSU) will hold its second annual Dance Festival on Saturday, February 23 from 8-11 p.m. in the Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room. The event highlights student organizations, such as the Legacy Dance Team, Dancing Stars and Global Rhythm. Students get to see and learn about other cultures through performance and dance.

Sunday, February 24 

Voices in Black
“Voices in Black”, a tribute to African American women though song, dance and spoken word, will take place on Sunday, February 24 from 4-7 p.m. in the Lincoln Residence Hall Great Room. The event will feature a series of monologues and song telling.

Wednesday, February 27 

Speaker: Junior Bridgeman 
Junior Bridgeman, a former NBA player and businessman, will speak on Wednesday, February 27 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon in Brookens Auditorium (lower level Brookens Library). Bridgeman started his basketball career at the University of Louisville and was later drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. Bridgeman spent 12 years playing for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks before entering a career in business. He is currently the president of Bridgeman Foods, which owns and operates 160 Wendy’s restaurants across the country.

ECCE Speakers Series: The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King
The UIS Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speakers Series presents “The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King” featuring Dr. Konrad Hamilton on Wednesday, February 27 at 7 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium (lower level Brookens Library). Hamilton will discuss Dr. King’s legacy in the context of today and how his mission continues. Hamilton holds a Ph.D. in history from Stanford University and is an associate professor of history and chair of American Studies at Knox College.

February 28 – March 1

Illinois History Symposium at UIS
The 2013 Illinois History Symposium, “Slavery and Emancipation: Global Perspectives,” will be held on the UIS campus February 28-March 1. UIS students and faculty, with proper identification, will be admitted free to all presentations, but paid reservations in advance are required for any meals, including the SAGE luncheon on February 28. For more information, visit http://events.uis.edu/2013/01/uis-hosts-2013-illinois-history.html.

For more information on Black History Month events at UIS, contact Dr. Clarice Ford, executive director of the UIS Diversity Center, at 217/206-6333 or cford21@uis.edu.

UIS hosts 35th annual International Student Festival

Join UIS students, faculty, and staff to share an evening of cultural exhibits, artistic performances, food tasting, and more. 

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield presents the 35th annual International Festival with the theme “Spice It Up”.

WHEN: Friday, November 9, 2012 from 5-8 p.m.
  
WHERE: Student Life Building (SLB), located on the east side of the UIS campus. Parking is available in lot B, located next to SLB. A map of campus is available at www.uis.edu/maps/.

DETAILS: For over 30 years, the University of Illinois Springfield family has celebrated its rich international and cultural diversity with the annual International Festival. Friends from the greater Springfield community will be joining UIS students, faculty, and staff to share an evening of cultural recipes and exhibits, artistic performances, food tasting, and more, all with the international flavor that you have come to expect over the years.

Again this year, in order to make the festival accessible to all, we are not charging admission. Guests will have the opportunity to make a recipe book during the event. Every vendor will feature a unique recipe for guests to add to their recipe book.

 Be sure to pick up a program as you enter, so that you can find your way to the exhibits, cuisine, and performances in which you are most interested. Plan to spend some time getting to know people you have never met before, literally from every part of our world!

For more information, contact the Office of International Student Services at 217/206-6678 or e-mail iss@uis.edu.