As we step into 2025, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the
strides the University of Illinois Springfield made in 2024. The past year was
marked by innovation, community engagement and milestones that have positioned
UIS as a leader in education and service. These achievements reflect our
mission to provide a uniquely student-centered educational experience both in
and out of the classroom.
Innovation in learning and research
UIS is a hub for creativity, problem-solving and
entrepreneurship. In 2024, Innovate Springfield, our business incubator, led
several initiatives that empowered students and the community. TechX, a high
school robotics and engineering program, taught 45 students how to design,
manufacture and code. More than 40 high school students also participated in
the Sangamon CEO program, an entrepreneurship class that teaches them how to
launch businesses. Innovate Springfield also hosts regular business startup pitch
competitions. In October, a team of UIS students earned $10,000 in seed
funding. These efforts showcase the incubator’s role in fostering innovative
thinking and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.
UIS also redefined learning spaces in modern and
non-traditional ways. For example, English students explored video game
narratives as literature in the UIS Esports Arena, showing how education can
evolve to engage today’s learners.
In research, our partnership with the SIU School of Medicine
addressed critical questions about cancer, exploring how cells collaborate to
facilitate its spread. UIS continues to demonstrate how higher education can
lead to solutions for real-world challenges.
Strengthening community connections
In 2024, UIS deepened its commitment to meeting the
workforce needs of central Illinois. Thanks to a donation from Memorial Health,
we introduced two Anatomage tables to our classrooms, giving students
interactive, high-tech tools to study human anatomy.
We also tackled teacher and lab specialist shortages by
launching new programs. A $145,000 Grow Your Own Teachers grant allowed us to
form a consortium to combat the teacher shortage, while four new medical
laboratory science certificates are helping to prepare students for critical
healthcare roles.
And as they do each year, our students collected more than
9,000 pounds of food during the annual Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods event,
supporting local families and reinforcing the importance of community service.
Creating a vibrant student experience
At UIS, we prioritize fostering a sense of belonging. In
2024, we launched a new, engaging First-Year Student Convocation to welcome new
students to the university in a more meaningful way. The event brought the full
campus together and was followed by an outdoor celebration with food trucks,
music and entertainment.
Additionally, Commencement returned to campus. Held in the
UIS Performing Arts Center’s Sangamon Auditorium, the ceremonies celebrated the
beginning of a new chapter for our 1,051 graduates while providing
opportunities for families and other loved ones to see our beautiful campus in
full display.
Excellence in athletics and academics
Our student-athletes achieved remarkable success in 2024,
with 12 of our 15 teams competing in conference championships or tournaments.
Highlights included women’s basketball earning its first victory over the
nationally ranked Drury Panthers and women’s golfer Elaine Grant competing at
the national level.
Additionally, UIS hosted the Great Lakes Valley Conference Cross
Country and Volleyball championships, drawing athletes and fans to the area and
boosting the local economy.
Recognitions and advancements
For the sixth consecutive year, UIS was named the top public
regional university in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report. The 2025
rankings also placed UIS as the seventh-best public regional university in the
Midwest.
UIS is also embracing artificial intelligence, with several
initiatives under way, including an AI Campus Learning Community, new eLearning
Courses, and a prototype AI Liberal Arts Lab. Last spring, UIS announced it is
part of a $25,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant exploring the
role of AI in higher education.
Celebrating together
In 2024, UIS hosted events that brought the community
together. A watch party for a nearly total eclipse in April drew hundreds to
campus, offering a moment of awe and connection. Meanwhile, the UIS Sangamon
Experience premiered “Soil & Soul: Farming in the Sangamon River Valley,” a
documentary and exhibit celebrating the farmers who sustain our region. The
exhibit is currently on display on the lower level of the Public Affairs
Center.
Last fall, under the theme “Legacy Ignited,” Homecoming 2024
united alumni, students, faculty and staff in a celebration of UIS pride. These
events demonstrated the power of coming together to reflect on our shared past
and look ahead to a bright future.
Looking Forward
As we begin 2025, I am filled with gratitude for the
faculty, staff and students whose hard work made these achievements possible.
UIS is a place where innovation thrives, communities are strengthened and
futures are built. Together, we will continue to advance our mission and create
new opportunities for success.
Here’s to another year of growth, collaboration and
excellence.
Janet L. Gooch, Ph.D., is the chancellor of the
University of Illinois Springfield.
This article appears in A critical loss for District 186.
