Official Employee Announcements

Beginning July 5, 2010, the Motor Pool office will have new operating hours, when motor pool keys may be picked up.  

The new weekday hours shall be;   8AM to Noon and 1PM to 4PM, Monday through Friday and the office shall be closed
between Noon and 1PM.

Should you need a vehicle prior to 8AM, or after 4PM, or on a weekend, please make arrangements with Cindy during the new operating hours.  Should you have any questions, or concerns, please contact Cindy by phone, or e-mail, at the number listed below.

Thank you for your continued cooperation,

Cindy Ervin
Transportation Supervisor

Dear members of the University of Illinois community,

I’m delighted to be starting my first day at the University of Illinois.

Virginia and I appreciate the warm welcome you’ve given us during our transition to the University and back to the Midwest.

We’ve heard from many of you since the announcement of my appointment as president, and I want you to know that I’m grateful for your support, your ideas, and your good wishes for our success together.

Let’s never lose sight of the fact that in its long and distinguished history, the University of Illinois and its people have accomplished great things and remain at the pinnacle of American higher education. We have much more to accomplish together.

There are significant challenges ahead, but the University of Illinois has among the nation’s finest faculty, staff, students and alumni. We cannot, and will not, permit these difficult economic times to deter us from setting our sights high as we start the University’s next chapter. Our expertise, innovation, resilience, and commitment to enhancing the well-being of the people of this state — and the world — will help us rise to these challenges.

The University is an incredible asset to Illinois and one that can help the state get back on track.

Starting today, I’ll be engaged in a kind of “listening tour” to learn more about the opportunities and challenges we can address together. I hope to meet as many of you as possible so that I can hear your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions.

The Midwest has always been our home. I can’t tell you how happy Virginia and I are to be returning to our roots, near our family, in the land and among the people we treasure.

July 1st is more than my first day on the job. It is also the 15th anniversary of the Springfield campus joining the University of Illinois. The evolution of our university is one of growth, change, and achievement.

The University of Illinois is a great university in a great state. We’re proud to be the newest members of the University of Illinois family.

Sincerely,

Mike Hogan

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Karen Kirkendall has been appointed Director of the Capital Scholars Program, pending Board of Trustees approval at its July meeting. 

For the past three years, Karen has served admirably as interim director of the program, stepping in at the point that Dr. Karen Moranski became Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education.  Karen’s tenure as interim director has been marked by her high level of dedication to the students and increasing the reputation of the program throughout the state.

Dr. Kirkendall is an Associate Professor of Liberal & Integrative Studies.  Her teaching and scholarly focus is in development psychology.  She is an expert on autism and related disorders.  Her prior administrative experience includes serving as Chair of the Psychology Program and Director of the Office of Undergraduate Assessment.  She has provided strong leadership over the years for the Faculty Personnel Policies Committee and the UIS Chapter of AAUP.

Please join me in wishing her the best in her new role.

Harry J. Berman, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

I am deeply grateful to the members of the Administrative Review and Restructuring Work Group for their effort and commitment to the challenging task placed in front of them last November. The group was ably led by Dr. Craig Bazzani and Dr. Avijit Ghosh and I wish to express my special appreciation to them and to each of the members of the work group. The aim was – and remains – the identification of avenues to improve service while reducing costs. Doing that will not be easy, but events of the last year and the fiscal and political landscape that lie ahead make it even more crucial than when we began.

The real challenge, however, is one of execution. Good ideas and recommendations are useless sitting on the shelf, gathering dust alongside other well-intentioned efforts in the past. The work group presents forty-three recommendations across organizational and functional areas which need more study and refinement, but they also require action.

In May, I brought to the Board of Trustees the work group’s proposal that the positions of Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President for Technology and Economic Development be consolidated and the Board approved the recommendation. Additional steps, including needed changes in the General Rules, await the arrival of President Michael Hogan in July. This initial step, however, is intended to signal a much broader opportunity to improve functioning by reducing the number of senior executive positions at all levels, reducing layers of management, and capturing the synergies to improve performance.

Another key recommendation of the work group is to craft stronger partnerships among the Foundation, Alumni Association and other externally facing “University advancement and development” functions. This recommendation has the support of the respective boards and has never been more important and urgent given the difficult economic and political times we are experiencing.

We can and must capture savings in the information technology and procurement areas across the entire University. Examples include consolidation of data centers, e-mail and calendaring services and a centrally-led procurement model which maximizes strategic purchases for high-usage supplies and services.

As the work group observed, talented, dedicated people are the University’s most precious asset. Still, there is no one point in the University at which human resource policies are monitored and managed. The consequence is an outdated, rule-driven system of personnel policies and decisions. We must be smarter and do better. While the work group did not hire outside consultants, as we move into the implementation phase, such assistance may be necessary. The need for improved human resource policies and systems presents a case in point.

A parallel effort of academic program review has been occurring on each campus. The Chancellors are leading a review of academic priorities, structures, processes, and policies. I make special note of these efforts since academic transformation may be even more challenging than the administrative reform, but it carries even greater long-term significance.

None of these steps will be easy. Change will not occur overnight but it must occur promptly. The University must achieve the savings and improvements now. As I leave the presidency, President Hogan has asked me to accept personal responsibility for guiding these efforts and I have agreed to do so. I will form a small implementation team to facilitate review and consultation and will advise President Hogan and the Chancellors regarding next steps. I will also meet with the University Senates Conference and others, including the Board of Trustees, to seek their support and advice.

Above all, the University must control its destiny and safeguard its future. Each of us can and must contribute to this transformation. The work group’s report is posted at www.uillinois.edu/arr/Reports/. Your ideas and suggestions are needed and welcome.

It has been my privilege to serve as your President for the past six months. More than you will ever know, I thank you for your confidence and support. I look forward to being your colleague in the months and years ahead. For all you contribute to the University of Illinois, I am deeply grateful.

Stanley O. Ikenberry

President

Sent on behalf of the Office of Web Services

The Office of Web Services is freshening the University of Illinois Springfield home page. The basic links and structure are still there. We've condensed the amount of space, updated the look, and technically, the architecture of the page is more robust.

Click here to see a working version of the page:
http://www.uis.edu/index2010.html

Send your comments and suggestions via this online form:
http://illinois.edu/goto/uisfeedback

We hope to upload the finalized home page by August 1, 2010. Thank you for helping us make the UIS website the best it can be.