View source for University of Illinois Springfield

{{Short description|Public university in Springfield, Illinois, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = University of Illinois Springfield
 | image_name             = UIS Logo.png
 | image_upright          = 0.5
 | image_size             = 
 | motto                  = "Leadership Lived"
 | former_name            = Sangamon State University (1969–1995)<br>University of Illinois at Springfield (1995–2021)
 | established            = {{start date and age|1969}}
 | parent                 = [[University of Illinois System]]
 | type                   = [[Public university|Public]] [[liberal arts college|liberal arts university]]
 | academic_affiliations  = [[Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges|COPLAC]]
 | endowment              = $20.4 million (2011)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/springfield-il/university-of-illinois-springfield-9333 |title=University of Illinois-Springfield &#124; University of Illinois Springfield &#124; Best College &#124; US News |publisher=Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com |access-date=2015-07-18 |archive-date=2011-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105200557/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/springfield-il/university-of-illinois-springfield-9333 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 | accreditation          = [[Higher Learning Commission|HLC]]
 | chancellor             = Janet L. Gooch
 | president              = [[Timothy L. Killeen]]
 | academic_staff         = 740<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uis.edu/about/facts/ |title=Rankings & Facts |publisher=University of Illinois Springfield |access-date=2020-10-26 |archive-date=2020-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028211916/https://www.uis.edu/about/facts/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 | enrollment             = 4,661 (fall 2023)<ref name="enrollment"/>
 | undergrad              = 2,342 (fall 2023)<ref name="enrollment">{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=university+of+illinois&s=all&id=148654#enrolmt|title=College Navigator|website=nces.ed.gov|access-date=June 12, 2023}}</ref>
 | postgrad               = 2,319 (fall 2023)<ref name="enrollment"/>
 | city                   = [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]
 | state                  = [[Illinois]]
 | country                = United States
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|39.729021|N|89.617656|W|region:US-IL_type:edu|format=dms|display=title,inline}}
 | campus                 = Midsize city<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Springfield&s=all&id=148654|title=IPEDS - University of Illinois Springfield}}</ref>
 | campus_size            = {{cvt|740|acre}}
 | nickname               = [[UIS Prairie Stars|Prairie Stars]]
 | logo                   = UIS Wordmark.png
 | sporting_affiliations  = [[NCAA Division II]] – [[Great Lakes Valley Conference|GLVC]]
 | colors                 = Deep navy and white<br/>{{color box|#003366}}&nbsp;{{color box|#FFFFFF}}
 | free_label             = Other campuses
 | free                   = [[East Peoria, Illinois|East Peoria]]
 | free_label2            = Newspaper
 | free2                  = ''The Observer''
 | mascot                 = Orion
 | website                = {{URL|https://uis.edu}}
}}

The '''University of Illinois Springfield''' ('''UIS''') is a [[public university]] in [[Springfield, Illinois]], United States. The university was established by the [[Illinois General Assembly]] in 1969 as '''Sangamon State University''' with a focus on [[post-graduate education]]. It became the third member of the [[University of Illinois system]] on July 1, 1995. The university serves 4,198 students as of fall 2022 with 56 bachelor's degrees, 39 minors, 44 master's degrees, one doctoral degree, 37 graduate certificates, and coursework that leads to six ISBE endorsements.<ref name=facts>{{Cite web |title=Rankings & Facts {{!}} University of Illinois Springfield |url=https://www.uis.edu/why-uis/rankings-facts |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=www.uis.edu |language=en}}</ref>

The university now also includes a liberal arts college and is a member of the [[Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges]]. UIS is also a member of the [[American Association of State Colleges and Universities]] and the [[American Council on Education]]. The campus' main repository, Brookens Library, holds a collection of nearly 800,000 books and serials in addition to accessible resources at the [[University of Illinois Chicago]] and [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]] campuses.

==History==

===Sangamon State University (1967–1995)===
In 1967, the [[Illinois General Assembly]] created a Board of Regents to operate [[Illinois State University]] and [[Northern Illinois University]], as well as a third unnamed institution in Springfield.  In 1969, [[Governor of Illinois|Governor]] [[Richard Ogilvie]] signed into law a bill officially creating '''Sangamon State University'''.  It originally operated as an [[upper-division college|"upper-division" university]]—that is, a university that offers only the last two years of undergraduate education, as well as graduate work.  The first classes were held on September 28, 1970, at the former Hotel Leland in downtown Springfield.  In October, SSU began offering classes in the current campus location near [[Lake Springfield]].

Sangamon State aimed to be a "truly pioneering segment of public education" through a spirit of openness, innovation and adaptability.<ref name="uis.edu">{{cite web |url=https://www.uis.edu/about/history-traditions/1970-1971 |title=History of SSU-UIS: 1970-1971 – About - University of Illinois Springfield - UIS |publisher=Uis.edu |date=1971-09-01 |access-date=2022-03-31 |archive-date=2022-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406050143/https://www.uis.edu/about/history-traditions/1970-1971 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The school grew steadily over the years.  Its first permanent building, Brookens Library, was dedicated in 1976, and its Public Affairs Center and first dormitories opened in 1980.

===University of Illinois Springfield (1995–present)===
In 1995, Governor [[Jim Edgar]] signed a bill which abolished the Board of Regents and merged SSU with the University of Illinois system.  On July 1, SSU officially became the University of Illinois Springfield.  [[Naomi B. Lynn|Naomi Lynn]], the last president of SSU, became the first chancellor of UIS.

In 2001, it admitted freshmen for the first time in an honors program called the "Capital Scholars". On September 8, 2005, the University of Illinois Board of Trustees approved a new general education curriculum, making UIS a full-fledged four-year university for the first time. Freshmen were slated to be admitted under the general education curriculum beginning in fall 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://library.uis.edu/archives/chronology.html |title=UIS Chronology &#124; Archives and Illinois Regional Archives Depository |publisher=Library.uis.edu |access-date=July 18, 2015 |archive-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722000304/http://library.uis.edu/archives/chronology.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Campus==
[[File:University of Illinois at Springfield campus, outside commons area-2009.jpg|thumb|The Colonnade]]

The University of Illinois Springfield is located six miles southeast of Springfield, occupying 740 acres of prairie land adjacent to [[Lake Springfield]] and [[Lincoln Land Community College]].<ref name="uis.edu"/> In 1841, the land was acquired by Thomas Strawbridge Jr., a prosperous saddler and harness maker in Springfield. The [[Strawbridge-Shepherd House|Thomas Strawbridge homestead]], constructed around 1845, still stands on the south edge of the University of Illinois Springfield campus and was restored in 2012.

Today, there are three easily identifiable areas on campus: Legacy Campus, SSU Permanent Construction, and the University of Illinois era. The first permanent construction on campus, Brookens Library was completed in 1976 and the Public Affairs Center, was completed in Fall of 1980.<ref name="uis.edu"/> These buildings were the first part of a master plan of 1970–1971 that called for an "urban campus" surrounded by restored prairie land, free of all vehicular traffic and easily navigable by pedestrians. All permanent campus buildings would be located within a "ring road", now known as University Drive. The Public Affairs Center also houses [[Sangamon Auditorium]], a 2,018 seat [[concert hall]] and [[performing arts]] center built in 1981. It occupies the entire second level of the Public Affairs Center.

===Legacy Campus===
The Legacy Campus hosts an array of student services and facilities buildings. There is also the Cox Children's Center which was established in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cox Children's Center - Cox Children's Center - UIS|url=https://www.uis.edu/childcarecenter/|access-date=2021-09-27|website=www.uis.edu|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927064116/https://www.uis.edu/childcarecenter/|url-status=live}}</ref> Some of the key buildings on this part of campus are the [[WUIS]] building, Student Life Building (SLB), Business Services Building (BSB), Human Resources Building (HRB), Student Affairs Building (SAB), and the Visual & Performing Arts Building (VPA).
[[File:University of Illinois at Springfield, campus directory sign and courtyard.jpg|thumb|Legacy Campus]]

===Residence life===
UIS offers four living options for more than 1,100 students.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uis.edu/residencelife |title=Residence Life {{!}} University of Illinois Springfield |access-date=2021-09-25 |archive-date=2021-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925035944/https://www.uis.edu/residencelife |url-status=live }}</ref> On the East Campus there are four courts of apartments, one being designated for family housing including Sunflower, Larkspur, CLover, and Bluebell Courts. There is also the housing office at Homer L. Butler Commons (HCOM). On West Campus there are 96 townhouses encompassed within Pennyroyal, Marigold, Trillium and Foxglove court. For first and second year students there are two residence halls, Lincoln Residence Hall (LRH) and Founders Residence Hall (FRH).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uis.edu/residencelife/ApplyforHousing/housing-options-and-amenities/housing-amenities |title=Housing Amenities |publisher=University of Illinois Springfield |access-date=2021-09-25 |archive-date=2021-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925035946/https://www.uis.edu/residencelife/ApplyforHousing/housing-options-and-amenities/housing-amenities |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Academics==
The University of Illinois Springfield has been offering online courses and degrees since 1999. Currently UIS offers 56 bachelor's degrees, 39 minors, 44 master's degree, one doctoral degree, 37 graduate certificates and coursework that leads to six ISBE endorsements.<ref name=facts/>

===Colleges===
* College of Business and Management
* College of Health, Science, and Technology
* College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
* College of Public Affairs & Education

==Student life==

===Student newspaper===
The ''UIS Observer'' is the student online news publication.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Observer – Award-winning, student-run, weekly campus newspaper of the University of Illinois, Springfield |url=https://uisobserver.com/ |access-date=2022-09-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Greek organizations===
* [[Alpha Phi Alpha]]
* [[Delta Kappa Epsilon]]
* [[Phi Beta Sigma]]
* [[Phi Kappa Tau]]
* [[Sigma Lambda Beta]]

====Sororities====
* [[Alpha Kappa Alpha]]
* [[Delta Sigma Theta]]
* [[Gamma Phi Omega]]
* [[Sigma Sigma Sigma]]
* [[Zeta Phi Beta]]

===Transportation===
The main campus of UIS is accessible via [[Sangamon Mass Transit District]]. Routes 11, 15, and 905 provide bus service from campus to the [[Lincoln Land Community College]] and to downtown Springfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5304fe29e4b0658094be390f/t/5ff31b6310ee9f5922bccf3a/1609767795575/Jan+2021+Sked+Book+v1.0+%28web%29.pdf|title=SMTD Rider Guide|access-date=July 24, 2023}}</ref>

==Athletics==
{{Main|Illinois–Springfield Prairie Stars}}
[[file:UIS_Prairie_Stars_logo.svg|thumb|Current athletics logo]]
The Illinois–Springfield (UIS) athletic teams are called the Prairie Stars. The university is a member of the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] level of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA), primarily competing in the [[Great Lakes Valley Conference]] (GLVC) since the 2009–10 academic year, which they became a full-fledged Division II member on August 1, 2010. The Prairie Stars previously competed in the [[American Midwest Conference]] (AMC) of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) from 2003–04 to 2008–09.

UIS competes in 15 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.

==Notable alumni and faculty==
<!-- This section is linked from [[University of Illinois system]] -->

===Alumni===
* [[Cheri Bustos]], former U.S. representative, Illinois's 17th district (M.A. Public Affairs Reporting)<ref>{{cite news|title=Cheri Bustos|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cheri-bustos/e8b15fa2-4bb6-11e2-8758-b64a2997a921_topic.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611015535/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cheri-bustos/e8b15fa2-4bb6-11e2-8758-b64a2997a921_topic.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=7 October 2013|date=25 December 2012}}</ref> 
* [[Mike Cernovich]], right-wing social media personality and host of ''[[The Alex Jones Show]]'' on [[InfoWars]] (2001 B.A. Philosophy)<ref>{{cite news|title=Oliver Darcy|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html|work=CNN Money|access-date=1 February 2021|date=3 May 2017|archive-date=7 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507021733/http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 
* [[Ward Churchill]], former [[University of Colorado at Boulder|University of Colorado]] [[professor]], [[social critic]], [[activist]] (1974 B.A. Communications, 1975 M.A. Communications)<ref name="NNDB">{{cite web|url=http://www.nndb.com/edu/634/000082388/|title=University of Illinois Springfield|author=NNDB|access-date=2007-11-30|archive-date=2007-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210201154/http://www.nndb.com/edu/634/000082388/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Vince Demuzio]], Illinois state senator, 1975–2004 (1981 B.A. in Education and Human Services; 1996 M.A. in Education and Public Policy)<ref name="Illinois Blue Book, 2005-2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/illinois_bluebook/2005_2006/legislative_branch/demuzio.pdf|title=Vince DeMuzio|author=Illinois Secretary of State's Office|access-date=2007-11-30 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080216001608/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/illinois_bluebook/2005_2006/legislative_branch/demuzio.pdf |archive-date = 2008-02-16}}</ref> 
* [[Karen A. Hasara]], former mayor of [[Springfield, Illinois]], Illinois state senator, (1972 B.A. Psychology, 1992 M.A. Legal Studies)<ref>{{cite web|title=Karen A. Hasara|url=http://www.bot.uillinois.edu/hasara|publisher=The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois|access-date=7 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131008012022/http://www.bot.uillinois.edu/hasara|archive-date=8 October 2013}}</ref> 
* [[Kyle Gupton]], basketball player<ref>{{cite web |title=Men's Basketball / Kyle Gupton |url=https://uisprairiestars.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=544 |website=uisprairiestars.com}}</ref>
* [[Gordon S. Heddell]], former [[United States Department of Defense]] inspector general (1975 M.A. Legal Studies)<ref name="NNDB"/>
* [[Jim Langfelder]], former mayor of [[Springfield, Illinois]]
* [[Al Lewis (columnist)|Al Lewis]], columnist, Dow Jones Newswires<ref>{{cite news|title=Al Lewis (columnist)|url=http://extras.denverpost.com/business/albio.html|publisher=The Denver Post|access-date=7 October 2013|archive-date=10 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610194728/http://extras.denverpost.com/business/albio.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 
* [[Kimberly Lightford]], current member, [[Illinois State Senate]]
* [[Bobby McFerrin]], vocal performer and conductor (attended 1975, did not complete degree)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoenburg |first=Bernard |title=Illinois ball has glitz, glamour - and Bobby McFerrin |url=https://www.rrstar.com/story/news/2009/01/20/illinois-ball-has-glitz-glamour/47473972007/ |access-date=2024-01-29 |work=Rockford Register Star |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Milton J. Nieuwsma]], author, [[Emmy]]-winning filmwriter-producer (1978 M.A.)<ref>{{cite web|title=Milton J. Nieuwsma|url=http://www.midlandauthors.com/nieuwsma.html|publisher=The Society of Midland Authors|access-date=7 October 2013|archive-date=8 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208152641/http://www.midlandauthors.com/nieuwsma.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Richard Oruche]], shooting guard on the Nigerian national basketball team (2010 B.A. Business Administration)
* [[Richard Osborne]], former CEO of [[Scotsman Industries]]
* [[Dana Perino]], White House Press Secretary for the [[George W. Bush]] administration (1995 M.A. Public Affairs Reporting)<ref name="University of Illinois Springfield">{{cite web|url=http://www.uis.edu/newsreleases/2007/08/31-UISalumnamedWhiteHousepresssecretarybyPresidentBush.html|title=UIS alum named White House press secretary by President Bush|author=University of Illinois Springfield|access-date=2007-11-30|archive-date=2007-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070922202727/http://www.uis.edu/newsreleases/2007/08/31-UISalumnamedWhiteHousepresssecretarybyPresidentBush.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Elgie Sims]], current member, [[Illinois Senate]]
* [[Russell Smith (producer)|Russell Smith]], movie producer
* [[Thom Serafin]], communications consultant
* [[Uche Montana]], Nigerian sanate and a communication expert from [Ibadan].

===Faculty===
* [[Michael Burlingame (historian)|Michael Burlingame]], historian
* [[John Knoepfle]], poet and translator
* [[Phillip S. Paludan]], historian
* [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]], political scientist

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://uisprairiestars.com/ Athletics website]

{{University of Illinois system}}
{{Great Lakes Valley Conference navbox}}
{{Public colleges and universities in Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:University of Illinois at Springfield| ]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Public liberal arts colleges in the United States]]
[[Category:Public universities and colleges in Illinois|University of Illinois Springfield]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Higher Learning Commission]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1969]]
[[Category:University of Illinois System campuses|Springfield]]