UIS Public Affairs Reporting Hall of Fame to add five members
Five distinguished graduates of the University of Ăĺ±±˝űµŘ Springfield’s Public Affairs Reporting program will be inducted this summer into the Bill Miller PAR Hall of Fame.
The inductees – Jeremy Finley, Daralene Jones, Phil Jurik, J. Jacqueline McLean and Christine Tressel – were selected by a committee of current PAR Hall of Famers.
Generative AI's role in higher education, inspired by Spiderman
Remember when Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility?”
That quote rings true, especially when we talk about AI in higher education.
Simply put, it means that having a lot of power means you've got a big responsibility to use it wisely. And that's exactly what we're facing with AI in universities.
On one hand, there's a rising concern on college campuses about the potential misuse of generative AI tools like ChatGPT.
UIS adjunct instructor Heath Bruce says,
Laci Engelbrecht named the UIS Employee of the Month for March 2024
Laci Engelbrecht has been named the University of Ăĺ±±˝űµŘ Springfield Employee of the Month for March 2024. She is the director of financial aid.
Her supervisor, Vickie Cook, said that Engelbrecht is extremely reliable and productive.
“I rely on her to ensure that the university is meeting the heavily regulated work of financial aid,” Cook said. “Laci is very dependable and her work is greatly appreciated.”
Engelbrecht’s first nominator praised her for being a rare leader.
FAFSA Updates
Financial Aid Director Laci Engelbrecht hosted a webinar on March 13th to explain changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for students and families. The aim was to help them understand how these changes might affect them. A recording of the webinar is available for those who couldn't attend the live session.
Dr. Karen Moranski receives UIS Distinguished Service Award
The following article was published by NPR Ăĺ±±˝űµŘ March 14, 2024.
Dr. Karen Moranski is the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Sonoma State University, but prior to this role she spent 21 years at the University of Ăĺ±±˝űµŘ Springfield as a faculty member and administrator.
She spoke to Community Voices about her role in creating the Capital Scholars Honors Program at UIS. She also discussed higher education and ways to create a more inclusive experience.
