Gender & Sexuality Student Services

All Gender and Sexuality Student Services programs and initiatives, including those outlined below, are open to all members of the campus community. We encourage campus community members from all backgrounds and identities to engage with our events below.

Numerous events occur throughout the year that create awareness, provide education, and social opportunities. Some of our events are Queertober, Trans* Visibility Week, Day of Silence to Take Back the Night, and Lavender Graduation (part of the Prairie PROUD Graduation Celebration). We also offer opportunities to be involved in our weekly events: Fluidity, Shades, and LGBTea. Any LGBTQIA+ and allied individuals are welcome to join in all Gender & Sexuality Student Services events! You can find all event details on UIS Connection! Contact us for any specific questions or accommodations.

Queertober

Queertober is a month full of events that celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community! In the month of October, we host a variety of events in collaboration with campus partners as an opportunity to show some extra pride and allyship. Some staple events during the month are National Coming Out Day and International Pronouns Day.

Women's History Month and Trans* Visibility Week Event - Spring 2024

**Trans* Visibility Week (TVW)**

TVW provides engaging educational events pertaining to the trans community. The week occurs in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31st, which is dedicated to celebrating trans* people and raising awareness of prejudice and discrimination faced by trans* individuals worldwide.

Day of Silence to Take Back the Night

Day of Silence is an annual day of action to spread awareness about the effects of the bullying and harassment of the LGBTQIA+ community and the silence of others. On this day, people participating take a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent the silence of others and the silencing of LGBTQIA+ individuals. The Day of Silence exists to create change for schools and communities. We host an annual Take Back the Night march and rally, in collaboration with the UIS Women's Center, to ask the UIS community to unite and for individuals to speak up and speak out against violence.

Prairie PROUD Graduation Celebration - Spring 2025

Lavender Graduation Celebration

The Lavender Graduation Celebration is a cultural celebration that recognizes those with marginalized gender and sexuality identities (LGBTQIA+) and allied students of all backgrounds. The ceremony acknowledges their achievements and contributions to the university as students who survived the college experience thanks to their activities and education at UIS. All students are eligible to participate and no qualifications are required. Students and student groups can be nominated for a variety of awards that are to be presented during the reception following the celebration. Graduating students receive a lavender cord and stole to wear during commencement and signed certificate. This celebration is in conjunction with the Prairie PROUD Graduation Celebration (including Hispanic/Latine Graduation and Black Graduation).

LGBTea

LGBTea is a weekly social. It offers a comfortable, accepting, and non-judgmental social atmosphere for LGBTQIA+ and allied students. LGBTea operates out of our Student Lounge (Student Life Bldg. Rm 22) and students hang out, watch movies, listen to music, make plans for the weekend, and play games (Just to name a few!). We host these socials weekly throughout the academic year, but may be adjusted based on campus scheduling, programming needs, and holidays.

Fluidity

Want a safe & private group to share coming out stories, explore your identity, and listen to other UIS students? This weekly group is facilitated by GSSS staff. Students across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and their allies meet on a weekly basis and discuss topics relevant to their experiences including campus, community and interpersonal situation. Fluidity provides a safe and private space for students. It provides support and advocacy for it’s attendees and is a judgment-free zone.

Sip 'n Paint - Fall 2018

Shades

Shades is a discussion group for students. The goal of this group is to create a brave space through which we can explore topics of identity and bring together QTPOC (Queer & Trans* People of Color) and allied students on campus.

Contact

zalwi2 — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 22:13:47 +0000

Contact zalwi2 Wed, 02/16/2022 - 16:13

Gender and Sexuality Student Services

Student Life Building (SLB) 22
University of �山�� Springfield
One University Plaza
Springfield, �山�� 62703-5407

Email: gss@uis.edu
Phone: 217-206-8316

GSSS Program Coordinator

Dre Duvendack

She/They

Email: aduve2@uis.edu
Phone: 217-206-8411
Office: Student Life Building (SLB) 22H

GSSS Graduate Assistant

Office: Student Life Building (SLB) 22

Diversity Center Linktree

Location (with Dual Entrances)

A renovated 750 square foot suite opened in the fall of 2010.
The suite houses a student lounge, the Affirmation Station, and staff offices.
Located adjacent to the Diversity Center, Student Life Building Room 22H-J.
Two entrances are available:
- The main outer door entrance faces the Business Services Building around the corner from the Student Life Plaza.
- A second entrance is located within the Diversity Center in the Student Life Building Room 22.

Donate Today!

Give

Safe Zone / Brave Space

zalwi2 — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 21:59:37 +0000

Safe Zone / Brave Space zalwi2 Wed, 02/16/2022 - 15:59

Want to participate in Safe Zone/Brave Space sessions? Follow us on UIS Connection for future opportunities!

What is Safe Zone/Brave Space?

“This is a safe place to talk about LGBTQIA+ and topics about sexual orientation and gender. I encourage difficult conversations and take actionable steps to be more inclusive.“

The Safe Zone program has rebranded as of Fall 2019. You are invited to become a Safe Zone/Brave Space member and display the sign on your office door. Although the program has always been about supporting students and asking members to engage in brave difficult conversations while working towards inclusion, this new name intends to send a stronger message of an action oriented mission for the members. Members agree that they work to provide a personal space that is free from homophobia, heterosexism, and transphobia; welcome difficult conversations on these topics; and serve as a resource to students with marginalized sexual and gender identities (LGBTQIA+).

The Safe Zone program’s mission is to promote awareness and improve the campus climate through educational opportunities that train participants on issues faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals and those with marginalized gender and sexual identities, advocacy and intervention skills, intersectionality, and creating welcoming and supportive spaces for LGBTQIA+ students, those with marginalized gender and sexual identities, student allies, and all members of the UIS community.

The objectives for this program are:

Improve the campus climate and foster belonging of LGBTQIA+ individuals and those with marginalized gender and sexual identities.
Increase awareness and conversations of issues faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals and those with marginalized gender and sexual identities.
Provide ongoing educational opportunities for participants that emphasizes intersectionality.
Educate and provide advocacy and intervention skills to participants when confronted with exclusionary, discriminatory, and prejudicial rhetoric and behavior towards LGBTQIA+ individuals and those with marginalized gender and sexual identities.
Train participants on creating more welcoming and supportive spaces.

Potential members must complete Fundamentals (online) and two advanced sessions (Transgender, Bi/Pansexuality, Religion, Safe Dating, NCBI Bias & Prejudice, or History). Earn the new Brave Space certification and the new sign by attending a Brave Space dialogue and sign the Brave Space Certification Pledge. UIS employees are approved for Release Time with permission of supervisor. All students, staff, and faculty are eligible to join.

InQUEERy

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InQUEERy zalwi2 Wed, 02/16/2022 - 15:49

Description

Students are trained to interact with their peers and stand up against homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism Students are trained to interact with their peers and stand up against homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism and other transgressions through innovative activities and workshops. InQUEERy peer educators deliver workshops and other activities for residence halls, classrooms, athletic teams, student organizations, and more! Using their personal narrative, peer educator training, and topical knowledge, students share their stories while integrating contemporary issues. Programs are available by request and available to any UIS group or department.

Scholarships

Students receive a $500 scholarship per semester after 1 year of InQUEERy involvement. Honorary members are still in their first year of involvement and receive $250 scholarship per semester. Interested students should fill out the InQUEERy team application form, which will be considered at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, depending on the amount of open positions.

Request a Program

Programs are available by request and available to any UIS group or department. Please use the Inqueery Peer Education Presentation request form. Requests are subject to the availability of peer educators and must be submitted four weeks in advance. You will contacted by a staff member after completion.

InQUEERy Interactive Programs & Activities

Crossing the Line: In this, the presenters engage students in an activity called Crossing the Line. Crossing the Line highlights contemporary information about LGBTQ+ rights and legislation by asking participants to move across a line in the middle of the room to express the answer they believe is correct. After each question, a brief facilitated discussion ensues that also includes information to be better inform. The activity is followed by a Q&A session for the audience. Estimated time: 60-90 minutes.
Gender this Stick Figure: This lighthearted and fun presentation educates on and deconstructs the gender binary. The presenters will have two stick figures, without any markings. The participants will be asked to provide descriptive suggestions that define each stick figure such as hair, tops, bottoms, accessories, job, identities, etc. The presenters will then deconstruct the process of gendering the stick figures, show that the gender binary is strong and present in society, and how that is challenging to many. Difficult and uncommon terminology will be defined and explained, which gives the presentation a deeper meaning. 60-90 minutes.
Guess the Straight Person: This is a fun, exciting, and interactive game show type presentation, where the audience will ask questions to a set of contestants with the goal of trying to guess the individuals’ sexual orientations. Through this, the audience will learn stereotypes that are commonly attributed to the LGBTQIA+ community and the basis of their origin. The learning objective is to get the idea that it is not possible to tell someone’s orientation by outward appearances, interests, hobbies, etc. The presentation includes some personal stories and an open question and answer format. 60-90 minutes.

Our Programs

zalwi2 — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 21:46:35 +0000

Our Programs zalwi2 Wed, 02/16/2022 - 15:46

Get involved in LGBTQIA+ Life at UIS

In addition to the many events hosted through the Gender & Sexuality Student Services, there are also some core programs that are offered to the UIS community!

Safe Zone / Brave Space

The Safe Zone / Brave Space program’s mission is to promote awareness and improve the campus climate through educational opportunities that train participants on issues faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals and those with marginalized gender and sexual identities, advocacy and intervention skills, intersectionality, and creating welcoming and supportive spaces for LGBTQIA+ students, those with marginalized gender and sexual identities, student allies, and all members of the UIS community.

InQUEERy Peer Educator and Scholarship Program

Students are trained to interact with their peers and stand up against homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism and other transgressions through innovative activities and workshops. InQUEERy peer educators deliver workshops and other activities for residence halls, classrooms, athletic teams, student organizations, and more! Using their personal narrative, peer educator training, and topical knowledge, students share their stories while integrating contemporary issues. Presentations are available by request and available to any UIS group or department.

Affirmation Station

In need of identity-affirming clothing, accessories, and MORE? The Affirmation Station is a free, no-strings-attached, identity-affirming initiative for UIS students. Items available include but are not limited to: clothes, shoes, accessories, makeup, and hair products. Stop by and select anything you would like! Bags can be provided for discreet travel. The Affirmation Station can be found in the GSSS hallway, located in the Student Life Building, Suite 22. Typical operating hours are Monday – Friday from 9am-5pm. You can also access the GSSS hallway directly by entering through our discreet side-entrance located on the east side of the building. Looking for something specific? Fill out a request form to let us know! If you are interested in donating items to the Affirmation Station, please contact us at gss@uis.edu or 217-206-8316 to arrange a drop off.

LGBTQ+ Scholarships

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LGBTQ+ Scholarships zalwi2 Mon, 02/14/2022 - 13:26

LGBTQIA+ Related Scholarships

Learn about scholarships and grants for undergraduate and/or graduate LGBTQIA+ students, students with marginalized gender and sexual identities, and allied students. Scholarships are gift aid (i.e. money you do not have to repay). Scholarships may be awarded solely based on academic merit, or they may be awarded based on merit and additional criteria including academic concentration, community involvement, leadership, or financial need, among others.

UIS Gender & Sexuality Student Services’ InQUEERy trains students to interact with their peers to stand up against homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism and other transgressions through innovative activities and workshops. Students receive a $500 scholarship per semester after one year. Honorary members still learning to be a peer educator and that are still within their first year of the program receive a $250 scholarship per semester.
The Acorn Equality Fund is accepting applications for scholarships of $1,000 to $4,000 for LGBT students, allies, or their children in downstate �山��. These scholarships recognize achievements in numerous areas and applications are typically due every September.
The #TransgenderFirst Scholarship is the first national scholarship exclusively dedicated to helping underserved Transgender students get affordable access to a college education.
Human Rights Campaign LGBTQ Student Scholarship Database includes access to scholarships for students across the country and in specific regions of the country.

Gender & Sexuality Student Services

jbaum02s — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:54:05 +0000

Gender & Sexuality Student Services jbaum02s Thu, 02/03/2022 - 08:54

Gender and Sexuality Student Services provides education, advocacy, support, and a safe space for students with marginalized gender and sexual identities (LGBTQIA+) and their allies.

In alignment with our mission to foster a supportive environment for all students that values and encourages individuals of all backgrounds and identities to engage with our programs and initiatives, no individuals will be excluded from full and equal participation in the activities, services, and functions of this program based on their identification as a member of a protected class. We welcome the participation of all members of the UIS Community as their interests and our programs align.

Our Mission

The mission of the Gender and Sexuality Student Services is to provide education, advocacy, support, and a safe space for students with marginalized gender and sexual identities and their allies at UIS. Gender and Sexuality Student Services presents educational, cultural, and social opportunities for all students to challenge intolerance and promote affirmation in an effort to create a more inclusive and affirming campus climate for those with marginalized sexual and gender identities.

Education • Advocacy • Support

As part of the Diversity Center and Division of Student Affairs, we work closely with other entities in the division and across the campus to provide the most appropriate service and support to students.

The offices and Rainbow Lounge are located in the Student Life Building, Suite 22, attached to the Diversity Center. Hours of operation are typically M-F, 9AM-5PM. Please email us at gss@uis.edu if you would like to schedule a meeting. The main office phone number is 217-206-8316.

Points of Pride

Rated the #3 most LGBTQ Friendly College/University for 2018-2019 by Affordable Colleges Online.
Our Tenth Anniversary was in August 2017
Our peer education program, InQUEERy, is the only peer to peer educational and scholarship program at UIS.
The Safe Zone / Brave Space program has over 300 active people at UIS who have participated in workshops, with more than 100 Safe Zone Certified members on our campus!
The annual event on National Coming Out Day (October 11) has become an indelible part of the UIS campus culture.

Graduate Education

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Graduate Education jbaum02s Mon, 07/12/2021 - 15:46

Welcome to Graduate Education at UIS

We are pleased that you have chosen to explore our graduate degree and certificate programs. More than 40% of UIS students are engaged in graduate study, and most were attracted to UIS by an impressive combination of factors that include educational quality, value and campus location and setting.

Faculty

UIS faculty members are talented researchers and scholars who enjoy and excel at teaching. Many of our graduate programs provide exceptional opportunities for students to engage in faculty-supervised scholarship, research or highly valued pre-professional practical experiences as part of degree work. Our classrooms are technologically sophisticated, and we have received national recognition for our innovative use of educational technology and institution-wide excellence in online teaching and learning.

Affordability

As a public institution in the Midwest, UIS tuition rates are affordable and very cost-competitive. Online courses are popular even among our on-campus graduate students, and many of our part-time students find that they can reduce their commuting time and costs by taking advantage of our online and blended courses. UIS also offers a number of competitive graduate assistantship and internship programs that can be a significant source of support while completing a graduate degree.

Application Process

Graduate students should be sure to check specific program requirements; there may be an additional application for the program you wish to enter.

Review program requirements and academic information

Apply to UIS

Graduate Programs at UIS

We have a lot to offer with our dynamic master’s programs and doctoral program in fields that include technology, business, education, science, government, public health and the humanities.

In addition to our master's and doctoral programs, we offer several graduate certificates.

Graduate

Accounting, MA

Degree Program

Graduate

Athletic Training, MATR

Degree Program

Graduate

Business Administration, MBA

Degree Program

Graduate

Communication, MA

Degree Program

Graduate

Computer Science, MS

Degree Program

Graduate

Cybersecurity Management, MS

Degree Program

Graduate

Data Analytics, MS

Degree Program

Graduate

Education, MA

Degree Program

Graduate

Educational Leadership, MA

Degree Program

Graduate

Environmental Health, MPH

Degree Program

Graduate

Environmental Sciences, MS with Environmental Natural Sciences Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Environmental Sciences, MS with Environmental Planning and Management Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Environmental Sciences, MS with Sustainable Development and Policy Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Finance, MS

Degree Program

Graduate

Healthcare Informatics, MS

Degree Program

Graduate

History, MA

Degree Program

Graduate

History, MA with American History Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

History, MA with European and World History Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

History, MA with Public History Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Human Development Counseling, MA with Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Human Development Counseling, MA with Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Human Development Counseling, MA with School Counseling Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Human Resource Management, MS

Degree Program

Graduate

Human Services, MA with Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Human Services, MA with Child and Family Studies Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Human Services, MA with Gerontology Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Human Services, MA with Nursing Home Administration Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Human Services, MA with Social Services Administration Concentration

Degree Program

Graduate

Legal Studies, MA

Degree Program

Graduate

Management Information Systems, MS

Degree Program

Graduate

Management Science, MBA

Degree Program

Graduate

Political Science, MA

Degree Program

Graduate

Public Administration, MPA

Degree Program

Graduate

Public Affairs Reporting, MA

Degree Program

Graduate

Public Health, MPH

Degree Program

Graduate

Public Policy, MPP

Degree Program

Graduate

Public Policy, MPP - Child Advocacy and Policy

Degree Program

Graduate

Public Policy, MPP - Education Policy

Degree Program

Graduate

Public Policy, MPP - Health Policy

Degree Program

Graduate

Public Policy, MPP - Policy Analysis

Degree Program

Graduate

Public Policy, MPP - Social Policy

Degree Program

UIS Graduate Education Brochure

Download or view the Graduate Education Brochure PDF.