University of Illinois Springfield dedicated to helping community realize its potential

The University of Illinois Springfield campus is quiet today as most of our university community settles in for a brief break between semesters. Fall classes are complete, grades are turned in and our students are hopefully catching up on some much-needed sleep.

It’s hard to believe how quickly my first semester as chancellor went by. I have truly come to love and appreciate my new professional home, as well as my new hometown, since moving to Springfield last summer. This community has been so welcoming, and I’m so inspired by the bright future I see at UIS as we continue to grow, both in numbers and in influence, to benefit all those we serve.

It was a semester full of listening and learning, building relationships, and most importantly, having some FUN.

I shared countless cups of coffee with our amazing students, faculty and staff, as I learned about what makes UIS special. I hosted community partners, donors and elected officials to campus to understand how we can work together to further strengthen our students’ educational experiences and contribute to our community’s vitality. I cheered on our student-athletes, celebrated the completion of our wildly successful Reaching Stellar campaign, toured the Thirkildsen Field Station to learn about faculty and student research opportunities, enjoyed wonderful music and theatre programs at Sangamon Auditorium and made many other enriching memories while participating in events on campus and in the community.

Related story:UIS finalizes purchase of downtown building for Innovation Center's new home

I am reminded often, in the simplest yet most profound ways, of the great privilege and responsibility it is to be the UIS chancellor. Students come to our university for a promise we offer — to help them build the future they envision for themselves — and we work every day to put their success at the center of all we do.

We enjoyed a lot of success over the recent months, including a 6.4% enrollment increase for Fall 2022. Growing enrollment will continue to be a top priority for us, and our recent academic reorganization has positioned us to offer new and revitalized programs through relevant, engaging courses that help students best prepare for their future. We have reinvented what’s possible at UIS, and we’re so excited for the opportunities this reorganization can offer our students and our community.

Our recent news that we have finalized the sale of our downtown Innovation Center location at 401 E. Washington St. will further position UIS to offer exciting educational opportunities in partnership with our community. Much of the credit goes to former UIS chancellors Susan Koch and Karen Whitney for leading us toward the realization of a physical space to convert into a facility designed for experiential learning, collaborative problem-solving and innovation-inspired business initiatives. The plans we have in place for this 24,600-square-foot facility will make it a catalyst for economic and workforce development, and the outputs will benefit all involved, including our students, who can use this space to augment their personalized, hands-on learning experiences that are a hallmark of a UIS education.

Earlier column:University of Illinois Springfield students learn the importance of civic engagement

While I know our world continues to be filled with uncertainty, I see a bright future for all of us based on the commitment, talent and eagerness I have witnessed from the students and lifelong learners I’ve encountered. There is so much potential for our community to strengthen and grow, and UIS is committed to playing a pivotal role in realizing that potential.

Our university’s vision is to be a pathway to opportunity, a catalyst for change and a space of possibility where learners become ethical and passionate scholars, leaders and citizens capable of transforming their local and global communities. I look forward to sharing our ongoing success toward realizing that vision in the future.

Janet L. Gooch, PhD, serves as chancellor at the University of Illinois Springfield and vice president of the University of Illinois.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: University of Illinois Springfield's vision is to be path to opportunity