blog posts

• Do You Have Information Problems? Meet the Institute for Legal, Legislative, and Policy Studies (ILLAPS) at the University of Illinois Springfield

  Jan 29, 2021 11:00 am125 views

  When government entities or non-profit organizations want to make decisions on policies and practices, they often run into the problem of not having necessary, easy to understand information to move their work forward. This often leads to uncertainty, inaction, or incomplete decisions. However, it doesn’t have to be like that.

  The Institute for Legal, Legislative, and Policy Studies (ILLAPS) in the Center for State Policy and Leadership at UIS’ mission is to help solve these information problems for non-profits and government entities of all sizes. In coordination with our partners, we solve information problems in three ways:

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  Alternative Approaches to State Budget Cuts: What does Budget Theory Suggest?

  Dec 17, 2020 9:00 am125 views

  Now that Illinois voters rejected the Graduated Income Tax Amendment, the next logical question is how the state will balance its budget for fiscal year 2021 and beyond. While there is room in the state’s borrowing authority with the Federal Reserve under the Municipal Liquidity Facility (MLF), a larger concern is that much of this deficit is not due to COVID-19 related revenues and expenditures, but due to a long standing mismatch between state revenues and expenditures, a problem that the graduated income tax proposal was supposed to address. Borrowing this way would get the state through the immediate budgetary challenge, but what happens in FY22 and beyond?

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  Helping Preserve and Enhance our Urban Trees

  Mar 29, 2021 10:30 am124 views

   Urban trees are the pillars of our community. They help decrease air pollution, reduce flooding, produce valuable resources, provide a habitat for wildlife, promote physical and mental health, and encourage a sense of community (Turner-Skoff & Cavender, 2019). We marvel at these benefits, but we also have a responsibility to take care of these trees. 

  You are invited to join us on Wednesday, March 31 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. for a virtual program on Urban Trees: Planning, Policy, and Planting. This program, which is sponsored by the Citizens Club of Springfield in partnership with the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) Center for State Policy and Leadership, is part of the National Endowment of the Arts Big Read: Sangamon County. Programs and activities are taking place throughout our community in March and April based on the featured book Lab Girl by Hope Jahren.

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  Other People’s Money: Married Women and Indebted Husbands in U.S. Law

  Mar 18, 2021 10:45 am123 views

  I am currently writing a book that explores the rights of debtors in the United States in the late nineteenth century.  In the chapter I’m currently revising, I focus on these themes as they related to married women. Under the common law of marriage, married women had no independent legal personality. All of this meant that wives were largely dependent on their husbands’ financial fortunes.

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  International Students Make Our Education System Richer, Better, and Stronger

  Jul 16, 2020 9:00 am123 views

  On July 6th, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a guidance that announced: “The U.S. Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will U.S. Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States.” As institutions continue to grapple with COVID-19 and how to reopen campuses safely for the fall semester (which is just a few weeks away), the administration’s decision to potentially penalize universities for going fully online in the fall sent shockwaves to all constituents of the U.S. higher education system.

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  Budget & Finance Expertise: UIS Public Administration Professors Participate in ABFM Conference in Washington DC

  Oct 19, 2021 9:30 am120 views

  Six Public Administration faculty members presented at the the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management (ABFM) conference in Washington, DC, from September 30 to October 2, 2021. 

• NPR Illinois is happy to say our newest program, Community Voices, is passing the six-month mark.

  Apr 8, 2021 2:00 pm117 views

  When you’re young, it’s important to announce you’re not just six or seven, but “And a half!” NPR Illinois is happy to say our newest program, Community Voices, is passing the six-month mark. Co-host Bea Bonner and I have enjoyed the start of this new concept in elevating the perspectives and the breadth of our listeners and neighbors. You hear this phrase every episode, “Community Voices is events you might have missed and conversations with neighbors, artists, and area business people.”

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  We Don’t Want to Hear about Kamala Harris’ Shoes

  Aug 18, 2020 10:15 am116 views

  When vice presidential hopeful Kamala Harris delivers her prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, pay attention to the words used to describe her.  Unfortunately, commentators, opinionmakers and sometimes even news reporters have a bad habit of describing female politicians in ways they rarely or never do about male politicians.

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  PAR Alumni Spotlight: Hannah Meisel returns to NPR Illinois

  May 4, 2021 8:00 am115 views

  Hannah Meisel has made a handful of stops on her journalism journey since completing the Public Affairs Reporting program in 2014. But she’s never strayed too far from the Illinois political beat.

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  You Are Invited to the Railsplitter’s Banquet on March 31st

  Mar 1, 2023 3:30 pm113 views

  You are invited to attend this in-person event located at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum at 212 N 6th St, Springfield, IL 62701, with Federal District Court Judge Brian Stacy Miller as the keynote speaker.  Help celebrate the public service award recipient.

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  Many of Your Employees are Miserable: Three Reasons it Could be Your Fault

  Aug 13, 2020 9:00 am109 views

  Look around you, how many of your employees are fully engaged or immersed in their work? How many seem to be finding fulfillment or joy in what they do?  Now, how many of your employees are apathetic and, at best, grudgingly complying with directives and carrying out their roles and responsibilities?

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  Politics Suck: Can I get an amen?

  Oct 1, 2020 9:00 am109 views

  Now, do I have your attention? Good, but this article is not about Donald Trump or Joe Biden.

  It’s about you. It’s about me. It’s about us.

  It’s about the type of office politics that we all engage in that undermine the health of our workplaces and our own futures.

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  MPA- A Master of Plentiful Activities

  Apr 21, 2022 9:00 am106 views

  Research shows undergraduate students benefit immensely from active participation in on-campus activities, so why shouldn’t the same be true from graduate students?

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  Trump Controversies Raise Journalism Ethics Questions

  Sep 15, 2020 9:15 am104 views

  An analysis:  two recent news stories that make President Trump look bad have launched important discussions about journalism ethics. 

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  Continuing America’s Laboratory of Democracy Through State and Local Electoral Innovations

  May 24, 2022 9:00 am102 views

  A recurring finding among researchers is that American voters have grown dissatisfied with the electoral system in America.  This post discusses alternative voting systems and related research conducted by the staff and faculty of the Center for State Policy and Leadership which was recently published in American Politics Research, a peer-reviewed academic journal.

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  The Value of Education in Public Affairs for Balancing Truth and Emotions in the 21st Century

  Aug 5, 2021 10:00 am100 views

  Our courses and degrees prepare students for careers where they analyze problems, develop policies, serve citizens and provide leadership in Illinois, the nation and even worldwide.

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  Preparing the Next Generation of Attorneys to Prevent and Remedy Wrongful Convictions

  Mar 24, 2021 12:00 pm99 views

  The legal maneuvers required to free an innocent person after a wrongful conviction are notoriously complex. Yet few criminal law courses address post-conviction law. To help bridge the gap, the Illinois Innocence Project (IIP) serves as an extern site for law schools.

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  Your Local Newspaper Is In Trouble

  Jan 19, 2022 11:00 am98 views

  The most recent figures from Pew Research Center’s analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the number of newsroom employees in the United States fell by 26% since 2008.  Most of that loss has happened at newspapers, which often is a community’s best source of consistent, in-depth, solid watchdog news coverage. 

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  Some Career Reflections as Graduation and Next Steps Lie Ahead for Our Students

  May 12, 2022 9:00 am98 views

  Send us your advice to new graduates on how to start their career.

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  Economic Update July 2020: The Shortest? And Deepest Recession in Generations?

  Jul 7, 2020 1:15 pm98 views

  At the time of this post, the United States economy clings is at a crossroads. The economic slowdown engendered by the coronavirus pandemic and measures to contain its spread were the deepest on record, but there are already signs that the recession may be over. There are lingering issues and pain from the recession, especially in the labor market. But there is a palpable sense that the situation may be resolving itself. However, the economy faces many uncertainties going forward. The question is whether the sense of recovery comes from false hope generated by temporarily good economic news or whether it signals a return to a “normal” economic situation.

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  10 Ways to Celebrate Endangered Species Day

  May 15, 2020 9:00 am97 views

  Celebrate 15th Annual Endangered Species Day on May 15th, 2020. Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for people of all ages to celebrate and learn about endangered species and how to protect them.

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  New year’s resolutions for news consumers

  Aug 17, 2021 10:00 am97 views

  The fall semester begins this week at UIS. To me, this time of year feels more like New Year’s Day than Jan. 1.  So with that in mind, allow me to wish you a Happy New Year and provide you with some new year’s resolutions.

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  Investing in Youth – Youth Evolvement Summit & Job Fair on July 1

  Jun 22, 2022 9:00 am96 views

  UIS students and alumni are playing important roles in a collaborative community effort to host a Youth Evolvement Summit to be held at Springfield HS on July 1.

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  The Illinois Economy and Public Finances in 2020: Difficult Challenges, No Easy Answers

  May 8, 2020 12:30 pm95 views

  On January 15, 2020, the World Economic Forum released its 2020 Global Risks Report, which laid out several threats to world economic growth, ranking them on scales of likelihood and impact. Among the most pressing threats were climate change, extreme weather, biodiversity loss, natural disasters, cyberattacks, and manmade environmental disasters. Infectious diseases were ranked #10 on the list of strongest impacts but did not make the top 10 in terms as likelihood (World Economic Forum, 2020). But a few months can certainly change outlooks.

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  March GPSI Student Spotlight

  Mar 17, 2021 11:00 am92 views

  The Graduate Public Service Intern (GPSI) Program has over 200 interns at any given time throughout the year. While we cannot showcase all of the incredible work our students do on a daily basis, we have decided to highlight one intern or supervisor each month. March’s feature is Marissa Jones, a second year intern working at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

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  What's YOUR "Why" and Why It Matters

  Sep 8, 2021 1:15 pm92 views

  What's YOUR “why”?  At Innovate Springfield, we often challenge the starters that we serve with this question to help them maintain their clarity and focus.

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  April Public Affairs Minute: Mental Health Days for Students, Professors and Staff and You!

  Apr 13, 2022 9:00 am90 views

  A new law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, that gives Illinois students five mental health days to use throughout the year without a doctor's note.  This brief message is another plea to step back and take a break.

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  The Law of Motherhood in the Gender-Dependent Application of Criminal Responsibility for Failing to Protect Children

  Apr 17, 2023 10:00 am89 views

  When a child is injured or killed by an adult in the home, a marked gender division appears in the application of criminal responsibility against the non-abusing parent. When children are harmed by a man in the home, mothers are regularly prosecuted under statutes criminalizing the failure to protect one’s children, yet men virtually never face charges when the roles are reversed and the mother has harmed the children while the father has failed to protect them.

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  July Public Affairs Minute

  Jul 14, 2021 10:00 am88 views

  July Fourth is upon us and it’s time to celebrate the birth of the nation. In many respects, I hope we can treat this summer like no other in recent memory!  Although there may still be a need for health monitoring and some restrictions to make sure we are fully “out of the woods,” it’s still good to see the “light at the end of the tunnel.”

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  Local News – Needed Now More Than Ever

  May 19, 2020 8:30 am87 views

  Trif Alatzas discusses the need for local news in today’s world.  Alatzas led The Baltimore Sun team that was awarded the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting "for illuminating, impactful" investigations into city and state government.

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  The Politics of a Virus

  May 27, 2020 11:15 am86 views

  Commentary on the political divide during the COVID 19 pandemic by Dr. Robert Smith, Dean of the College of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Illinois Springfield on NPR Illinois.
  

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  CPAE Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jennifer Martin, School of Education

  Sep 22, 2022 9:00 am85 views

  CPAE Faculty Spotlight on Dr. Jennifer Martin, Associate Professor in the UIS School of Education, who's teaching, scholarship, and service intersect with her educational advocacy for historically marginalized and underserved populations. 

• Honoring GPSIs 2021 Milbrandt and Madalla Award winners

  May 20, 2021 9:00 am84 views

  On April 22, 2021, the Office of Graduate Intern Programs hosted a virtual event to honor our graduating interns and their supervisors. Springing Forward was meant to symbolize the commitment GPSI has to the growth and expansion of this vital program as well as celebrate all the student and supervisor accomplishments over this tumultuous year. Molly Lamb, Executive Director of the Center for State Policy and Leadership, gave an exciting overview of the Center and introduced many resources to our state agency partners. Additionally, our viewers received an update on the Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program (ILSIP) from Barbara Van Dyke-Brown, Director.

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  Time for the State of Illinois to Stop Using Debt to Finance Current Services

  Feb 9, 2021 9:00 am80 views

  One of the basic tenets of governmental budgeting is that current services should be paid for with recurring revenues rather than one-time funds, such as debt. In a study of state budgeting practices, the Volcker Alliance rates Illinois as one of the three worst states in terms of relying on one-time budget maneuvers (Volcker Alliance, 2020). This practice pushes a portion of the costs of current services onto future taxpayers and makes it more difficult to balance the budget in future years.  This blog describes the types and magnitudes of debt that the State of Illinois has used to pay for current services and calls for a plan to stop this practice.

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  What happens on a university campus during the summer?

  Jun 8, 2021 12:45 pm80 views

  As we recently celebrate our Memorial Day Holiday which is a day to celebrate the many sacrifices made by our veterans over the years to preserve this country and our democracy, it also signifies the “unofficial” start to our summer on campus and in the community.  So I thought I would use this first Holiday of summer to reflect upon what happens here at UIS and the College of Public Affairs and Administration in the summer!

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  Time to Create an Illinois Academy of Politics?

  Feb 8, 2022 9:00 am79 views

  There are many concerns surrounding our current political discourse in our nation today. I would like to change course a bit in my past reflections about the nature of our disappointing and curious political environment in 2022. In fact, I’m hoping to interject a sense of hope and optimism at a time when that seems hard to identify.

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  Business Incubation at Innovate Springfield

  Aug 6, 2020 9:00 am78 views

  Supporting innovators and entrepreneurs across industries and stages of business requires strategic thinking about our resources, programming, and service offerings. We use ecosystem mapping to determine members’ current stage of business and to inform our program schedule based on their needs. Our service offerings include the opportunity to consult with expert advisors, one-on-one coaching, university resources, meaningful peer-to-peer networking, and a robust schedule of professional development events.

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  Not Voting is Never an Option

  Oct 13, 2020 9:00 am78 views

  In my role as Dean of a College of Public Affairs, I am bound to the promotion of civic engagement, participation in democratic institutions, and encouraging citizens to vote and participate in our system of government.

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  The Status of Black Lives Matter: A Shift in Policy, Culture, Justice, and Reform

  Feb 25, 2021 9:00 am77 views

  As part of Black History Month, this panel discussion by African-American faculty and staff from the University of Illinois at Springfield, Tessica C. Dooley J.D., Assistant Professor in Legal Studies, Dr. Ty Price Dooley, Associate Professor in Public Administration, Dr. Tiffani Saunders, Lecturer in Sociology/Anthropology and African American Studies, and Justin J. Rose, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, will encourage students and the general audience to learn about societal issues including policing, healthcare, housing, and other economic disparities in the African American community, in twenty-first century America, that inform and led to the formation and evolution of the Black Lives Matter Movement.  

• What Are the Research Areas of the Institute for Legal, Legislative, and Policy Studies?

  Mar 26, 2021 11:00 am77 views

  One of the roles of ILLAPS, as outlined in a previous post of ours here, is to leverage the knowledge, resources, and expertise of our staff and faculty to solve information problems for government entities and non-profits. Another important role of ILLAPS since its foundation has been conducting our own original research on topics that are of use and interest to academics, policymakers, and engaged citizens to solve public problems. In the spirit of building on previous successes and our goal, this post is going to discuss some of the current ILLAPS research.

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  UIS Showcasing Graduate Education Options for Students

  Jan 20, 2022 9:00 am76 views

  Attending graduate school is a popular next step for those who want to further their education or their career. UIS has found that it is important to share this information with its’ students so they may know their options and take advantage of such an opportunity at their fingertips.

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  Election Day 2020: More than a Presidential Election

  Nov 2, 2020 9:30 am76 views

  Every four years, we elect a president based upon each candidate’s vision for the future and our assessments of who is most capable of addressing the issues facing the country.  As is common in most presidential elections, supporters of both candidates are calling this the most important election of their lifetime.  Of course, no matter how important the presidential election may be, it is not the only important decision voters have to make this year.

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  With Wishes for a Magical Holiday Season

  Dec 23, 2021 9:00 am76 views

  As the Fall semester concludes and the holidays are soon upon us, there is no better time than now to reach out to students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, stakeholders and our Public Affairs Community to wish you all a most sincere “Season’s Greetings” from the Office of the Dean.

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  COVID-19 Adds Pressure to the Already Stressed Child Welfare System

  Apr 30, 2020 9:30 am75 views

  Dr. Betsy Goulet, Public Administration, and Dr. Kent Redfield, Political Science Professor Emeritus, collaborate on U of I System report on the effects of COVID 19 on the Illinois Child Welfare System.

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  May Public Affairs Minute: The Role of a Free Press in a Democratic Society

  May 12, 2020 9:00 am75 views

  Journalists are trained to be objective observers, uncover the facts, keep sources confidential and question stakeholders, citizens, politicians, corporate and military leaders, and their institutions. The purpose is to shed light, provide transparency, ferret out lies and insure accuracy. Indeed, this focus on the truth is the fundamental role of a free press in democratic society.

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  How to Help Abuse Victims during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic

  May 28, 2020 9:00 am75 views

  Across the world, people are spending a lot more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Shelter in place orders and closures have put extra stress on families.  Economic uncertainty and social isolation have also been linked to increased use of substances and mental health issues.  These stressors and negative effects have been exacerbated for abuse victims, particularly those who are currently living in an abusive environment, where spending extra time at home can lead to even more danger, with few outlets for escape.

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  Illinois Could Adopt Ranked-Choice Voting. What Do Illinois Voters Think of It and Other Alternative Electoral Systems?

  Apr 18, 2023 10:00 am74 views

  Illinois was once known for its innovative electoral system, where it was the only state in America to utilize cumulative voting to elect some members of the Illinois General Assembly.  We asked voters what they think about more recent electoral innovations proposals.

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  Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day Close to Home with Ospreys

  May 11, 2020 8:45 am72 views

  World Migratory Bird Day is a global awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need to protect migratory birds and their habitats.  In the Environmental Studies Department at UIS, Dr. Tih-Fen Ting takes action every day in protecting one species of migratory birds - Ospreys.

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  Time for a social media break?

  Sep 27, 2022 9:00 am71 views

  Many of today’s college juniors and seniors report opening their first social media account (usually on Facebook, with a parent’s help) when they were around 10 years old. That means they’ve spent half of their lifetimes on the app!

• The Illinois Legislative Staff Internship Program – A Tapestry of Opportunity

  Feb 18, 2021 11:00 am69 views

  The Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program otherwise known as ILSIP is different from the other internships offered at UIS and from most other universities as well. ILSIP was designed to provide those interested in exploring the legislative process with an opportunity to do so.

  Today, ILSIP interns are sprinkled throughout the legislative arena, state government and beyond as key staff, lawyers, lobbyists, and elected officials. In the fall, ILSIP celebrates its 60th anniversary. As this tapestry of opportunity continues to grow, become a part as an intern or pass this information along to someone who may be interested in becoming a member of the next ILSIP cohort.