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The Capitol Connection
The College of Public Affairs and Education and the Center for State Policy and Leadership, University of Illinois Springfield
Programmatic Awareness

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  • Why the UIS Online Political Science Graduate Program Was Right for Me

    As a Wisconsinite planning a move to Chicago, finding a quality public university that was located in my new home state was my first priority. As a remote learner, I wanted to find a Master’s program that provided the same quality of instruction as in-person learning.

  • Text:  Our Why at iSPI

    What's YOUR "Why" and Why It Matters

    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.

  • Welcome to Innovate Springfield - Social Innovation & Business Incubation

    Hello from Innovate Springfield the UIS social Innovation and Business incubator located in the heart of downtown Springfield, IL and the newest members to the UIS family! At Innovate Springfield, we’re creating new and disruptive ways to support the “communiversity” and the local economy through our two programs, Social Innovation and Business Incubation.

  • Text: University of Illinois Springfield Graduate School Week Feb. 7-11, 2022.  Register: go.uis.edu/gradweek

    UIS Showcasing Graduate Education Options for Students

    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.

  • Collage of photos of DPA Graduates and Students in article

    UIS Perspectives: Inspiring professionals as agents of change

    The Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) program at the University of Illinois Springfield is one of only a handful of professional "public affairs" doctorates throughout the country. The program is a door opener to a variety of career paths as we seek to inspire and equip students to be more effective agents of change.  Read more in this SJR column by Dr. Travis Bland.

  • Inside the Illinois State Capitol dome

    UIS and the State of Illinois: A Half Century of Collaboration in Public Service

    For nearly 50 years, UIS has been partnering with the State of Illinois to provide graduate students the opportunity to simultaneously pursue their graduate degree while gaining professional experience working at a state agency.

  • To China and Back: A Student’s Air Pollution Study Leads to Adventures beyond the Academic

    Before I began my research project “Investigation of Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality in China and United States: Volatile Organic Compounds”, I had never experienced the feeling of holding a project so near and dear to my heart that I would fall asleep thinking about it and wake up in the morning having the project on my mind.

  • Artwork for the Sangamon Success Progress Report - July 2021

    The Sangamon Success Progress Report Documents the Success of a Community

    In 2015, the Continuum of Learning (CoL) released the Sangamon Success report, a selection of 25 evidence-based recommendations for improving outcomes for children in Sangamon County who are less advantaged. These recommendations support children from before birth until their graduation from high school

  • Photo of two chairs in the Innovate Springfield offices in front of a Social Innovation sign

    Social Innovation at Innovate Springfield

    What in the world is social innovation? Simply put, we believe that by working together, we can make our community a better place for everyone, but especially for community members who are less-advantaged.

  • Reform: Restoration, Revitalization, and Representation

    You are invited to Reform: Restoration, Revitalization, and Representation, the first in a series of webinars on critical societal issues resulting from social determinant factors directly impacting historically marginalized populations.  The series is sponsored by The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, the UIS College of Public Affairs and Administration, and the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership.

  • State Capitol

    Public Administration or Business Administration: A Couple Questions to Consider Before Choosing a Management Degree

    How do you define success? Do you want to lead and manage people and organizations? Have you chosen the best degree for your desired career path?

    Most students know about the business administration degree, but few students know that there is another option—one that will open the door to vast array of careers in public service. This other option is the public administration degree.

    Do you understand the difference well enough to make an informed choice? This article offers a couple of questions to consider before choosing.

  • New Academic Year, New Interns

    Every Spring, as GPSI says Farewell and Congratulations to a group of graduating interns, we simultaneously go through a process of hiring a new group of graduate interns.  This year, we are celebrating the success of May’s virtual interviews which resulted in 85 new hires for the GPSI program. 

  • MALAS Logo

    Midwest Association for Latin American Studies Hosting Virtual Conference

    The 70th Annual MALAS meeting, scheduled to be held in Washington, D.C., will be held virtually with fantastic presenters from the DC area and top public officials from inter-American organizations.

  • Dr. Robert W. Smith, Dean of the College of Public Affairs and Administration

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

    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.

  • May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day. Thank a Journalist.

    World Press Freedom Day -- established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 and observed annually on May 3 -- is a chance to celebrate the free press principles we enjoy in the United States.  America’s journalists -- from the largest national outlets in New York and D.C. to the tiny newspapers in rural towns throughout the country -- work hard to reveal the truth the public needs.

  • Photo of Dr. Denise Bockmier-Sommers with text "Wishing a Happy Retirement to Dr. Denise Bockmier-Sommers, Associate Professor & Human Services Academic Program Lead"

    Human Services Program - the End of an Era

    Saying farewell to Dr. Denise Bockmier-Sommers, Associate Professor & Human Services Program Lead, as she retires at the end of this academic year.

  • Photo of Cynthia "Liz" Sanchez at work

    GPSI Student Spotlight

    The Office of Graduate Intern Programs would like to recognize one of our student leaders and intern, Cynthia “Liz” Sanchez (PSC).

  • Image of nations listed on a white background:  United States, India, Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Brazil, Myanmar, Spain, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Liberia, Mexico, Netherlands

    GPSI: Onward and Upward!

    We’re thrilled to announce a record-breaking interview round for GPSI this May, not only did we place the highest number of interns, but we also had the most intern positions and intern applicants.

  • Chart showing that 68% of funds stay in the community when you buy local, compared to 43% when you do not

    Give Local this Holiday: iSPI Holiday Shop

    This giving season, we're celebrating the small businesses who have established their headquarters at Innovate Springfield, in the heart of our community, and who proudly call Springfield their home. Welcome to the iSPI Holiday Shop, a curated selection of Innovate Springfield member-owned products and services.

  • Image of Dr. Martin's book cover:  Text - "Mentoring the Mentor:  Celebrating the Intersection of Learning Together, A Reciprocal Journey" by Jennifer L Martin and Jennifer N. Brooks

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

    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. 

  • Photo of Dr. Youngjin Kang, Assistant Professor of Human Services

    CPAA Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Youngjin Kang, SPMP

    CPAA Faculty Spotlight on Dr. Youngjin Kang, Assistant Professor of Human Services in the UIS School of Public Policy and Management, whose research focuses on how family members develop and maintain their relationships after transitions in family structure (e.g., divorce, remarriage). 

  • Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day Close to Home with Ospreys

    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.

  • UIS has intern candidates currently pursuing a graduate degree in: accountancy, business administration, communication, computer science, data analyitics, education, educational leadership, environmental health, environmental sciences, history, human development counseling, human services, legal studies, MIS, political science, public administration, public health, public policy

    Calling All Nonprofit Agencies looking to hire new talent!

    GPSI has been placing UIS graduate students in State Government Agencies since its inception, and in recent years, GPSI has made an effort to ensure Nonprofit Agencies are aware of this program’s opportunity as well.

  • Sign with "Welcome to iSPI.  Social Innovation.  Business Incubation" in front of desk at the Innovate Springfield office

    Business Incubation at Innovate Springfield

    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.

  • Photo of Former Governors Jim Edgar and Pat Quinn meeting with FY2022 ILSIP Cohort during their seminar.

    BEST KEPT SECRET – NO MORE

    The Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program (ILSIP) is the best kept secret at the University of Illinois at Springfield. It is hard to fathom why this is so.

  • Virtual 3 Day Startup at iSPI

    3 Day Startup at Innovate Springfield

    We’re excited to share that we recently held our FIRST Virtual 3 Day Startup (3DS) Event @iSPI/UIS on September 18, 19, and 20, 2020. The 3DS program is designed to engage and connect university students to experiential learning opportunities in entrepreneurship and innovation over the course of a three day startup weekend. The intended outcomes align with Innovate Springfield’s Strategic Compass goal to support students in pursuing and achieving their personal goals and to provide robust training, and other strong supports to student members of iSPI's business incubation program. 3DS served as a rich and vibrant virtual experience for those who participated.