Foster Innovation
New academic programs
All-Steinway School
The Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts was named an “All-Steinway School.” Thirteen new Steinway pianos were purchased with a gift to add to the existing Steinway inventory.
All-Steinway School
The Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts was named an “All-Steinway School.” Thirteen new Steinway pianos were purchased with a gift to add to the existing Steinway inventory.
MCN Simulation Lab Building
In summer 2022, work began towards the construction of a new Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN) Simulation building.
College of Engineering
The Illinois Board of Higher Education approved Illinois State University to establish a College of Engineering and Departments of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering in March 2022. Following final authorizations by the Illinois State University Board of Trustees in May 2022, the Division of Academic Affairs started the search process for a founding dean and began developing new programs and course proposals for each degree program.
Research Computing Advisory Board
The Research Computing Advisory Board (RCAB), consisting of Illinois State researchers, provides direction and oversight of the designated resources Technology Solutions makes available to support researchers at ISU. The objectives of the RCAB are to develop consensus for the needed services, manage those services, build skills, and create a community that supports campus research.
Research grants and contracts awarded
University grant-writing has remained steady over the past five years, with the exception in FY21 when emergency funding was granted and elevated the total. In FY22 209 grants and contracts submitted and 126 grants and contracts awarded.
Provost's Innovation and Enhancement (P.I.E.) grants
In FY22, the Office of the Provost launched the Provost's Innovation and Enhancement Grants program, to provide funding for program improvement in the areas of student success, curriculum and pedagogy enhancements, or program/department visibility and reputation.
Office of International Engagement
The Office of International Studies and Programs and the International Pathways unit merged into the Office of International Engagement in summer 2022. The reorganization seeks to more seamlessly support students studying abroad and international students and scholars at the University.
Collaboratory
The Center for Civic Engagement implemented Collaboratory, a public-facing data management tool to track and monitor engagement, to integrate longitudinal community engagement and public service data into institutional strategic initiatives. It displays over 125 community engagement and public service initiatives from various units and disciplines.
Cozzarelli Prize
Nick Rhoades (student in School of Biological Sciences) and Dr. Tom Hammond (Associate Professor in School of Biological Sciences) were awarded the Cozzarelli Prize in the Bio division as one of six total papers chosen for significance published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (USA) in 2021. Papers were chosen from more than 3,500 research articles that appeared in the journal last year and represent the six broadly defined classes under which the PNAS is organized.
Two faculty recognized
Illinois Science and Technology Coalition Researchers to Know in Fall 2021 recognized two Illinois State faculty - Dr. John Sedbrook (School of Biological Sciences) and Dr. Marilyn Prasun (Mennonite College of Nursing).
National Humanities Center Fellow
Dr. Paul Ugor (Department of English) served as a National Humanities Center Fellow during the 2021-22 academic year.
C. Wright Mills Award
Dr. Charles Bell’s (Department of Criminal Justice Scienes) 2021 book “Suspended: Punishment, Violence, and the Failure of School Safety” was a finalist for the C. Wright Mills Award from the Society for the Study of Social Problems.
Outstanding Teacher Award
Dr. Shawn Hitchcock (Department of Chemistry) was honored with the Dr. Henry C. McBay Outstanding Teacher Award from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
The Editorial Board of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has selected six papers published by PNAS in 2021 to receive the Cozzarelli Prize, an award that recognizes outstanding contributions to the scientific disciplines represented by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).
Chicago high school student program in STEM
ISU was awarded a $1.3 million National Science Foundation grant to inspire urban Chicago high school students with an innovative after-school program focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Four faculty are leading the program - Dr. Matt Aldeman (Department of Technology), Dr. Jin Jo (Department of Technology), Dr. Allison Antink Meyer (School of Teaching and Learning), and Dr. Jeritt Williams (Department of Technology).
State-of-the-art electron microscope
Illinois State University received a $403,900 National Science Foundation to purchase a state-of-the-art electron microscope that will aid in research and teaching across campus and the area.
Drone Team
A new cross-divisional drone team was formed consisting of five members who are certified for Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) to capture and share images for campus projects, such as demolitions, on social media.
Drone Team
A new cross-divisional drone team was formed consisting of five members who are certified for Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) to capture and share images for campus projects, such as demolitions, on social media.
New Learning Management System
After a year of extensive work, the Next Learning Management System Advisory Group, consisting of faculty, students, and staff, recommended that Canvas should replace ReggieNet as Illinois State’s learning management system.
New workflow tool
The University procured, implemented, and piloted a new workflow tool, Kuali, to increase efficiency and promote paperless processes. The new tool supports streamlining processes, making them more transparent, efficient, and effective.
Case management improvements
Case management staff in multiple departments and divisions, including cross-campus care teams, now collaborate on increasingly complex student care needs due to a shared case management technological system, Advocate Symplicity. Dean on Duty cases are referred through the software, and case managers can manage and track the status of incidents so that an audit of case status is easy, ensuring no students fall through the cracks.