Welcome Session

Hello, everyone, and welcome. We're glad you joined us today. I'm going to give everyone just a moment or two to get into this session and then we will get started with our open house at the University of Illinois Springfield.

As we get started here in just a moment, if you want to turn on voice captioning on your screen, you'll see ACC button in the upper right corner. So you'll be able to see the closed captioning for this presentation. This presentation is also going to be interactive. So I invited you to go open a web browser on your phone or on your computer and go to menteementi.com.

And enter the code you see on the screen there 37840067 and you can follow along and participate in the presentation today.

It looks like some of the folks coming in is starting to slow down. We will go ahead and get started with our presentation. So just a general overview of our welcome session today. Our student panel is going to be immediately after this at 2:30. At 3:00 in U.S. central time, we will have a parent panel. So if any parents are joining us today, you're welcome to hop into our parent panel for any international students who have questions about the admission process for international students.

We're going to have a separate presentation available for you at three. At 3:30, our first breakout session will happen and this will give you a chance to meet the colleges at the University of Illinois Springfield. We offer four different colleges and they will each have their own presentation available along with the College of Nursing from the University of Illinois Chicago. At 4:00, we'll have another breakout session and this will include financial support opportunities as well as information about our living learning communities.

Now, there are two financial support presentations that are going to happen. One is for financial aid, and that is going to be geared more for our domestic students, the students in the United States. And if you're interested in graduate studies, there's also going to be a presentation about our graduate assistantships and our internship programs at 4:00. If you were originally signed up for the financial aid session, then you want to change to the one for the graduate public service internship. One. You certainly can. You can go back to your registration or go back to our website.

At uis.edu/visit and you can sign up for the other session and receive a link for that as well. At 4:30, our International Student Services office is going to present information about the services they provide as well as the I-20 process. And then the Learning Hub is also going to talk about the different support services available on campus. And then wrapping up at 5:00 today is campus life at UIS. Well, there'll be different presentations from the different support services.

And different ways for students to get involved on campus.

All right, so we will start today and and the first question that you can use with the minimeter presentation is where are you joining us from? So feel free to add something into the mintimeter and we will see where people are joining us from, from around the world.

All right. Oh, we've got Ghana in Virginia.

Indiana wonderful Oklahoma someone on the side. So I got feel free if you want to pop it into the chat, you're welcome to do that as well.

Zambia, we've got students coming from all over the world, which is always fun to see. Florida, wonderful. I actually lived in Florida for a bit in Cameroon. So UIS is a very diverse campus with lots of different folks from all over the world. So we're really happy that you're able to join us today and hopefully learn a little bit more about the university.

All right. So our next question is what type of student are you interested in at the university? Are you going to be a first year student, meaning that you haven't enrolled in higher education before? Are you going to be a transfer student, meaning that you have graduated from high school or secondary school, you have enrolled at a university and you're looking to transfer to UIS or as a graduate student where you've already earned your bachelor's degree and you're wanting to earn your masters or doctoral degree. So it looks like we have a good kind of collection here.

For first year transfer and graduate and at UYS we do offer all those different types of levels for students to come in. Quite a few students looking at graduate and 1st year also in the chat, so it's wonderful.

All right. I'm gonna go ahead and go on to the next slide here.

And then from today's presentation, what are you wanting to learn from today's presentation or from our whole virtual open house? You're welcome to type in some questions through millimeter or if you're wanting to type in some questions in the chat, that is also a possibility. So there's lots of things we want to share with you today, but I also want to make sure we're answering your questions as well.

So some questions about the learning environment, if it's going to be the right fit for you, when research can be started, if you can transfer mid year. Wonderful questions. Fantastic.

These are all questions I always enjoy answering when I'm working with students.

Funding programs, definitely college education is an investment in you, but definitely there are some opportunities available learning more about specific programs, online learning. Alright, I'm going to try to address as many as these as we can and we will give you the opportunities for you to answer or ask questions and our other presentations as well.

So some of This is why UIS University of Illinois Springfield is a smaller campus community. We have about 4600 students here at UIS and we are considered a public liberal arts institution. So what this means is that we are a small supportive environment. And often when students are talking about trying to find that right fit for you, they do find a home here at UIS. We have small classes available for our students the entire time they're enrolled here.

Unlike a lot of college campuses where you might have really large classes your first couple of years and then they get smaller once you get into your degree program, we have a lot of collaboration with our surrounding community. With Springfield being the state capital of Illinois, there are ample internships available for students and more than 25% of the college educated workforce in our community is a UIS graduate. And so there's networking opportunities that are available for students.

Offered also research opportunities that students are able to get engaged with early on in their academic career.

So we are a very well ranked institution as well. We are considered a regional institution. So what this means is that the majority of the students who enroll here at UIS are from the areas close to Springfield. But this also provides a great diversity of students because we do have students coming from Chicago, from Florida, California and Texas, as well as from 53 different countries that enroll here at UISHER. So for the students who might be looking at the FAFSA.

All of the student loan debt information that you hear, our students are graduating with a very low amount of student debt and part of that is because of the financial aid we're able to offer to students. We're one of the top colleges for veterans in the Midwest region and we really value the fact that we are a top 10% online bachelor degree program in the United States. One of the questions I did see is if tutoring is available for online students.

Yes, it is. You are still a UIS student even through our online programs. And while a lot of online programs have certainly grown in the last five years out of the COVID pandemic, UIS has been a leader in online education for more than 25 years. And so we really have strong online programs that help students reach their educational goals no matter where they may be, either in the United States or around the world.

So as I mentioned before, we are a smaller campus. We have about 4600 students who enrolled last fall and the average age of our students is about 28. So what this means is that as a student here at UIS, you will interact with students of all ages and backgrounds. We were originally started as a university where students could come and finish their bachelor's degree, and so we had only admitted transfer students for the 1st 2025 years of our existence.

We did start admitting first year students in 2001, but we still have a very strong transfer presence in our surrounding community. And so that interaction with diverse ages is really providing our students with great opportunities to get that real world experience. Because when you find that job, you're going to be working with diverse individuals in that workforce. And so by having that experience here, you're going to be better prepared than a lot of other students.

With our kind of tradition of being that transfer institution as well as working with working adults and enrolling with working adults, about 60% of our students attend courses full time and about 40% attend part time. So we do offer a lot of classes at a variety of different times during the day so that they can accommodate the working adults in our surrounding community as well as asynchronous online programs so that you can complete those classes when it's convenient for you.

We're at about 43% graduate students and about 57% undergraduate students, so those working towards their bachelors degree and about 52% female and 48% male.

Now, the online application process is fairly easy. We have the application available through our website for those who might be interested in applying as a first year student. The Common App is also available for you to complete as well. There is an online application fee. It's $50.00 for first year students coming from the United States, $60.00 for international students. For graduate studies, it's $60.00 for US graduate applicants and $75.00 for international graduate applicants.

We do require students to send us their official transcripts. They have to come directly from the institution when we unfortunately do not accept transcripts from students. And then for first year students, we do ask you to complete an application essay. Now, this essay allows us to get to know you better at the first year level, the freshman level, we do admit students holistically. It's not just based on your GPA or test scores or even test optional. We do look to see what other things you have been involved with. We want to get to know you through that application process.

For a transfer in graduate students, sometimes the programs will ask for additional information and that again allows them to get to know you better. None of our graduate programs require the GRE, so you don't have to worry about that, but they do want to make sure you're prepared for the rigor of the courses.

So for those of you guys who might be considering coming in as a transfer student, does anybody want to take a guess at the minimum number of credits you need to be considered a transfer student at UIS?

All right, we see a variety of different options here.

All right, I'm gonna spoil it here. And the correct number is 24. So if you have earned less than 24 credit hours at a Community College or at another university, you will actually apply as a first year transfer student. If you have earned at least 24 credits or more, you will apply as a transfer student at UIS.

Now when we're looking at students, and I did kind of hint to this a little bit earlier, what do you think is most important to us with our admission criteria? Now again, this is going to vary a little bit between our first year applicants, our transfer applicants and graduate applicants. But what do you think we really kind of focus on to make sure we admit the best students to our university?

And I know this question is a little bit longer.

All right, so I'm seeing some extracurricular work opportunities, class ranked test scores, different classes you've taken.

And to be honest, a lot of this does come into those considerations. With really the exception of test scores. We know those test scores don't always reflect the students best day. Sometimes you might have had a cold or you get really nervous with those tests. So if you do send us your test scores, either the SAT or ECT, if we feel they will help your ignition, by all means we're going to consider it. But those test scores will never put you at a disadvantage. We are 100% test optional.

So if you don't want to send us the test scores, it does not put you at a disadvantage for admissions purposes. It also does not preclude you from scholarships. Our scholarships for first year students are based on your high school GPA. They are not. We do not consider the test scores as part of that selection criteria. As I mentioned before, we are going to look at that essay. We're going to look to see what you've been involved with outside of the classroom, whether you've worked or been part of sports or volunteer work. We're going to look at the courses you've taken.

Make sure that you're prepared for the university level coursework and for class rank. We do recognize a lot of schools don't rank their students anymore, so sometimes that is something that we do look at. But a lot of times, like the test scores, we're not going to use that as a factor to put you to disadvantage because we want to make sure we give everyone an equal opportunity based on the experiences and opportunities you had.

So for students coming in at the first year level, we do look at unweighted high school GPA and the average GPA for our students this past fall was a 3.43. But like I said, about 2527% of our students did submit a test score. So again, it's not something that is used a lot, but it is an option available to students. And for students coming in at the transfer level, the average GPA was a 3.13. So it for the transfer process, it is a very straightforward process for the admission area.

But we do want to make sure you're going to be prepared and have those prerequisite courses for those upper division classes.

Students are able to bring in a lot of credits for their transfer programs. About 86% of credits that are brought in from other universities are applied directly to a degree. And you might be wondering, well, what about those other classes? Or do they go for a waste? No, they don't. Sometimes they might be remedial courses or courses we don't have equivalency for, so they could come in as elective coursework. But you're able to work with your faculty members and your academic advisors and to see if some of those courses might still apply towards your degree.

So there are definitely a lot of opportunities available for our students here.

There are lots of housing options here, so first and second year students are required to live on campus here at UIS. They live in sweet style residence halls where there's two individuals per room and 2:00 rooms share a bathroom. Now, if you live within 40 miles of UIS or if you're considered an independent student, you are not required to live on campus. But there is a form that our students would have to complete so that housing knows you're not going to be on campus.

Our living learning communities are also available to for students where you're able to live with individuals with similar interests. Some of those could include our honors program, Living Learning Communities, Pre nursing, our Leadership Lived program for students really involved and interested in getting involved with leadership here at UIS. Necessary Steps, which is geared for first generation college students whose parents haven't earned a bachelor's degree. So there's lots of ways to find that community here at UIS through the Residence Life program.

Now, if you're coming in as a transfer student or as a graduate student, or even after those first two years of living on campus, students will move into our townhouses or our apartments on campus. These are available, provide a little bit more privacy, but they're still located here and so you don't have to worry about commuting to the campus itself. They offer private bedrooms and semi private bathrooms, and many of them do come furnished, so you don't have to worry about trying to find all the furniture for living on campus as well.

So a couple of questions about financial aid and a little bit of a predictor for kind of the financial aid session that we do have a little bit later. So looking at each of the different options below, do you agree or disagree with the different statements? I'm going to give everybody kind of a moment or two to complete everything.

Alright, so I can see some things, some information coming through. You know, college is an investment in your future and yes, there is kind of an expensive investment, but there is so much research that shows that the earning potential of college graduates is so much greater than those who just have a high school degree. So I encourage you to explore lots of different options when you're looking at different places and really make sure you're finding that best fit university for the program you want to study.

As well as that best financial fit opportunity. So for those who are eligible to fill out the FAFSA, we know there are some challenges this past year, but we're hoping it's going to be better in the coming year. And that having those conversations now with your family on how you're going to pay for your education is something that really helps you get started on that first best step.

And then looking at the undergraduate students at UIS, there are lots of opportunities for financial aid here at UIS. So what percentage of undergraduate students do you think receives the financial receives financial aid period?

All right. So I'm seeing lots of numbers kind of in those upper areas, which is great. And the correct answer is about 80%. So this financial aid could include merit scholarships that are offered to students at the time of admission. It could include federal or state aid that is available to students. And based on the FAFSA information, as well as other institutional scholarships and grants that UIS has to offer, we really strive to make sure this is the best financial option for students.

So that you can get that degree and make sure you graduate with as little debt as possible.

So with that kind of assistance we're able to provide, I mentioned some of those already, the scholarships, the grants, if you're AUS citizen or eligible, you might be able to borrow student loans here from the federal government. And there's also opportunities for students to work on campus. So students are able to work in different offices, maybe in our dining service or in the library, help with research and do other, you know, office work available for the faculty members.

So there's different ways that students are really able to get engaged and help kind of contribute toward that educational cost.

For those of you all who are U.S. citizens are eligible, eligible non citizens who can fill out the FAFSA or the Illinois Alternate Application for financial aid the fastest should be available this fall. This past year was available in December. They're hoping it will be available a little bit earlier this year. You do have to enter the UIS code, but even after you fill out the FAFSA or if you have questions filling it out, once it becomes available, you're able to reach out to our financial aid advisors and they can answer a lot of those questions for you as well.

They can help you fill out the FAFSA, make it go through your financial aid offer once you have it if you have some very specific questions because we want to make sure you have all of that information available up front so you can make that best decision.

So if you have been admitted to you by yes, the next thing we would need you to do is complete that intent to enroll form. Let us know you're coming. Make sure you file an application for housing or you complete that waiver. Send us your FAFSA information and the complete orientation and meet with your advisor and get registered for classes.

So I've got a few minutes here and I know several questions have been answered in the chat box here. And thank you, Lee, for hopping in and answering some of those questions. We do have question and answer additionally for parents and students coming up next. So I encourage you to hop on to those sessions in just a few minutes. And I know there are some questions coming in about full scholarships. Unfortunately, the University of Illinois Springfield does not offer any full.

Cost scholarships for any of our students? Umm there are some limitations for that, especially for our international students. For those who might be in the United States, there are different opportunities that could be available through the FAFSA and through the state of Illinois, umm, but for international students, we do not offer any full scholarship.

So I'm going to give another moment or two to see if any other questions do come into the chat box. Otherwise, I thank you all for joining us today and I hope you enjoy the rest of our virtual open house to give you an opportunity to learn more about the University of Illinois Springfield. Have a great rest of the afternoon.