The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday approved the purchase of a property in downtown Springfield that will become the new University of Illinois Springfield Innovation Center.

The three-story, 26,400-square-foot building near the Illinois State Capitol will serve central Illinois as part of the University of Illinois System’s Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), providing a regional center for technology and research commercialization, business incubation and acceleration, workforce development, and policy research.

The new Innovation Center will be an important addition to the Springfield area and, through IIN, the entire state, U of I System President Tim Killeen said.

“IIN was created to serve as a transformative network of networks, harnessing the brainpower of our state’s public universities to collaborate on local and regional issues and create opportunities that benefit Illinoisans from the Ohio River to Rockford and every point in between,” Killeen said. “Bringing the UIS Innovation Center to life is a crucial step.”

UIS Chancellor Janet Gooch said the new Innovation Center will be a strong addition to downtown Springfield and help the university drive innovation and economic development in the city and the region.

“With their action today, trustees have flipped the switch on what I believe will be a powerful machine for innovation, economic development and positive change for UIS, the state capital and the entire region,” Gooch said. “The UIS Innovation Center will be a magnet for bright people and brilliant ideas, providing a broad range of opportunities for our students and faculty, a key addition to the foundation of downtown Springfield and bold, new links between the city and the rest of Illinois.”

The new location is a few blocks from the Capitol at 401 E. Washington St. The U of I System will buy the property from the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association for $950,000, using part of the $15 million appropriated by the state of Illinois for the Springfield hub of IIN.

The location will be renovated to house the new Innovation Center, with construction expected to begin in about a year, after current tenant leases expire. The project is expected to be completed in late 2024.

The new Innovation Center will include:

• Innovate Springfield, UIS’s social innovation and business incubator, which will double its capacity to help develop new businesses and launch a startup accelerator.
• Technology labs, maker spaces and experiential labs where entrepreneurs and researchers can develop and test product prototypes.
• New workforce and professional education initiatives to support local employers, as well as expanded internship and fellowship programs for several UIS academic programs.
• Space for the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership to collaborate with other policy institutes on research and analytical services related to critical issues such as community health, education and career access, and environmental protection.
• Collaborative space for philanthropies, social service agencies, faculty researchers, students and lawmakers to analyze and implement strategies for the advancement of social progress.
• Locations for other U of I System offices, including space for President Killeen to work when in Springfield.

IIN is a U of I System initiative to boost Illinois’ economy through entrepreneurship, research and workforce development. The Innovation Center is one of 15 IIN hubs across the state.

Faculty Hiring Plan

President Killeen also briefed trustees on a new plan to increase the size of the faculty at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in response to growing enrollment.

Under the plan, 300 new faculty would be added over three years – 200 at UIUC and 100 at UIC. This would be in addition to faculty hired to fill vacancies caused by retirements or resignations.

“By expanding our faculty, the University of Illinois System will be able to better meet the increasing demand for the world-class education we offer and pursue more of the innovative, interdisciplinary research required to create a vibrant state economy,” Killeen said.

Enrollment at UIUC increased to a record 56,607 in the Fall of 2021 and UIC enrollment reached 34,199, also an all-time high. Systemwide enrollment was a record 94,750.

Appointments

Also on Thursday, trustees made the following appointments:

Karen J. Colley as acting provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at UIC, effective July 21. She has served in that role on an acting-designate basis since June 1 in place of Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Javier Reyes, who is now interim chancellor. Colley is dean of the Graduate College and a professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics in the College of Medicine at UIC.

Jonathan J. Art as acting dean of the Graduate College at UIC, effective July 22. He will act in place of Colley. Art is associate dean of the Graduate College and is a professor of anatomy and cell biology at the College of Medicine at UIC and a professor of biomedical engineering at the College of Engineering. 

Carlos J. Crespo as dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences at UIC, effective Aug. 16. Crespo is currently a professor of community health in the School of Public Health at the Oregon Health and Science University and Portland State University, as well as vice provost for undergraduate training in biomedical research and acting director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Mentoring Research at Portland State University. Crespo succeeds Bo Fernhall, who is retiring from UIC and will become the dean of the Manning College of Nursing and Health Science.

Chrystalla Mouza as dean of the College of Education at UIUC, effective Aug. 15. Mouza has been director and a distinguished professor in the School of Education and a professor of computer and information science in the College of Engineering at the University of Delaware, Newark. Mouza will also be recommended for appointment as a professor in UIUC’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Mouza succeeds James D. Anderson, who has retired.

Michaelene Ostrosky as interim dean of the UIUC College of Education, effective July 22 and ending Aug. 14 with the appointment of Mouza. Ostrosky is the Grayce Wicall Gauthier Professor of Education in the Department of Special Education in the College of Education.

Ingrid Smithey Fulmer as dean of the School of Labor and Employment Relations at UIUC, effective July 22. She has served in a designate capacity since July 1. Fulmer has been vice provost for Faculty Advancement and Faculty Affairs and a professor in the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. She succeeds Fritz Drasgow.

Lisa A. Freeman as interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UIC, effective Aug. 16. Freeman is a professor and head of the Department of English. She succeeds Dean Astrida Orle Tantillo, who will return to the faculty.

Mark R. Anderson as interim dean of the College of Health, Science, and Technology at UIS, effective July 22. He has served in that role in a designate capacity since June 6. Anderson was appointed under an agreement with The Registry, a firm that specializes in identifying leaders to fill interim roles in higher education. A national search will be conducted to permanently fill the position. Anderson was most recently provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of Northern Colorado.