UIS Observer

09/18/2026

📱 Campus safety, right in your pocket.

Have you explored the UIS Rave Guardian app yet? From staying connected to campus safety resources to features designed to help Prairie Stars feel more secure, the app provides another way to stay informed and prepared while on campus.

🎥 Watch the video for a quick look at the app, then read the full story from The UIS Observer to learn more about its features.

🔗 Read the full article:
UIS Rave App Ensures Campus Safety with Innovative Features⁠

Have you downloaded the app yet? 👀

09/14/2026

🎓 UIS is growing, and the Class of 2030 is making history!

UIS welcomed 353 first-year students this fall, making it the second-largest freshman class in school history, a 13.1% increase from last year. Undergraduate enrollment is also up, with growth among first-generation students and several student populations.

But what does the full enrollment picture look like at UIS this year? 👀

📖 Read the full story from The Observer:
UIS welcomes second-largest freshman class in school history⁠

09/03/2026

🎧 No speakers, no problem!

UIS students turned up the energy at the Silent Wave Party, hosted by the Student Activities Committee (SAC). With headphones on and music flowing, Prairie Stars danced the night away, each to their own beat. 🕺🏽💃🏽

The real question is… what song would have you taking over the dance floor? 👀🎶

08/28/2026

Missed the Water Balloon Fight? 🎈 Or were you there and already ready for round two of Welcome Week? 👀

Either way, the fun isn’t over yet! There are still more events happening around campus this week, so don’t miss out. 🔥

Check out what’s still ahead 👇
https://uisobserver.com/news/2026/08/24/welcome-week-isnt-over-what-is-still-ahead-as-classes-begin/

And if you made it to the balloon fight… did you survive? 😂🎈

08/24/2026

Want to learn more about writing for the Observer? Even if you're not enrolled in the newspaper course (COM 206/406), you're still welcome to sharpen your skills by volunteering as a content creator for us.

We have two staff meetings this week to launch this year's Observer. (You only need to attend one.) Join us ...

7-8 p.m. Monday will be in UHB 2001
1-2 p.m. Tuesday will be in UHB 2003

08/13/2026

The Illinois State Fair opens today, and you can find UIS represented in a few different places.

Everyone knows the Illinois State Fair is the place to be in the summer to find unique foods, live music, the famous Butter Cow and other features that highlight what Illinois has to offer. And that includes the University of Illinois Springfield. The fair, which runs Aug. 13-23 at the Illinois Stat...

05/14/2026

BIG WIN FOR THE STARS: Kaden Griffitts blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift UIS to a dramatic 10-8 victory over the University of Indianapolis in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship Tournament on Thursday at the UIS Baseball Field.

UIS led for most of the game, including 5-2 in the ninth inning, when Indy plated six runs, including a grand slam, to go up 8-5. UIS scored three in the bottom of the ninth, punctuated by a two-out solo homer from pinch hitter Drew Ezard, to tie the game.

Then Griffitts walked it off in the bottom of the 10th with a homer over the right-field wall.

UIS’ next game in the double-elimination tournament will be 2 p.m. Saturday at UIS.

Photo caption: The UIS baseball team crowds around home plate to celebrate Kaden Griffitts’ walk off home run that secured a 10-8 win over Indy on Thursday. (Photo by Jason Piscia)

05/08/2026

Be sure to stop by the information table in the lobby of the BOS Center on Saturday to pick up your copy of our commemorative graduation newspaper. They’re free. And don’t miss the story on the back page featuring places to eat and things to do around downtown while friends and family are here.

Commencement is this Saturday! 🎓 Here’s what you need to know if you’re attending:

• Two ceremonies will be held at the BOS Center in downtown Springfield at 12:30 and 5:30 p.m. The ceremonies are being divided by college. Learn more: uis.edu/commencement.

• Tickets are required to attend the UIS commencement ceremonies and have been provided to each graduate for distribution to their guests. Doors to the BOS Center main hall will open one hour before each ceremony.

• Due to other events happening in downtown Springfield, allow extra time for arrival and to locate parking. A number of options are available, including parking ramps, parking lots, and street parking (meters are free on weekends).

• Overflow seating with live streaming for guests without tickets will be available in the lower level of the BOS Center. The ceremony will also be streamed at uis.edu/uislive.

• Each ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes to two hours.

➡️ View more FAQs: uis.edu/commencement/commencement-faqs

04/28/2026

The Observer, the UIS student news outlet, hasn’t printed a newspaper in several years. But we’re back today with a special end-of-school-year edition featuring the Top 10 stories of the year and much more. We’ll be dropping off copies at several locations around campus over the next day or so. Pick up your free copy as a keepsake to remember the year that was at UIS.

Also, if you see any small newspaper racks around campus like the one pictured here, let us know. Our old ones have vanished.

04/24/2026

We're looking for content creators to help us report on the news, features and sports stories important to the UIS community. Join us in Fall 2026 as a member of The Observer staff. Message us for more info!