Springfield Campus Seeks $28 Million in Capital Campaign

The Springfield campus, now an accredited four‑year institution, will utilize Campaign funds to offer innovative, high‑quality liberal arts education, public affairs activities and professional programs.

“The funds we receive through The Brilliant Futures Campaign will enable UIS to achieve our goal of being recognized as one of the top five small public liberal arts universities in the nation,” said UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen.

Springfield Campus Campaign Goals

Campaign objectives and gift purposes of the total $28 million goal sought for the U of I at Springfield campus include $5.5 million for undergraduate scholarships and graduate student fellowships and assistantships; $7 million for endowed chairs, professorships and visiting scholars; $2 million for faculty development and research; $1.5 million for enriching campus life and culture; $3.5 million for facilities enhancement; $5 million for high‑visibility collaborative projects of state and national interest; and $3.5 million in unrestricted support.

Eric Oschwald, president of National City Bank of Springfield, spoke at tonight’s launch event about the bank’s role in supporting UIS.

“We now have a Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Illinois at Springfield, ably led by our own National City Distinguished Professor Richard Judd,” Oschwald said. “We also have numerous budding businesses in the larger Springfield community led by people who were encouraged by Professor Judd and nurtured by the Center for Entrepreneurship.”

One of the business owners, Megan Henley, graduated from UIS in 2002 with a Business Administration degree.

“The business plan that I developed in Professor Judd’s class came together so perfectly that I actually opened my floral shop two months before I finished the course,” Henley said. “I am grateful for my education at UIS and for Dr. Judd’s instruction, dedication and support,” she added.

Urbana-Champaign and Chicago Campuses Outline Campaign Funding Priorities

The Urbana‑Champaign campus plans to use Campaign funds to cultivate leaders for the 21st century, provide excellence in academic programs, encourage breakthrough knowledge and innovation, create transformative learning environments and ensure that the best and brightest students have access to the Illinois experience.

“Increased private support will allow us to fulfill our historic land‑grant mission of providing the students of today with an excellent education so they may become the researchers, scholars, teachers and leaders of tomorrow,” said Richard Herman, Chancellor of the Urbana‑Champaign campus.

Campaign funds for the Chicago campus will help UIC focus on combining an urban university with the resources of a leading research institution to accelerate the discovery and sharing of knowledge, enrich student experiences, expand the Great Cities Commitment, promote healthy societies and offer broader access to academic opportunity.

“The Brilliant Futures Campaign will help us realize our strategic vision of becoming the nation’s premier urban public research university and our mission of providing cutting‑edge research, knowledge‑based public service and outstanding health care,” said UIC Chancellor Sylvia Manning.

Volunteer Leadership Benefits Campaign

The Development Committee of the U of I Foundation’s Board of Directors is functioning as the University‑wide Executive Steering Committee for the Brilliant Futures Campaign. Chair of the committee is former insurance industry executive James M. Benson, now president and CEO of Clark Benson LLC.

To ensure that campus‑level fundraising is addressed within the scope of the overall Campaign, a campaign steering committee also exists for each campus and the co‑chairs of those committees serve on the Campaign Executive Steering Committee.

UIS Campaign Steering Committee

The UIS Campaign is led by a Campaign Steering Committee consisting of co‑chairs W. Robert Felker, chief administrative officer of Chase Capital; Howard C. Humphrey, retired chairman of Franklin Life Insurance Company; Julie Kellner, co‑owner of M.J. Kellner Food Service; and honorary chairs Naomi Lynn, UIS chancellor emeritus; Sergio Satch Pecori, president and CEO of Hanson Professional Services Inc.; and Pauline W. Roesch, local philanthropist and civic leader.

Members of the committee include Donald A. Altorfer, chairman, Altorfer Incorporated; Molly Becker, philanthropist and civic leader; Leonard Branson, UIS accountancy professor; Barbara S. Burkhardt, UIS assistant professor of English; Peter M. Casper, owner, Casper Acordia, Incorporated; Thomas Duncan, franchise sales director/partner, inPlay Franchising Services LLC; Randall F. Dunn, senior vice president, Navix Imaging Inc.; Kathryn E. Eisenhart, UIS associate professor, legal studies; William D. Forsyth, Jr., chairman, Forsyth Insurance Agency; Glen Garrison, chairman, Garrison Group, Inc.; Clifford L. Greenwalt, retired president and CEO, Central Illinois Public Service Co.; Ann R. Hart, owner, Tobin Jewelers; Karen Hasara, former Springfield mayor; Kathleen Hoogland, corporate secretary, Family Video; William L. Kellner, president and CEO, M.J. Kellner Food Service; James L. Lundquist, retired vice president of investments, A.G. Edwards & Company; Pamela McClelland, partner, Kerber Eck & Braeckel LLP; Marsha Narmont, co‑owner, United Community Bank; Carolyn Oxtoby, CEO, Oxtoby Properties; William R. Schnirring, Jr., chairman and CEO, Springfield Electric Supply; Larry Shiner, UIS professor emeritus of Philosophy; William Simpson, retired chairman, Franklin Life Insurance Company; and Guerry Suggs, retired senior vice president, Firstar Bank.

“All of these engaged volunteer leaders lend significant expertise and resources in accomplishing the University’s vision of creating brilliant futures for all people whose lives are touched by its work,” said Benson. “Overall, the involvement of alumni and supporters as volunteers in our classrooms and behind the scenes has been incredible and we are grateful for this important partnership,” he added.

The Brilliant Futures Campaign is the third comprehensive capital campaign for the University of Illinois. The initial fundraising endeavor, Campaign for Illinois, exceeded its $100 million goal by raising $137 million between 1979 and 1985. The second effort, Campaign Illinois, was launched in 1991 with a goal of $1 billion. When the campaign closed on Dec. 31, 2000, gifts totaled $1.53 billion, making it one of the largest fundraising efforts conducted by a public university at that time.