EMPOWERING EXTRAORDINARY FROM THE PRESIDENT CONTENTS 2020 Annual Report | 1 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Thomas P. Hardy EDITORS & CONTRIBUTORS David Mercer, Jan Dennis, 2 ALUMNI & ADVOCACY 16-17 RESEARCH & INNOVATION Kirsten Ruby, Gretchen Yordy The University of Illinois System is dedicated to the idea of creating PROOFREADER Andrew Helregel a better Illinois, and world. COLLABORATORS University Relations thanks our communications 3 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 18 IMPROVING THE K-12 FOUNDATION As you can see as you look through this annual report on our breakthroughs colleagues across the U of I System for their original reporting and and achievements of the past year, our education, research, innovation and assistance with this publication: outreach are focused squarely on building a stronger, more equitable, and • System: Ofce of the President; Ofce of the Executive Vice 4 SYSTEM LEADERSHIP AND OFFICES 20-21 A HEALTHIER WORLD sustainable society for all. In our mission to create the Illinois we strive for, President and Vice President for Academic Afairs; Ofce of the though, we fnd ourselves challenged by a sobering new reality. Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation; Ofce The opening months of 2020 saw the spread of COVID-19, and a rush to try of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees; University of Illinois 5 URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 22 ARTS & HUMANITIES to stop its advance and keep the country and the world as healthy as possible, Foundation; Ofce of Business and Financial Services all while both measuring the impact on the global economy and mitigating the • Urbana: College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental damage to it. Sciences; College of Fine and Applied Arts; Gies College of Business; 6 SPRINGFIELD 23 EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZED The U of I System and its three universities are well-positioned to help meet The Grainger College of Engineering; College of Liberal Arts and these new obstacles head-on, and we bring to this new test a broad range Sciences; News Bureau; U of I Extension of expertise and experience addressing global challenges. We are at the • Chicago: News Bureau; UI Health; College of Applied Health 7 CHICAGO 24 COMMITMENT TO STUDENT SUCCESS forefront of cutting-edge medical research and healthcare. We ofer some of Sciences; College of Engineering; College of Business Administration; the fnest engineering education and research available in the world, including Electronic Visualization Laboratory; College of Liberal Arts and disciplines such as data science that are at the heart of eforts to track and Sciences; College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts; College of 8 UI HEALTH 25 BRICK & MORTAR combat the illness, fortify the economy, and see our way to a brighter, more Medicine; College of Urban Planning and Public Afairs prosperous future. • Springfeld: Ofce of Campus Relations; College of Liberal Arts We have also long been on the front lines of food production, climate science, and Sciences; Center for State Policy and Leadership 9 ACROSS THE STATE 26-27 AN INNOVATIVE SYSTEM the arts and humanities, and many other felds now vital to this challenge. And, as in-person instruction was suspended at our universities, we were PHOTOGRAPHY/IMAGES Courtesy of Brian Stauffer and Fred Zwicky, quickly reminded that the U of I System is a pioneer in online education. As a Urbana News Bureau; Jenny Fontaine, UIC Office of Public and 10-11 ACCESS & AFFORDABILITY 27 UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE: world-class university system, all of this is in our nature, done in the interest of Government Affairs; UIC Creative & Digital Services; Clayton Stalter COVID-19 RESPONSE a greater, public good. and Blake Wood, UIS Campus Relations; Cameron Merrill, Jane Kuntz, I invite you to take in the stories and photos on the pages to follow and see Lance Long, Brad Cavanaugh, Marc Monaghan, Stephen Boppart, 12-13 DISCOVERY PARTNERS INSTITUTE AND for yourself just some of the ways the U of I System is at work to build a better Related Midwest and Laura Hayes. ILLINOIS INNOVATION NETWORK 28 OUR IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS GREATER Illinois, one that is altogether extraordinary for all of us. Steven Martin DESIGN PRINTING Premier Print Group PO NUMBER P1196437 14-15 PHILANTHROPY 29 EXPANDING OUR REACH GOOD To learn more about the stories in this report, Tim Killeen please visit: go.uillinois.edu/2020AnnualReport President 2 | 2020 Annual Report CONNECTIONS GOVERNANCE 2020 Annual Report | 3 ALUMNI ADVOCACY TRUSTEES Alumni are a permanent part of the University of Illinois family. Te University of Illinois Te U of I System has more than 755,000 living alumni. Board of Trustees consists of 13 members, 11 of UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT SPRINGFIELD UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION whom are voting members The mission of the University of Illinois Alumni ALUMNI RELATIONS The University of Illinois Foundation, established in Ramn Cepeda Kareem Dale Donald J. Edwards (Chair) Ricardo Estrada Association is to enhance and advance the relationship The mission of UIS Alumni Relations is to inspire 1935, is dedicated to securing and administering private Darien, 2021 Chicago, 2023 Chicago, 2025 Chicago, 2025 Nine are appointed by the Governor for terms of between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign lifelong loyalty, pride and united action through gifts for the University of Illinois System and six years, and three student trustees (one from each and all its alumni; to inspire lifelong loyalty and pride networking, advocacy, support and continuing its three universities. university) are elected by referenda at their universities among alumni and friends by strengthening their education. Ultimately, we aspire to be a catalyst of The Foundation works with alumni, faculty, for one-year terms. One of these student trustees is relationship with the university; and to educate the change and growth in the lives of alumni and in corporations, foundations and campus development appointed by the governor to have a vote. The governor public about the value of the university and its alumni. the future of the university. staf to create fundraising programs and opportunities serves as an ex-ofcio member. that beneft the U of I System and its three universities. Trustees are appointed to serve on a voluntary, non- Æ illinoisalumni.org Æ uis.edu/advancement In October 2017, the Foundation and the U of I System remunerated basis. Members of the University of Illinois launched a comprehensive fundraising initiative with Board of Trustees are responsible to the people of an ambitious $3.1 billion goal that is built on unique Illinois for the distribution of funds appropriated by and individual campaigns for each university. The the General Assembly and for the administration and Patricia Brown Holmes Naomi D. Jakobsson Stuart C. King Edward L. McMillan campaigns—With Illinois, IGNITE, and Reaching Stellar— governance of the U of I System. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO ILLINOIS CONNECTION ADVOCACY NETWORK Chicago, 2025 Urbana, 2023 Champaign, 2023 Greenville, 2021 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Illinois Connection is a grassroots legislative advocacy are focused on supporting students, Trustees oversee all aspects of the U of I System. The UIC Alumni Association’s mission is to create program that enlists alumni, faculty, students, and world-class faculty, pioneering research, and state-of- In addition to focusing on appropriate governance, and leverage meaningful alumni engagement friends to serve as advocates for the University of the-art facilities. trustees advocate for programs and initiatives opportunities that connect alumni and students to one Illinois System. that support diversity and sustainability at all another and to UIC, and that inspire them to champion Advocates with Illinois Connection help communicate Æ uif.uillinois.edu three universities. UIC’s mission and priorities. the U of I System’s goals and needs to elected ofcials and increase public awareness of the system’s impact, Trustees are listed with their home city and year Æ advance.uic.eduw through correspondence to legislators and participation of term expiration. *Denotes student trustees, in events such as U of I Day at the Capitol. who are listed with the university they represent. Jill B. Smart Rosie Dawoud* Trayshawn M.W. Mitchell* Susan E. Panek* Æ ogr.uillinois.edu/illinois_connection Downers Grove, 2021 Springfeld Urbana-Champaign Chicago 4 | 2020 Annual Report PEOPLE 2020 Annual Report | 5 SYSTEM OFFICES The president and senior staf work together SYSTEM SERVICES, FUNCTIONS, AND INITIATIVES to develop strategies and solutions to address ILLINOIS.EDU educational and administrative challenges across the • Academic afairs, programs, and services • Human resources, employee and labor relations University of Illinois System. • Audits • Information technology and systems System staf are responsible for communicating • Business and fnancial services • Institute of Government & Public Afairs the breadth and excellence of endeavors occurring • Consortium of Academic and Research • Legal counsel throughout the U of I System to government, corporate, Libraries in Illinois • Planning and budgeting UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT and civic leaders as well as to alumni and other • Discovery Partners Institute and • System communications, marketing, stakeholders. The leadership works with these audiences Illinois Innovation Network and FOIA compliance URBANA-CHAMPAIGN to ensure continued support for the universities. • Economic development and innovation • Treasury