Who do you feel poses the greatest threat to campus?

UIC Welcome Kit/Experience

Fostering a sense of community and comfort with campus is important for all students, whether they are arriving at UIC for the first time or returning for their fourth year. These proposed solutions help UIC students become better acquainted with the campus layout and resources. Class schedules are an exciting part of starting a new year. To lessen the stress of finding their new courses, students receive an email of their class schedule that links to a color-coded map.

Each class is given a distinct color which correlates to a marker on the campus map for easy navigation. To further assist student navigation, during the first week of class each semester student volunteers will be available to guide students to classes and campus resources. Their distinct red vests and friendly smiles make them easy to locate. A yearly planner helps UIC students stay organized. The updated design boasts a planner, campus map, safety services information, and coupons/swag to get flames excited for the new school year.  

Foundations/First Year

Student begins to get acclimated with dorms, intercity commute and campus layout through scheduled classes. Student applies to/declares major or continues to take general education classes. 

Student gets involved with on-campus/off-campus extracurricular activities or jobs. 

UIC Safe App

Phone apps have become a ubiquitous part of daily life. This accessibility makes them a perfect platform to support campus safety initiatives. UIC created a safety app UIC SAFE, but uptake by the student population was slow. To understand why, students, staff, faculty, were interviewed as well as campus police.

The problem was around the user experience. By researching layouts of other existing apps and experimenting with the current design, a new proposed layout was created, informed by feedback from the UIC community. Focusing on simplicity, approachability, and ease of use, this update makes the interface more intuitive and content more appealing to users. This design represents what the next phase of the app could look like.    

UIC Journal

Acting as a campus-wide voice, this journal embodies the experiences and needs of UIC students. This semiannual journal fosters a sense of community. It is a tool for way-finding, well-being, planning, and success. These pages contain stories for students, by students, and inspires action, connection, and curiosity. 

UIC Banners & Signage

Signage forms an important part of the university landscape. After conducting research and collecting data, one area of improvement identified was a lack of distinction with buildings and services signage on campus. The goal was to create a new system not only to assist students with campus navigation, but to educate the UIC community about campus resources, including safety.

By creating clear, simple, and streamlined layouts, the reader is able to be more efficiently informed without an overflow of confusing or unnecessary information. Each sign follows a grid structure that emphasizes visual hierarchy, allowing important information to be quickly recognized. The signs can be tailored to serve different purposes, such as providing information about campus resources or relaying emergency information. As UIC is nestled within the city of Chicago, UIC signage and banners act to more clearly establish the boundaries of campus.   

Sophomore 

Student continues to work and get involved on campus while taking general education classes. Student begins to do major required coursework, study for exams while staying at school/on campus during late hours, and commuting to & from campus. 

Students are prompted to retake Everfi harassment training also prompted to update their profile password. During this time, students are also allowed to seek and live in housing off-campus.

Student declares major/applies to major and continues to registers to class for the following semester.

Junior

Student completes major required courses, seeking internships and jobs, and attending career fairs. Student is prompted again to complete Everfi harassment training.

Student continues to register to class/enroll for the following semester.

Senior

Student completes major required courses, seeking internships and jobs/attending career fairs. Student completes capstone projects.

Prompted to complete training.  

Student applies to graduate. Student may decide to apply to graduate school/continue education at this point.

Our Campus

Our Campus is the brand identity for the UIC safety initiative. It represents issues surrounding the safety of the UIC community; physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our Campus is a proponent of community inclusivity and school-wide solidarity. The mark acts as a symbol of safety on campus, easily identifiable to students, faculty, and staff.

The logomark speaks to the aforementioned values while also representing the campus’ shape, both literally and figuratively. The square embodies the Chicago neighborhoods that encompass UIC campus, reminding of our place within a greater community. The square also represents a safeguard for everything our campus wishes to protect and enrich. The gradient color palette that accompanies the mark represents Our Campus’s mission to promote inclusivity and awareness. 

Former student continues to apply for jobs, may visit campus occasionally.