(NCAA), primarily competing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) since the 2009–10 academic year, which they became a full-fledged Division II member on August 1, 2010. The Prairie Stars previously competed in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2003–04 to 2008–09.
UIS competes in 15 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.
== Notable alumni and faculty ==
=== Alumni ===
Cheri Bustos, former U.S. representative, Illinois's 17th district (M.A. Public Affairs Reporting)
Mike Cernovich, right-wing social media personality and host of The Alex Jones Show on InfoWars (2001 B.A. Philosophy)
Ward Churchill, former University of Colorado professor, social critic, activist (1974 B.A. Communications, …
