January 24 is the last day to cancel registration via Self-Service and receive a 100% refund. The refund schedule for Spring 2021 can be found on the Registrar's website. 

January 29 is the last day to add a Part of Term A course via Self-Service or drop a Part of Term A course and receive a refund if reducing assessment range; and to submit a form to elect to audit a Part of Term A course.

By the 10th Day of Classes, February 5, graduate students should be correctly registered for Spring 2021. It is important to check your registration before this date on Self Service to make sure your registration is correct. February 5 is the last day to submit a form to elect to audit a semester course, the last day to submit a form to elect to register "in Absentia," the last day to add a semester course via Self-Service, and the last day to drop a semester course and receive a refund if reducing assessment range.

During the enrollment/change period, students have the option to opt-out of the UIUC's Student Health Insurance plan if they have been assessed the Student Insurance. Students can visit the Student Insurance website and fill out the waiver form. The student will need comparable insurance in order to be approved for the waiver. Please contact Student insurance office or website for information and instructions.

Like fall semester, there are free PPE kits available for all enrolled undergraduate and graduate UIUC students for this spring semester. You can pick up your kit at the Illini Union Bookstore on the second floor between 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Monday - Friday) or 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Saturday) through January 30 (hours change starting January 31 - check website). Due to restrictions, there is a capacity limit in the Bookstore so please be patient. The kit will include face covering, hand sanitizer, and wipes. Please show your i-Card when picking up your kit.

Chancellor Robert J. Jones provides university updates, announcements and resources from the past week. As a reminder, for the first several weeks of the semester, students should limit their in-person interactions to only the most essential activities. The target date for lifting essential activities only is Monday, February 8 but it could be sooner or later depending on what the data shows about the virus. Updates will be communicated accordingly.

The university has developed a process for students who are living locally (Urbana, Champaign, and Savoy) and who are not coming to campus during the spring 2021 semester to apply for an exemption from the COVID-19 testing requirement. Exemptions will be granted rarely and only to students who can demonstrate that participating in the testing program is especially burdensome to them. Students granted an exemption in the fall will need to reapply for the spring. See details, including a link to apply for an exemption, at the link above.

OBZ is an 8-week wellness program providing students with personal training (in-person or web-based), campus recreation group fitness pass, instructional cooking classes, weekly physical activity, and nutrition challenges along with one-on-one wellness coaching sessions. Registration is open January 25 through Friday, February 5 for the first 10 participants at $75. Participants may register in person at ARC Member Services when facilities are open for operation or online on the Campus Recreation OBZ website.

Struggling to get back into the swing of things after a well-deserved break? Join Grads UNWIND to continue on a path towards reduced stress and improved wellness with Michele Guerra, Director of Campus Wellbeing Services. Michele will cover techniques to prioritize tasks, methods to get more organized, ways to overcome procrastination, and more! 

Learn the basics of rock climbing and register for Adventure Rec's 3-part Climbing 101 program held on February 14, 21, and 28. More experienced climbers can register for the Top Rope Clinic held on February 7 and/or Lead Clinic held on March 7. All climbing clinics will be held from 4 - 6 p.m. at the ARC Climbing Wall. Registration for each program closes the Monday before each clinic. For more details and registration instructions, visit go.illinois.edu/ClimbingClinics.

Many funding agencies require a personal statement in addition to an applicant’s research proposal. Why?! What on earth are you supposed to talk about? If these questions have induced writer’s block, this workshop is for you. We will assess the range of personal statement prompts you may encounter and distill their shared essence. Participants will learn the qualities of a compelling statement and practice writing techniques to arrive at a complete first draft. Register for the link to join this online workshop. 

The ability to craft an effective funding proposal can reap a lifetime of rewards. As a graduate student, now is the time to hone your grantwriting proficiency. In this workshop, designed for students in STEM, you will learn how to identify funding opportunities, strategize the components of an effective proposal, and think like a grant writer. Come with questions about this mysterious genre; leave with a template to help you become competitive for prestigious fellowships. Register here.

HRI invites applications for the 2021–22 Pre-Doctoral Fellow in Public Humanities. PhD and MFA students enrolled in humanities or arts terminal degree programs, including the humanities-inflected social sciences, from the UIUC campus are eligible. At the center of the fellowship is a 1-year residency with the Odyssey Project, a free college-credit earning program for income-eligible adults. The fellow will undertake a research project exploring themes connecting their field of study, the public humanities, and the Odyssey Project as an example of community-oriented public engagement. 

The Illinois Board of Higher Education is offering DFI Fellowships for 2021-22. Fellowships support underrepresented graduate students who intend to teach or become administrators in higher education in the state of Illinois following graduation. Students in any discipline are eligible, and students in STEM are especially encouraged to apply. Fellowships offer up to four years of support, and the stipend ranges from $11,000 to $15,000. See DFI listing in Fellowship Finder for details.

The beginning of the semester is a great time to evaluate your thesis goals! Take a look at our blog “New Year – New Thesis Goals” for advice on planning long-term and short-term projects, setting priorities, and holding yourself accountable. You might also check out our calendar for upcoming workshops to help you sharpen your skills and get off to a good start this semester.

A good, relaxing break away from your academic work and responsibilities is needed and well-earned! But as the next semester begins, it’s important to keep self-care in your daily routine. Identify some activities that you enjoy doing and plan to do them regularly once the semester starts. Need suggestions? Participate in virtual yoga with the Krannert Art Museum, practice mindfulness and meditation with Japan House, or get moving in a virtual Zumba class offered by Campus Recreation.

Join us in February for a series of events dedicated to helping you succeed in grad school and beyond. Hone your Excel and Python skills, create more accessible presentations, and learn how to develop your first CV. All workshops will be available online. No registration required. Learn more about Professional Development Week on our website.

Graduate College Career Development advisors understand the challenges and opportunities that grad students and postdocs face in job search and career exploration. We can help you explore new career paths, work on application materials, prep for interviews, negotiate offers, and more. You'll meet one-on-one with an advisor who can offer individualized support, guidance, and feedback as you plan your next steps. Learn more about how to make an appointment here.

The Illinois Leadership® Center (ILC) is a campus resource hub designed to provide leadership education and training to all Illinois students. Our work at the ILC is to study leadership and teach students the relevant skills to be effective leaders. This semester, we will be offering a variety of training opportunities virtually. Regardless if you’re taking classes on campus or at home, our goal is to help you become a better leader. 

For support on your presentation skills in preparation for an oral defense or conference, check out this 8-week course, ESL 593 Academic Presentation Skills, designed to offer individualized feedback on your presentation style and provide you with authentic opportunities to practice. With the aim of creating and delivering compelling and professional presentations, students will practice orally explaining their research, adapting to different audiences, and giving and receiving feedback. Register now, classes begin January 25. Seating is limited.

COVID-19 presented the university educators with a unique set of academic challenges. Please join the CGS-funded faculty and instructors for a discussion of the issues they faced and the insights they gained while converting and adapting their classes for online teaching. The presenters will address their pedagogical methods, as well as the future possibilities for online teaching.

Do you work with undergraduate researchers? Encourage them to take advantage of the support and resources offered by the Office of Undergraduate Research. We have online workshops beginning this week, including our Value of Undergraduate Research and Getting Started in Undergraduate Research Workshops. Students can schedule an online appointment with us at any time. Much more on our website. 

Working on translational research? Seek nomination for the Illinois Innovation Prize. The Illinois Innovation Prize for $20,000 is awarded annually to a creative and passionate student working towards solutions that could have a positive societal impact. Innovations developed as a response to the global pandemic are encouraged. Seek nomination now! 

Allies in STEM is a virtual discussion series for graduate students and prospective graduate students to develop skills to be lifelong allies for minorities in STEM. The series will consist of six workshops throughout the Spring 2021 semester. The workshops will include guest speakers, panels, and small group discussions to address a variety of topics including a graduate student panel, BLM in STEM discussion, advocating for yourself and others, everyday actions to be an ally, conflict resolution, and allyship throughout your career panel.

Want to make a positive impact in our community? Whether you are on campus or working remotely, you can connect with peers and community partners to make a difference in Champaign-Urbana. The We CU Community Engaged Scholars program offers training, support, and recognition to students who complete 20 hours of service each semester. Join us for an info session to ask questions, learn how to enroll, and find out first about new leadership and service opportunities. If you can't attend the live session, register to receive a link to the recording and instructions for joining the program. 

Are you an Undergraduate, Graduate Student, or Postdoc interested in microbial sciences research? Join MicroERA, the Microbial Early-career Researchers Association! MicroERA is a networking and professional development group for early-career scientists pursuing microbiome or microbial sciences research across disciplines and is associated with the Microbial Systems Initiative on campus. Subscribe to the MicroERA mailing list for updates (http://bit.ly/microERA) or email us at microERA.uiuc@gmail.com to get involved!

Are you interested in presenting at or attending a conference related to Education Justice this Spring? Join EJP and apply for one of five $500 travel awards. The deadline is March 15, 2021, and the awards cover travel from January 1 - July 1, 2021. Awards are available for in person or online conferences whether you are presenting or just attending. View the requirements and download the award application here. 

Nutritional Sciences, with collaborating units, offers this on campus program to provide graduate students with training to effectively support increasing regulatory needs and solve the challenges of food and agriculture in years to come. It includes 3 required courses & at least 1 elective course (minimum 9 credit hours). In addition, you will have the opportunity to participate in 1:1 industry mentoring and professional development activities.  

Looking to make an impact after you graduate? Apply to be an Illini Science Policy Scholar, a unique post-graduate experience for those passionate about public service and policy. Scholars receive a 12-month paid appointment with hosts in public agencies or legislative offices in Illinois, addressing critical policy and management issues in food, economy, environment, community, and health. Applicants must complete an advanced degree (Masters, Doctoral, J.D.) from UIUC between May of 2020 and August 31, 2021. View full details in the 2021 Request for Applications. 

The Office of Technology Management (OTM) is seeking MBA, JD, and PhD candidates to join its paid commercialization analyst internship program, starting Summer 2021 and lasting through Spring 2022. In this position you will develop an understanding of intellectual property law, market and industry analysis, and licensing strategies. You will assess new innovations for patentability, commercial readiness and next steps. OTM staff will mentor you to ensure your professional development. Learn more at the info session on January 29 at 12:15 p.m. CST. 

Come learn about the UIC College of Nursing Master of Science in Nursing program, for non-RNs, that is offered in Urbana. This is a graduate-entry program for non-nurses who have a Bachelor’s degree in another field and now wish to become RNs. Prospective students will learn about the requirements to be admitted into the program, curriculum coursework & clinical experiences, and RN licensure eligibility after completing the program. Zoom link for participation above. 

Children's dance has been a longtime treasured offering to our community by Dance at Illinois. These classes are for children ages 4 – 10 who are yearning to move with joy and dance their hearts out! Classes will meet online using Zoom on Saturday mornings - February 6, 13, 20, and 27. Come dance with us!

Welcome back, Illinois community! We hope you are finding moments to rest and re-center before class start next week. Please join us for our online Spring Open House on Tuesday, January 26 at Noon! Register today: go.illinois.edu/WRCOpenHouse.  

Just Infrastructures announces its inaugural Speaker Series with Joan Donovan, Research Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard University, presenting “What is Media Manipulation?” Register at the link above.

Registration is now open for the 2021 AgTech Innovation Summit on Wednesday, March 10. The AgTech Summit will pivot to a virtual environment, but promises to be no less dynamic. This is a FREE virtual event with sessions on leadership in agtech; supply chain; impacts of the pandemic and its silver linings; and insights from growers and producers. Join us for an hour or all day. Register here.

C3.ai DTI's Digital Transformation Science Colloquium Series features free weekly talks from researchers who work to mitigate COVID-19. Join us on Zoom this upcoming Thursday & hear from Subhonmesh Bose, Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois on modeling the spread of COVID-19. Register here! 

Are you an international student who wants to know what services/programs for international students are offered during Spring 2021? Come and learn from representatives from seven Student Affairs offices and ISSS. Participating Student Affairs units are OIIR International Education, Asian American Cultural Center, The Career Center, Counseling Center, Office of Dean of Students, Leadership Center, and Illini Union. Register at the link above.