Graduate and professional students, including online students, are invited to enter the 2024 Image of Research competition! Submit a photo related to your research, scholarship, or creative work, and a short (100-200 word) narrative to communicate the connection between your image and your research. Images can represent your work either concretely or abstractly. Awards are given for first ($500), second ($300), and third place ($200) as well as people’s choice ($100). If you're looking for inspiration, view the 2023 exhibition winners. See more details here!

Before classes start, come join new and returning graduate students at the campus ice arena – whether you’re an expert skater or never been on ice! Say hello at the Grad College table, grab a snack and sticker at the table and enjoy a unique Illinois campus experience. Free admission and skate rental with your I-Card.

All campus libraries will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 9, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for an all-employee event. Library digital resources will remain available during this closure and may be accessed through the Library Gateway (click the link above). Please arrange your study or research schedule accordingly.

January 12 is the last business day to cancel spring registration and receive a 100% refund (Withdrawal/Cancellation Form required); January 15 is the last day to cancel registration via Self-Service and receive a 100% refund. The refund schedule for Spring 2024 can be found on the Registrar's website. Students enrolled in non-standard part of term courses should refer to their graduate program for deadline information. Have questions about registration deadlines or submitting a Withdrawal/Cancellation form? Click here for an advising appointment!

Staying on campus during break? Join us for fun activities and get connected with other students and find your home away from home. In this session, we will explore Hygge. In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Cozying up with a loved one for a movie – that's hygge, too. Lunch is provided

Are you looking to increase your seasonal produce intake and explore local products? Get Local! allows you to try a variety of produce and locally sourced products each week! In addition to a sample of local goods provided by Common Ground Food Co-op and fresh produce from the Sustainable Student Farm, you will also receive recipe packets, educational handouts curated by the McKinley Health Center, and a reusable tote bag. Enjoy accessible and sustainable produce and local products, without even having to leave campus! Cost: $50 for student; $75 for non-student for a total of four pickups

Are you looking for new tools to help manage stress before the semester gets too busy? RIO is a two-part program that teaches students techniques for recognizing and moving past situations that cause stress, frustration, and anxiety. RIO can provide skills to help you manage and reduce anxiety, adapt to new challenges, understand your thoughts and feelings WITHOUT judgment or shame, move beyond feeling “stuck”, take the initiative to step out of your comfort zone. Please register in advance. If these times do not work, check additional dates at the Counseling Center website. 

Start the semester strong by learning to craft an effective funding proposal. As a graduate student, now is the time to hone your grantwriting proficiency. In this workshop, designed for students in the humanities and social sciences, you will learn how to identify funding opportunities, strategize the components of an effective proposal, and think like a grantwriter. Please register in advance for this online workshop. 

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. Please register in advance for this online workshop. 

The Partnership for Public Service has a new tool for identifying internships in the federal government. You can use this link to find paid internships open to graduate students, and the database is also searchable. If you find an internship you want to apply for, make a career advising appointment with the Graduate College.

This week, join the Writers Workshop to kick off the New Year the "write" way and make some progress on your writing! We'll be offering a mini-retreat during the week of January 8th on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, in the Main Library's Orange Room or by Zoom. Please note that you only need to register once to attend any or all of these dates. 

For support on your academic writing or presentation skills, the ESL Program offers advanced 8-week courses for international graduate students. ESL 592, Advanced Academic Writing, teaches students the conventions of academic writing in their own discipline through self-directed learning with individualized support. ESL 593, Academic Presentation Skills, improves students’ skills in speaking and presenting research in academic settings. Get individualized support in publishing an article, writing your dissertation or preparing to present at a conference. Register now! Seating is limited.

The FIRST Lego League Sectional Tournament will take place January 20th on campus. This event runs on volunteers from across the University community. Support young STEM-enthusiasts by volunteering as a judge, referee, floor monitor, or other role. No experience necessary. Training is provided. Sign up HERE or contact Lara Hebert at wyse@illinois.edu for more information.

All students are invited to the Illinois Part-Time Job Fair on January 30, 2204, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Illini Union. It's a great opportunity for you to gain experience and make some money. Whether you want to work spring, summer, or even fall semester, come meet representatives from UIUC departments, as well as local employers. Employers include Campus Recreation, Leadership Center, Campus Housing, Stephens Family YMCA, FedEx, and more. The list keeps growing! Registration is encouraged but not required. To learn more visit Handshake.

You are invited to participate in Spring 2024 GLOBECohort! Visit go.illinois.edu/globe for more information and to submit your interest form. GLOBE connects Blue (current university students) with Orange participants (new students) and teams them up in small and large groups to participate in various activities and events throughout the semester. The goal of GLOBE is to provide opportunities for domestic and international students to enhance intercultural communication skills, leadership experience, and lifelong friendships

The university is sponsoring four graduate students to attend the 2024 Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) workshop on April 14-17, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The workshop is hosted by American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS). Cost of travel, lodging, registration and meals will be covered for selected students. To nominate yourself for consideration, please complete the online form by February 5.

This is a reminder that the CSBS Policy and Research Legislative Fellows Program application for the 2024-25 Academic Year is closing on January 15. This non-partisan initiative, supported by the Office of Public Engagement, matches graduate students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) with a state legislator representing Champaign-Urbana or a neighboring district to collaborate on a policy research project that can inform public policy and help make Illinois a better place live. Submit your application by 11:59 p.m. on January 15, 2024.

Is there an aspect of the doctoral student experience that you think could be better supported? The Doctoral Research Support Program (DRSP) invites students to submit workshop and symposium proposals for spring and fall 2024. These workshops and symposia can be in person, virtual, or hybrid. We welcome proposals from all disciplines. These workshops should help foster dissertation research, peer-to-peer mentoring, academic training, and research collaboration at Illinois and beyond.

Illinois Student Council (ISC) is the university’s official form of student government, advocating for the betterment of our campus community with integrity and transparency. There are five open positions for graduate students to represent the interests of students and advocate for the betterment of the campus community. This is a commitment of 2-3 hours/week, including a weekly Student Congress meeting (Thursdays, 7 pm) and an assigned committee meeting. Learn more about ISC. Complete this form if you are interested in filling one of the open positions for the spring semester. 

The Illini Union Board serves as advisor to the Director of the Union on matters of policy relating to the operation of the Illini Union, providing the student voice. We are looking to fill the graduate student spot on our Board! The Board meets for 1.5 hrs on third Wednesdays during the academic year, with the student Board, Union staff, and university representatives for business including programming updates and recommendations from directors, financial & sustainability updates, task force reports, review & approval of policy revisions. Complete this form to indicate your interest.

This environmental humanities seminar is part of the larger multiyear CAS initiativeClimate | Change. Throughout the semester, students examine the material, social, andintellectual infrastructures behind global warming from a wide range of geographies, timeperiods, and humanistic and scientific disciplines. Students will also choose one aspect ofthis planetary crisis to examine in detail and formulate their own humanistic response inthe form of a research paper or some other approved format.

The Center for Advanced Study sponsors an annual international interdisciplinary Summer Institute in Human-Animal Studies for advanced graduate students and early career scholars pursuing research in Human-Animal Studies. The 2024 Institute will be held June 23-29, 2024. If you are interested in applying or know someone who would be, please click the link above for application information.

McKinley Health Center serves on-campus students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

The University of Illinois Counseling Center provides mental health counseling and well-being education for students. 

If you or a student you know may need support with their basic needs or financial stressors, please reach out.