The Graduate College will be closed December 24 - January 1 for the Winter Break. We will be operating remotely December 23 and January 2-3, with staff available via phone, email, or through our appointment scheduling system. If you have a matter needing urgent attention, please contact the Emergency Dean at 217-333-0050. We wish you a joyful and relaxing break!

The Graduate College and its student advisory group, SAGE (Students Advising Graduate Education), invite applications of graduate students who have exhibited outstanding service for the 2024-25 Graduate Student Leadership Awards. The Graduate College will grant two awards, one designated for a master's student winner and one for a doctoral student winner. More information and application requirements can be found on our website.

Nomination for the $20,000 Illinois Innovation Award, awarded by The Grainger College of Engineering through Technology Entrepreneur Center and the $10,000 Fiddler Innovation Fellowship awarded by NCSA is open. The Illinois Innovation Award honors students for excellence in cutting-edge innovation or translational research that addresses real-world problems. The Fiddler Innovation Fellowship honors students for excellence in addressing cultural, societal, or global challenges with innovative solutions. Nominate now! 

Graduate and professional students, including online students, are invited to enter the 2025 Image of Research competition. Submit a photo related to your research, scholarship, or creative work, and a short (100-200 word) narrative to communicate how the work has impacted you or others. 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 are looking for inspiration. See details.

The renovations to the C10 parking structure on Fifth and Daniel are nearly complete, and the garage will reopen on January 6, 2025. The Parking Department is offering a limited number of student permits for the spring semester. For pricing and reservation details, please contact us at 217-333-3530 or parkingcomments@illinois.edu.

The Graduate College is accepting applications for the Britta L. and Charles J. Wolfe Award for Diabetes Research through Wednesday, January 29. One award of $1,000 will be made to a graduate student conducting diabetes research in any field. See our Fellowship Finder listing for details on the award and application process. 

The U.S. Geological Survey Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) are accepting statements of interest from graduate students for the Science to Action Fellowship. Fellows receive $10,000 to develop a policy-relevant project related to climate change impacts and adaptation on fish, wildlife, landscapes, and communities in partnership with a CASC mentor. The deadline to submit a statement of interest is January 16; see our Fellowship Finder listing for complete details. 

This fall, the Thesis Office deposited 289 doctoral dissertations and 116 master's theses. Congratulations to all of our graduates! We are so proud of you and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

NCSA’s new artificial intelligence-focused computing system, DeltaAI, is now live! Learn how Illinois researchers can apply for allocations to this unparalleled AI and machine learning system dedicated to advancing research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign through Illinois Computes, which made a significant supplementary investment to provide additional reserved access for Illinois researchers. Sign up for the newsletter and don't let winter break allow you to forget to take advantage of all of the compute resources, data storage and research expertise to assist your work!

Starting Dec. 20, 2024, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will enable the Zoom AI Companion for students, faculty, and staff. Features include meeting summaries, in-meeting queries, and smart recordings to improve virtual collaboration. Read the article about Zoom AI Companion features here. Manage settings at illinois.zoom.us/profile/setting. Questions? Email consult@illinois.edu.

The Technology Services Help Desks in DCL and Illini Union are closing early December 23 at 5p.m. and will be closed December 24 through January 1. Regular hours resume Thursday, January 2. The full schedule is available on the Help Desk webpage. Walk-ins are welcome! Users can also get IT support by submitting a Tech Request or emailing consult@illinois.edu.

Get ready for a time of fun, friendly competition at our Global Games Get-Together! Join us to explore board games from different areas around the world, meet new friends, and enjoy various international snacks in a relaxed atmosphere. From classic games to unique cultural favorites, there’s something for everyone. Come test your strategy, learn different games, and connect with other students here over the break for an afternoon of laughter and global camaraderie! Feel free to bring board game(s) from your own country or culture that you would like to teach and share with others as well.

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.