Congratulations to our graduates! To recognize this achievement, the Graduate College will host a Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on Thursday, May 15 at 7 p.m. in the State Farm Center. Join us in celebrating in person or by watching the livestream of the event at https://go.illinois.edu/hooding-live. 

The Career Exploration Group provides a collaborative environment for grad students and postdocs from all fields who want to learn more about career options. Participants work with a career advisor to identify and evaluate career paths that fit their skills, interests, and values. This is a unique opportunity to share and learn about exploring careers through discussion and open dialogue with peers. Participants commit to meeting three times over three weeks. Career Exploration Group will meet in person from 3:30 - 5 PM on 6/17, 6/24, and 7/1. Registration is required.

Graduate students and postdocs are invited to apply to be mentors in the Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program. In this information session, you will learn more about the program and the application process. Join the info session on Zoom at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/eventspace. For more information about URAP and this year's application (due June 22), visit https://grad.illinois.edu/grad-student-life/mentoring/urap.

The Mentoring Matters Summer Institute is a 2-day, interactive event to support the development of strong mentoring skills. In addition to keynote addresses for all participants, the institute will feature a special track for graduate students. Grad students will collaborate with one another and with experts to identify effective mentoring practices, learn strategies for strengthening your own network of mentors, and develop your skills as a mentor. The focus will be on mentoring in a higher education context, especially in research settings. Learn more and register.

Whether it's Funk ACES Library, Grainger Engineering Library Information Center, the Main Library—with its large group tables and reservable study rooms in The Orange Room—or any of our other libraries, there’s a space for you. Every campus library welcomes all students, no matter their major. And for night owls, many locations offer extended hours. NOTE: Summer hours will begin at many library locations on May 19. 

Facilities & Services and University Housing are partnering for the annual Dump & Run® spring event. Beginning Monday, May 12 through Sunday, May 18 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., donate your gently used personal items and unopened, nonperishable foods at shipping containers located near residence halls. Visit the F&S website to view a map of container locations and a list of accepted and prohibited items. As a reminder, the transfer of university property is not allowed. Disposal of all university-procured items must be in accordance with University of Illinois System policies.

Please make sure you are not registered for the Summer or Fall 2025 semester so that you do not face unwanted tuition and fee charges. If you are registered and are not continuing in another program, cancel your registration by the May 18 deadline.

May 16 is the last business day to cancel summer registration and receive a 100% refund (Withdrawal/Cancellation Form required); May 18 is the last day to cancel registration via Self-Service and receive a 100% refund. The refund schedule for Summer 2025 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!

As you take care of your end-of-semester checklist, remember to take care of yourself as well. If you're on campus, you are welcome to come take a break at the Grad College. Room 105 is set up with puzzles, tea, and cocoa through finals week. BONUS: Coming to the Graduate College provides an opportunity for a walk. Wherever you find your moment, sleeping, going for a walk, drinking water, eating chocolate, and taking a break are research-backed practices for wellness. Check the GradLIFE newsletter for more!

Staying on campus during a break? Join us for fun activities and get connected with other students and find your home away from home. Summer Series run from June 2 to August 6. 

The Social Science & Humanities Fellowships Summer Writing Lab is a pilot four-day program designed to facilitate a successful summer of proposal writing by grad students in the social sciences and humanities. Eligible students will be preparing applications for external fellowships that require research proposals. Students must complete an application form and advisors must confirm their support via the brief nomination form. Please see further details in our calendar listing and apply by the extended deadline of May 14. 

Join the Grad College Office of External Fellowships for a six-week writing lab designed to help you prepare a competitive application for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP). US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who are incoming first- and rising second-year grad students plus senior undergrads in all eligible STEM and STEM education fields are welcome to join. Participants will benefit from virtual weekly meetings, tailored workshops, writing exercises, and structured peer review. See additional details in the calendar listing.

This summer, Graduate College Career Development is here to help you explore new career paths, develop and refine application materials, prep for interviews, negotiate offers, and more. You'll meet one-on-one with an advisor who can offer support, guidance, and feedback as you plan your next steps. Make an appointment at any stage of your career exploration or job search process. Appointments are available via Zoom or in person. Learn more about how to make an appointment here.

The Council of Graduate Schools collaborates with ProQuest to offer annual Distinguished Dissertation Awards. Awards honor outstanding dissertations that have made unusually significant contributions to their disciplines. Dissertations must have been deposited between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2025, and awards are given in two broad fields each year. This year's fields are 1) Biological and Life Sciences and 2) Humanities and Fine Arts. For details on the award and the departmental nomination process, visit the CGS/ProQuest listing in the Fellowship Finder database. 

Mark your calendars for our writing retreat next month! We will host independent writing time in the mornings (Mon-Fri) and optional *in-person only* workshops in the afternoons (Mon-Wed). Register in advance and view the entire schedule on our calendar. We look forward to writing and connecting with you!

With Molecule Maker Lab, anyone—students, researchers, citizen scientists, families, and you!—can automatically assemble molecular building blocks while leveraging the power of AI. This opens the door to endless possibilities in medicine, energy, and beyond. We will be joined by inspiring guest speakers, including a leader from NASA’s Planet Hunters Program, the President of MIT’s Scratch Foundation, and our very own pioneer behind the new Minecraft for Molecules platform. More details, including livestream links, to come!  Please register if you plan to attend. 

This training series is designed for students, staff, and faculty at the University of Illinois seeking to understand race and racism in deeper ways, promote racial justice, and dismantle systems of oppression through intensive 3-hour trainings, offered twice per semester. Find out more information and register here: go.illinois.edu/RJAA 

Join Illinois Extension for Walk & Talks—fun, interactive sessions featuring a short lesson followed by a walk on paved park paths. The next walk is May 15 from 12–1 PM at Meadowbrook Park (2950 S Race St, Champaign), led by Environmental and Energy Stewardship Educator Karla Griesbaum & Master Naturalists. Enjoy the fresh spring air, a chance to win a giveaway, and connect with your community!  In case of bad weather, we'll meet at First Christian Church (3601 S Staley Rd, Champaign). Registration is required to receive the meet-up details. Register at: go.illinois.edu/SpringWalks

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.