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Announcements for the week of August 17, 2025
 
 
 

Announcements

Nominate Now: Campus Awards for Excellence in Public Engagement

The deadline for the Campus Awards for Excellence in Public Engagement is closing on November 1, 2025. Please nominate if you know of a graduate student or team that is working with the public that should be recognized!

Provost Awards • Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

Graduate Assistant Employee Orientation (for TAs, RAs, GAs, and PGAs)

Graduate Assistant Employee Orientation (for TAs, RAs, GAs, and PGAs) Co-sponsored by Illinois Human Resources and the Graduate College, this employee orientation provides information for teaching, research, pre-professional, and graduate assistants regarding appointments and benefits. Offered twice: Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, September 4, 2025, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.

Illinois Human Resources • Illinois Human Resources and the Graduate College

Expanded Evening Hours in the Main Library this Fall

The Orange Room in the Main Library is staying open later! Beginning August 25, enjoy an extra hour of study time—the Orange Room will now be open until 11:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday (excluding breaks). To make this possible, Main Stacks and the Circulation Desk will close at 9:00 p.m. on those days. The University Library is adjusting hours to better support when and where students study most.

Heather Murphy • University Library

Deadlines

Fall 2025 Refunds

August 22 is the last business day to cancel spring registration and receive a 100% refund (Withdrawal/Cancellation Form required); August 24 is the last day to cancel registration via Self-Service and receive a 100% refund. The refund schedule for Fall 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!

Admissions and Enrollment • Graduate College

Fall 2025 International Student Registration Reminders

International students on F-1 and J-1 student visas must be enrolled full time in the Fall and Spring terms to maintain their status. When finalizing your registration for the upcoming Fall 2025 term, international students should remember that while they may enroll in online courses, only one online course (up to a maximum of three credit hours) may count towards this full-time requirement. It is important that you finalize your full-time registration prior to the 10th day of classes (September 8) to maintain your status.

Admissions and Enrollment • Graduate College

Wellbeing

10% Off Group Fitness Membership at Campus Recreation

Group fitness classes including cycle, strength, HIIT, Pilates, Sculpt and Flow, etc. at Campus Recreation are available throughout the day to accommodate your class, work, research, and personal schedules. Receive a 10% discount for a group fitness membership using the code "GF10" if purchased on August 23 or August 24 on Active Illini.

Justin Peterson • Group Fitness at Campus Recreation

CampusWell - An Online Wellness Resource

CampusWell provides health & wellness articles and videos for Illinois students. Topics incorporate the 8 Dimensions of Wellness, ranging from nutrition, mindfulness, time management, finances, etc. Utilize this free, online resource for your health, wellness, and overall well-being this semester. Teaching Assistants are encouraged to share this resource on their syllabi/classes.

Dennis Cristina • Auxiliary Health & Wellbeing Marketing

 This opportunity is available online.

SKY Happiness Retreat September 5-7, 2025

The SKY Happiness Retreat is an internationally acclaimed life-skills program that helps participants develop a relaxed, stress-free mind and an energetic, healthy body. The retreat teaches tools such as evidence-based meditation, yoga, breathwork, and self-exploration in a fun and experiential format. Join us on campus for a detox-weekend! The retreat is fully funded for all UIUC students. Interested students can sign up using the link: tinyurl.com/skyuiucsept

September 5–7 • September 5th (Fri): 6pm - 9.15pm CT, September 6th and 7th (Sat and Sun): 12pm - 5pm CT

Reva Jethwani • Housing Division

Prepay or Prepare to Pay: Tax Planning for Students

In this webinar, learn how to make strategic decisions about pre-paying taxes or adjusting withholdings as a student to avoid penalties and unexpected tax bills.

August 20, 12 pm

Student Money Management Center • University Bursar

 This opportunity is available online.

Funding and Fellowships

Doolen Scholarships for the Study of Aging

The University of Illinois System is accepting applications for the Doolen Scholarships, which provide up to $4,000 to support research on aging. Topics may include biological aspects of the aging process, sociological concomitants of aging, the treatment of diseases of the elderly, the care of the aged, or other aging-related topics. The scholarships offer support for one year, and two students will be selected: one from the biological/biomedical sciences and one from the social/behavioral sciences. See details.

Applications are due October 5, 2025.

Susan Helmink • University of Illinois System

Fulbright U.S. Scholar Update

A reminder that the Fulbright U.S. Scholar application deadline is Sept. 15! If you are considering a Fulbright program and would like tips for writing a strong Fulbright application followed by Q&A with members from IIE, we encourage you to attend the upcoming Writing Clinic on August 26. This webinar will help you submit a successful application in time.

August 26, 1–2 pm

Global Relations • Illinois International Global Relations

 This opportunity is available online.

Research and Teaching

AI in This Course Canvas Module

Need help communicating your expectations around AI usage to your students? The "AI in This Course" Canvas module from the University Library includes a brief overview of how AI works, plus an adjustable template for AI policies that support your learning outcomes. Updates for Fall 2025 include expanded resources on privacy, AI in the research process, and AI's environmental impact. To add the module to your course, log in to Canvas, click on the "Commons" button, and search for "AI in This Course." You will be able to modify the module before making it visible to your students. 

Mary Ton • University Library

 This opportunity is available online.

Graduate College Mentoring Certificate

The Graduate College Mentoring Certificate supports and recognizes the development of intentional mentoring practices in academic contexts. The certificate is available to any graduate student or postdoc who completes these three requirements: 1) 3 hours of mentorship training; 2) engaging in a substantive mentoring experience; 3) a mentoring philosophy and three reflection essays. We will offer workshops on mentoring in the Fall that will fulfill the first requirement.

Mentoring Programs • Graduate College

Academic Writing & Presentation Skills for International Graduate Students

The ESL Program offers advanced 8-week courses for international graduate students to support their academic writing or presentation skills. 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.

Illinois ESL Program • Department of Linguistics

Career and Professional Development

Faculty Job Search Workshop Series: Mark Your Calendars

Graduate College Career & Professional Development will offer a series of online workshops on the faculty job search process, starting 8/26. Topics covered include: Cover Letters & CVs, Research Statements, Teaching Statements, Interviewing, and Negotiation. Later workshops will address dual-career considerations and the variety of non-tenure track faculty roles. See dates/times at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/workshops. We are also available for career advising (https://grad.illinois.edu/professional-development/career-dev-office/career-advising) to support your faculty job search one-on-one.

Career & Professional Development • Graduate College

 This opportunity is available online.

Strategic Storytelling Job Search Workshop Series: Mark Your Calendars

Graduate College Career & Professional Development will offer a series of online workshops on strategic storytelling for your industry/nonprofit job search, starting on August 28. Topics covered include: Application Materials, Networking, Online Presence, and Interviews. See dates/times at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/workshops. We are also available for career advising (https://grad.illinois.edu/professional-development/career-dev-office/career-advising) to support your job search and career development one-on-one.

Career & Professional Development • Graduate College

 This opportunity is available online.

For Postdocs

Warren Alpert Foundation Distinguished Scholars Award in Neuroscience

The Warren Alpert Foundation offers Distinguished Scholars Award for postdoctoral scientists in neuroscience (basic or clinical). These transitional awards enable a postdoc to become a full-time faculty member at the Asst Prof level or higher and to develop a laboratory program that will lead to independent funding. The award offers $200,000 annually for two years to cover salary, lab costs, & related expenses. Applicants must have 3-6 years of postdoctoral training in neuroscience by July 1, 2026. Applicants must submit a pre-proposal to the OVCRI by 9/22/25. See details.

Pre-proposals due Sept 22, 2025.

Richard Sallee • OVCRI - Office of Proposal Development

Opportunities

The University of Illinois Oratorio Society is Welcoming New Members

The Oratorio Society, a symphonic choir comprising students, faculty, staff, and community members, invites singers to join its 2025-26 roster. This year's repertoire will include Duruflé's Requiem, the US premiere of Karin Rehnqvist's Silent Earth, Poulenc's Gloria, and the Verdi Requiem. Tuesday evening rehearsals begin on August 26 at 7:30pm in Krannert 2317. For more information please reach out to Andrew Major (amajor@illinois.edu).

August 26–May 3, 7:30–9:30 pm • Every Tuesday • Krannert 2317

Andrew Major • School of Music

Grad-Level Entrepreneurship and Innovation Courses Fall 2025

Build your innovation skills by enrolling in a TE course this fall. Lectures in Engineering Entrepreneurship (TE 460), Transforming Marketing with AI (TE 468), Technology Innovation (TE 565), Venture Funded Startups (TE 567), and Foundations of High-Impact Innovation (TE 598 PMR) are just some of the technology commercialization topics available to graduate students in any major! Course syllabi are available on our website and feel free to contact us with any questions.

Laura Miller • Technology Entrepreneur Center

Applications Closing for ClarkLindsey's Longevity Symposium

Do you conduct research on aging or lifelong health? ClarkLindsey is hosting its inaugural Longevity Symposium on Friday, October 17, 2025, featuring graduate student posters on aging-related research. Open to all UIUC graduate students. To apply, submit both an abstract and a PDF of your poster by Saturday, August 23 at 11:59 PM (CT). Submit Here

Sarah Blyskal • ClarkLindsey

Microbial Profiling Analysis Workshop

Learn to analyze 16S, 18S, ITS, or similar amplicon data in this hands-on workshop focused on microbial community structure and diversity, led by High Performance Computing in Biology (HPCBio), the bioinformatics core of the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center. This workshop will cover processing, taxonomic classification, diversity analysis and more! There are pre-requisites so please sign up early to allow yourself time to acquire any missing knowledge. Asynchronous prep materials will be provided for those needing a refresher. Please click title link for more details. 

September 12–26, 10 am–2:45 pm • Every Friday

Jessica Holmes • High Performance Computing in Biology

 This opportunity is available online.

Spatial RNA-Seq Analysis Workshop

Learn to analyze spatial RNA-Seq data in this hands-on workshop exploring spatial technologies, experimental design, & bioinformatics workflows using HPC and R. Led by High Performance Computing in Biology, the bioinformatics core of the Carver Biotechnology Center, the main workshop will be offered remotely, & optional advanced sessions where one can apply learned skills to their own dataset will be held in-person. There are pre-reqs so please sign up early to allow time to acquire any missing knowledge (asynchronous prep materials will be provided). Please click title link for more details. 

October 29–November 21, 10 am–3 pm • Every Wednesday and/or Friday

Jessica Holmes • High Performance Computing in Biology

 This opportunity is available online.

Global Talent Show: Where Global Legends Take the Stage

Take the stage during the Illinois Homecoming Global Talent Show! We’re looking for individuals or groups to share their talent and celebrate the rich diversity and talent of our international community. All talents are welcome. Complete the performer application form at https://go.illinois.edu/GTSApplication2025 to apply to be featured in the show. The deadline to apply is September 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST. 

September 1

International Student and Scholar Services • Illinois International | International Student and Scholar Services

Speakers and Conferences

10th University of Illinois Plant Sciences Symposium

Join us for this year's Plant Sciences Symposium on Sept 5 at the Illini Union. This year’s symposium will spotlight the theme “SMART Agriculture: Predict, Adapt & Sustain”. This event will include diverse talks from academia and industry speakers, graduate student talks, a poster competition, and a networking opportunity for all attendees. Currently, we are inviting participants to submit their abstracts for poster presentation. The deadline to submit an abstract is 20th August 2025. Please submit your abstract or register as a participant. 

September 5, 9 am–5 pm • Illini Union

Plant Sciences Symposium • Crop Sciences

 This opportunity is available online.

Arts and Culture

HELLO KITTY at the Illini Union Bookstore

The Illini Union Bookstore is welcoming HELLO KITTY with a brand new shopping experience on the second floor. Stop by to get all of your HELLO KITTY + Illinois exclusive apparel and gifts. You don't want to miss out on this partnership! 

Illini Union Bookstore

Erik Riha • Auxiliary Health & Wellbeing Marketing

Spurlock Off the Quad Day

In honor of the annual University of Illinois Quad Day, Spurlock will be hosting an Off the Quad Day! Before or after you spend some time enjoying the festivities on the quad, stop by the museum to find out what we're all about. Play games, touch artifacts, explore the museum, and enjoy a free popsicle on your way out after all that fun!

August 24, 12–4 pm • Spurlock Museum of World Cultures

Spurlock Museum • Spurlock Museum

Upcoming Events

Illini Union Showcase Week

From August 19-30, the Illini Union is showcasing some of our favorite events, as well as new ones that happen #AtTheUnion! Celebrate the start of the Fall Semester with fun activities and events welcoming all students back to campus, including a movie on the quad, first day of school photos, and more!

August 19–30

Illini Union • Illini Union

Wellness Resources

Make a McKinley Health Center Appointment

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

You may also call 217-333-2700 for appointments • McKinley Health Center

Make a Counseling Center Appointment

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

You may also call 217-333-3704 for appointments • Counseling Center

Basic Needs

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

Call 217-333-0050 or click to email • Connie Frank CARE Center

 
 
 
 
 
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