The draft Spring 2025 list is now available at go.illinois.edu/lotrae.  If your course is missing, check your instructor report against the criteria in the draft list.  At least five students must have completed the relevant item(s) and you must have released your sections for inclusion on the list.  For questions or corrections, email ices@illinois.edu or call 217-244-3846.

Across the country, institutions like ours are working to understand the impacts of federal actions on higher education. The federal updates newsletter provides updated information regarding the impact on our university. In addition, the federal updates website houses information, resources and FAQs related to the impact of federal actions on our university. For additional questions, please contact federalupdates@illinois.edu.

The Illini Union's restaurants are all full and open! Try Maize Mexican Grill, Thai Fusion, Mia Za's Express, the Moo of I Ice Cream Lab, Just Bee Acai, Tropical Smoothie, and the soon-to-open Brien's Bistro. You can also conveniently order online ahead of time so your food is ready when you get here! Now open for Fall Hours.Great spot for lunch and to meet up with colleagues in the newly-renovated Underground (lower level of the Union). 

Facilities & Services removed 218 abandoned bicycles this summer on campus. If your bike is one of those collected, and you want it back, email bike@illinois.edu and include where it was located, the make/model, color, and serial number, if possible. Bike documentation will be needed to prove ownership (e.g., pictures). This year's retrieval deadline is Friday, September 26. If the bicycle was not previously registered, you will be required to register it in accordance with the University Bicycle Ordinance ($10 fee). There is also a $40 retrieval fee to help support ongoing bike operations. 

August 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. Have questions about registration deadlines or submitting an Audit form? Click here for an advising appointment!

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!

Please join us for yoga on the quad on Monday, September 1st! Mats and refreshments will be provided. All experience levels welcome. RSVP @ https://tinyurl.com/uiucyoga

Try a variety of classes from cycling, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, and more for FREE! View the schedule here. Starting Sept. 1, participation in group fitness classes requires an active membership and the purchase of a group fitness membership. Passes can be purchased through Active Illini.

Jump Trading LLC offers fellowships to PhD students in six select research areas: 1) Chemical/Biological/Biomedical Sciences, 2) Mathematics & Statistics, 3) Physics, 4) Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, 5) Computer Science & Electrical Engineering, 6) Earth Sciences. Fellowships provide one year of support complete with a $50K stipend and full coverage of tuition and fees. Students of any nationality or citizenship are eligible. Students must be nominated by their department, and departmental nominations are due in the Graduate College by October 10.

The National Science Foundation offers Graduate Research Fellowships to US citizens & permanent residents in STEM, social science, & STEM education fields. The application requires two statements, & the Graduate College offers workshops on each. The first workshop, Writing an Effective Graduate Research Plan Statement, will be offered on Tuesday, 9/2 (to be repeated on 9/10). Interested students should first explore our self-guided NSF-GRF Fundamentals Canvas course. See the recent GradFELLOWSHIPS newsletter for details and additional workshops.

Join a fellowship information session for the American Association of University Women (AAUW) led by Dana Johnson, PhD, Director of External Fellowships, Graduate College on Friday, August 29, from noon -1:30 p.m. (lunch available starting at 11:45) in room 306 Coble Hall, 801 S. Wright Street. Please note that the current fellowship submission deadline is September 30. Register at this link.

Are you an international student whose everyday conversation and presentation fluency in English hasn't improved as much as you expected? Would your department appreciate if you could work as a TA for a semester or two — but interacting with students as a TA terrifies you? The course ESL 506 F 50728 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM TR is designed to help international grad students function successfully in an English-medium academic environment and fulfills the requirement for re-taking the OEAI. Grading S/U. If you have questions about ESL 506, please contact Suzanne Franks at scfranks@illnois.edu.

The University Library offers the Savvy Researcher, a workshop series offered to all students, staff, and faculty to improve your research and information management skills. Our new and returning workshops are taught every semester librarians, iSchool graduate assistants, and our campus partners. Sessions include a series on Evidence-Based Synthesis, tools for qualitative data analysis, an excellent session on designing poster presentations, citation management with popular software, and much more!  The first workshops begin September 9th.

Start the fall semester off right by getting IT support at our pop-up Help Desks during Tech Points. All Illinois students, faculty and staff can get help with email, password resets, Wi-Fi set up, multi-factor authentication and so much more! Find us at CIF, Ikenberry Commons and Illini Union on August 25 and 26 or online on August 27. Details are on the Tech Points webpage. Please share! 

All Illinois students, faculty and staff can get IT support at the Technology Services Help Desks located in the Illini Union, room 187 or DCL, room 1211. Both locations are open seven days a week during the semester, hours are available online. Walk-ins are welcome or you can submit a ticket online. 

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. Keep an eye out for different events and resources to help you sharpen your skills and get off to a good start this semester! Some offices to learn more about include: the Writers Workshop; the Research Data Service; and the Savvy Researcher.

More than lists of accomplishments, your resume, cover letter, and other application materials should make a convincing case for why you will succeed in a role. In this workshop, we will discuss techniques for strategically crafting application materials that make that compelling argument. Topics will include deciding what to include in your materials, how to write about your past experience in ways that catch the eye of readers, and tips for making your materials send a cohesive message about your capabilities.This session will be on Zoom at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/eventspace

Going on the academic job market? You’ll need a strong CV that presents your academic background and experience convincingly. And you’ll need a compelling cover letter that highlights your experience and fit with the department. Join us and learn the basics of preparing these application materials, including structure, content, and customization. This workshop will take place on Zoom at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/eventspace.

Career Fair in coming soon! Are you looking for internship or job? Get your resume career-fair ready! Join GradSWE and Engineering Career Services for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to tailor your resume for recruiters, highlight your skills effectively, and make a strong first impression. Don’t miss this chance to sharpen your resume and boost your confidence before the fair! 

The Career Certificate - International is an inclusive, 9-week career development program designed to help students with international interest and backgrounds gain a higher level of career competence and practical skills required to successfully pursue global job and internship opportunities. This program features weekly workshops, peer mentoring, and tools to build your networking, job search, and interviewing skills. 

Statistically speaking, you’re our missing variable! Join StatCom to put R, Python, and SQL to work on real community projects with local partners. Get hands-on consulting experience, mentorship from peers and pros, and enhance your portfolio. 

Join Illinois Science Explorers for Designing & Delivering STEM Outreach, a workshop program that equips graduate students with the knowledge, skills, and experience to design and deliver engaging STEM activities for K–12 audiences. Participants will learn how to translate concepts into interactive, age-appropriate activities, foster curiosity, inclusion, and accessibility in STEM learning, and build confidence, leadership skills, and a toolkit of adaptable activities. Graduate students from all disciplines are welcome to apply, and no prior experience is required. Apply by Friday, August 29. 

It's the start of a new school year and these questions might already be leaping to the front of your mind: What are your specific research needs? What are your biggest challenges with data? What could you use help with? Illinois Computes is here to offer research technology support to all U. of I. researchers, helping you advance your innovative and groundbreaking work. Are you hitting a logistical roadblock? Struggling for resources? Not sure where to begin? Illinois Computes can help with that. Explore the resources available to you through Illinois Computes.

Mental Health First Aid Certification training courses are being offered on campus throughout the fall semester.  To see a complete list of courses and to register, please go to https://wellness.illinois.edu/mhfa Courses are offered at no cost to attendees, but you must register and complete all portions of the training to receive certification. Mental Health First Aid training is available through funding provided by the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act and sponsored by Student Affairs.

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 to apply to be featured in the show. The deadline to apply is September 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST. 

You are invited to participate in the Fall 2025 GLOBE Cohort! 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 

Calling all new and returning students! Kick off the school year and celebrate Krannert Art Museum’s newest exhibitions at KAM Fest 2025. Visit the museum from Noon-3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug 26, to pick up your free welcome kit and participate in fun art activities led by local artists. Light snacks provided. Welcome kits are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The Main Scoop food truck will be parked in front of the museum with free ice cream for the first 50 attendees.

Enjoy a ribbon-cutting, reception, live music, and more! Join us to celebrate the Grand Reopening of the museum, including premiering new exhibitions—Fragmented Histories: Andean Art Before 1600, created with partners in Peru, and an introduction to New York-based contemporary artist Ronny Quevedo: a l l s t a r s, plus a new installation of the historical European and American art collection. Museum galleries will stay open until 8 pm. **Features a performance by Peruvian Quechua hip-hop artist Liberato Kani** 

Join us for an unforgettable night with Liberato Kani—Peru’s visionary Quechua hip-hop artist! After a performance at Gallery Art Bar (6-8:30 p.m.), enjoy a post-performance reception and conversation at Encanto Restaurant. Liberato will share insights into his process, discuss the cultural and conceptual foundations of his performance, and invite conversation with attendees in a relaxed, salon-style environment. Light refreshments provided. *This is a CEU-eligible event!*

Join us for an unforgettable night with Liberato Kani—Peru’s visionary Quechua hip-hop artist—live at Gallery Art Bar in Urbana. His music fuses hip-hop with Andean, Amazonian, and Afro-Peruvian rhythms, carrying stories of cultural pride, Indigenous resistance, and life between the highlands and the city. Champaign-Urbana’s mariachi group, Mariachi Libertad, will open the evening with their vibrant, high-energy sound. Celebrating the rich traditions of mariachi music, the ensemble showcases the talent, culture, and spirit of our community. Post-performance reception at Encanto Restaurant.

Do you want to meet other graduate students? Do you want to learn valuable skills for adjusting to graduate school? Do you want free food on a Tuesday night? The Institute of Genomic Biology is funding a by-students for-students workshop series to connect first-year graduate students with each other and introduce them to resources to help them thrive in the transition to graduate school. RSVP for updates if interested. The first workshop will be a student panel on Setting Boundaries and Expectations. 

Join us for the annual Research Park Block Party, where graduate students can connect directly with employers in the Park. More than 20 companies will be on site, offering a chance to learn about internships, research collaborations, and full-time opportunities. Meet with employers, enjoy pizza, music, and networking with peers.      Free and open to all Illinois students. Learn more: Research Park Block Party              Register Here: 2025 Research Park Block Party

This summer, 14 Illinois undergraduates spent their summer working alongside Mayo Clinic faculty and clinicians on projects to advance biomedical, translational, and health equity research. Learn more about their projects at a poster session for the 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) and Health Equity Research Experience (HERE) at Mayo Clinic. The poster session will be followed by a celebration. Light refreshments will be served. Please register by Aug. 28.

Interested in learning ballroom dance but don't know where to start--this is the event for you! The Illini Ballroom & Latin Dance team will be hosting our annual open house with a social, showcases from our current members, introductory lessons from our student instructors, and free time to practice the dances. Our team will be able to answer any questions you may have about getting involved and learning to dance at Illinois. This event is free and open to all Illinois students. 

A welcome back event and Asian American Cultural Center / International Education open house. Learn about AACC and IE programs, chat with Asian American and international student organizations, meet campus resources that support Asian American and international students and watch performances. This program is open to all current students, regardless of race, color or national origin. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request, please contact aacc@illinois.edu.