The Illini Union Bookstore is welcoming in the holiday season with a Cyber Monday Sale! Faculty and staff receive 20% OFF all apparel and souvenirs on Monday December 1 in store from 8am-6pm and online (until 11:59pm CST). This is a great way to grab that new orange and blue and celebrate the Illini!

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is hosting a campuswide food drive to support the Food Assistance & Well-Being Program, which provides support to students facing food insecurity. The shopping-style pantries — located at both the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) and Campus Recreation Center East (CRCE) — offer free food and basic necessities in a welcoming space for all students. This program ensures no student has to choose between pursuing their education and having a meal. Learn more about the drive and food pantry.

Are you looking for a part-time job for Spring, Summer, or Fall 2026? Come to the Part-Time Job Fair on Jan. 29, 2026, 1–4 pm at the Illini Union. It’s a great way to build your career competencies, gain experience, and earn extra money. All roles are paid positions on campus or in the C-U area. F-1 visa students are welcome to apply for campus jobs. Casual attire is fine. Registration encouraged. Visit Handshake for details.

December 11 is also the last day to withdraw from ALL semester courses with "W's" recorded (Withdrawal/Cancellation Form and department approval required; and approval required from ISSS in the case of International Students). All forms must be submitted to the Graduate College before 5:00 pm on Reading Day, December 11. Students enrolled in non-standard part of term courses should refer to their graduate program for deadline information. Have questions about submitting a Withdrawal form? Click here for an advising appointment!

December 11 is the last day to add or drop (with a "W") a Semester or Part of Term B course (via Late Registration Change in the Graduate College Student Portal. All forms must be submitted to the Graduate College before 5:00 pm on Reading Day, December 11. 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 Late Registration form? Click here for an advising appointment!

December 5 is the last day to drop a Part of Term B course without a grade of "W" recorded by submitting a Late Registration Change via the Graduate College Student Portal; and the last day to submit a Credit/no-credit Request form for a Part of Term B course via the Graduate College Student Portal. Have questions about registration deadlines or submitting a Late Registration or Credit/No Credit form? Click here for an advising appointment!

Friday, December 12, at 5:00pm, is the deadline for masters students to complete their thesis deposit, if required, for Fall 2025 degree conferral. This deadline is firm and cannot be waived. Because all corrections and all required deposit materials must be received no later than 5:00pm, the Thesis Office strongly encourages students to submit the thesis for review one week prior to the deadline. For further information about the process visit the Thesis Office website.

Friday, December 5, at 5:00pm is the deadline for doctoral students to complete their dissertation deposit for Fall 2025 degree conferral. This deadline is firm and cannot be waived. Because all corrections and all required deposit materials must be received no later than 5:00pm, the Thesis Office strongly encourages students to submit the dissertation for review several days prior to the deadline. For further information about the process visit the Thesis Office website.

Create the “write” habit! Our writing group provides graduate students with dedicated time to make progress on writing in a supportive atmosphere. These groups are ideal for graduate students who are seeking to create or return to a writing routine, make progress and meet deadlines on long-term projects, or jump-start a new writing project. During this time, students will work on their own current writing projects and will not receive feedback. If you’re looking to improve your writing, check out our events or make an appointment to get individualized feedback.

As you put the finishing touches on your thesis deposit, it’s a great idea to think of some of the things you need to do if you are preparing to leave the University of Illinois, like set email forwarding, create a plan to manage your Box files, and don’t forget to return your library books! Don’t forget to check with your department to see if there are any final tasks you should complete (such as returning keys, exit interviews, etc.). 

Curious about life inside a leading tech-driven company? Wondering what roles are out there—and where you might fit? Join us for an exclusive session where you’ll get an inside look at Constellation as a company, the diverse career paths it offers, and what skills they’re looking for in emerging talent. You'll have the unique opportunity to connect directly with Constellation’s Talent Acquisition Coordinator and engineers from the team. Thursday, December 4, 2025, Location: Noyes Laboratory 217 at 12:30 - 02:00 PM. Lunch will be provided. Bring your notes and drink

Curious about the 120+ tech companies and startups that call the U. of I. Research Park home? It’s one of the best places on campus to find a paid internship or full-time job. Hear student interns share their experiences and get tips from staff on opportunities, hiring timelines, and the application process. Registration is encouraged but not required. Learn more on Handshake. 

Are you interested in learning about the entrepreneurship ecosystem at Illinois? Drop by our first Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Office Hours to connect with campus representatives who can answer questions and help you take the next step. Learn about the wide range of entrepreneurial programming, resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities available across campus. Faculty, staff, and students from all units are welcome. No appointment needed – just bring your questions and curiosity! Bonus: If you want, stay for a 3 PM tour of EnterpriseWorks, a technology business incubator.

Enroll in the Kaplan All Access Program for FREE access to test prep materials for graduate school, career credentials, and licensure exams, as well as skills development and new-hire courses. You must enroll before graduation or you will lose access. Once enrolled, you have access to the resources for the duration of the course, typically one year. Visit the Kaplan All Access page on our website for the full list of 40 courses and the enrollment portal link. 

Illinois State University's College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) Master's Program is hosting virtual information sessions designed to introduce students to the CSPA program, highlight the many career paths within student affairs, and answer questions about graduate study in this field. This session is especially valuable for student leaders, orientation staff, resident assistants, peer mentors, or anyone curious about careers in higher education. Registration is encouraged but not required. For details visit Handshake.

Register now for the 5th Annual Student Success Symposium on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Illini Union to participate in the ongoing discussion about what our campus is doing and will do to bolster retention and graduation rates, close equity gaps and enhance the Illinois Experience. Deadline to register is January 22, 2026.

NCSA and IQUIST invite the campus community to the monthly BYO Lunch Quantum User Group—a forum for researchers, students, and anyone interested in quantum computing to connect, share experiences, and explore how quantum technologies may support their work.

Join us for a lecture in the Forum on Human Flourishing in a Digital Age series with Matthew DeCamp (University of Colorado). Drawing on insights from medical practice, philosophy, and the social sciences, his lecture will explore the use of AI in medicine and argue that AI has the potential to change who we are and what we value. And that we must cultivate virtues to address issues of transparency, explainability, algorithmic bias and more. 

SPEAK stands for Song, Poetry, Art, and Knowledge. It is an open-mic public performance space at Krannert Art Museum curated by local artist, Shaya Robinson, featuring guest performers and welcoming all to the mic.  **Parking nearby is free after 5 pm and on weekends. The museum is open Thursdays until 8 pm when classes are in session. Dec 4 is the last open evening for the semester. Jan 22 will be the first Thursday open late in the new year.**

Don't miss the final week of the Ronny Quevedo: a l l s t a r s exhibition! On view through December 6. *Parking nearby is free after 5 pm and on weekends*

The Illini Union Board will be hosting the Winter Market at the Illini Union on Sunday, December 7. This is your chance to purchase hand-crafted holiday gifts from over 40 local vendors. You can also get your photo taken with the Grinch!

Enjoy a variety of School of Music Jazz Concerts, including the Spencer Combo, Jazz Trombone Ensemble, Illinois Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensemble, Concert Jazz Band, Jazz Guitar Ensemble, and Dave Pell Octet (formerly the Repertory Jazz Ensemble). Experience a free movement workshop—Dance for People with Parkinson's—with Dance at Illinois instructor Laura Chiaramonte, alongside Kate Insolia. Plus, don't miss the Champaign-Urbana Ballet in their annual holiday presentation of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. Visit KrannertCenter.com for more information.

AsiaLENS presents a free screening of the film Hug Me Tight: A Robot Story, followed by a virtual Q&A with filmmakers Heesun Shin and Chihyung Jeon. In South Korea, thousands of older adults are living with Hyodol, a doll-shaped robot. Following the journey of Hydol from production to use, this film asks: Can robots take care of older adults? Can older adults take care of the robot? How should we take care of each other? (Run time 61 min.)

Hear from students in International Education's signature immersion program GLOBE, discover their stories and cultural journeys through conversation and food. Dinner is provided. This program is open to all current students, regardless of race, color or national origin. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request, please contact internationaled@illinois.edu. 

Take a refreshing break from the end-of-semester rush and join us for this month's Coffee Across Cultures Hour, focusing on practical strategies for making meaningful connections and building your own support system. Through a presentation, guided conversation, and light activities, we’ll explore how to understand friendship and cope with isolation, especially during busy and overwhelming times. To help you unwind, we’ll also have board games and crafting materials available, as well as coffee, tea, and pastries, offering a relaxed and welcoming space to recharge. Free and open to all! 

Join us for the World Meditation Day Celebration on December 21st, from 8:30am to 10:00am! The UN has invited internationally renowned Meditation Teacher, Humanitarian, and Peace Ambassador, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, to guide an online meditation live, to celebrate World Meditation Day. Join us for an uplifting celebration of life, with meditation, music, food, and community at the Illini Union Ballroom on December 21st, from 8:30am to 10:00am! Attendance is FREE. RSVP at tiny.cc/ChampaignWMD

Join us for at the CU Community Fab Lab to help support the Fab Lab Summer Camp Scholarship Fund. All proceeds generated from the Maker Fest will benefit local youth and families by removing financial barriers to attend our summer camp program. This Fest will also host several local makers and provide a festive holiday shopping experience. With one-of-a-kind gifts, customizable ornaments, handmade goods, and kid-friendly items, this is not a market to miss. 

Join us and the Wildlife Medical Clinic for a creative hands-on experience! Stop by the 2nd floor to meet our ambassador animals - Loki the red-tailed hawk, Pesto the Virginia opossum, Maize the corn snake and Basil the American toad. Learn about wildlife rehabilitation and enjoy a zine-making activity inspired by the animals you meet. All supplies will be provided.

Join us at the Asian American Culture Center for our Graduate Student Network Holiday Party! Celebrate your hard work with fellow graduate students, play (campus and pop culture) trivia, and have some warm drinks on us! We would love to share with you what the Grad Student Network will be planning for the Spring and hope everyone can share what they will be planning as well. Light food will be provided! Open to all graduate students. Please register for attendance.

What year was the University of Illinois founded? Who created the Alma Mater statue? Who was the 5th president of the University? If you like trivia or university history,  join us for our second Ultimate Archives Trivia! Questions will focus on University of Illinois history involving academics, athletics, inventions, events, faculty, and alumni. Individuals or teams of up to 4 people are invited! Registration required for each attendee. Light snacks provided.

Join us for a day of play! Students in courses in Game Studies & Design and in the School of Information Sciences will share and demonstrate the games they have designed in class. Come out and play test their games! Food will be served. No registration required.

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 wellbeing education for students. 

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