Graduate and professional students, including online students, are invited to enter the 2026 Image of Research competition. Submit a photo related to your research, scholarship, or creative work, and a short narrative (100-200 words) 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). See details.

Congratulations to our graduates! To recognize this achievement, the Graduate College will host a Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on Saturday, December 13 at 10 a.m. in the Foellinger Great Hall at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Join us in celebrating by watching the livestream of the event at https://go.illinois.edu/hooding-live.

Registration is now open for Spring 2026 Mental Health First Aid courses. We offer both in-person and online sessions, and MHFA provides a three-year internationally recognized certification that builds practical skills to support someone experiencing a mental health or substance-use challenge. Courses are free to attend, and full participation is required to receive certification. MHFA is funded through the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act and sponsored by Student Affairs.

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 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!

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.

Come take a break at the Graduate College (507 E. Green St, Champaign). Room 105 is set up with puzzles, tea, and cocoa through finals week. 

Let's Talk is a program offered by our embedded clinical counselors. It is not a counseling appointment, but a conversation about Counseling Center services available to students. Conversations with Let’s Talk counselors are private, informal consultations. Let's Talk appointments are 15 minutes long, and there is no fee. To make a Let's Talk appointment, please schedule online.  

You deserve to take care of yourself! Whether you've got finals on your mind, or the frenzy of the holiday season, or some combination of those and so many other things, scheduling time for joy and creativity can make all the difference. Drop into Spurlock anytime between 1-4pm to create holiday cards, pack a de-stress tea/cocoa bottle/jar, or make your own lip scrub. You could make yourself something nice, or have some holiday gifts for others!

Need a cozy spot to prep for finals? 📚✨Join us Thursday, December 11 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. for an all-day study space! We’ll have donuts, tea, coffee, cocoa, and even cross-stitch kits for a calming study break. Drop in anytime—focus when you need to, decompress when you want to. You’ve got this, Illini! 💛 

All students are invited to study in the Krannert Center Lobby on Reading Day! We will have extra tables and charging stations set up from 11am-11pm. From 12pm-5pm, there will be study break activities hosted by the Krannert Center Student Association in The Spot (located in the Southwest corner of the Lobby, next to the Tryon Festival Theatre). Enjoy board games, Just Dance, and karaoke. Free sandwiches, snacks, cookies, and hot beverages will be served in The Spot, while supplies last. Get the most out of Reading Day this year at Krannert Center! 

Take a break from finals and unwind with art, snacks, DIY projects, good vibes, and more! Recharge and get inspired before finals week begins. In collaboration with the College of Fine & Applied Arts (FAA) and Ricker Library for Art and Architecture, Krannert Art Museum is proud to host FAA Finals Fest, a Reading Day program that includes a coffee bar, snacks-to-go, study space, and artmaking. Open to all U of I students.

You’ve got this! Finish the semester strong with some international snacks and drinks. This program is open to all current students, regardless of race, color or national origin. 

On Reading Day, take a study break to relax and refresh at the Library's end-of-semester tradition, De-Stress Fest! From animals, crafts, VR, snacks, academic support, and more, there is something for everyone! Participating locations include the Main Library, Funk ACES Library, Grainger Engineering Library Information Center, and the Music and Performing Arts Library (MPAL). Visit the link above for each location's unique schedule of events. 

South Dakota State University invites applications for its USDA-NIFA-supported Sun Grants program, which funds development of alternative biobased energy sources and products while enhancing economic opportunities in rural areas. Grants may support fundamental or applied research, education, or extension programs, and projects encompassing agronomy, engineering, chemistry, microbiology, policy, or economic/commercialization evaluation and advancement are welcomed. Applications must be submitted by faculty PIs, but funding must support grad students or postdocs. Grants provide up to $60K.

This workshop will include tips for maintaining a writing routine, cultivating effective habits, and forming a successful writing group. Dissertation and thesis writers from any discipline—and at any stage in the writing process—are especially welcome. Register for this virtual workshop using your Illinois email account by December 15, and we will send an email with the Zoom meeting invitation on the morning of the event. 

This presentation will focus on practical strategies for writing and publishing journal articles, with a focus on revising a seminar paper or course project for publication. This workshop will review general expectations of academic publishing and will be most useful for early-stage graduate students. Writers from all disciplines are welcome. It is open to current University of Illinois affiliates (students, faculty, and staff). Please register with your U of I email account by December 10 to receive the Zoom invitation.

This session will explore both overt and subtle forms of microaggressions in workplace communication, including those that happen consciously as well as those that occur unconsciously. We will reflect on the ways individuals may intentionally or unintentionally contribute to these dynamics, learn to recognize when we ourselves might be experiencing them, and discuss strategies for responding and coping. The workshop will provide space for all participants to gain insight and develop strategies for fostering more respectful and inclusive workplace environments.

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. 

There is still time to nominate exceptional alumni, young humanitarians, faculty, and students for the annual International Achievement Awards. These 5 awards honor Illini across all disciplines, whose exceptional work or service has made a significant, global impact. To be considered for the 2026 awards, nominations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CST on Dec. 15. 

PhD students in the humanities at Illinois: make an impact using your humanities training this summer through the Summer Bridge Program! Support a community organization in Champaign-Urbana while learning new skills and exploring new career paths. Selected students will work approximately 20 hours per week for 8 weeks in summer 2026 and will earn up to $6,800. Learn more at an information session on January 28, 2026, 12:00–1:30 p.m. on Zoom. NOTE: Summer Bridge applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Central on February 27, 2026.

Join GradSWE on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at the iHotel for weSTEM, an annual conference for graduate women and gender minorities in STEM. Leaders from academia, industry, and national labs will share insights on career paths that begin in grad school. Enjoy panels, networking, and small-group sessions focused on the graduate student experience. Leave inspired to finish your degree and make an impact. Registration will close on December 19. 

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.

Please join Academic Women in STEAM (A-WIS) for our monthly seminar series, Science Uncorked. Our next event will be Thursday, December 11 at 6 pm at The Literary in downtown Champaign. Our presenter will be Dr. Julia York, Postdoc in Integrative Biology, who will present "Frozen Ocean: Polar Fish Evolution and our Changing World". All are welcome! Interested in presenting in the future? Contact a-wis@illinois.edu.

The social determinants of health (SDoH) are key to understanding population health. Join Drs. Marynia Kolak and Kamaria Barronville as they examine how trauma-informed principles can strengthen a health-geography approach, emphasizing the need to re-root SDoH in spatial and socioecological contexts. Their work highlights the role of place, critiques oversimplified SDoH models, and calls for nuanced frameworks that address historical trauma while prioritizing safety, trust, and empowerment in public health. Lunch will be provided!

Please join us for the University Archives' monthly Women in Science Lecture Series, Dec 11, from 12 -1 pm. Dr. Pinshane Huang, Professor and Racheff Faculty Scholar of Materials Science and Engineering, will discuss how we see atoms through her research on transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy of two-dimensional materials and soft-hard interfaces. This is a hybrid event and will take place in the University Archives, Main Library 146 or you can register for the zoom link.

Winter Fantasia: Holiday Concert brings vibrant seasonal music to the historic Virginia Theatre. From Vivaldi Winter Concerto to Piazzolla, Mozart, and more, this festive program offers a sparkling evening featuring Grammy-nominated Andrés Cárdenes as violin soloist. Join us on December 13 for an unforgettable night of artistry and holiday spirit.

For our FINAL social dance for the semester and the year, the Illini Swing Society is hosting a free pajama jam! Come swing dance with us in your favorite, coziest pajamas to celebrate the end of the year. Never swing danced before? No problem: We will have a drop-in lesson to teach you the bare bone basics to get you on the dance floor. No partner or experience necessary.

Are you hosting a Black History Month event? Whether it’s a discussion, performance, or community activity, we want to feature it! We are gathering Black History Month events into one central calendar, so submit your program by Jan 8, 2026. Allow us to highlight all the amazing work happening on campus and in the local community! 

Join the Writers Workshop to kick off the New Year the "write" way! For folks planning to catch up on some writing over Winter Break, we'll be offering a mini-retreat during the week of January 12th on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 9:00am - 12:00pm, in the Main Library's Orange Room or by Zoom. Please note that you only need to register once to attend any or all of these dates and these groups do not offer feedback.

Japan House will be open from 12-2pm on Saturday, December 13. Please stop by and enjoy a bowl of matcha and sweet at our Holiday Matcha Café and browse special holiday sale items! Japan House interns will be sharing a brief tea ceremony at various times. Walk-ins welcome!

Join us for the World Meditation Day Celebration on December 21, 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 21, from 8:30am to 10:00am! Attendance is FREE. RSVP

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, come to our December edition of Ultimate Archives Trivia! Questions will focus on University of Illinois history involving academics, athletics, inventions, events, faculty, and alumni. Prizes for 1st and 2nd place of each round. Individuals or teams of up to 4 people are invited! Registration required for each attendee. Light snacks 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.

In September 1985, almost 80,000 fans packed Memorial Stadium on the U of I campus to hear the first Farm Aid concert. Over 50 musical acts came together to raise awareness of the economic crisis facing American family farms. Our exhibit curator will offer a guided look at the exhibit commemorating Farm Aid's 40th anniversary. Free admission. No registration required.

Creative Dance for Children is an innovative community program provided by the University of Illinois Department of Dance, under the direction of Betty Allen, tailored for children aged 4-10. With a focus on nurturing creativity and imagination, our child-centered approach ensures that each young dancer learns and internalizes dance concepts, develops essential social skills, and expresses themselves authentically through movement. 

Stock up on Illinois gifts for your family & friends at the Illini Union Bookstore from December 8-13 with the Holiday Deal Days. There are great orange and blue apparel items and souvenirs with incredible prices. Best part, all money stays on campus and helps support student programs and events.

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.