The University of Illinois 2025 Homecoming Week festivities are set for September 21–27, and now we need your help selecting a theme! With over 600 ideas submitted, the list has been narrowed down to the top 6 choices: (1) It's an Illini Thing; (2) Illinois: Where Legends Begin; (3) Live. Love. Laugh. ILLINI.; (4) You + I = Illini; (5) Welcome Home with Open Arms (Think Alma Mater); and (6) Make some IlliNOISE. Pick your favorite and cast your vote at https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_86ApZqtHALHGWDs.

Did you know that the Writers Workshop can help you with data, figures, and table design, too? Learn effective ways to present and explain your data in research posters, papers, and presentations. Register by March 9. You can also review our science writing resources here and read more about our consultants here.

Join us for Keep Calm and Ask Dad, an enriching evening hosted by the Illini Dads Association which is dedicated to fostering connections and supporting student success. Meet dads eager to share their career stories, offer advice, and provide networking opportunities. Enjoy a relaxed setting with pizza, great conversations, and maybe a "dad" joke or two, while gaining insights from their professional experiences. Registration required. To learn more and to register visit Handshake. Hosted by Illini Dads Association, in partnership with New Student and Family Experiences and The Career Center.

Get recognized for your service, scholarship and leadership on-campus! The Student Leadership Awards & Scholarships program recognizes students and RSOs for academic excellence, a commitment to leadership at the U. of I., and a dedication to service at the local, national, and international levels. This year, there are (4) Cultural, Cause or Service Awards and (11) Leadership Awards available. Learn more at go.illinois.edu/SLAS25.

The Office of Student Financial Aid is happy to announce the following scholarship opportunities for the 2025-2026 academic year.

• David and Mary Bloom Scholarship Application
• Labinsky Firefighters Scholarship Application
• LaVerne Noyes Scholarship Application

To guarantee priority consideration, eligible students are encouraged to submit a scholarship application and accompanying materials by March 15, 2025. Awards will be given until funding is exhausted.

U. of I. students now have free access to Kaplan’s industry-leading test prep for graduate school, career credentials, and licensure exams as well as skills development courses. The new program called “Prepare for Illinois’ Future Powered by Kaplan’s All Access License™, is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). The program provides Illinois students with free access to 40+ courses, equipping them to take required exams such as the GRE®, GMAT®, MCAT®, LSAT®, and many more. Learn more at https://careercenter.illinois.edu/services/kaplantestprep.

Join us for a weekly Friday Forum + Conversation Cafe lunch series with local and national speakers tackling some of our most pressing social justice issues. Topics this semester include DEI, democracy, immigration, environmental justice, interfaith, and more. Free lunch provided! This week’s speaker: Diana Rashid, National Immigrant Justice Center, in conversation with la Colectiva students who will provide An Immigrant Advocate’s Perspective.

Are you working on a speech or presentation for a class? Preparing for a thesis or dissertation defense? Creating a poster or planning a conference presentation? 

The Speakers Workshop is a campus-wide resource, much like the Writers Workshop, that offers one-to-one assistance with speeches and presentations. We are happy to help with any discipline/major, at any stage in the process from brainstorming and outlining to delivery practice, and we also can address issues with communication apprehension and stage fright. 

The Counseling Center will host events for students to learn about safer substance use as they approach Unofficial St. Patrick's Day and Spring Break. Interested students can stop by, take a brief assessment, and talk to a counselor about strategies customized to their personal habits. There will also be prizes, games, and t-shirts!

Join us in Murphy Lounge at the University YMCA (1001 S. Wright St.) for a book discussion with the authors of Abolition Labor and a panel discussion with EJP alumni on their experiences with prison labor. Dinner will be served and copies of the book will be distributed. Email policy@educationjustice.net with any questions or accessibility requests. 

The Illini-Alert emergency notification system will be tested at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, March 4. Visit go.illinois.edu/illinialert for additional information and technical support. To receive prompt emergency notifications, add or update your cellphone numbers and email addresses at emergency.illinois.edu.