The 2024-2025 Extension Collaboration Grant Program, focused on bringing campus faculty and Extension field staff together to address issues in one or more of the five critical areas of community, economy, environment, food, and health, has awarded seven grants to interdisciplinary teams. Learn more about these diverse awardees.  

Looking for a volunteer opportunity while meeting new people and having fun at the same time? The IEI is looking for volunteers to meet with international students for conversation and culture exchange for at least 1 hour a week during the spring semester. Weekly meeting times are flexible. You'll be helping students adapt to our campus and you'll learn about another culture at the same time!

OLLI Spring Memberships and Gift Certificates are available. Those 50 or older are eligible to join OLLI for courses, study groups, interest groups, lectures, and other events. The joy of lifelong learning makes a wonderful gift. Visit OLLI’s website to learn about our upcoming study groups and courses. For more information about OLLI at Illinois, call 217-244-9141 or visit olli.illinois.edu.  

Explore risk management strategies for crop production, including financial risk mitigation techniques and rental agreements for agricultural land use. Do you have a course that would promote learners in developing personal, educational, or professional skills? Contact the ACES Learning Design team to develop a Coursera course.

Learners will explore crop production cycles for annual and permanent crops, financial characteristics and risks of food production, agricultural land ownership and rental agreements, and risks influencing agricultural decision-making. Interested in using this tool in your course or have an innovative idea? The ACES Learning Design team can help! Submit a request!

All campus libraries will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 9, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for an all-employee event. Library digital resources will remain available during this closure and may be accessed through the Library Gateway (click the link above). Please arrange your study or research schedule accordingly.

In collaboration with the University of Birmingham, the BRIDGE Seed Fund will begin accepting proposals on Jan. 2. The Seed Fund supports the development of faculty networks, builds cognate research areas, and expands educational exchanges. Permanent staff at each institution are eligible to apply. More information is available on the Illinois International website.

The 2024 edition of Pocket Facts, a useful resource for recent data and highlights from across the University of Illinois System, is now available. Experience the digital version and/or the accessible PDF. Request free copies by emailing infosource@uillinois.edu with full contact information (including mail code) and the number of copies you’d like. Quantities may be limited. 

Registration deadlines are nearing for January courses at The Farms: An Allerton Folk School. Courses/events include Public Mansion Tours, Community Yoga, Bookbinding for Artists’ Books, Afro-Brazilian Traditions, Full Moon Yoga and Colored Pencil I. Click on the links for more info and to register. A full course listing can be found here.

Among artwork featured at this year’s Holiday GLOW presented by U of I Community Credit Union is Blue Standing Lines by University of Illinois alum John David Mooney, a Chicago-based artist known for his large-scale public sculptures. Come see his work on the Gatehouse Lawn through Jan. 13. Also featured is art from Melina Scotte, Noelle Nagib, Mike Young and dreaMachine Transmissions.

Know a student who demonstrates financial need yet does not otherwise qualify for financial aid? Encourage them to apply for the HOPE Scholarship! To learn more, please visit hopescholarship.illinois.edu/ Deadline: Monday, January 29, at 11:59 p.m.

The European Union Center welcomes applications for EUC Professional Development Grants to support conference or workshop travel. We can provide funding of up to $500 for domestic travel and up to $1,000 for international travel. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15. See here for details!

Over the upcoming holiday schedule, most shops and departments at F&S will have limited staff availability. However, personnel will continue to support campus operations. Please use the my.FS Portal for regular facility-related requests. Call 217-333-0340 for urgent items needing an immediate response. NOTE: The F&S Service Office will be staffed during regular business hours on gift days.

STAT 427 (Statistical Consulting) class needs clients for spring semester of 2024. If you have a statistical problem and are interested in obtaining free assistance from a team of student consultants starting in January 2024, please contact instructor Yuguo Chen at yuguo@illinois.edu. In order to be eligible, you need to have data available by the beginning of spring term of 2024.

Livestock, crops, pesticides, horticulture, forestry, and more! Get your calendar booked with Illinois Extension's winter ag program offerings, which take place throughout the season both in person and around the state. 

Allerton’s Holiday GLOW, presented by the U of I Community Credit Union continues from 5-9 p.m. nightly through Dec. 23, Dec. 26-31 and Jan. 5-6 and 12-13. Come experience the magic of the park lit up with displays and special artwork. Food trucks and a cash bar will be on site Dec. 21, 22 and 23, weather permitting. $10/vehicle suggested donation. Find a GLOW map here.

Colt Ball & Friends will present a special concert in the Allerton Mansion from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21. It is part of the annual Winter Solstice Bonfire (5-9 with bonfire lit at 7 in the Meadow) and the continuation of Holiday GLOW presented by the U of I Community Credit Union. A cash bar will be available. $20/car suggestion donation gets you into GLOW, the Bonfire and the Concert.

December showers may not bring holiday flowers in Illinois, but houseguests, neighbors, and friends just might! One of the most recognizable of these gift plants is the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). Learn about the history of these plants and how to best care for them with Illinois Extension expert Bruce Black. 

Participants needed for a study on health technology that supports BP medication adherence. Participants must be 65 years of age or older, take at least 1 medication for high BP, and use an iPhone. Participants will receive compensation. Please spread the word to family and friends. (Study in partnership with the University of Arizona). Email bp-system@pharmacy.arizona.edu or call (217) 300-5445

Help make the Next Alcohol Fitbit! The Alcohol Research Lab is looking for frequent drinkers to participate in a validation study of transdermal biosensing bracelets. Participation involves attending three laboratory sessions, wearing a transdermal bracelet, and filling out surveys for two weeks. Up to $300 in compensation for participation.

All meals are provided for 12 weeks. 3 urine collections, 4 blood draws and 7 fecal donations will be required. Those without food allergies, intestinal disease, diabetes, gallbladder removal or bariatric surgery may qualify. BMI greater than 25 meets inclusion criteria. For your participation, you will receive up to $1000. To learn more and find out if you qualify contact: maggieo4@illinois.edu