OLLI at Illinois is accepting proposals from current and retired faculty and area experts to teach courses (four or eight weeks) to engaged lifelong learners in Spring 2025. All fields of study welcome. For details about this public engagement activity, visit the OLLI course proposal website or contact the OLLI office (olli@illinois.edu, 217-244-9141). Proposal deadline: Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. 

Join this lunch information session led by Dana Johnson, PhD, director of external fellowships at the Graduate College. This information session will focus on AAUW's International and American Fellowships. Current submission deadline is Nov. 15, 2024.  Lunch provided with rsvp at https://go.illinois.edu/AAUWinfo

The Illini Dads Association will soon select a “King Dad” for Dads Weekend (Nov. 1 to Nov. 3). The King Dad recipient receives royal treatment, including an Illini Union hotel room, tickets to the Chancellor’s pregame festivities, suite football tickets, recognition on the field and free event tickets! Students, nominate your father/father figure today! Application deadline: 5 p.m. Sept. 27! 

The AACU, with a Hewlett grant, is conducting research on student success when professors switch from for-cost textbooks to no-cost materials or OERs (like OpenStax) in undergraduate courses between 2014-2024. If you've made this switch in the last decade, please notify Sara Benson. 

Need compute time, data storage or research expertise? Illinois Computes is available – at no cost – to researchers from every domain on campus to elevate their work with computing and data storage resources, technical expertise and support services. Get started with Illinois Computes now and take advantage of NCSA’s state-of-the-art resources and world-class experts right here on campus.

University High School, located on the U. of I. campus, is currently looking for the following paid coaching positions: JV boys basketball, 8th grade head track coach, field event assistant high school track coach and assistant boys tennis coach. Please reach out to Athletic Director Kyle Hummel if interested. KHummel@illinois.edu  

Ready to try a Weekend Wind Down at Allerton Park? The next one is Oct. 4-5 and includes a discounted room rate of $110 per night plus tax, two drink tokens per room per night and optional activities (separate registration may be required): Saturday Stargazing, Knitting 101, Public Mansion Tour and Thrifted Ghost Paintings. View guestrooms and make your reservation here or by calling 217-333-3287.

Interested in exploring the potential commercial application of your research? Apply to the Lean Launchpad Short Course that provides a set of skills and entrepreneurial knowledge that can be applied to any career path. Explore your innovation from a business and customer perspective and prepare to apply for federal grants. Fall session application is due Oct. 15.

The Office of the Provost, in partnership with The Office of Public Engagement, invites you to nominate outstanding individuals who are making a difference in our community. We recognize and celebrate the contributions of faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members who actively engage with the public to address pressing societal issues. Nominate someone today!

The program leader trainings guide new and experienced program leaders in preparing for the safest possible experience abroad. Those who lead or assist short-term education abroad or other university-related (including with graduate students) travel abroad for students must attend at least one workshop a year. Please visit safetyabroad.illinois.edu for more information and to register.

The University Library is pleased to announce that U. of I. educators may apply to secure up to $10,000 towards the creation of open textbooks for their students until Nov. 15, 2024. Learn more about awards, criteria and eligibility here. Attend a Savvy Researcher "OER Adoption, Creation, and Incentive Grants" webinar at noon on Oct. 9 (register here).  

Mobile unit services include: driver’s license and state ID card (renewal, replacement, corrections), vehicle stickers; passenger, B-truck, motorcycle and collegiate license plates; vehicle title and registration; organ/tissue donor registration; and parking placards for persons with disabilities.

The Biodiversity Heritage Library is an open access digital library of more than 59 million pages. It includes rare materials containing the original descriptions of plants and animals. The historic, artistic and scientific materials are useful across a wide range of disciplines. Attendees will learn to search the BHL catalog as well as the stunning collection of public domain images in Flickr.

This interactive workshop will use practical applications of two AI tools — Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity AI. These tools support your research process, offering intelligent assistance with brainstorming, refining ideas, finding sources and enhancing your writing development. You'll learn how to use these tools to streamline your research workflow while honestly maintaining academic integrity.

We will give you insight and strategies for getting the most out of Scopus; the largest interdisciplinary database of peer-reviewed literature including journals, books and conference proceedings, particularly in the sciences. We will highlight how to find literature on a specific topic, reviewing author details, using article citations to discover information and evaluating sources. 

This Illinois REDCap workshop focuses on advanced ways Illinois REDCap can be used to collect research data, including how to build/edit projects with a Data Dictionary, collecting data with repeatable instruments and collecting longitudinal data with defined events. Attending the “Introduction to Illinois REDCap” or having a working knowledge of REDCap is recommended for attending this workshop.

CSBS will host three one-hour strategic planning stakeholder sessions on Oct 4, 10 and 23. Share your expertise, perspective and experience to help shape CSBS’ future. The focus is on how CSBS can best facilitate social and behavioral science research, community engagement and the social and behavioral science ecosystem on our campus. Register today to attend a session!

Join us to hear from community leaders tackling our most pressing public concerns through an unwavering pursuit of social justice. Folks from Braver Angels, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to bringing Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthening our democratic republic, will be joining us for a discussion on democracy in 2024. Free lunch will be offered to attendees.

Roughly 75% of people face some degree of anxiety when speaking in front of others. Tremors, butterflies and "blacking out" are common, but that does not make them any more comfortable. Join the Speakers Workshop for its first workshop of the semester, "Coping with Presentation Anxiety," to learn skills to help stave off the nerves when speaking. Pre-registration requested using the link above.

The McKechnie Family LIFE (Living in Interactive Future Environments) Home will host their fall open house from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 2, 2024. We will showcase our ongoing research activities centered around technologies (including robots) that improve health, function and well-being. Please RSVP here by Sept. 26. Limited onsite parking at 75 Bailey Drive.

"Breaking the Cycle" captures the political awakening among Thais after the rise and fall of Thanathorn, a young politician who calls to end the cycle of coups d’etat. The film explores the 2029 election in Thailand, which marked the end of five years of full military rule and a new group of young politicians who campaign against an authoritarian constitution. Free pizza!

Interested in an undergraduate free study abroad program to China over the summer? Come hear from our fellows who went this past summer and their experiences! Free lunch for all attendees with registration.

In the 1920s and 1930s, African American musicians in Shanghai became crucial to define that era. This documentary is about a story of "the half that has never been told," that is the history of jazz as experienced by African American and Chinese musicians in China from past to present. Featuring musicians Jasmine Chen and Theo Croker. Free screening then virtual discussion with the filmmaker

Please join us at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Latzer Hall (inside University YMCA), 1001 S. Wright St., when professor Mohammad Darawshe speaks about "The Palestinian Citizens in Israel in Time of Crisis." More information can be found here: https://calendars.illinois.edu/detail/6457?eventId=33500799

Join us for the Harvest Open House! This event invites students, families and community members of all ages to explore and enjoy a range of interactive experiences. We’re thrilled to showcase the latest innovations in agriculture and science through engaging, hands-on activities for everyone. Come celebrate with us — there will be pumpkins, popcorn, science and lots of family fun!

As a Community of Care, we at Illinois support one another in times of celebration and struggle. The loss of any member of our community affects us all. The Office of the Dean of Students invites you to remember and honor those students of our Illinois family who have passed away in the last year at the "We Remember" Memorial at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, Illini Union Anniversary Plaza. 

The Grainger College of Engineering Undergraduate Research and the International Programs in Engineering bring you this fall the 8th Engineering Research Fair and 5th International Research Symposium on from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, in Illini Union rooms A, B and C. Please drop by to see the various presentations on science and engineering research!

RBML’s new exhibit celebrates the 75th anniversary of Gwendolyn Brooks’s "Annie Allen" – the poetry collection that won the first Pulitzer Prize by a Black author – and explores the rich history of Black literature’s emergence into the mainstream. The opening reception will feature remarks by Brooks’ daughter, Nora Brooks Blakely. This event is open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

Join the Interseminars Initiative’s second cohort for a culminating event series featuring panels, performances, interactive workshops,and more. Invited guest Kameelah Janan Rasheed (artist, educator and writer) will lead Saturday afternoon's workshop. View the full schedule. Free and open to the public! Cosponsored by the Independent Media Center.

The Indian Graduate Students Association is thrilled to invite you to our signature event — Bollywood Night! Get ready for an unforgettable evening full of vibrant entertainment, music and dance as we celebrate the magic of Indian pop culture followed by a DJ dance party at the Anniversary Plaza — so bring your dancing shoes! This event is open to all students and staff of the university.

Knitting 101 will be offered at Allerton Park from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 6 and 13, in The Studio. Fiber artist Billie Theide will help you learn the basics of knitting, including needle and yarn selection, casting on, basic stitches, casting off and making fringe and pom poms. $75 per person (Ages 13+; 13-17-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult, who does not need to register). Register here.

Gather a partner, friends or family members for an evening of painting in the Allerton Mansion at Thrifted Ghost Paintings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Usher in fall — and the season of spooky — by purchasing a painting from your favorite thrift store, bring it to Allerton and turn it into an autumn- or Halloween-themed decoration! $25 per person. Register here by Oct. 2.

Do your kids have a day off school? Then sign them up for Allerton Kids Club: Model My Mansion on Monday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium. Youth will take a tour of the Allerton Mansion and grounds, sketch out a rough idea of their own mansion design and then build their own model from recycled materials to take home! $45 per person (ages 6-10). Register here by Oct. 4.

Armando Torres is a doctoral student in Global Studies in Education. He collaborates to digitally map local favela organizations and their mobilizers in Brazil. He will present his study, which aims to accelerate the development and impact of community mobilizers by boosting agency, capacity, collaboration and learning through transformative, culturally relevant and digitally inclusive pedagogy.

Join us for the brightest 5K on campus! This fun run/walk is $5 and all proceeds go to the Tony Clements Scholarship Fund. Race packets can be collected at the ARC Member Services desk from Sept. 30 through October 1 during regular business hours or from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at Anniversary Plaza the night of the race. Use your NetID and password to register for the race via Active Illini.

Join University Housing, in collaboration with the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, as we celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride with activities and a special dining menu, featuring Spice Girls Tacos, Ludacris-py Chicken and Waffle Skewers, Kale Yeah Burgers, Mac-klamore and Cheese Pizza, Saucy Santana Sangria and more! The celebration takes place during dinner in all dining halls on Thursday, Sept. 26.

Jesse McCarthy (English and African and African American Studies, Harvard University) will speak on the discourse around when and how identity should apply in literary studies, the ethics of reading and writing, and the material, institutional and economic basis for cultural production and its critical assessment.

In this town hall session, learn about all the elements of Illinois Extension's new strategic plan and discover how Extension will launch its compelling, future-forward plan that synthesizes the ideas of our entire community into signature initiatives that support Extension's eight strategic priorities. Join the meeting at 11 a.m. Sept. 24.

Local bat biologists and educators invite you to this inaugural FREE event! There will be something for all ages and levels of bat enthusiasts, including exhibitors, guest speakers, kids’ activities, information on bat conservation and more. Daytime activities around Anita Purves Nature Center from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Evening activities at Crystal Lake Park Lake House from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Imaging Technology Group and the IGB Core will be co-hosting a half-day X-ray CT workshop. Talks covering theory, the instrumentation available on campus and current research projects will be presented, along with tours of both the ITG and IGB facilities. Workshop Agenda: https://www.igb.illinois.edu/corefacilities/news/core-xrayct-workshop-2024

Poet, author and performer traci kato-kiriyama offers a dynamic evening of poetry, storytelling, community conversation and even a prompt or two to take with you and continue your verses. Hosted by: Global Art Performance Initiatives, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Join Sergio Perez of ENRX as he presents in person at the Fall 2024 Kent Seminar Series Thursday, September 26, from 2-3 p.m. (CT). Food and soft drinks will be provided beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the ICT Classroom. 

International Student and Scholar Services is hosting a virtual workshop from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, to learn more about the pronunciation and cultural background of Farsi names led by two Iranian student representatives who are native speakers of Farsi. Please register in advance here: https://go.illinois.edu/ISSSTrainsNamesFarsi. The Teams link will be sent to registrants.

New to the university? Need a refresher on using the library? This hands-on workshop will introduce you to library resources and services. After this workshop, you’ll be able to navigate the library website with confidence to access print and electronic materials. Come with questions if you have them!

Need a free option for analyzing qualitative data? In this workshop, we’ll discuss how to code and explore data using three free options: Taguette + Google Sheets, Word docs and QualCoder. This session will be offered twice on Sept. 25: 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. in Main Library 106 and from 7 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. online via Zoom. 

A citation manager can help you store your files, create citations and insert formatted citations into papers. This hands-on workshop will introduce you to three popular citation managers — Mendeley, Zotero and Endnote. We will go over pros and cons of each one and give you a preview of how they work to help you choose the best fit for your citation needs.

Are you overwhelmed by organizing your sources? Zotero is a free, open-source citation manager that helps you store and organize your files and insert formatted citations into papers. You will leave this hands-on workshop with a Zotero library set up and ready to use!

When it comes to estate and tax planning strategies, it’s all about your long-term goals. If you are looking to navigate planning pitfalls or leave your loved ones more than memories, make sure your strategy stays focused on your goals. If you are just starting the process or wish to fine-tune your strategy, join us for this financial wellness educational seminar by registering at this link.

Our Dare to Dream program offers a unique approach to life planning; this six-week program meets virtually at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays starting Sept. 24. Participants actively visualize and creatively strategize how to move toward realizing their dreams. Group support, honest introspection and creative expression are encouraged. To learn more or to register, contact us at wellbeing@illinois.edu.

Join the Center for Children's Books to hear from different children's book publishing houses about the intersections of religion, culture and sacred belief during two Zoom panels. For those on campus, a watch party and discussion will take place at the School of Information Sciences, 614 E. Daniel, 4th Floor Multipurpose Room. Please register via the link below.

Aimed at instructors interested in teaching with Human-Centered Design, this workshop will focus on the design thinking tools you can implement to empathize with your students as well as teaching activities and strategies.

Help make the Next Alcohol Fitbit! The Alcohol Research Lab is looking for participants for 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 $400 in compensation for participation. 

The Alcohol Research Lab is looking for social drinkers to participate in our study. Participation involves attending one 6- to 9-hour laboratory session and completing cognitive, social and communicative tasks while EEG brain responses are recorded. A referral of at least one same-gender friend is required at the time of sign up. Up to $100 in compensation. 

We are looking for males >30 years old to participate in a study aimed at determining how to preserve shoulder function as we age. Participation includes an MRI, a movement analysis and questionnaires. Compensation and parking are provided. If interested, email us at MMBLResearch@illinois.edu or call 217-300-9875 and leave your name and number.

We are examining the effects of complementary protein in a meal on the rate of building muscle proteins. The study requires three days of participation, including two full-day trials with blood and muscle sample collection. You get $250 upon completion, information about your body composition (muscle and fat) and results of your lower body strength testing.

Participate in a focus group about the 2024 presidential election and earn a $20 Amazon gift card! U. of I. students ages 18-29 are eligible to participate. Learn more and sign up here: https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8x0s9gvoLTcuPJ4

Looking for adults ages 60-75 to participate in a study into prolonged sitting and how adults think. The study's aim is to test the feasibility of interrupting sitting with short bouts of high-intensity exercise in older adults and measure brain and cognitive functions before and after sitting. Compensation for participation is $280. If you are interested, please click here.

We are seeking participants ages 50 and older for a two-hour study ($35 compensation) to explore how people learn to use virtual reality and their training support preferences. Participants should have prior hands-on VR experience, be fluent in English and be willing to visit the U. of I. campus. For more info, please contact us at vrsupport@illinois.edu or 217-300-5445, or click here to sign up!