The 2025-2026 Senate Elections and Organizational meeting will be held at 3:10 p.m. on Monday, May 5, in Illini Room A of the Illini Union (1st floor). Meeting materials are available online. At this important meeting, senators will elect Senate officers and committee members. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

With thousands of high-quality, brand-aligned images available, the Image Database is your first stop for showcasing Illinois. If you need something more specific, follow our Photography Best Practices to ensure your photos reflect the strength and spirit of the Illinois brand. Great photography supports our messaging and tells the story of our university at its best.

This brand-new version of the workshop is a 90-minute engaging and interactive session designed for all staff across the university to connect with the Illinois brand. You'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the Illinois brand platform, practical strategies for integrating the brand into your unit's communications and inspiration for effective brand storytelling. This workshop also provides a valuable opportunity to meet and network with your peers throughout the university. The workshop will be held in-person at UOB-411 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 29. Register here. 

The Summer Institute is a two-day interactive event to support faculty members, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to enhance mentoring skills through discovery and understanding. Topics include: a.) developing an intellectual framework for mentoring; b.) gaining various mentoring methods and strategies; c.) engaging with others in a safe and supportive environment to solve mentoring dilemmas.

Maria L. Wisdom will be speaking on Mentoring Like A Coach: Helping Mentees Grow through Complexity and Change. In this lively, interactive talk, we’ll discuss the difference between mentoring and coaching, how coaching supports learning and growth and the applicability of professional coaching techniques to complex mentoring situations. How might mentoring “like a coach” challenge some of your fundamental assumptions about mentoring? And what coaching tools and concepts can you begin using with your mentees right away? Open to faculty, staff and students.

The Graduate College Office of External Fellowships invites faculty to nominate a graduate student to participate in a new four-day writing lab designed to facilitate a successful summer of proposal writing. Eligible students will be in a social science or humanities department and preparing to apply for an external fellowship in the fall. The Summer Writing Lab will be held in person at the Graduate College from June 3 through June 6. Please encourage eligible students to apply with your nomination by the May 12 deadline. Learn more in our April 21 email to faculty.

Illinois Computes strives to enable both research utilizing artificial intelligence and research on AI. Campus researchers can utilize multiple offerings related to AI, including DeltaAI, Illinois Chat, the Illinois Campus Cluster and more! Check out this month's issue of Illinois Computes Connections for a comprehensive list of AI research tools and make sure to subscribe!

The Office of the Provost provides limited funding assistance to full-time, specialized and tenure-stream faculty who are interested in participating in NCFDD’s Faculty Success Program. Up to eight recipients will be selected to receive matching funds. Applicants may receive these matching funds only once.

Join CITL and campus partners from the Library, Technology Services, NCSA and more for the "Summer of AI," a series of hands-on workshops, guest talks and conversations on the future of teaching and learning. Most live events will be available remotely, so wherever you are this summer, you can stay connected. Subscribe to our Summer of AI newsletter for full of generative artificial intelligence tips, workshop and event highlights and more.

Starbucks at the Illini Union will be closed for renovation starting May 19, re-opening for the start of fall 2025. The renovation will bring a new layout, new menu options and mobile ordering to the Illini Union Starbucks location. During the renovation, you can still enjoy your Starbucks from the Illini Union Bookstore, or grab coffee, drinks and snacks from the Illini Union Quad Shop.

Post-tenure faculty or equivalent are invited to participate in the 2025-26 Emerging Research Leaders Academy, a program designed to help mid-career faculty pursue large multi-PI grants, lead campus research initiatives, enhance their own research programs and ultimately position Illinois for research excellence. Participants must be nominated by a department head, dean or director. Nominees will immediately receive a unique link to apply upon nomination. Nominations are due May 16 and applications are due June 2.

There is a research opportunity through Fulbright for those interested in conducting research in Brazil across various disciplines. The awards range from three to four months in duration, and there is no Portuguese language requirement to apply. Eligible disciplines include: Biosciences, Sustainable Food and Medical Sciences, Arts and Design, International Relations and Diplomacy, Sustainability and Leadership, International Governance Law and Political Sciences. You can find more information and apply through the following link: Fulbright All Disciplines Award – Brazil.

"Understanding the Healthcare Innovation Process I,” developed by Ujjal Mukherjee, guides learners through real-world healthcare innovation — from identifying care gaps to evaluating new solutions. Gain essential skills in market analysis, cost evaluation and stakeholder strategy. Enroll for free with Coursera for Illinois.

Applications are now open for the fall 2025 Illinois Supervisory Skills Program. In this semester-long program, participants gain self-awareness of their management styles and develop critical leadership skills while engaging within a cohort of peers. Open to employees with at least a 75%-time appointment who currently supervise status or student employees. Applications are due Monday, June 23. 

Donate to The Faculty and Staff Emergency Fund during its annual fund drive. This fund relies on your generosity throughout the year to provide financial assistance to fellow employees experiencing a crisis. Further information about the FSEF can be found at https://go.illinois.edu/FSEF. Donations are always accepted at https://giving.illinois.edu/ or at FSAWS Emergency Funding.

The Intensive Language Instruction Program offers classes in 11 different languages. ILIP classes combine language and culture via engaging activities led by skilled instructors. No grade, just for fun! Students receive 30 hours of enjoyable language instruction which maximizes exposure to the target language to help them meet their own personal learning goals. Online and in-person options are available! Register for ILIP today!

Reservation bookings are NOW OPEN for the Technology Services ICS computer classrooms for the fall 2025 semester. Classroom labs provide instructors with current software, on-site help, audiovisual equipment and collaboration stations. Reservations can be made online for individual dates or recurring times throughout the semester.

Our office will be open the following hours during final exam week for processing exams administered using Scantrons: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 9; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday,  May 12, through Thursday, May 15. We will remain open during the lunch hour from noon to 1 p.m.

Honey is nature's perfect gift, produced from the nectar of flowers. There are 320 varieties of honey, which vary in color, odor and flavor depending on local flowers. Learn more about honey and its benefits.

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, a film screening, music, VR, snacks, academic support and more (while supplies last). There is something for everyone! Locations include: Funk ACES Library, The Grainger Engineering Library, Main Library and the Music and Performing Arts Library. See our calendar post for each location's unique schedule of events. We hope to see you there!

Adam Beaty will share his experience as an MSLIS student leading two LGBTQ-focused archival projects: the digital collection Queer Nightlife in Champaign-Urbana, IL: 1973–2000 and the exhibit LGBTQ Spaces in Champaign County. He’ll discuss archival research, community outreach, reformatting materials, inclusive metadata and building accessible collections with limited resources. Pat Cain, archives manager at the Champaign County Historical Archives, will discuss supporting student-led work. Co-sponsored by the University Library, School of Information Sciences and CCHA. 

Join us for Coffee Across Cultures, a monthly coffee hour that allows you to discover new flavors, learn about diverse customs and connect with people from all corners of the world. This month’s theme is centered around stress relief and self-care as we wrap up the semester. Take a well-deserved break as we head into finals and join us at Coffee Across Cultures for relaxing crafts, cozy conversations and a calming space to recharge with free coffee, tea and pastries. Open to everyone!

Be part of the conversation — register today! Join us for the Career Services Conference 2025: Collaboration, Community and Career Belonging from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 21, at the Illini Union Ballroom. This event offers career services professionals, academic advisors and staff across campus an opportunity to explore how to create a welcoming and inclusive career experience for students, partners and employers through roundtable discussions, breakout sessions and panel discussions featuring students and employers. Registration closes on May 7.

Graduating in May? Recently graduated? Still searching for your next job?  Join us online or in person this summer for the Career Job Search Work Group — a casual drop-in group offering job search support. It's designed for recent grads to stop by and ask questions, build community with peers, share challenges, connect with career staff and get support with your job search process. Whether you want to learn about finding job leads, prepare for interviews, curate your personal narrative or navigate offer negotiations, we’re here to help. No appointment needed — just drop-in!

Expand your musical horizons at Afro-Brazilian Traditions: Samba-Reggae from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, May 20 through June 17, in the Music Barn at Allerton Park. Instructor Mark Becker will introduce students to the fundamentals of Samba-Reggae, a vibrant musical genre that blends traditional samba rhythms with reggae. $120 for the series or $35 per class. Register here by May 13.

Learn how to arrange flowers like a pro at Flower Arranging from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 18, in The Studio at Allerton Park. Students will experiment with fresh-cut flowers grown on Delight Flower Farm, including tulips, ranunculus, snapdragons and more. Vases are included so attendees can design their own bouquet to take home or gift to someone. $65 per person (16+). Register here by May 12.

Experience camera-less photography and the joy of recording the beauty of nature at Springtime Cyanotype and the Magic of Light from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 17, in the Greenhouse Auditorium at Allerton Park. Each student will practice observing nature and creating compositions inspired by what they see, creating several prints to take home. $85 per person. Register here by May 9.

Celebrate spring with live music, a tasty meal and a glass of sangria at the Sangria Social at the Greenhouse Café at Allerton Park on Saturday and Sunday, May 10-11. There will be live music from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. by Luke Rund (Saturday) and Leighton Ewers and Jack Daniel (Sunday). Free, but please RSVP here so we can plan accordingly.

Join us for the Bolashak 2024–2025 Research Capstone Poster Session on Friday, May 9, at the Illini Union Ballroom. Explore original research by visiting scholars from Kazakhstan across fields like education, law, environmental ecology and data science. Sessions run from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Light refreshments provided. Please RSVP: https://forms.gle/1ichGST2vsDkL1fn6.

Professor Cecilia Leal will highlight the role of engineers during the highly interdisciplinary and collaborative development of the COVID-19 vaccines. More than 5.55 billion people globally have received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, equal to about 72.3 percent of the world population. At the time, there was this idea that the vaccines were developed very rapidly. Yet, thousands of scientists worldwide (my lab included), from physicists to physicians, to biologists and engineers, had been working for decades to understand and harness the potential of mRNA vaccines.

Join University of Illinois Extension for Walk and Talks — fun, interactive sessions featuring a short lesson followed by a walk on paved park paths. The next walk is noon to 1 p.m. May 15, at Meadowbrook Park (2950 S. Race St.), led by Environmental and Energy Stewardship Educator Karla Griesbaum and Master Naturalists. Enjoy the fresh spring air, a chance to win a giveaway and connect with your community! In case of bad weather, we'll meet at First Christian Church (3601 S. Staley Road). Registration is required to receive the meet-up details. Register at: go.illinois.edu/SpringWalks.

Join us for a lecture by American composer and pianist Amy Williams. This lecture will be accompanied by the premier of Williams' "Last Lines," featuring School of Music professor of bassoon Ben Roidl-Ward.

The annual School of Art and Design fashion show is back! Re-Fashioned will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, in the Siebel Center. Admission is free. Students from the Studio Arts Fashion Concentration will be presenting over 100 one-of-a-kind ensembles. Wearable works of art walk the runway, combining sustainability and creativity in a fun event for the whole family. 

The School of Art and Design will host the 2025 Bachelor of Fine Art Exhibition and reception, featuring works from Art Education, Art and Art History, Graphic Design, Industrial Design and Studio Art, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10, in the School of Art and Design Link Gallery, 408 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, and Krannert Art Museum. The exhibition runs through Convocation, or Sunday, May 18.

Please join us for the University Archives' monthly Women in Science Lecture Series, from noon to 1 p.m. May 6. Jennifer Teper, head of Preservation Services at the University of Illinois Library, will discuss how she uses science in her work to conserve library collections and special collections. This is a hybrid event and will take place in the University Archives, Main Library 146, or you can register for the Zoom link.

This workshop offers hands-on experience in accelerating Python codes with NVIDIA GPUs. You'll explore two main categories: drop-in replacements for SciPy and NumPy using CuPy and GPU acceleration for data science workloads with NVIDIA RAPIDS. Finally, we will over Warp for differentiable simulation codes. By the end, you'll be equipped to accelerate your Python codes with NVIDIA GPUs! Complete the Registration Form to attend.

Please join Quantinuum for a webinar - "Simulating Magnetism at the Classical Limits with a Digital Quantum Computer" - where you'll explore a recent study in which researchers from Quantinuum, Caltech, Fermioniq, EPFL and TUM, used Quantinuum’s System Model H2, the world’s highest performing quantum computer, to simulate quantum magnetism at a scale that rivals the best classical methods. Read more details here and don’t forget to register!

Join us for a special Names Training focused on Moroccan names. This interactive session will explore the diverse linguistic and cultural influences that shape Moroccan names, including Arabic and French traditions. You’ll gain insight into name structures, pronunciation tips and cultural context — guided by our presenter with lived experience and knowledge of Moroccan naming customs. This session will be a valuable opportunity to grow your intercultural communication skills. Registration is required.

This FGI webinar will focus on the applications of geomembranes for containment of produced water and brine liquids in earth lined ponds, pits, reservoirs and above ground tanks. Key topics will include today’s best practices in subgrade preparation, geomembrane selection, geomembrane installations, including thermal wedge and extrusion welding; and CQA, including electrical leak detection testing for produced water containment. We will also showcase project profiles of single and double-lined containment systems for large-scale storage in oil and gas and mining applications.1.0 PDH.

Testing the effect of soy flour on hunger, blood sugar and insulin responses. Participants ages 21-45 who are non-smokers, BMI 25-40 kg/m2 and no diabetes will complete questionnaires, product tasting (bread, tortilla or arepa), body composition scans and blood draws. You will receive $260 upon completion of four visits for 3-4 hours along with free parking. Please fill out our online screening if interested.

We are looking to understand the experiences of middle-aged adults with type 2 diabetes who do not have a bachelor's degree. This is an interview study, where we would meet once through Zoom, complete questionnaires and discuss your thoughts on type 2 diabetes. The meeting will be under two hours, and participants will receive a $40 Amazon eCode. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Willencia at 217-300-2109 or wl30@illinois.edu. Participants can be located anywhere in the country.

Your child (8-10 years old) will participate in seven 2-hour visits and take a daily gummy over 9 months. Activities include height, weight and eye health measurements, reading and math related questions, computer tasks and parent questionnaires. Families will receive $370. Parking provided. To learn more, email iCONStudy@illinois.edu or 217-300-1667.

Seeking participants (21-64 year olds) who had a sleeve gastrectomy 1-5 yrs. ago or have not had any bariatric surgeries (control group). Participants must not smoke and drink alcohol at least once a month. There will be blood draws, body composition assessments, alcohol challenge tests and questionnaires. Compensation will be provided (up to $850 upon completion of four visits and free parking). Please fill out our online pre-screening form if you're interested, using the following link: https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7R2VUEoOuh2cTXw, or contact ornella2@illinois.edu. 

We are seeking researchers with interests in exploring interdisciplinary research to participate in a system user study by testing an online tool designed for research ideation support. The study is via Zoom and participants will engage in a 1-on-1 online session using our web-based tool. The study lasts for ~90 minutes, with compensation at $20 per hour. Click here to sign up or contact yirenl2@illinois.edu for more information.

We are recruiting children ages 8-14 years for a study observing the relationship between daily experiences and mental health at six visits over one year. Families can earn up to $210. Check out a detailed description of the study on our website (https://publish.illinois.edu/brees-stress-study/) and schedule a screening phone call here (https://emmam7.youcanbook.me/). Thank you!

The Aging, Caregiving and Technology Lab is conducting 30-minute Zoom interviews with caregivers supporting older relatives with meal preparation and nutrition/dietary modifications. Caregivers must be age 20 or older supporting a relative age 60 or older. Participants can receive up to $40 upon completing the interview. To participate, email hk-actlab@illinois.edu. 

Study on children’s movement and brain health! The PLAY Lab is looking for children finishing preschool and starting kindergarten in the fall to participate in a year-long study. Participation involves attending five laboratory sessions over one year and completing some motor tasks and cognitive tasks some while various brain responses are recorded. Up to $100 in compensation. PLAY LAB – Department of Kinesiology and Health, Freer Hall, playlab@illinois.edu. INTEREST FORM LINK.

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. 

Do you have occasional slips in memory? If you or anyone you know is 60+ years old, takes prescribed medication for high blood pressure, has mild problems with memory and uses smartphones, then you are eligible for this study that supports medication taking using smartphones. Compensation provided for participation. For more information, please contact us at 217-244-7383 or medmanage@illinois.edu.

This study explores how people watch TV streaming in our ‘living room’ setting. You will watch an episode of "Modern Family" while wearing eye-tracking glasses and answer questions about your experience. This study lasts 75 minutes. Looking for participants between ages 18-30 years old who do not wear glasses (contacts are ok). Participants will be awarded a $30 Amazon gift card. Signup link: https://tinyurl.com/livingroomTVstudy If you have any questions about the study, please contact Michelle Nelson, nelsonmr@illinois.edu.

We are seeking volunteers had stroke and movement difficulty in one side of upper body to participate in our study. You will receive a $50 for screening at Carle, $50 for a MRI and a $100 per visit for movement exercises and assessments at the U. of I. Contact: carly.skadden@carle.com or 217-326-0102. Details.

Healthy adults ages 18-40 with no hearing loss but significant difficulty hearing in noise are invited for a study on listening in noise. There is an online survey to determine eligibility, followed by lab visits for those who qualify. Lab visits include hearing screening, listening to sounds and measuring ear and brain activity. There is a maximum of three lab visits, each lasting 2-3 hours. Compensation for lab visits is paid in cash ($15 per hour). Parking is covered, and mileage is reimbursed ($0.655 per mile, up to a maximum of 37.5 miles per visit). To participate, complete our survey.