Help new graduate teaching assistants at Illinois get ready for their first semester of teaching. TA training culminates in Microteaching, where the new TAs each present a short mock lesson. If you have teaching experience, we can use your help to guide new TAs, provide feedback on the mock lessons and run a small group discussion. Training will be provided, and microteaching will happen in person throughout the day on Wednesday, Aug. 20, to Thursday, Aug. 21. Total time commitment is 2.5 to 4.5 hours. Contact Lucas Anderson if you would like to help.

Show off your cooking skills and share your cuisine with the Urbana-Champaign community! Please fill out this form if you are a local community member or a student, faculty or staff member at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who would like to cook in our International Cooking Show. We will be in touch shortly to work out details, such as scheduling when you will be on the show.

Take the stage during the Illinois Homecoming Global Talent Show! We’re looking for individuals or groups to share their talent and celebrate the rich diversity and talent of our international community. All talents are welcome. Complete the performer application form at https://go.illinois.edu/GTSApplication2025 to apply to be featured in the show. The deadline to apply is at 11:59 p.m. CST Sept. 1. 

The International Student and Scholar Services website (isss.illinois.edu) has been updated and several links have changed. While redirect links have been put in place, users who regularly visit the site are encouraged to clear their cache/stored cookies and update any bookmarks the next time they visit the site. Any questions about this website update may be directed to Global Communications at iip-globalcom@illinois.edu.

Join us at the first session of the AY 2025-2026 "Through the Faculty Ranks" series on An Introduction to FLEX: What Faculty Members Need to Know About the New Student Feedback Course Survey. As our campus moves toward more holistic feedback and evaluation processes, we are transitioning from the existing “Instructor and Course Evaluation system and survey” to a new software system and a new student feedback survey, Feedback on the Learning Experience. Join us to learn what FLEX is, how it works and how to effectively engage with student feedback to support your teaching. Register here.

Join the Advanced TA Support Program to build community, strengthen your teaching and prepare for the academic job market. This free two-semester program offers in-person support through workshops, one-on-one consultations and cohort meetings. You'll receive guidance on building a Canvas course, fostering an inclusive learning environment and navigating sensitive discussions. Additionally, you will develop materials like a teaching philosophy and portfolio. Graduate students who teach for two semesters and complete the program will qualify for the Graduate Teacher Certificate. Sign-up now!

From Aug. 12 through Aug. 22, the Turner Student Services Building (ODOS, Jeffries Center, Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, Office of Student Conflict Resolution and the Counseling Center) will be closed due to nearby construction. Please check each unit’s website for details on reaching us during this time.

Build better Canvas courses in this two-part, hands-on series. In this course, you will learn core Canvas Course Design principles, streamline navigation and explore tools like DesignPLUS to create accessible, engaging and inclusive learning experiences. Perfect for new or experienced instructors looking to refresh their course design. Sign-up today!

The University Library and the International Student and Scholar Services are delighted to welcome international graduate students and visiting scholars to participate in the 2025 Research Connection from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. This event connects international graduate students and visiting scholars with faculty advisors and campus research services. Spouses, partners and children are welcome!

See what your classroom technology can do for you. Meet with one of Technology Services’ consultants to get acquainted with the audiovisual features of your assigned general assignment classroom(s). Training sessions generally take 20 minutes. Schedule classroom training here.

Do your students need tools in managing conflict or giving feedback in group projects? The Illinois Leadership Center is now accepting workshop requests for the fall 2025 semester! We will come to your classroom or student team to facilitate topics such as empathy or servant leadership. See this year's leadership topics here. To request a program, fill out our workshop request form.

As we approach the fall semester, please note that the Writers Workshop can support your students in many ways. Students can schedule an appointment or drop-in for writing feedback. We provide tailored presentations by request and host workshops each week. Check out our website resources, copy or adapt this syllabus statement and encourage your students to stop by!

We are excited to invite you to the "Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Challenges and Multidisciplinary Collaboration" Online Symposium. This event will offer a multidisciplinary look at how artificial intelligence is influencing research, public life and everyday systems — from health care and agriculture to language technologies and social media. Register for the event.

The School of Social Work is excited to invite you to their premiere Beyond Borders: Global Mental Health Research and Services Conference on Oct. 9 and 10, at the I Hotel and Conference Center. Sessions will be held both virtually and in-person. The conference is free to register and CEUs will be available.

The NAPRRS/NC229: International Conference of Swine Viral Diseases brings together members of the swine disease community, including researchers, industry professionals and field practitioners. This year’s meeting will include six plenary scientific sessions, a translational workshop, poster session, banquet and more. Early registration, abstract submission and travel fellowship deadlines are approaching on Aug. 22.

Creative Dance for Children is an innovative community program provided by the department of dance at the U. of I. under the direction of Betty Allen. Instructors (Betty Allen and Ty Lewis) collaborate to design and deliver creative dance classes tailored for children ages 4-10. REGISTER.

The SKY Happiness Retreat is an internationally acclaimed life-skills program that helps participants develop a relaxed, stress-free mind and an energetic, healthy body. The retreat teaches tools such as evidence-based meditation, yoga, breathwork and self-exploration in a fun and experiential format. Join us on campus for a detox-weekend! The retreat is fully funded for all U. of I. students. Interested students can sign up using this link. 

Allerton Park has 14 formal gardens created by Robert Allerton between 1899 and 1946. Join us for one of a Third Saturday Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Aug. 16, and experience the beauty and history of each garden. Garden tours start at the Greenhouse Patio and last between 45 and 60 minutes. $5 per person (5 and under are free and do not require a ticket). Register here.

Learn the basic mechanics of using a spinning wheel to make your own yarn at Learn to Spin Yarn from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, in The Studio at Allerton Park. Instructor Stephanie Block will walk students through spinning practice and the opportunity to spin alpaca fiber into yarn using Ashford scotch tension Traditional or Traveler wheels. $130 per person. Register here by Aug. 16.

Learn the skills of improvisation, including scene creation and team dynamics at Improve Your Improv from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Aug. 21 through Oct. 2, in the Allerton Music Barn. $100 per person for the entire series here or $25 per class. Get more information and register here.

Allerton Artist-in-Resident Joha Harrison will facilitate the creation of community-based art at A Community Collage: An Artist-in-Residence Outreach Event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, in the Mansion Library. In an open-house style setting, Harrison will help participants create an abstract collage that will be turned into one large piece of art. $5 per person. Register here. Walk-ins welcome.

The 2025 Law School Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Illini Union. There will also be a special Law Admission Panel hosted in Room 104 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. following the fair. Students and community members are invited to meet with law school representatives from across the country and/or attend the panel after the fair. Junior and senior students considering attending law school are highly encouraged to attend; however, the event is open to all. You can learn more about the Law Fair by clicking here.

Have you visited the grocery store recently and noticed that an item you regularly purchase is more expensive than usual? According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, inflation happens when the prices of goods and services increase over time. In this session, we will dive deeper into what inflation is and how it affects our buying power, how we can adjust our budget with increasing prices and provide resources to better understand the effects of inflation in our everyday lives. Register here.

Join the School of Social Work on Aug. 12 for a webinar on infertility and pregnancy loss, related mental health symptoms and strategies to better support those facing these challenges. Register.

Illinois researchers can access thousands of data sets through ICSPR, the world’s largest social sciences data archive. ICPSR has a newly updated website, thematic collections of data sets and free resources on teaching and learning with data. See a live demo of the new website, information on sharing data through ICPSR and other resources at noon Aug. 21.

This webinar will address three case studies: Druid Hill Reservoir Project, which included creating a liner system to contain one half of the 1 billion-gallon potable water storage reservoir that supplies the city of Baltimore and surrounding counties; Sutter Field Construction Lining Project, which utilized large factory fabricated liners for athletic fields; and Tesla Reservoir Rehabilitation Project, which is an equalization basin for the 28 MW Tesla Hydroelectric Power Generation Plant in Colorado Springs that included upgrading the reservoir bottom liner system to a thicker CSPE membrane.

Are you looking to fill part-time positions for the upcoming semester or beyond? Register for the 2025 Fall Illinois Part-Time Job Fair from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 3, at the Illini Union. This popular event has drawn over 2,000 students in the past, making it a great opportunity to recruit hardworking, dedicated students eager to gain experience. Registration is FREE for university units, but space is limited! For more information, visit Handshake.

Faculty, staff and campus partners are invited to join us at noon Aug. 13, on Zoom to discover what’s new at The Career Center and explore tools you can use in and outside the classroom — guest speakers, resume/cover letter assignments, mock interviews, video content and more. You’ll also hear about upcoming workshops and events, including the Part-Time Job Fair, JCPenney Suit-Up, Graduate and Professional School Fair and special career readiness programs. Together, we can Illinois students prepare, grow and thrive.

Seeking participants (21-64 year olds) who had a sleeve gastrectomy 1-5 years 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. 

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.

Are you a health care professional? Do you work with African American women with gestational diabetes and depressive symptoms? If so, participate in our study to help researchers identify recommendations on components needed in a mindful eating intervention to improve diabetes self-care behaviors, adherence to gestational diabetes management and improvement of depressive symptoms among pregnant African American women. Eligible participants will receive a $25 electronic gift card after the interview. Please click the link to complete the eligibility screener https://redcap.link/88pd976t.