The Business Excellence Symposium at Illinois will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at the I Hotel and Conference Center. Hosted by SPMO, the event will feature a keynote speaker, breakout groups, exhibitor booths and opportunities to network with colleagues across the university. Stay tuned for RSVP details and more event information!

To assist evening campus commuters during the winter, the Parking Department will implement the following enforcement policy: effective Nov. 2, through March 8, 2026, all university rental lots posted for enforcement from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday through Friday) will be open for general public parking beginning at 4 p.m. All street meters, 24-hour rental areas and pay-by-app areas enforced until 1 a.m. will remain enforced as posted.

As the colder months approach, many students on our campus are facing the season without essential winter gear or basic hygiene products. We're calling on our campus community to come together and donate new or gently used scarves, hats, gloves and coats as well as unopened hygiene products like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant and more. Drop-off location: First Floor Lobby Donation Box at Turner Student Services, 610 E. John St. Donation drive runs through Nov. 7. Let’s show what community means. Donate today — and help keep our students warm, healthy and supported this winter.

University of Illinois Extension is celebrating a new era of impact with the announcement of Kevin Carey, Ed.D., as the new assistant dean and program leader for 4-H. Carey hails from Grundy County, Ill., where he grew up in a farming family and was an 11-year 4-H member, epitomizing the program's long-standing role in developing the future leaders of the state that are "Beyond Ready” to impact the world.

International Education Week at Illinois will run Nov. 17-21, highlighting the breadth of international education, global exchange and campus resources through events co-hosted by student groups, centers, colleges, units and local partners. Please explore the IEW calendar for events: go.illinois.edu/IEWevents. Units, RSOs and community partners are additionally encouraged to host internationally focused activities themselves and submit them to the IEW calendar: anyone on campus may request to add an event! For questions, contact isss-programs@illinois.edu.

The registration deadline to share your culture and connect with the campus community at the 14th annual Travel Around the World event during International Education Week has been extended! You now have until Nov. 6 to register — don't miss your chance! We’re seeking individuals and RSOs to represent countries and cultures from around the globe through engaging table displays, traditional games, crafts, photo exhibits, calligraphy or other interactive activities. Performers are also welcome.

The Illini Union Bookstore Starbucks offers the Grounds for the Garden program. Faculty and staff can stop by the Starbucks at the Illini Union Bookstore and pick up FREE five-pound bags of used coffee grounds which you can use to add to your gardens and/or compost pile. Bags are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are placed outside of the Starbucks counter. Stop by any time and any day. If bags aren't available, just ask a barista. Details and why coffee grounds are good for your garden.

Two courses are open to all graduate students as part of the new MS in Global Studies (MSGS): GLBL 500: Global Society: Examines global society and its institutional flaws - state, markets, democracy - through critical policy analysis and policy brief writing. Considers whether global society is at risk without reform. GLBL 501: Perspectives on Global Studies: Introduces epistemology and Global Studies methods through key concepts, transnational frameworks and research proposal development. Both are fully online; GLBL 500 is also offered on campus.

The Information Trust Institute has launched a fully online, non-credit certificate in cybersecurity designed for working professionals. Participants have six months of self-paced access to three courses; complete all three to earn an ITI certificate - please share with your teams and staff. More information: https://iti.illinois.edu/education/certificates/cyber-cert. 

There are three Mental Health First Aid certification training courses remaining this semester. To see the list of courses and register, please go to https://wellness.illinois.edu/mhfa. Courses are offered at no cost to attendees, but you must register and complete all portions of the training to receive certification. Mental Health First Aid training is available through funding provided by the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act and sponsored by Student Affairs.

Carle Illinois College of Medicine invites patient volunteers to our first-ever Patient-Centered Health Make-A-Thon on Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7! Volunteers help students understand health care challenges from the patient’s view. Share your story to inspire creative solutions as teams design with you in mind. Your insights will shape the ideas and prototypes students develop. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Meet your team. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: See their solution! Interested? Please fill out this short form. Please share with others too!

Ted's Cafe at the Beckman Institute offers a weekly menu email so you can track when your favorite dishes are being served. Sign up here. The email sends at noon Sundays and includes the entire week's specials and soups.

Winter holidays are fast approaching! The spacious atrium at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications provides a bright and warm space for your celebration. Celebrate your team’s accomplishments with a presentation simulcast on four large screens. Schedule your event today on the NCSA Events Scheduler or stop by the NCSA Virtual Lobby and the NCSA Events team can discuss your plans.

You’re invited to help shape how Illinois supports computing and data technologies in research. We’re exploring ways to better understand and strengthen the Research Technology Support community. Join us to review a preliminary visualization and share your feedback — does it reflect your needs? Which ideas resonate? What else would help you get the support you need? Your valuable input will help guide the future of research support at Illinois. Thank you!

Plan ahead for upcoming deadlines - book your appointments now! The Writers Workshop will be closed Nov. 22-30 for Fall Break. We will resume our regular hours Monday, Dec. 1. Satellite locations will all close by Dec. 12. For finals period, the Main Library will be open Saturday (Dec. 13) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday through Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday (Dec. 17) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. before closing for the semester. Drop-ins will be available on Zoom and at the Main Library Sunday to Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and from 1p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Join OLLI at Illinois for a presentation with Janice Jayes (history department, Illinois State University) about her March 2025 experience at the Texas-Mexico border with Witness at the Border. As a longtime board member of Immigrant Services of Champaign-Urbana, Janice has spent years observing the mechanics of migration, but this visit changed the way she thinks about the topic. Free and open to the public. Offered in-person in our Osher Classroom (301 North Neil Street, 2nd floor, Champaign - Parking details) and online via Zoom. Email olli@illinois.edu to receive the Zoom link.

Across the first millennium CE, elite style travelled the Silk Roads: cultivated silk from north China, furs from northern Europe, semiprecious stones from Central and South Asia and steppe horsemen’s cuts fused into a shared luxury look. Susan Whitfield is a scholar, traveler and leading voice on the Silk Roads, professor of Silk Road Studies at the Sainsbury Institute for Japanese Arts and Cultures. Formerly at the British Library, she curated Central Asian manuscripts. Her books include "The Silk Road: Silk, Slaves and Stupas" and also an essay for the Cambridge Global History of Fashion.

Coffee Across Cultures Hour is a monthly gathering that brings people together over coffee, tea and pastries to explore global traditions and the diverse ways communities connect through shared rituals. This month's theme invites you to explore food, customs and culture. We look at how food traditions serve as a bridge between people, communities and generations. We’ll share stories about meals that bring people together, discuss cultural etiquettes around eating and reflect on how dining experiences create opportunities for dialogue across borders and identities. Free and open to all!

Join F&S and volunteer to count parked bicycles on campus from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Nov. 11. The collected census data will help update the campus bike parking map and be used to make future decisions about bicycle infrastructure and programs. Onsite training will begin at 10 a.m., with the bike counting to occur immediately thereafter. Learn more about census efforts here.

Join us for a special Names Training focused on Mandarin names in Taiwan! This session will provide valuable insights into the cultural background and pronunciation of names commonly used in Taiwan. Our presenters from Taiwan will introduce key aspects of Taiwanese naming practices, guiding participants through name examples that highlight their meanings, pronunciation techniques and cultural significance. Open to faculty, staff, scholars and students.

Join William C. Barley, a professor of communication, for insights on how recognizing the often-invisible labor of collaboration can strengthen interdisciplinary science teams. Hosted by CDA, CROPPS and NCSA, this seminar examines how communication and organizational design influence the success of research. Free to attend – register here.

Join CSBS for the Artificial Intelligence Methods Series featuring Stefan Uddenberg, professor in the psychology department, who will present his research at the intersection of social and visual cognition. His work combines simple behavioral methods with cutting-edge generative AI techniques. Register by Nov. 5.

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl is the first Asian American to be ordained as a rabbi and is now senior rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York, one of the largest synagogues in the world. The daughter of a Korean Buddhist mother and Jewish American father, Rabbi Buchdahl is a prominent voice in national conversations about antisemitism, interfaith dialogue and the evolving role of faith communities in public life. Free and open to all. Registration required.

Join the Division of Athletics, Facilities & Services and the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment for a tailgate recycling event at the Maryland matchup on Saturday, Nov. 15. Tailgaters, do your part by recycling plastic bottles and aluminum cans in blue bags and recycling bins located in Lot 31 and Grange Grove. Keep an eye out for an all-new zero waste mobile station weaving through the lots! Volunteers are still needed for this year's effort. Sign up to volunteer >>>

Turning your course or program vision into reality? This session will highlight the end-to-end support available to help you succeed — from market research and learning outcome design to online pedagogy and technology innovations. Whether you’re creating a brand-new course, revising an existing one or converting it for online delivery, you’ll discover the tools, expertise and personalized guidance available to bring your online offering to life. Co-sponsored by the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning and Strategic Communications and Marketing.

"The Turnaway Play" is about what really happens when people are denied access to abortion. Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice presents a staged reading of an urgent issue through humor, drama and audience participation.

University Laboratory High School will host prospective family informational meetings this November through January. Please join us to learn more about our values, curriculum, programs and our application process for the 2026-27 school year. Meetings will be held through Zoom and in person at various locations in Champaign-Urbana. Please visit our website to sign up for a meeting: https://uni.illinois.edu/admissions.

Join us to celebrate Rest Lab 8: Greenspace (on view through Jan. 31) with curators Kamila Glowacki and Ishita Dharap. The reception will feature live music, cupcakes and a chance to explore all of Rest Lab’s offerings including sensory tools and a response wall.

Tour for caregivers — plus art activities for kids! Join us for Pause + Play, a new program held in conjunction with Krannert Art Museum’s Rest Lab 8: Greenspace exhibition. Kids (ages 4–8) will dive into playful, drop-off art activities led by museum educators, while their caregivers get a guided tour exploring the museum's galleries and artworks on view. The program balances restorative pause with playful engagement, offering parallel experiences that nurture both adults and children. Parking nearby is free on weekends. Sign up to attend: go.illinois.edu/rest-lab-nov2025.

IMMERSE is excited to host Ali Israr at 4 p.m. Nov. 6 as a distinguished lecturer. Ali Israr (PhD) is a technology leader, inventor, scientist and an engineer. Over the last 25 years, Ali has conducted research and development with Haptics Feedback Technologies at the forefront of industry with ByteDance, Meta and Disney, presenting "Feeling the Data: Haptics as Information Media in Immersive Environments." This is an in-person event; refreshments will be provided.

How can your students highlight their service experience in their resume? Through service work, they get to make a positive impact in the community, but they are also gaining valuable skills that will stay with them long after their project ends. At 5:30 p.m. Nov. 6, We CU and The Career Center will offer our Creating Your Powerful Resume workshop. Students will learn to draft an effective resume that describes the qualifications, skills and experience they have gained from their service experience. Dinner will be served, but space is limited. Click here for the registration form!

Please join this two-part seminar. All are welcome to stay after the seminar for informal networking with the XR+AI for Empathy Training center team. Part 1 will focus on MASTERS: Multisensory VR Environments to Train First Responders under Emotional Stress, and in Part 2, the discussion will cover Emotion Analysis and Empathic Adaptation in Immersive Scenarios: Toward Ethically Informed Human Understanding and Engagement. Registration information, abstracts and speaker bios can be found at the XR+AI for Empathy Training website. The event is free, but registration is required.

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 an experiential format. Join us on campus for a detox-weekend! Fully funded for all U. of I. students. Apply here: https://forms.gle/Y6Hu8vEb5tLFw28J6. 

Trio Bohémo brings electrifying interpretations of Smetana, Martinů, Haydn and Vičar to Foellinger Great Hall. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra returns with Riccardo Muti for Dvořák’s "New World Symphony." The Freedom Coalition fills Stage 5 with R&B, blues and jazz. Join Laura Chiaramonte and Kate Insolia for "Dance for People with Parkinson’s." Burnout Paradise transforms treadmills into art. Illinois Theatre presents "A View from the Bridge." Visit KrannertCenter.com for details.

Drawing on original data from the Consumer Bankruptcy Project, a landmark long-term study, “Debt’s Grip” uses the words of bankruptcy filers themselves to shed light on their financial battles. The book makes a powerful case for why the U.S. must confront the structural inequities that cause so many to struggle in today’s economy. Join us for the launch of the book, featuring a panel discussion among experts in the bankruptcy field and commentary from co-authors Robert Lawless, Pamela Foohey and Deborah Thorne. Free and open to the public with lunch provided.

What are our moral duties to humans and animals – our future generations – who are not yet alive? Join us for a talk by professor John Adenitire (University of London), as he argues that we need a broader view that gives moral value and serious consideration to future beings, even before they exist. Free and open to the public with pizza provided.

Join us for an exciting opportunity to explore this month’s theme: Future of AI. This monthly online and in-person event sparks inspiration for educators, technologists, researchers, students or those just curious about artificial intelligence. Come chat and see real-world examples. Use the link to register and feel free to sign up to share a 5-minute presentation.

Come to the Illini Union as Daisy Kent, finalist from season 28 of "The Bachelor" and advocate for hearing loss awareness, visits campus for an inspiring speaking event! Daisy will share her journey of resilience, authenticity and finding confidence through vulnerability. Don’t miss this chance to connect and learn from her story. Submit your questions for the Q&A. Select participants will get to meet Daisy during the exclusive meet and greet after the event!

Join us for a lecture and Q&A with Ehsan Bokhari, who earned a PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2014 and is the current assistant general manager of the Chicago Cubs.

In this virtual session hosted by the Speakers Workshop, learn about basic design principles, effective visual aids and data visualization. We will also offer practical tips for designing and presenting with research posters. Pre-registration is required.

AsiaLENS presents a free screening of "Echoes of Home" followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Mirshad Ghalip. This documentary explores the Uyghur American Cup, the largest event for Uyghur diaspora communities in North America. In the tournament, soccer becomes a medium to foster community, maintain language and help younger members of the diaspora connect with their heritage. (Directed and produced by Mirshad Ghalip and David Tobin. 2024. United States. 43 min.)

You're invited to join us for special harvest-themed dining events highlighting wild rice, berries, maple and the Three Sisters, to honor Native and Indigenous peoples. The dinner celebrations, held in collaboration with Native American House, will take place at the IKE and ISR dining centers on Thursday, Nov. 6, and at LAR Dining Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Guests can buy a meal plan or use credit, debit or any remaining Illini Cash at the door.

Join us Nov. 3-8 for a week of celebratory events! Under the theme #ProudToBeFirstGen, these events will include Donuts on the Quad, First-Gen Serves, a FAFSA and Alternative Application Workshop, FGSI Brunch and Letter Writing, a dance class and a National First-Generation College Student Day Celebration. Open to all students. Visit go.illinois.edu/FirstGenWeek to see full details!

A Culturally Adapted Motivational Intervention for Brazilian Families with Substance Use Disorders. Substance use disorders are a major public health issue in Brazil. Although treatment is most effective when culturally adapted, most evidence-based interventions originate in North America with limited adaptation. This presentation highlights efforts to culturally adapt and implement a family-based Motivational Interviewing approach for Brazilian families affected by SUDs.

Join the Japan House interns on an interactive exploration of Onigiri (Japanese rice balls) and their history, culture and preparation methods. During this event, you will learn to make your own onigiri, try out onigiri from different parts of Japan and enjoy some miso soup and tea to pair. Your presence and participation will directly support Onigiri Action, a campaign to give school meals to children in need around the world! Reservations are required for this seated dining event.

In "Civilizing Contention," Rana B. Khoury asserts that to understand civilian and refugee activism in war, we must regard the international actors and organizations that enter the scene to help. When these organizations respond to crises, they work with local actors. In so doing, they facilitate the activists' participation in something like a civil society even in the depths of war. Yet as aid imposes its structures and routines, it also leaves activists unprotected from the violence of war and its aftermaths.

Join Stefan Tongur of Electreon as he presents via Zoom at the fall 2025 Kent Seminar Series from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6. Presentations this semester focus on topics related to electrification in mobility. Tongur's lecture will explore overcoming electrification hurdles with wireless charging infrastructure. Food and soft drinks will be provided beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the Illinois Center for Transportation Classroom.

Join the School of Information Sciences for a series of presentations and posters on interdisciplinary research topics such as large language models, Responsible Artificial Intelligence and cryptocurrency. The showcase will be held from noon to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Illini Rooms B and C of the Illini Union. Learn more about our flexible degree programs. Refreshments will be served during the poster sessions.

Join us for the First Friday Psychology-Beckman Colloquium Series, monthly events bringing together members of the campus community for faculty-led lectures, panel discussions and research spotlights that showcase the breadth and depth of work happening in psychological science at the U. of I. On Friday, Nov. 7, we are hosting a panel discussion about Lifespan Development, featuring professors Joe Cohen, Nu-Chu Liang and Jessica Montag and moderated by professor Karen Rudolph.

Join us for presentations by our recent Center for Advanced Study associates and fellows! At 11 a.m., Lei Zhao (civil and environmental engineering) speaks on "Advancing Urban Climate Science with Modeling, Sensing and AI/ML," and at noon, Jozsef Balogh (mathematics) will discuss "Independent Sets in Hypergraphs."

SPEAK stands for Song, Poetry, Art and Knowledge. It is an open-mic public performance space at Krannert Art Museum curated by local artist, Shaya Robinson, featuring guest performers and welcoming all to the mic.

The Center for Writing Studies will be offering an online introductory Writing Across the Curriculum Seminar for TAs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 12-13. TAs from all departments will learn more about teaching writing, responding to writing and using writing to support learning. Participants will receive a small stipend for attending. Space is limited. Faculty and staff can nominate TAs for the seminar through Nov. 17.

Please join us for the next session of the 2025–26 Community Engaged Research Series, noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 13, via Zoom. This interactive virtual panel will feature insights from a community partner and from faculty across campus who are actively engaged in building and maintaining equitable partnerships with community organizations. Panelists will share practical strategies and lessons learned from their collaborative research efforts, and attendees will gain valuable perspectives and tips on how to foster trust and co-create impact with community partners. Register to receive Zoom details.

Please join us for a virtual event with Se-Mi Oh, a cultural historian of modern and contemporary Korea teaching at the University of Michigan. Her work investigates how history interacts with space in cities through interdisciplinary approaches to history, visual/media studies, urban humanities and art and architecture. This talk should appeal to those interested in Korea, urban planning, agriculture and the arts.

The Office of Research Security focus sessions on "Research Security and Financial Conflict of Interest Checklist" will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday Nov. 11, and 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12. These sessions will explain investigator compliance requirements and the review process conducted for federally sponsored programs (PHS, NIH, DoE, NASA) that require Research Security Training and FCOI compliance. PIs, research administrators, participating staff should attend to learn more. Register to attend at Events.

Join three Quick Start Workshops this week (on Nov. 4 and 5) to learn how to make your Word documents, PowerPoints and videos accessible to everyone. This week, you'll find workshops to explore key accessibility tips, including creating clean, navigable document structure, writing alt text for images and charts, creating accessible audio description and practice, making accessible slide content and much more. Additional workshops on document and course accessibility are scheduled throughout the fall semester. Sign up and expand your accessibility skills!

Bryan Berger will present advances in rapid PFAS monitoring and food safety. His team developed protein-based and whole-cell biosensors for detecting PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS in soil, water and crops, validated in field studies against LC/MS-MS. He will also discuss engineered enzymes that disrupt biofilms to improve detection and removal of foodborne pathogens including listeria, salmonella and E. coli. This work has led to commercialization through Lytos Technologies. 

A special presentation by Josh Harris, Kim Schmidt and Abigail Bobrow. At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, writers, archivists and preservationists collaborate to turn records into lasting stories. Writers capture campus life; archivists and preservationists ensure accuracy and longevity. This session explores how archival materials enrich storytelling, how today’s content is preserved for future use and how creativity and stewardship work together to build institutional memory.

The Writers Workshop will provide tips for writing concise and professional resumes and cover letters. We’ll review common structure, purpose, audience expectations and strategies for creating a set of application materials that complement each other. We encourage participants to bring a current job ad and questions about their current in-progress materials! Register by Nov. 5 to receive the Zoom invitation on the morning of the event.

Healthy teeth, healthy body! This session dives into the critical connections between oral care and overall health, showing you why what happens in your mouth matters for your entire body, and how simple steps can make a big difference. Presenter: Prafulla Caringula.

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. 

Calling all health researchers! The Healthy Regions and Policies Lab is launching the JCOIN Geospatial Consortium and Community of Practice — a network exploring how geospatial methods can help address the opioid epidemic. Join quarterly virtual meetings with discussions, workshops and research presentations on topics like treatment access modeling, spatial epidemiology and policy mapping. Sign up to share ideas and learn more about upcoming sessions. Visit the project site for details.

Adults ages 60 and over who take medication(s) for high blood pressure and have mild memory problems are invited to participate in a study using smartphones to support medication taking. Participation includes 4 in-person visits across four months at a location of convenience. Compensation and blood pressure provided for participation. Contact us at 217-244-7383 or medmanage@illinois.edu.

Seeking 30-to-65-year-old Spanish speakers born and raised in Mexico for a study of Spanish in the United States. Participants complete language tasks in Spanish in our lab via Zoom in a one-hour session. Compensation is $20. Email Karen Pasetto Ovelar at karendp2@illinois.edu to schedule an appointment.

The Nutrition and Exercise Performance Research Group is looking for participants to partake in a 2-day study to establish the utility of the indicator amino acid oxidation method in adults. Participation in this study involves 2-day habituation lead in with all meals provided, muscle biopsies and blood, breath and urine sampling during two all-day trials. Upon completion, you will receive $150 and information about your body composition and caloric needs. Contact our lab (NEPRESEARCH@illinois.edu) for more information! Male participants are strongly encouraged! (One more spot for a female.)