The 2025–2026 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Senate will host the Annual Faculty Meeting at 3:10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, in Illini Room C, Illini Union (first floor). All faculty are invited to attend. The University Senate will meet immediately following. Meeting materials are available online. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

A revised policy has been posted to the Campus Administrative Manual website: Service, Emotional Support And Other Animals.

The Business Excellence Symposium at Illinois will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at the I Hotel and Conference Center. Hosted by the Strategic Project Management Office, this year’s sessions focus on transparent reporting systems, decision-making, internal communication strategies and stakeholder collaboration. The event will feature a keynote speaker, breakout groups, exhibitor booths and opportunities to network with colleagues across the university. RSVP today!

The LAS Office of Inclusive Excellence has organized a collegewide food drive to assist those facing food insecurity. Donations of food and personal care items for our LAS Food Pantry, the Wesley Food Pantry and the Uniting Pride Food Pantry will be collected through Tuesday, Dec. 16, in Room 2040 of Lincoln Hall. You can also contribute letters of support that will be included with the donations.

Smartphones, social media and streaming have transformed daily life, raising concerns for families and communities. To help, University of Illinois Extension created the Smartphones, Smart Families Survival Kit — a practical resource for building healthy tech habits at home. More info here.

Missed the Dec. 1 deadline? There is still time to nominate exceptional alumni, young humanitarians, faculty and students for the annual International Achievement Awards. Spanning five categories, these awards honor Illini across all disciplines whose exceptional work or service has made a significant, global impact. Submit materials by 11:59 p.m. CST on Dec. 15.

This is a reminder that you can request reviews and changes to your department’s phone call setup for the holiday season. We can confirm your current setup, review available options and make changes, and provide guidance on greetings and voicemail messages. For questions or help reviewing or changing your department’s phone setup, please submit a ticket or email the Technology Services Help Desk. To ensure that your desired setup is ready for the holiday break, please contact us by Dec. 17.

South Dakota State University invites applications for its USDA-NIFA-supported Sun Grants program, which funds development of alternative biobased energy sources and products while enhancing economic opportunities in rural areas. Grants may support fundamental or applied research, education or extension programs, and projects encompassing agronomy, engineering, chemistry, microbiology, policy or economic/commercialization evaluation and advancement are welcomed. Applications must be submitted by faculty PIs, but funding must support graduate students or postdocs. Grants provide up to $60,000.

Are you looking to hire student employees for the spring, summer or fall 2026? Register for the Illinois Spring Part-Time Job Fair from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 29, at the Illini Union. In the past, this event has attracted 1,000+ students, making this the perfect place to connect with bright, hardworking students eager to gain experience, earn money and contribute their talents on campus. Registration is FREE for campus units. Space is limited. Register today before spots are filled.

Enroll in the Kaplan All Access Program for FREE access to test prep materials for graduate school, career credentials and licensure exams as well as skills development and new-hire courses. You must enroll before graduation or you will lose access. Once enrolled, you have access to the resources for the duration of the course, typically one year. Visit the Kaplan All Access page on our website for the full list of 40 courses and the enrollment portal link.

Stock up on Illinois gifts for your family and friends at the Illini Union Bookstore from Dec. 8-13 with the Holiday Deal Days. There are great orange and blue apparel items and souvenirs with incredible prices. The best part is that all money stays on campus and helps support student programs and events. Check out the deals.

Are you hosting a Black History Month event? Whether it’s a discussion, performance, or community activity, we want to feature it! We are gathering Black History Month events into one central calendar, so submit your program to https://go.illinois.edu/BHMC2026 by Jan. 8. Allow us to highlight all the amazing work happening on campus and in the local community! 

Full-time U. of I. students who excel in both academics and athletics (at any level) are encouraged to apply for the 2026-27 IAA Strive Scholarship. Undergraduate applicants must rank in the top 25% of their college. Graduate and professional students must be in good academic standing. Criteria for athletic excellence include sustained participation in amateur athletics for personal development, rather than career objectives, and special aptitude or ability in athletic endeavors. Learn more and apply at scholarships.uaps.uillinois.edu/strive/ from Dec. 9 to Feb. 8.

The Campus Bike Center is looking for kids bicycles of any size and any condition to repair and give away to teens and kids in the community for the holidays. Contact us at 217-333-0241 to arrange a drop-off and deliver to the Campus Bike Center at 51 E. Gregory Dr., Champaign, during our open hours. Donations will be accepted until 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19.

Registration is now open for spring 2026 Mental Health First Aid courses. We offer both in-person and online sessions, and MHFA provides a three-year internationally recognized certification that builds practical skills to support someone experiencing a mental health or substance-use challenge. To view dates and register, visit wellness.illinois.edu/mhfa. Courses are free to attend, and full participation is required to receive certification. MHFA is funded through the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act and sponsored by Student Affairs.

To support a culture of workplace flexibility, it is essential for managers to understand policies and best practices that will align teams for success at Illinois. In this blended course on managing flexible work arrangements, supervisors will learn how to establish boundaries, increase engagement and anticipate challenges. Along the way, they will connect with other managers on campus to share lessons learned.

SHIFT is a 12-week program that helps educators apply human-centered design in real, practical ways. Build new skills, connect with peers and take on a custom design challenge. Register by Jan. 9!

Our ACES Online collection on Coursera offers a variety of courses to explore — from sustainable agriculture and food systems to financial planning and innovation. Learn at your own pace, gain practical skills and earn shareable certificates. Whether you’re brushing up on your field or trying something new, there’s something for everyone. New courses have just launched, so it’s a great time to start!

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, Dec. 12; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15 through Thursday, Dec. 18. We will remain open during the lunch hour from noon to 1 p.m.

The final day for receiving Radioactive Materials deliveries or collecting waste in 2025 will be Tuesday, Dec. 23. These activities will resume on Monday, Jan. 5. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Division of Research Safety at drs@illinois.edu.We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday break and look forward to seeing you in 2026!

The social determinants of health are key to understanding population health. Join Marynia Kolak and Kamaria Barronville as they examine how trauma-informed principles can strengthen a health-geography approach, emphasizing the need to re-root SDoH in spatial and socioecological contexts. Their work highlights the role of place, critiques oversimplified SDoH models and calls for nuanced frameworks that address historical trauma while prioritizing safety, trust and empowerment in public health. Lunch will be provided!

Learn to create new plants from existing ones at Intro to Shrub Propagation from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in The Studio at Allerton Park. University of Illinois Extension educator Ryan Pankau will lead students through the practice of propagation by using cuttings from existing plants as well as a variety of other methods. $25 per person. Register here by Dec. 9.

Holiday GLOW, presented by the U. of I. Community Credit Union, is underway at Allerton! The 1-mile outdoor, illuminated walk will run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 23 and Dec. 26-31 and will include work from talented artists! Food trucks will be on site Dec. 11-13 and Dec. 18-23. $10 per vehicle, payable upon arrival. Exact change is appreciated.

Experience the magic of the Allerton Mansion — and Santa! — at Sweets With Santa presented by State Bank of Bement from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, in the Mansion. Children will have a chance to chat and get their picture with Santa, get a professional photo taken and play games! Register here.  For a quieter environment with a smaller crowd, consider Sensory Hour Sweets With Santa from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

See the Mansion shine in all of its holiday splendor at our Holiday Mansion Tours at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8 or Tuesday, Dec. 9. Enjoy the twinkle from more than 40 trees and festive décor throughout the public spaces of the Mansion. The tour will primarily cover the first floor, with an optional trip to the second and third floors when available. $15 per person. Register here. All sales are final.

Please join us for the University Archives' monthly Women in Science Lecture Series from noon to 1 p.m. Dec. 11. Pinshane Huang, professor and Racheff Faculty Scholar of Materials Science and Engineering, will discuss how we see atoms through her research on transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy of two-dimensional materials and soft-hard interfaces. This is a hybrid event and will take place in the University Archives, Main Library 146, or you can register for the Zoom link.

Winter Fantasia: Holiday Concert brings vibrant seasonal music to the historic Virginia Theatre. From Vivaldi "Winter Concerto" to Piazzolla, Mozart and more, this festive program offers a sparkling evening featuring Grammy-nominated Andrés Cárdenes as violin soloist. Join us on Dec. 13 for an unforgettable night of artistry and holiday spirit.

Japan House will be open from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Please stop by and enjoy a bowl of matcha and sweets at our Holiday Matcha Café and browse special holiday sale items! Japan House interns will be sharing a brief tea ceremony at various times. Walk-ins welcome!

Please join Academic Women in STEAM for our monthly seminar series, Science Uncorked. Our next event will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at The Literary in downtown Champaign. Our presenter will be Julia York, a postdoc in integrative biology, who will present "Frozen Ocean: Polar Fish Evolution and our Changing World." All are welcome! Interested in presenting in the future? Contact a-wis@illinois.edu.

Creative Dance for Children is an innovative community program provided by the U. of I. Department of Dance, under the direction of Betty Allen, tailored for children ages 4-10. With a focus on nurturing creativity and imagination, our child-centered approach ensures that each young dancer learns and internalizes dance concepts, develops essential social skills and expresses themselves authentically through movement.

Join us for the World Meditation Day Celebration from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Dec. 21! The UN has invited internationally renowned meditation teacher, humanitarian and peace ambassador, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, to guide an online meditation live in celebration of World Meditation Day. Join us for an uplifting celebration of life, with meditation, music, food and community, at the Illini Union Ballroom from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Dec. 21! Attendance is FREE. RSVP at https://tiny.cc/ChampaignWMD.

This session will explore both overt and subtle forms of microaggressions in workplace communication, including those that happen consciously as well as those that occur unconsciously. We will reflect on the ways individuals may intentionally or unintentionally contribute to these dynamics, learn to recognize when we ourselves might be experiencing them and discuss strategies for responding and coping. The workshop will provide space for all participants to gain insight and develop strategies for fostering more respectful and inclusive workplace environments.

Take a break from finals and unwind with art, snacks, DIY projects, good vibes and more! Recharge and get inspired before finals week begins. In collaboration with the College of Fine and Applied Arts and Ricker Library for Art and Architecture, Krannert Art Museum is proud to host FAA Finals Fest, a Reading Day program that includes a coffee bar, snacks-to-go, study space and artmaking. Open to all U. of I. students.

You deserve to take care of yourself! Whether you've got finals on your mind, the frenzy of the holiday season or some combination of those and so many other things, scheduling time for joy and creativity can make all the difference. Drop into Spurlock anytime between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to create holiday cards, pack a de-stress tea/cocoa bottle/jar or make your own lip scrub. You could make yourself something nice or have some holiday gifts for others!

In September 1985, almost 80,000 fans packed Memorial Stadium on the U. of I. campus to hear the first Farm Aid concert. Over 50 musical acts came together to raise awareness of the economic crisis facing American family farms. Our exhibit curator will offer a guided look at the exhibit commemorating Farm Aid's 40th anniversary. Free admission. No registration required.

NCSA and IQUIST invite the campus community to the monthly BYO Lunch Quantum User Group — a forum for researchers, students and anyone interested in quantum computing to connect, share experiences and explore how quantum technologies may support their work.

Join four Quick Start Workshops this week (Dec. 8, 9, 10, 11) to learn how make your digital materials accessible. This week, you'll find workshops to explore key accessibility tips, including how to use the Pope Tech accessibility tool and how to make Canvas Courses, PDFs or Microsoft Word docs accessible. Additional workshops on document and course accessibility are scheduled throughout the rest of December. Sign up and expand your accessibility skills!

Please join us online for the second session in our AY 2025–2026 "Through the Faculty Ranks" series, Teaching Feedback and Evaluation at Illinois: Updates and Resources for Faculty Members. This session will discuss the recent changes to Provost Communications 9 and 26 and their implications for teaching feedback and evaluation. Register here.

Once a taboo word, “accessibility” has been in the spotlight in many technology circles. This presentation talks about accessibility and some basic best practices that can be applied across various platforms. Christy Blew is a disability specialist in alternative media production for Accessible Media Services in the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services at Illinois. She joined AMS after 15 years as an IT Accessibility Specialist at DRES, finding her greatest success in helping to eliminate stigmas and myths that have been associated with IT Accessibility.

This short course will focus on the basics of welding geomembranes and understanding how to achieve a suitable weld quality, using thermal fusion welding technologies. In particular, "Part 4: Importance of Seam Testing" will focus on the following: non-destructive testing – air channel, pick, air lance and vacuum testing, destructive testing – In-house and 3rd party testing, factory and field testing, what if seam test(s) fails - patching (project goal is a liner system that does not leak) – work together-welder, CQA, regulator, engineer, supplier, etc. 1.5 PDH.

This short course will focus on the basics of welding geomembranes and understanding how to achieve a suitable weld quality, using thermal fusion welding technologies like hot wedge, hot air and hand extrusion welders. In particular, Part 3 will focus on the following: understanding heat, speed and pressure, establishing welding windows, importance of welding windows, impact/dangers/wrinkles from ambient conditions, parameter recommendations, pre-weld testing, correct seam overlap and what if FML is not clean (dust, water, painting). 1.5 PDH.

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 at least two transdermal bracelets (on your non-dominant hand) and filling out surveys for two weeks. Up to $400 in compensation for participation.

Looking for participants who own a wearable fitness device (smartwatch, fitness band, smartring), are 18 to 65 years old and live an active lifestyle. Participants will be asked to do a “show and tell” of their wearable fitness device and two additional personal items by sharing their thoughts on fitness, brands and advertising in a virtual interview lasting 45 to 60 minutes. Compensation of a $35 gift card will be provided after completion of interview. If you are interested in the study, please contact Kirby Cook (kmlcook@illinois.edu).

We are seeking women with a planned cesarean delivery to participate in a mindfulness-based intervention study. Eligible participants will be invited to join the program and complete surveys about their experiences. Those who complete the intervention can receive up to $195 in gift cards as a thank you for their participation. For more information, please contact us at mamidappstudy@illinois.edu or call 217-244-9363.

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. 

In the 60-minute study, you will complete a demographic questionnaire, a learning task and some cognitive measures. You will be compensated with $15 (Amazon eGift Card) for your participation. Bonus money ($5) will be issued based on the learning performance. Thank you very much!

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!

Are you interested in a study involving research that will lead to advances in screening, treatment and care of Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder? We seek participants who currently have MDD or AD and participants who do not have either of these conditions. Participating in the study will involve completing surveys about physical and mental health and participating in an interview.

We are seeking parents and guardians of children ages five and younger for a new study about parenting experiences, perceptions of environment and other factors that influence children’s health and well-being. If you are interested in sharing your experiences, please submit an interest questionnaire! Eligible participants will be contacted by email. To learn more: https://go.illinois.edu/cchs.