The CSEA Program recognizes the importance of the outstanding work of all university staff members who perform a wide range of critical functions for our university. Nominees are judged on four criteria: overall work performance, self-improvement, initiative and creativity and enhancing the reputation of the department and/or university. Nominations are due 5 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7.  

Shop in store at the Illini Union Bookstore on Dec. 22-23 and get 25% OFF your entire purchase of apparel and souvenirs. Less cars on campus means easy parking right by the Bookstore. Shop local today and all proceeds stay on campus supporting Illini Union student programs and activities.

Nominate your students for the $20,000 Illinois Innovation Award. Awarded by The Grainger College of Engineering through the Technology Entrepreneur Center, the Illinois Innovation Award honors students for excellence in cutting-edge innovation or translational research that addresses real-world problems and has the potential to make a significant impact. Nominate now.

Starting February 2026, learn how to analyze bulk RNA-Seq data in a hands-on workshop exploring traditional bulk RNA sequencing, experimental design and bioinformatics workflows using HPC and R. Led by High Performance Computing in Biology, the bioinformatics core of the Carver Biotechnology Center, there will be a main workshop consisting of lecture and hands-on exercises, followed by optional advanced sessions where one can analyze their own data with the aid of HPCBio staff. Sign up coming in early January!

Thank you to all who participated in the Illinois campuswide food drive! You made a difference. Over $17K has been raised to support the Food Assistance and Well-Being Program at Illinois Campus Recreation. Your gift helped fill the gap between what a student has and what they need. Does your group, organization or RSO want to host a future drive? View the How to Host a Food Drive instructions and then fill out the request form. Your continued support ensures that no student must choose between education and a meal.

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!

Over the upcoming holiday schedule, most shops and departments at F&S will have limited staff availability. However, team members will continue to support campus operations. Please use the my.FS Portal for regular facility-related requests. Call 217-333-0340 for urgent items needing an immediate response. NOTE: The F&S Service Office will be staffed during regular business hours on gift days.

All campus libraries will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4. In addition, libraries will be closed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, for an all-employee event. Library digital resources are available during these closures and accessed through the Library Gateway.

See the inside of the Allerton Mansion at a Weekend Wind Down on Jan. 2 and 3. The Solarium Bar will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Stop by for happy hour, warm up by the fire or settle in and make a night of it with games, friends or a good book! Those choosing to spend the night can take advantage of our discounted lodging rate. View guestrooms and make your reservation here or by calling 217-333-3287.

Join Allerton Park Natural Areas staff for a Winter Bird Hike from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2. Meet in the Main Parking Lot. If the starting location changes, participants will receive an email the day before. In the winter months, the Park is home to woodpeckers, owls and other hardy winter species. The hike is a great way to learn about our local bird species! $10 per person. Register here. 

Holiday GLOW presented by the U. of I. Community Credit Union continues at Allerton Park. The illuminated 1-mile outdoor walk will by open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 23 and Dec. 26-31 (GLOW is closed Dec. 24-25). Food trucks are booked for Dec. 21-23.  Find details here. $10 per vehicle, payable upon arrival. Exact change is appreciated.

Swing out to Allerton Park for the Winter Solstice Bonfire from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, in the Meadow! In addition to the bonfire (lit around 6 p.m.), take time to stroll through Holiday GLOW and warm up with a drink from the bar or meal from a food truck or the Greenhouse Café. $10 per vehicle, payable upon arrival (cash preferred).

Registration is now open for the third annual Gies Business Supply Chain Management Conference. The conference will take place March 6-7, and centers around exploring how organizations can minimize environmental impact and make ethical, socially responsible decisions that create long-term value. Register now!

Join us for this workshop to get tips on how to get ready for a faculty job search, whether you're starting now or looking ahead to a job search next year. The workshop will address how the faculty job search process works, all of the application documents you will need to prepare, how to stay organized during the search and more. This session will be held on Zoom at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/eventspace. Anyone is welcome to attend.

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!