The Beckman Institute is accepting applications for three summer awards programs (the Beckman Undergraduate Fellows Program, the Erik Haferkamp Memorial Award for Undergraduate Research and the Thomas and Margaret Huang Award for Graduate Research). They provide a one-time payment to support summer research at Beckman. The Beckman Institute Graduate Fellows Program provides an 11-month graduate research assistant appointment to U. of I. graduate students engaged in thesis research at the M.A., M.S. or Ph.D. level at Beckman. Apply to all programs by 5 p.m. Sunday, March 1.

The Robert P. Larsen Grant for Research in Career Development is accepting proposals to support research addressing career development and vocational issues. Grants of up to $1,500 are awarded to currently enrolled graduate students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods proposals are considered from various disciplines. Projects should be completed within one year. Deadline to apply: March 15. Details and application information are available online.

The University of Illinois Alumni Association Awards Committee is seeking nominations for our 2026 alumni awards program. Please submit your nominations by March 1. The nomination form is available at https://uiaa.org/alumni-awards/. If you have questions about the nomination process, please contact associate director of alumni engagement Sheila Wenger at srwenger@illinois.edu.

In this session, we will go over advanced search strategies, including citation chasing and cited reference searching. Then we will look at the brand new, Google Scholar Labs, “an artificial intelligence-powered Scholar search that is designed to help you answer detailed research questions” and see how you can use it to find relevant literature. We will also take a look at its partner extension Google Scholar PDF Reader, which makes reading and saving literature in Scholar easier than ever before.

In this session, students will learn about general and multidisciplinary indexing and abstracting sources, search techniques and interacting with collections held at the U. of I. and beyond. This session is open to all doctoral students. We are extending an invitation to master's degree students to attend this session.

Uni High Summer Enrichment Camp runs for the first two weeks of June for rising 5th, 6th and 7th graders. Click here for more information and registration form.

Celebrate the Union's 85th year from Feb. 2-6, and eat at an Illini Union restaurant. All restaurants will have a $8.50 deal to celebrate. You can also get a scratch ticket to see what you win! Blue tickets get an Illini Union sticker. Orange tickets get a prize from Coca-Cola. Golden tickets get you an Illinois plushie keychain ($10 value). This offer is valid at Just Bee Acai, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Maize, Mia Za's Express, Moo of I and Thai Fusion. Tickets can be redeemed at the Illini Union Rec Room from noon to 8 p.m.

New Student and Family Experiences is starting to build the 2026 Moms Weekend Calendar and we’d love your events to be part of it! Moms Weekend is April 10–12, so there’s plenty of time to start planning something fun and engaging for Illinois families. If you’re considering hosting an event, we’d love for you to add it to the calendar and join us in making the weekend a great experience for our families.

University Primary School’s spring open house for prospective preschool-5th grade families is Feb. 10 during our school day. Uni Primary is a Reggio Emilia inspired preschool-5th grade campus lab school and includes families from campus and the greater community. Applications for the 2026-2027 school year are accepted Jan. 10 to March 1.

Let your students know they can drop-in for a writing consultation at the Main Library and via Zoom (from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday) or in-person at the LAS Hub in Lincoln Hall (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday). These 15- to 30-minute sessions are held on a first-come, first-served basis. They can receive actionable advice on shorter documents, ask specific questions or brainstorm their next project!

The Illinois Leadership Center would like to remind faculty and staff of the resources available at the Cavenaugh Leadership Library. Located in Suite 290 of the Illini Union, the library offers a variety of books and activities focused on leadership, team development and assessment practices. Anyone can check out materials by presenting a valid i-card. Stop by our office or view the catalog online. Our team is available to assist in selecting leadership training resources for you or your students. Feel free to stop by or reach out if you have any questions.

The Career Center offers on-site career coaching drop-in services at seven campus partner locations throughout the academic year. Career coaches provide informal one-on-one conversations from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on select dates each month at AACC, BNAACC, GSRC, La Casa, Native American House, Salaam or WRC. Visit The Career Center website for on-site coaching dates at each location.

Strengthen your intercultural communication skills in this essential training for faculty, staff and scholars. Stumbling Blocks to Intercultural Communication is designed to help participants identify and overcome common barriers in cross-cultural interactions. This session explores six key causes of intercultural communication breakdowns and provides actionable strategies to avoid them. Join us to learn how to improve your communication and build stronger connections in diverse settings. Registration is required.

You are invited to attend the spring 2026 Faculty Workshop Series, starting Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the Siebel Center for Design. The workshop’s themes include Supporting Student Success Through Collaborative Learning, Active Learning Strategies for Your Learning Space, Evaluating Student Learning Through Authentic Assessment Strategies, Tools for Faculty to Engage in Discourse and Complex Discussions and Different Ways of Incorporating Experiential Learning into Your Course. View the calendar of Faculty Development Events to register online.

Join us for a free practice of the "Tamarkoz" concentration and meditation method, which includes relaxation, breathing exercises, slow meditative movements and visualization. Students, staff, faculty and community members are all welcome. No prior experience needed. A wellness educator with more than 30 years of experience will lead the sessions live through video-streaming. The sessions will be held at the Wesley Student Center on W. Green Street, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month (Feb. 7, March 7, April 4 and May 2). Ample free parking is available on site.

Partnering for Success: Library Support for American Indian Studies; As the Library Subject Liaison to the American Indian Studies program, Cindy Ingold provides research support, instructional guidance and resource development that align with AIS curricular and community goals. This presentation will introduce students to key library services and tools (e.g., print, digital and multimedia) that can support their academic journey and strengthen their work in AIS-related courses.

Please join us for Black History Month dinner celebrations and our Jollof Rice Cook-Off, in collaboration with the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center. Super Soul Thursday Dinner Menus: IKE Dining Center on Feb. 5; PAR Dining Hall on Feb. 12; LAR Dining Hall on Feb. 19; ISR Dining Center on Feb. 26. Jollof Rice Cook-Off: ISR Table 1867 on Friday, Feb. 6, beginning at 5 p.m., featuring diverse takes on jollof rice. Enjoy tasting, voting and connecting in a welcoming community atmosphere! Guests can buy a meal plan or use credit, debit or any remaining Illini Cash at the door.

This session will cover conceptual design, storytelling techniques and scriptwriting. Our goal is to set a strong foundation to help researchers understand communication in this popular, innovative format. We will have four subsequent sessions that go into more depth, but this first workshop is paramount to getting started!

Andrew Hoyt is a full-time touring singer/songwriter blending folk, pop and acoustic vibes into a sound that’s both warm and unique. He has performed at major venues, such as the Wells Fargo Arena, and shared the stage with artists including AFR, David Archuleta and Eric Hutchinson. This event is free and open to students, faculty, staff and the general public.

This year, the annual Illinois Chief Engineers and Facility Managers and ILAPPA conferences will take place together with concurrent programming April 22–23 at the Illini Union. ILAPPA will set one program track, while the other will focus on building systems and related engineering discussions. Registration is now open for the conference and also ILAPPA's new 2026 Supervisor Toolkit training, which will start before the conference and run from April 20–22. The toolkit is designed to help facilities management supervisors realize both personal and professional growth in their roles.

"Memes, Monsters and the Digital Grotesque," this talk theorizes memes through the politics of monstrosity and the grotesque, showing how digital infrastructures privilege rapid, affective forms of expression that operate as a language of the unspeakable.

Curious to explore the relationship between people, places and institutions? Join us for a gentle introduction to network analysis! This workshop will introduce key concepts, explore common tools used to create networks and consider examples in research across the humanities. By the end of this session, attendees will be able to apply network analysis to research questions and identify which tools best suit their needs. All are welcome!

Join the business law program and the law, behavior and social science program at the College of Law for a book talk. Professor Jose Atiles will discuss his forthcoming book, "Islands of Exception: Law, Empire, and Offshore Finance in the Caribbean." Free and open to the public, with lunch provided to attendees (while supplies last).

The 24th annual Women’s and Gender History Symposium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will take place March 5-7. This year’s theme is Gender and Labor. Across time and space, what it means to do labor has been shaped by social factors like gender, sexuality, race, class and (dis)ability, and labor has always impacted the way that people perform and embody gender throughout the world. This year's conference will feature graduate research and keynote speakers Arunima Datta and Eric McDuffie. You may now register here!

Looking for something fun to do with your colleagues and friends? Join the Bowling Leagues at the Illini Union Rec Room. This casual, fun environment is the perfect way to enjoy bowling with your friends. There are Sunday evening duo or team leagues, along with a Friday Lunchtime League. Sign up as a team or individual. Click here for complete details and to register.

Attend a special Black History Month screening of the newly-released documentary film, "Against the Current," at Spurlock Museum from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11. In the film Kyla, a high school senior and community organizer in Chicago, journeys across the state of Illinois in search of ways that Black people have resisted oppression across time. A short program will complement the film. Free and open to the public. Registration suggested. Questions? Reach out to Asif Wilson at ajwilso1@illinois.edu.

Make a DIY fidget tool and learn about sensory resources at the library. Walk-ins welcome but fill out the registration form in advance for a fidget take home kit. Pizza and materials will be provided while supplies last.

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 the link.

The Flatlands Dance Film Festival supports and showcases Dance Cinema, merging filmmaking and dance. This year's selected films thoughtfully challenge monolithic viewpoints and honor the richness of diverse identities and cultures, shedding light on the complexity often overlooked by society. After the screening, festival director, Laura Chiaramonte, will announce the festival winner. Meanwhile, the Audience Award will reflect the enthusiastic input of our audience, making your voice a vital part of the festival experience!

Registration is now open for the 2026 Lincoln Legacy Teaching and Learning Community Conference on May 18-19. The Lincoln Legacy Teaching and Learning Community is the successor to the "Faculty Summer Institute," which for a quarter century hosted an annual conference of educators and instructional-technology professionals. Each May, participants come to the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign from across Illinois and beyond.

Join Kevin Spitz of Mead and Hunt Aviation Group as he presents in person at the spring 2026 Kent Seminar Series from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5. Presentations this semester focus on topics related to innovation trends in aviation. Spitz's lecture will explore how to harmonize airport expansion with community and infrastructure. Food and soft drinks will be provided beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the Illinois Center for Transportation Classroom.

Ismael Montana (Northern Illinois University) will give a lecture titled "Ahmad b. al-Qāḍī al-Timbuktāwī: Pilgrimage, Intellectual Exchange and Condemnation of the Enslaved Religion of the Blacks of Tunis." His talk will draw on his recently published book, "Blacks of Tunis in al-Timbuktāwī’s Hatk al-Sitr: A West African Jihadist’s Perspective on Bori, Religious Deviance, and Race and Enslavement in Ottoman Tunisia" (Brill, 2024). 

Please join us for the premiere Communications Library Research Tea! Enjoy refreshments while you chat with Communication and Media researchers investigating the latest in topics such as: K-pop branding, how media influences stereotypes, news and media literacy, documentary as a vehicle for social change and the role media plays in culture industries. Drop in and mingle any time between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11. 

In "The Lifecycle of Writing Subjects: On Generative AI and the Future of Writing," Lauren M.E. Goodlad (distinguished professor at Rutgers) introduces generative artificial intelligence in light of its concentrated political economy, long history of anthropomorphized machine “intelligence” and ongoing impact on the future of writing and human poiesis. Ideal for interdisciplinary audiences and conversation, Goodlad’s approach is technically specific and legible. She concludes with a case for the widespread dissemination of critical AI literacies and the need to put "humanities in the loop."

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. *Parking nearby is free after 5 p.m. and on weekends.*

A lecture in the Forum on Human Flourishing in a Digital Age series featuring Brett Robinson (University of Notre Dame). Drawing on thinkers such as Wendell Berry, Paul Kingsnorth and James Carey — as well as emerging experiments in digital fasting and community-building — his talk explores how small acts of resistance nurture deeper forms of attention, embodiment and shared life. Rather than proposing a program of technological rejection, Robinson highlights simple, embodied practices that restore our sense of place and personhood in a world increasingly shaped by efficiency and automation.

Registration is now open for the third annual Gies Business Supply Chain Management Conference. The conference will take place on 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!

The Writers Workshop will be hosting two virtual presentations to help students in their job search. On Feb. 4, we'll discuss tips for writing concise and professional cover letters that complement your resume - bring your in-progress materials! On Feb. 5, we'll provide advice on corresponding concisely and professionally through email and LinkedIn. Drop-in hours for advice on polishing up application materials and additional written resources are available, too!

Join the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning for February’s Art of Teaching Lunchtime Seminar. Alana Harris, College of AHS, recounts practices that enhance student well-being and teaching through evidence-based strategies in this interactive 60‑minute session. Explore low‑stakes practices (mindful check‑ins and flexible assignments) and higher‑stakes shifts (assessment redesign and policy revisions). Ready‑to‑use practical actions and resources for any course, discipline or class size. Registration is required.

Don’t miss the next webinar in support of financial wellness, facilitated by Prudential Pathways, from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 12. Join us to learn about the first steps to financial freedom and sign up for a complimentary wellness check-up with an industry expert. Get started with the Financial Fitness program to gain access to additional resources and register for the upcoming webinar.

The iSchool's Center for Informatics Research in Science and Scholarship will host Yue Guo, professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, presenting "Fluent but Not Understandable: the Limits of LLMs in Health Communication" on Wednesday, Feb. 4, as part of its The Artificial Intelligence Disruption speaker series.  More information is at this link.

Join us for a live webinar moderated by Kevin Tan (School of Social Work), featuring Barbara Suggs-Mason and Angela Rivers, co-chairs of the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail. They will discuss racial healing, identity, place and how history can be integrated into education and community life. Supported by a Healing Illinois grant, the School of Social Work and Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute are partnering with community leaders to explore how policy, place and power intersect with values of equity, dignity and social justice.

Building a career as an international PhD student or postdoc involves unique challenges that can limit one's vision of what's possible. This webinar by Sonali Majumdar, based on insights from her new book, "Thriving as an International Scientist," will discuss reframing limitations into possibilities and designing dynamic paths for fulfilling careers. This workshop is open to anyone who wants to learn more about career development for international scholars. Join the webinar at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/eventspace.

Join the ADA Coordinator for a faculty-focused webinar discussion on academic accommodations. Learn more and ask questions about the collaborative process between students, faculty and DRES and other campus disability resources. 

Join three Quick Start Workshops this week (Feb. 2, 3, 4) to learn how make your digital materials accessible. This week, you'll find workshops to explore key accessibility tips about how to make your Canvas courses, PDFs (and more!) accessible. Additional workshops on document and course accessibility are scheduled throughout the rest of the semester. Sign up and expand your accessibility skills!

NCSA is offering a 90-minute workshop on Feb. 17 to introduce the DeltaAI cluster and teach how to perform basic tasks in its cluster environment. There are no prerequisites for this workshop. Attendees will be added to a training allocation for the workshop, if they do not already have DeltaAI allocations. Register by Feb. 13.

A special presentation by Jena Marble and Bethany Anderson. Join us for our first Library Friends Webinar of the year where we learn how advanced typography students in the Graphic Design program found unexpected inspiration during a visit to the University Archives. Students examined how scientific records are documented, preserved and communicated over time.

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.

Are you interested in a study involving research that will lead to advances in screening for depression and anxiety? We seek participants who currently have depression and/or anxiety to participate in a study that will involve completing some electronic surveys and doing a recorded interview on Zoom. This study has been approved by the Peoria IRB (#1776905).

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!

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.