The Sept. 15 deadline is quickly approaching! Faculty and researchers interested in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program can still apply for one of more than 380 unique awards for 2027–28. Have questions about the program or application process? Reach out to Global Relations for support. Application deadline: 4 p.m. Central Time, Sept. 15.

As a campus partner of Zipcar, university staff, faculty, and students are eligible for exclusive car-share deals. Right now, first-time users who register by Nov. 30 receive a free year-long membership to Zipcar services. Members are charged for individual trips. After the first year, the annual membership price is $35 as a result of the university discount.

Stay up to date on events from the campus general events calendar. Choose how often you’d like to receive updates and select the types of events that interest you. Your emails will feature upcoming events that match your preferences, including events open for registration. Subscribe to the event digest.

The University of Illinois System announces the 2026-27 competition for the Paul D. Doolen Graduate Scholarship for the Study of Aging sponsored by the Retirement Research Foundation. The purpose of the award is to stimulate and support interest in the study of aging, i.e., biological aspects of the aging process; sociological concomitants of aging; treatment of diseases of the elderly; care of the aged; or other topics related to aging. Two scholarships of up to $4,000 will be awarded to graduate students in their second year of study or beyond. Applications accepted Aug. 25 through Sept. 27.

Access your digital Illinois business card in the Illinois mobile app. Launched in fall 2025 in collaboration with the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, the card has been used so far by over 7,500 Illinois students and employees.

CITL's Generative Artificial Intelligence Fluency Certificate is now available for free to all of campus. We have expanded our fluency modules this fall to include topics from campus partners, including new modules on "Writing With and Without AI" and "Finding and Using Scholarly Sources with Generative AI." We are looking for new voices and perspectives to continue to grow our catalog of offerings. Please get in touch to share your AI expertise through this program.

The Division of Management Information has been renamed the Office of Data, Analytics, and Institutional Research. This reimagining of the university’s institutional research office also includes a redesigned website with enhanced functionality, improved access to reports and dashboards, and a more user-friendly experience for all stakeholders. For the next four weeks, we will offer weekly office hours at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday. We'd love to connect, answer your questions, and help you make the most of our resources. Click here to add DAIR Office Hours to your calendar.

Fall openings for low-cost treatment for adults in the community, including U. of I. faculty/staff and students, suffering from depression, lethargy, grief, chronic anxiety or worry, social anxiety, fears, anxious avoidance of particular situations, or anxiety related to an event. For more information or a free screening appointment, call 217-333-0041. Psychological Services Center, 505 E. Green St. Champaign.

Openings for low-cost therapy for children ages 3-18 struggling with feelings of sadness, withdrawal from activities, anxiety, post-traumatic symptoms, social fears, family conflict, behavior management difficulties, and other concerns. Treatment may be provided in-person or via video conferencing. For more information or to schedule a free screening appointment, call 217-333-0041. Psychological Services Center, 505 E. Green St. Champaign. 

A policy has been redirected from the Campus Administrative Manual website: Graduate Student Residence Credit. The following policies have been removed from the CAM website: Proposals for New and Revised Graduate Degree Programs and Options Under Existing Degrees, Proposals for New and Revised Courses That Carry Graduate Credit, Trial Lateral Reassignment for Staff Employees, and Reassignment (Lateral Transfer).

Faculty, staff, and campus partners, please join "Career Connections," The Career Center’s biweekly e-newsletter. Keep up with our latest career readiness services, programs, workshops, events, and resources for students of all majors and class levels, with information to help you support and guide your students and enhance their Illini experience.

The Career Center is accepting fall 2026 applications for two semester-long career readiness programs: Career Certificate — International, for students pursuing global job and internship opportunities, and FOCUS, for first-generation students. Both programs are offering additional sessions this fall, creating opportunities for more students to take advantage of these valuable programs. Please share with students who may be interested. Visit The Career Center website for program details, eligibility, information sessions, and how to apply.

The Office of the CIO and the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning have partnered to help instructors prepare for unexpected disruptions to teaching. Visit the updated Prepare for Teaching Disruptions Webpage for simple steps and practical guidance to support instructional continuity during technology outages, weather events, or other emergencies.

The WebStore offers a wide range of free and discounted software to eligible U. of I. students, faculty, and staff. Get started by visiting the WebStore and signing in with your NetID and password. Once you find the software you need, follow the offer instructions to complete your purchase or registration and access your software. 

Help students critically evaluate artificial intelligence-enhanced research tools with the University Library’s new Canvas module, “Finding and Using Scholarly Sources with Generative AI.” This resource helps students understand AI’s impact on searching for and summarizing sources while reinforcing critical thinking and human-centered technology use. Instructors can import this module into their courses by searching “University Library” in Canvas Commons.

It’s back! The “Artificial Intelligence in This Course” Canvas module from the University Library now includes an updated video introduction to key AI concepts and a section on alternatives to AI use, plus clear policies on permitted and prohibited uses that you can adjust for your class. Instructors can import this module into their courses by searching “University Library” in Canvas Commons.

The Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act aims to “address gaps in mental health services on college campuses across the state through training, peer support, and community-campus partnerships.” To support this, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs offers Mental Health First Aid training and SOS for Higher Ed: Suicide Prevention self-guided training for faculty and staff. These programs equip you with the skills to recognize when a student is experiencing mental health challenges and connect them to appropriate resources.

Ted's Café at the Beckman Institute will resume its standard hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning Monday, Aug. 24. The café serves hot breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Its coffee bar, with a full range of espresso and specialty drinks, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beginning that date, the café will go cashless. Please be prepared to use a card for payment.

Schedule in-person, video call, or written feedback appointments at the Writers Workshop to receive feedback on your writing through our scheduling website or by phone, email, or coming to our Main Library location. The Workshop provides tailored presentations for courses and student organizations by request, and we host presentations throughout the semester about common academic writing concerns. View our calendar for upcoming workshops and events!

Meet the 18 Illinois undergraduates who spent 10 weeks at Mayo Clinic through the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Health Equity Research Experience, and Clinical Research Internship Study Program. Students will share projects spanning biomedical discovery, health disparities, and research that shapes patient care. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend, engage with students working in related areas, and learn how these experiences are preparing future researchers and health professionals. Register by Aug. 27.

Welcome to campus! Under the Jeffries Center, the First-Gen Student Initiatives unit would like to invite everyone to our Proud to be First-Gen Series! Our website will soon be updated with our events, including our first event this Wednesday for a welcoming open house! Meet the FGSI staff, connect with other students, and discover the many resources available to support first-gen success. Enjoy free Kung Fu Tea (while supplies last) and great company!

Roll up your sleeves: Fresh Press is hosting hands-on Western papermaking workshops this fall for campus and the community. Learn the basics, collaborate with plants to make your sheets, dye, felt, emboss, and more. We book private events. Students, faculty, and staff get a discount.

What does it look like when academic freedom is lost? Join us for a half-day seminar, featuring scholars from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Cameroon. Panelists will share stories of the military coups, mass-firings, and widespread conflict that are currently devastating higher education in their home countries and lead discussion about what Americans can learn from their firsthand accounts. Sponsored by the "At Risk U" Sawyer Seminar Series and organized by Illinois Scholars at Risk. Buffet lunch included. Registration required.

Learn how to design, install, and maintain beautiful rain gardens through the East Central Illinois Rainscaping Education Program. This free, hands-on program gives you practical skills to manage stormwater and protect local waterways. The program will take place from 2 p.m. to approximately 5 p.m. Sept. 1, 3, 15, and 17, in the Arboretum Classroom, 2308 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana. Participants will learn how rain gardens can help manage stormwater, protect local waterways, and support healthier landscapes.

University of Illinois Extension is holding a seasonal beginner foraging course. 1.) Classroom (one hour): foraged food safety, laws, and regulations, storage, preservation, identification of common foraged species. 2.) Field experience (1.5 hours): Hike with master naturalist Chandler Womack and educator Karla Griesbaum to explore edible wild food, how to harvest, and ethical practices. 3.) Cooking class (1.5 hours): Use foraged foods to make delicious and healthy recipes with educator Rachel Mannen, then have a group lunch with our tasty meal. $30 fee for class attendance.

Inspired by Human Library®, meet neighbors who moved here from other countries and celebrate the diverse origins of everyone in our community! Neighbors at this event will be sharing various aspects about their personal stories and heritage cultures. You can learn about different countries’ culture, language, cuisine, and more! This is a family-friendly event, open to the public and snacks, arts, and crafts are offered as part of the event. This event is part of New American Welcome Week.

Join Oscar Lopez-Pamies, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Colonel Harry F. and Frankie M. Lovell Endowed Professor, as he presents in person at the fall 2026 Kent Seminar Series from 2 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. Presentations this semester focus on topics related to transportation engineering modeling. Lopez-Pamies’s lecture will explore how cracks nucleate and propagate in solids and the implications for transportation materials. Food and soft drinks will be provided beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the Illinois Center for Transportation Classroom.

Celebrate opening night of "Centering Clay: Connection and Innovation in American Studio Ceramics" and meet our new director, Stephanie Smith. Enjoy new exhibitions, live music by Ther'Up.Y, and a dance party in the galleries with DJ KamauMau. Parking nearby is free after 5 p.m. The museum is free and open to everyone!

Calling all new and returning students! Kick off the school year and celebrate Krannert Art Museum’s newest exhibitions at KAM Fest. Visit the museum from noon to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, to pick up your free welcome kit and participate in fun art activities. Pack your own Rest Lab care package and try printmaking with the students from Noble Print Club. Light snacks provided. Welcome kits are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. La Paloma and the Main Scoop food trucks will be parked in front of the museum — with FREE ice cream or taco for the first 200 attendees.

As career fairs approach, help students get career fair-ready without them spending a lot! The Career Center and JCPenney invite Illinois students (and faculty and staff, too) to the annual JCPenney Suit-Up Event from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 29. Students can save up to 45% on select career wear, shoes, and accessories. Bring a university ID to receive the coupon at check-in. The store is easy to reach by car, rideshare, or MTD. Registration is encouraged but not required. Visit Handshake for details and to register.

Know a student looking for part-time work or an opportunity to gain experience? Encourage them to attend the Illinois Part-Time Job Fair from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 2, at the Illini Union. More than 25 campus and local employers will be recruiting for paid part-time positions. F-1 visa students can apply for campus positions. This is an informal fair, and casual attire is acceptable. Registration is encouraged but not required. To view employers and register, visit Handshake.

Registration is now open for fall 2026 Mental Health First Aid courses. MHFA is a free, evidence-based training that builds practical skills to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges. Full participation earns a three-year, internationally recognized certification. Sessions are offered in person: Sept. 9 and Sept. 23–24. Register at wellness.illinois.edu/mhfa. Funded by the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act and sponsored by Student Affairs.

Gies College of Business and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics are hosting Leading with Purpose on Sept. 2. Learn from U. of I. leaders across industries as they discuss how purpose shapes the way they lead. Panelists include: Brooke Elliott, Gies Business dean; Larry Gies, founder and CEO of Madison Industries (ACCY ’88); Shauna Green, Illinois head women’s basketball coach; Sam Skinner, Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and White House Chief of Staff (ACCY ’60); and Josh Whitman, Illinois Director of Athletics (FIN ’01, Law ‘08).

The National Center for Supercomputing Applications, in collaboration with Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center, invites you to the next Quantum User Group Bring Your Own Lunch and Learn on Thursday, Aug. 27. We are pleased to welcome Laura Schulz from Argonne National Laboratory, who will present “From Quantum Processor to Scientific Resource: The Missing Middle of QHPC.” For additional details, please refer to the calendar page.

Dr. Cheryl Rosenfeld, an internationally recognized reproductive biologist, veterinarian, and avid birder, has traveled to some of the world’s most remote places to observe and photograph avian species. She shares how her passion for birds has challenged her, made her more resilient, and provided life lessons applicable to the veterinary profession and beyond. A 1995 graduate of the U. of I. College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Rosenfeld is a professor at the University of Missouri, a Fellow of the AAAS, and a part-time emergency veterinarian. Registration requested.

Join this hands-on workshop from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 26, to learn the Pope Tech Canvas Accessibility Guide — how to read its errors, alerts, and structural checks, and how to remediate common accessibility issues on Canvas pages, plus what still needs a manual check. Facilitated by Lindsey Sharp. Registration required; register for the workshop.

Faculty and post-docs are welcome to join the CITL Faculty Book Club online or in person to dive deeper in discussion on "A Practical Guide to Teaching Neurodivergent College Students" (Pusateri, 2026)! Benefits of our book club include free access to the book, a CITL notebook, an Accredible badge, and the chance to suggest future reads. Hybrid Meetings: Attend our meetings on Zoom or in Room 103 in the Armory Building from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays: Sept. 1, Sept. 15, Sept. 29, and Oct. 13. Register here!

Do birds hold the key to stopping future pandemics? Join us at Riggs Beer Company at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, to hear graduate student Madhusree Seal discuss her work in the Stadtmueller lab: “Unlocking the Secrets of Avian Immunity to Fight Zoonotic Diseases.”  You can read more about the Stadtmueller lab here. Snacks will be provided. We hope to see you there! Presented by the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Beckman Institute, and the Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Student Association.

Facilities & Services and the Champaign and Urbana fire departments will offer fire extinguisher training during the fall semester in eight different facilities. The course includes a presentation that introduces participants to the basic elements of fire extinguisher use, and every attendee will get to extinguish a digitally simulated fire. Each university-approved event will welcome up to 35 participants. The first session is on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the Animal Sciences Laboratory. Sign up in advance on the F&S webpage to reserve your spot!

As much as we love the beauty, color, and fragrances of bulb gardens, most seasoned gardeners know that bulbs can be a dessert buffet to a variety of critters. Come join us on Zoom for a “Lunch and Learn" presentation by Brent Heath. Brent is a third-generation bulb grower and co-owner of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs. Learn more or register at go.Illinois.edu/CCMGbulbs.

Avanza UC is collaborative seed funding initiative, which supports the development of research collaborations between Illinois and UC Chile faculty. Open to researchers across all disciplines, the initiative will fund up to $35,000 and matching funds. Illinois and UC Chile will host an information session on Aug. 28 for faculty interested in the seed funding opportunity. The webinar will provide an overview of the initiative, discuss the application process and opportunities, and answer questions from prospective applicants. You may register for the webinar by clicking the link above.

The CITL Art of Teaching Friday Forum is a showcase for exploring the art and science of teaching. The series highlights faculty from across the disciplines who are conducting research on their teaching and connecting their findings to classroom practice. In our first session, "New Horizons: Utilizing Artificial Intelligence in Financial Planning Courses," Craig Lemoine and Presley Fee discuss how AI tools can be used innovatively to allow instructors to focus more efficiently on their mission and goals. Join on Zoom, noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4.

Renting a place to live, whether on your own or with roommates, is a big commitment. Learn about leases and how rental contracts work so you know your responsibilities and rights when it comes to renting a place to call home. Join us on at noon Aug. 26, for "Read Before You Sign: Renting and Leasing" on Zoom. Registration required.

Scholars in Human-Centered, Innovative, and Forward-Thinking Teaching Spark is back! This fall, Siebel Center for Design is hosting a series of introductory Human-Centered Design workshops tailored to faculty, staff, and graduate students. In just 1-2 hours, each session applies design thinking methods to audience-tailored challenges. Join us online for interactive sessions that explore new perspectives and prototype practical tools for your team!

The Alcohol Research Lab is looking for social drinkers to participate in a study that examines the effects of alcohol on brain activity as well as social and cognitive processes. Participation involves attending two 4- to 9-hour laboratory session and completing physiological and communicative tasks while EEG brain responses are recorded. A referral of at least one same-gender friend is required at the time of sign-up. Up to $250 in compensation.

Connect your research group with motivated engineering and STEM undergraduates at The Grainger Research Exploration Fair! Share your research and connect with students interested in getting involved. You’re welcome to attend and represent your group or send a graduate student or other member of your research team to participate on your behalf. Bring an existing poster or simply share information about your research and available undergraduate opportunities. Open to ALL STEM disciplines. Register by Aug. 31!

The Vascular Physiology Laboratory is looking for participants (ages 18-30 years) to partake in a study looking at heart health. Participation in this study involves one 2-hour visit.

The Nutrition and Exercise Performance Research Group is recruiting recreationally active adults (19–40 years old) to participate in a 2-day study examining how food combinations affect muscle protein synthesis and whole-body protein utilization. Participation includes four free meals, resistance exercise, muscle biopsies, and blood, breath, and urine sampling across two lab visits. Participants who complete the study will receive $300 and information on body composition and caloric needs. Interested individuals may contact Calvin at (cw148@illinois.edu) to learn more and see if you qualify!