Siebel Center for Design is offering two new courses for fall 2026 POT B! In "Designing With Data" and "Systems Thinking and Artificial Intelligence Agents," students can learn how to apply the Human-Centered Design problem-solving method withing the contexts of data analysis and the ever-evolving landscape of AI. Spots are filling up fast! Find all the details on Course Explorer.

Looking for a flexible volunteer opportunity while meeting new people and having fun at the same time? The Intensive English Institute is looking for English-speaking volunteers to meet with international students for casual conversation exchange for one hour a week during the fall semester. You'll be helping students adapt to American culture, and you'll learn about another culture at the same time!

As part of the university’s phone system migration project, campus will change calling plans for Microsoft Teams in mid-late September. Teams and Teams resources set up by individuals or departments will not change. This backend change will occur outside standard business hours. While changing calling plans, Teams-to-Teams calls and meetings will still work, but phone service outside the university’s Teams environment may be briefly interrupted for approximately two hours. For questions, please consult this Answers KnowledgeBase article or submit a ticket.

Help advance campus sustainability by joining an Illinois Climate Action Plan team. iCAP teams bring together students, faculty, staff, and community members to help advance the university’s climate and sustainability goals in areas ranging from energy and transportation to land, water, resilience, and more. Anyone interested in contributing is encouraged to get involved. Sign up to join an iCAP team.

Help students build practical skills, make informed choices, and use generative artificial intelligence responsibly. Our most popular Generative AI Fluency modules are now available in the Canvas Commons for easy integration into your courses: "AI Literacy," "Writing With and Without AI," and "Finding and Using Scholarly Sources." Search the Canvas Commons for “generative AI” to add any of these modules to your course. For more information, contact citl-info@illinois.edu.

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 Chief Information Officer newsletter is a quarterly newsletter designed to keep university leadership, IT professionals, and the Illinois community informed and aligned. Take a look at our second issue, which highlights useful tech resources, informs you of artificial intelligence-powered updates, and dips into what's ahead for IT at Illinois. Subscribe to stay up-to-date!

The Beckman Institute's core facilities have created a quarterly email newsletter. Read the inaugural edition and subscribe for updates on accessible scientific equipment, events, and more!

Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications is now the eighth department in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. The milestone provides a stronger foundation for recruiting and supporting students and faculty, expanding academic programs and research, and building on ALEC’s growing impact. Read more.

Mango Languages is a digital language-learning platform with 70+ foreign languages and 20 ESL courses, which are available for download for offline use. It includes native speaker audio, culture notes, semantic color mapping, and voice comparison, all of which make for an engaging, authentic learning journey. To create an account, use the sign up box at the URL above.

The ITPF Fall 2026 Call for Proposals is now open! This year's event will be held Nov. 4-5, entirely online. Earn the chance to share your most effective strategies, innovative solutions, and hard-won technical expertise by submitting a proposal. Proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, and accepted session hosts will be notified within two weeks of the deadline.

Illinois provides students with numerous online wellness apps and tools from mental health screening, wellness articles, videos, podcasts, and online peer support. Additionally, the Student Wellness Guidebook shares definitions around wellness, well-being, mental health, and related topics while highlighting the many resources available to students at Illinois. This e-book is available on Canvas and eText at Illinois. Faculty and staff are encouraged to share these resources with the students you serve.

The Food Assistance and Well-Being Program is an emergency resource for Illinois students who are facing financial challenges and need short-term food and basic needs support. Our pantry offers a variety of items such as protein, dairy, fresh produce, canned goods, grains, and limited personal care items. Every week, students can choose to either make an appointment at the ARC Instructional Kitchen, schedule a pick-up at CRCE lockers, or visit a Wesley Food Pantry. During Hunger Action Month this September, create awareness about food insecurity and share this resource with students you serve.

Three policies have been revised from the Campus Administrative Manual website: Permanent Layoff Policy for Civil Service Employees, Civil Service Probationary Period, and Evaluation of the Ability to Perform Essential Job Functions.

The Parking Department has teamed up with Modii to create the Illinois Parking Finder app. lllinois Parking Finder is a web app designed to simplify your campus parking experience. Accessible to everyone, Illinois Parking Finder requires no downloads or personal information. With its interactive map, the app provides predictive parking availability and insights, helping you navigate campus parking. You can filter for space types and get directions to parking lots. Click to view and use the app.

ORCID@Illinois provides all members of the campus research community with an easy way to obtain an ORCID ID and link it to their Illinois identity. ORCID IDs are unique, persistent identifiers that are requested by funding agencies, publishers, and professional associations worldwide. Whether you need an ORCID ID or already have one, get connected at ORCID@Illinois!

Effective Tuesday, Sept. 1, F&S Transportation will implement new Carpool rental rates. Because of significant automotive industry cost escalations and higher fleet maintenance expenses, rates will be adjusted by about 22%. The updated information for specific car, truck, and van types is available on the F&S website. This rate adjustment is necessary to help maintain quality service for the over 200 available vehicles in the F&S rental fleet, which enables more than 5,000 trips annually.

OLLI is going to the Peoria Riverfront Museum from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, to see "The Promise of Liberty" exhibition, which was guest curated by Ken Burns. Enjoy a guided gallery tour and the documentary, "Bronzeville to Harlem." Afterwards, trip attendees can explore the museum and gift shop, lunch on their own, visit the Planetarium, and/or visit the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria. OLLI membership is not required for this trip. For more details and to register, visit the trip registration page or call OLLI at 217-244-9141. To learn more about OLLI, visit olli.illinois.edu.

Stop by Japan House's Welcome Back Matcha Café from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, in the Japan House garden! Look for our pop-up in the south driveway and stop by for tea and Illini kingyokukan! No pre-orders; just walk-up sales, and we'll be there until we are sold out! As summer break ends, we are pleased to welcome new and returning Illini to stop by the gardens, meet the new Japan House interns, and enjoy Japanese tea and sweets! Note: the building will be closed due to ongoing construction.

Students who are undocumented, DACA, or other temporary protected status experience unique challenges in higher education. Join staff and student leaders from ACRC Immigrant Student Support and many other campus units to learn to better support undocumented students at Illinois. This training is an opportunity to hear from undocumented students and join a network of campus allies. Register to attend at the link above. For more information, visit open.illinois.edu.

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. Yoga mats are available on site. Comfortable clothing and a journal are recommended. Fall sessions are held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month (Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7, Dec. 5), at the U. of I. Salaam MENA Center. Street parking is available.

Dating, friendships, roomies, and everything in between navigating relationships in college can be complicated. Join Nora Peterson (Women's Resource Center) for an open, interactive session where we break down what healthy connections look like. We’ll discuss spotting green flags, setting boundaries, and keeping your self-worth front and center. Come as you are, leave with practical tools for every relationship in your life.

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 features interactive group processes, experiential learning, emotional intelligence training, breath-work, yoga, and evidence-based meditation. Recent study at Yale University found that SKY Happiness Retreat significantly reduces stress, depression, and has a long-lasting impact on mental health, mindfulness, and social connectedness. Fully funded for all U. of I. students. Apply here.

Explore campus-supported generative artificial intelligence tools and their responsible use in teaching, learning, and professional work. These upcoming sessions highlight available tools, help participants choose the right tool for a task, and examine appropriate use cases. Key considerations include data privacy, accuracy, accessibility, and human oversight.

The National Center for Supercomputing Applications will host Jessica Saw, professor at Carle Illinois College of Medicine and affiliate faculty at NCSA, at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10. Jessica will present “Designing for Human Flourishing: A Philosophy Primer and How it Applies to the Technology We Create” as part of the NCSA Colloquium Series. More information is available in this calendar page.

Rachel Adler (School of Information Sciences) gives the first talk in ITEL's speaker series on inclusive innovation in learning technologies. More than one billion people worldwide live with a disability, yet few websites are fully accessible. This talk presents interactive learning games for teaching accessible design in university and K-12 settings, drawing on studies with hundreds of university students and a middle school summer camp. CART captioning provided; online attendance requires Zoom registration on the event page.

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.This is an informal fair, and casual attire is acceptable. Registration is encouraged but not required. To view employers and register, visit Handshake.

Pre-Health at Illinois is hosting Pre-Health Kick-Off 2026 for first-year and transfer pre-health students from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9, in the Illini Union Ballroom (second floor). Students will have the opportunity to meet the Pre-Health Advising team, connect with fellow pre-health students, explore health-related RSOs and community organizations, and learn about resources and opportunities to support their pre-health journey. Food will be provided. Registration is encouraged but not required. For more information, visit Handshake.

In 1968, Alejo Hernández, a resident of Stanislaus County, California, sued the USDA because the county failed to implement the Food Stamp program. As a result of the lawsuit, the state government was forced to confront statewide hunger, especially in the counties that denied it. In this talk, Barragán Miranda will focus on writing from the margins of the archive. Alejo Hernández’s story began to unravel from a memo in a miscellaneous folder in the Nixon Presidential Archive. It was later elaborated with information from another archival repository and an interview with his granddaughter.

The Global Talent Show is a signature annual Homecoming Week event that celebrates creativity, culture, and community through a vibrant showcase of international music, dance, spoken word, and artistic talent. The theme for this year’s show is "Around the World, Always Illini." It celebrates the talents, stories, and connections that unite Illini from every corner of the world. All members of the Illinois community are eligible to apply to perform and attend as an audience. If you are interested in performing, please submit a performer application by Sept. 7.

Join us for a lively and timely talk with award-winning author and Illinois’ alumna Devi Laskar on her new novel "Midnight, At the War." Set in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, an event which had a profound impact on U.S. engagement and policy in the Middle East and South Asia, Laskar’s novel is informed by her own experiences as a journalist. This talk will be featured in person and on Zoom. There will be a reception and book signing following the talk. For those who can’t attend in person, you can join us on Zoom for a live stream of the lecture portion of the event.

Not Your Mascot: The Impact of (Mis)Representation: This year’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day explores the ongoing struggle for Indigenous peoples to be represented on their own terms. Through programs and dialogue, we will examine how Native mascots, logos, and stereotypical imagery perpetuate colonial narratives, obscure the diversity and contemporary presence of Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations, and cause documented harm. Together, we will challenge notions of “honor” and consider how Indigenous self-representation creates possibilities for greater understanding, respect, and justice.

The CITL Art of Teaching Friday Forum features faculty from across the disciplines discussing research on teaching and learning. Join us on Zoom from noon until 1 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 4, as Presley Fee and Craig Lemoine (College of ACES) demonstrate their innovative use of artificial intelligence personas to support student learning across financial planning and wealth management classrooms. The Art of Teaching series continues on the first Fridays of the month throughout the term. View website to learn more about these research-informed presentations. Registration required.

Early Bird registration for the Continuous Quality Improvement Conference ends on Sept. 1! This year’s conference focuses on how CQI helps organizations stabilize what matters most, strengthen relationships and processes, and build the capacity to sustain meaningful improvement over time. Registration includes two full days of educational and networking sessions, lunch and breakfast each day, and CEUs.

The Chicago Sukkah Design Festival, based in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood, convenes community organizations and architectural designers to create sukkahs — outdoor structures inspired by a Jewish architectural custom. The Festival celebrates how these usually temporary structures can be repurposed to build community in new contexts by initiating long-term creative collaborations. Over the last five years, the festival has grown into a gathering place where interfaith, multicultural, and multiracial communities come together to envision just futures. Refreshments will be provided.

Join this hands-on workshop from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sept. 1, to learn how to find and fix accessibility issues in Canvas, including page structure, alt text, color contrast, accessible tables and links, and video captions in Illinois Media Space. Facilitated by Lindsey Sharp. Registration is required. Register for the Sept. 1 workshop.

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.

The Illinois Department of Public Health, in partnership with the U. of I., invites community members, healthcare professionals, advocates, and stakeholders to participate in a series of Men's Health Assessment Listening Sessions taking place across Illinois. Join us in person from noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 10. at the Office of Strategic Initiatives or virtually from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 (Spanish interpretation available) to share your thoughts on men's health in Illinois. To learn more, head to our website: Building Healthier Communities for Men.

All are invited to join us for the Ebert Center's first film of the season — the screening of "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" (2001), at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Spurlock Museum. Admission is free. RogerEbert.com film critic and Ebert Fellows mentor Isaac Feldberg will introduce the film, which is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Jude Law and Haley Joel Osment, who plays a highly advanced robotic boy longing to become “real” to regain the love of his human mother.

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 women’s head 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 IGET community is looking forward to the fall semester for sharing our collective knowledge and interest in educational technology.  We will have a social meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Pour Bros. (40 E. University Ave.), and our first regular meeting online at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. Topics will include: Debrief from staff attending Instructurecon, Turnitin updates, Generative Artificial Intelligence Fluency, and K16 Scaffold on DataX. Attend via Zoom. Please subscribe to the IGET Listserv.

Get outside and enjoy the Illinois Arboretum this fall! The Farms: An Allerton Folk School will be hosting a variety of programs on the southeast side of campus: Hosta Garden Tour (Sept. 12), Tree ID Hikes (Sept. 22 and Oct. 10), Dahlia Flower Arranging (Sept. 19), Fall Migration Bird Hikes (Sept. 22 and Oct. 13), Witches Brooms (Oct. 6), and Everlasting Wreath Workshop (Nov. 14). Learn more and register at the links above.

The third and final installment of the Summer Artificial Intelligence Mini-Series looks at how researchers can work with large language models through university-supported channels, rather than commercial frontier tools alone. We'll walk through the campus options currently available and how to get started. Presented by Ben Galewsky, National Center for Supercomputing Applications senior research software engineer.

Registration is now open for the Beyond Borders: Global Mental Health Research and Services Conference 2026! The School of Social Work is hosting a two-day virtual gathering designed to foster connection, collaboration, and learning across geographic and cultural boundaries. Mental health is a global issue that touches every community, workplace, and family. This year's program features a series of themed panel discussions that will explore some of the most pressing issues in global mental health. Fees are $30 for professionals and $10 for students. (An additional fee of $15 for CEUs.)

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.

We've been hearing a lot about inflation in the media lately, and you may have noticed the impact it is having on your wallet. Want to learn about how inflation impacts consumers and what contributes to its fluctuation? Join us via Zoom on Sept. 2 to learn what it means and how you can ward off some of the short- and long-term impacts of inflation. 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 Parasol Lab in the Siebel Center for Computer Science is seeking participants for a research study. You will experience interacting with robots in virtual reality and answer survey questions. The study will take approximately three hours to complete. Participants can choose to enter into a raffle for a $50 Amazon gift card as compensation. More information can be found at: https://forms.gle/kGf3SG2ZhWmjwo95A.

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.

The ADAPT Lab is seeking adults aged 65 and older to share their experiences searching for health information online. Your perspectives can help us design more accessible and age-friendly health information tools. The study includes an online survey (up to 30 minutes) and an in-person research session (up to two hours). Participants will receive $40 in appreciation for their time and contribution. Interested? Contact us to learn more or schedule a brief phone screening. Sign up here or email hk-adaptlab@illinois.edu.

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 email.

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!