While November is nationally recognized as Native American Heritage Month, it is also National Scholarship Month. National Scholarship Month raises awareness of the vital role scholarships play in reducing student loan debt and expanding access to higher education. The Native American House at Illinois will deliver a month-long program series around the theme, “Supporting Equitable Outcomes for Native Students in Higher Education.” Click on the following link for more information: https://nah.illinois.edu/events/native-american-heritage-month

Civic health measures how healthy a community is in a civic sense, including how much people vote, volunteer, talk to neighbors, trust government, and feel they belong and matter. Similar to how we undergo annual doctor’s appointments to make sure we are well; it is essential that communities regularly assess civic health to ensure that local democracy is functioning as it should.   Using the Community of Practice framework, we will explore what civic health is, why it matters, how to measure it, and how students, faculty, and staff can contribute to their own community’s civic health.  

The Gies Business Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is excited to launch our Seen, Heard, Valued, Speakers Series! Please join us for our first session, "To Inclusion & Beyond: Unlocking the Power of Inclusive Organizational Change" by Dr. Cecilia "CC" Suarez, Senior DEIB Manager of Pixar Studios. This session will occur on Wednesday, October 30 at 4:30 pm in the Deloitte Auditorium (Business Instructional Facility). Our event is open to all students (not just Gies students), faculty, and staff.  Registration Link: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1924444159

The Democracy Summit Civic Café is a conversation series by scholars, educators and community advocates to advance pillars of democracy and civic education. Join Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, and Will Creeley, legal director of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, as they share their thoughts on the landscape of expressive activity on campus.

Professor Steven D. Schwinn of the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law will facilitate a discussion on the Supreme Court and its role in our democracy. Steve will focus particularly on recent Supreme Court trends and decisions as they relate to democracy. We'll explore Court rulings and trends relating to voting rights; the Court's approach to fundamental rights, including speech, abortion, religion, and more; Court rulings on the institutions of democracy, including the separation of powers; and, of course, Court rulings on the presidency and, in particular, former President Trump. 

It’s time for the Annual Thanksgiving Meal Drive. The Office of Civic Life is collecting donations to support over 1500 families in the Champaign-Urbana area. Consider coordinating your office or organization to collect individual items or sponsor a complete holiday meal for a family. Donations will be collected through Friday, November 15th and can be delivered to Rm 220 at the University YMCA

I have a candy bowl in my office with all types of candy. This has truly changed our office and workplace.

The Illini Union Tech Zone, now located inside the Bookstore, is having a clearance sale where you can save up to 80% off selected items. This sale will feature previous generation items, open box items, and more. Stop by and stock up on your tech needs.

Stop by the Illini Union Bookstore for the Dads Weekend Scratch Off Ticket Sale! Shop in-store and then at the register you will be given a scratch off ticket to see if you will save 15%, 20%, or 25% OFF your entire purchase! No matter what, you will save this weekend. Stock up on all the orange and blue and cheer on the Fighting Illini! 

The 2024 general election is on Tues, Nov 5. It is not a university holiday. Regular work and class schedules will be held on Election Day. Generally, employees are expected to vote during non-working hours. However, if an employee’s work hours conflict with the polling hours, then the employee may be eligible for time off to vote. If you have questions about taking time off to vote, please contact University Human Resources. Learn more at https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/one.aspx?pageId=5664&portalId=4292.

Student Engagement hosted the largest Quad Day in its 50+ year history—with over 700 student organizations represented.