Operational Excellence for MarCom has officially kicked off! Operational Excellence (OpEx) is a campus-wide initiative to streamline, innovate and improve administrative services and processes at all levels. The OpEx MarCom project team is partnering with the Strategic Project Management Office (SPMO) on this initiative. Learn more about the project, its goals and our steadfast commitment to our departments and our MarCom professionals. Project updates will be added to the project website on a monthly basis. For questions, please email studentaffairs@illinois.edu. 

The University of Illinois System invites you to the Virtual Retirement Planning Conference on Monday, April 28, 2025, via Zoom. Designed for faculty and staff considering retirement in the next 3–5 years, sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., covering SURS retirement benefits and transitioning to state health insurance. Experts will offer insights, and each session includes a Q&A. More details, including registration, will be available soon. Mark your calendar, and contact SystemHRServices@uillinois.edu with any questions.

The Native American House Ambassador Program received the Outstanding Program Award at the University of Illinois Diversity and Social Justice Education's 14th Annual Social Justice Awards.
Created in the Fall of 2022, the Native American House (NAH) Ambassador Program is pivotal in supporting Native student life at the university. Ambassadors aid in the cultural center's daily operations and work in cooperation and consultation with student affairs staff to design, implement, and assess programming that promotes student success, inclusion, and belonging. Learn about NAH: nah.illinois.edu.

Stephen Bryan, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Advocacy & Dean of Students, has completed the requirements to be an NTER Certified Master Trainer. The National Threat Evaluation and Reporting (NTER) Master Trainer Program (dhs.gov/mtp), conducted by Homeland Security, certifies Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial partners in the instruction of Behavioral Threat Assessment & Management best practices and techniques. The program prepares partners to train their communities and provides them with tools to help mitigate threats and prevent acts of terrorism and targeted violence.

Congratulations to The Jeffries Center on two remarkable achievements! First, they were awarded the Illinois Promise Campus Partner Award for their study abroad program in Panama, designed specifically for first-generation students. This program was a collaboration with Scholar Support Programs, Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange (IAGE), and the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES). Additionally, the Jeffries Center received the Spirit Award from the Mom's Association in recognition of their First-Generation Student Initiatives. Well done!

In Fall 2024 University Housing successfully accommodated the largest incoming first-year class with over 9,898 students in residence halls.