“The AACC continues to serve as a home away from home for so many people—this welcoming but also brave space—where people can explore their curiosity and connection.” In October 2025, the Asian American Cultural Center celebrated its 20th anniversary, a manifestation of collective dreaming and years of labor by student activists, university staff and administrators to envision and construct a space for the Illinois community to gather and share the rich cultures that are part of the Asian American experience. Read about the AACC’s legacy and impact at go.illinois.edu/AACCMilestone.

The Illinois Leadership Center is seeking reviewers for nominations to the Student Affairs Awards and Scholarships. Each reviewer will be expected to read 8-12 applications, and the review period will be from 2/18-2/27. If interested, please contact Joy Das at jdas@illinois.edu. 

Join us for an Introduction to the LGBTQ+ community. In this training we will cover: LGBTQ+ identities, the gender spectrum and transgender identities, gender pronouns and intersectionality. All participants must RSVP prior to attending the workshop at gsrc.illinois.edu/programs/ally

Join us in becoming an ally. In this training we will cover: homophobia and transphobia, privilege, discrimination and other issues in the U.S., Common LGBTQ+ student challenges, University of Illinois policies and reporting, interrupting bias, a case studies activity and creating an action plan to create change in areas of your life to further inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community. Please note you MUST take LGBTQ+ Ally Training 101 BEFORE LGBTQ+ Ally Training 102. LGBTQ+ 101 builds on knowledge you need for LGBTQ+ 102. All participants must RSVP on our webpage: gsrc.illinois.edu/programs/ally

The Counseling Center is hosting events for all students to learn more about safer substance use as they approach Unofficial St. Patrick's Day and Spring Break. Take a brief assessment and talk to a trained peer educator about strategies customized to your personal habits. There will also be prizes, games, and t-shirts! Visit the link above for dates, times, and locations! 

Career Expo, Feb. 16–26, features 18 in-person and virtual events designed to help students build momentum leading up to the campus-wide Hire Illini Career and Internship Fair on Feb. 26. Sessions help students explore careers, build skills, and gain the confidence to walk into the fair ready to discover opportunities and make meaningful connections. Visit Handshake for the full list of events, dates, times, and locations.

The Illini Moms Association invites you to submit nominations, limited to women of current or past affiliation with the University of Illinois who, through example and/or service, have used their talents to enrich the lives of others. This is an opportunity to congratulate a talented woman in your department and bring her achievements to the attention of a wide and varied audience. Application forms are found here and are due on Feb. 28, 2026, 5:00 pm, CST.

Sharing History with the Horse Nation: Historical narratives are often said to have been “written from the back of a horse,” yet scholarship rarely considers horses as meaningful historical actors. Lindsay Stallones Marshall, Ph.D., examines how centering Indigenous horse knowledge offers a powerful framework for understanding our shared past with greater clarity, depth, and cultural accuracy. 

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 2:30–4:30 p.m. on select dates each month at AACC, BNAACC, GSRC, La Casa, Native American House Salaam, and WRC. Visit The Career Center website for on-site coaching dates at each location. 

The Kaplan All Access Program, which gives U. of I. students FREE access to test prep, ends Feb. 28, 2026. Students can enroll now for up to 12 months of access to admissions exams, career credentials, licensure exams, as well as skills development and new-hire courses. Whether students are planning for grad school or the workforce, encourage them to enroll before the program sunsets so they don’t miss out. Visit the Kaplan All Access page on our website for the full list of 40 courses and the enrollment portal.

The Counseling Center has been accredited by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS), the premier leader in setting the benchmark for the full range of professional counseling services on university campuses worldwide. IACS’ rigorous accreditation process involves detailed documentation, a comprehensive site visit evaluation, and multiple peer reviews. The Counseling Center was found to offer a high standard of competent and reliable mental health professional services to its student community.