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. 

CampusWell provides short health & wellness articles and videos for the campus community. Topics incorporate the 8 Dimensions of Wellness, ranging from nutrition, mindfulness, time management, finances, etc. Student Affairs staff are encouraged to bookmark this site and share this resource when assisting students with their health and wellness.

Reservations to use the Wellness Hut at the Illini Union Underground during lunch hours are now open! The Union attracts thousands of students each day, with traffic up to 500 students in the Underground alone between 11am-2pm. If you have an event coming up and want to promote it, or if you'd just like to do some additional outreach and table at the Union, this is a great opportunity to get in front of students at NO cost for Student Affairs departments. Reserve your spot today! 

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.

Know a student looking for part-time work or an opportunity to gain experience? Encourage them to attend the Illinois Part-Time Job Fair on Sept. 2, 1–4 p.m., 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. 

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 on August 29, from 4–8 p.m. 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. 

The 2026 Dennis H. May Mental Health Conference on Belongingness in Higher Education' theme is Radical Reimagining: From Student Resilience to Institutional Responsibility. Join the Counseling Center and our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Delishia Pittman, President of APA Division 17 (Counseling Psychology) and Associate Professor at Temple University, on Oct. 11-12 at the Illini Union and learn about the issues impacting college students, connect with other professionals in the field, and engage in robust training related to belongingness. Register here.

The Career Center is accepting Fall 2026 applications for two semester-long career readiness programs: Career Certificate—International (CC-I), 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. 

Start your day with a low-impact, medium to high intensity water class at Campus Recreation! Classes meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Sept. 1 - Dec. 8, at Campus Recreation Center East. Open to all swim levels. No Campus Recreation membership necessary. Register on Active Illini.

Learn the practice of Ninjutsu Martial Arts with an experienced instructor and gain vital self-defense skills of distance, awareness and perception. Classes meet every Tuesday and Thursday from Sept. 1 - Oct. 22 (8-week course) from 5-6:30pm in the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) Combat Room. Open to all; no Campus Recreation membership necessary. Register on Active Illini.

Group fitness classes, including cycle, strength, HIIT, Pilates, Sculpt and Flow, etc., at Campus Recreation are available early morning, during lunch time and after work hours. Faculty and staff who are Campus Recreation members can receive a 10% discount for a group fitness membership using the code "GF10" when purchased today, August 23 and tomorrow, August 24 on Active Illini.

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: September 9 and September 23–24. Register at wellness.illinois.edu/mhfa. Funded by the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act and sponsored by Student Affairs.