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Weekly Round-Up

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Deadline to drop a POT A (first 8 weeks) course: Friday, Sept. 18
English Teaching Social: Thursday, Sept. 24
Spring/Summer 2027 Courses Viewable on Course Explorer: Monday, Oct. 5
Deadline to drop a full semester course: Friday, Oct. 16

Resource of the Week: Writer’s Workshop

The Writer’s Workshop provides free support to students across all forms of academic and professional writing! They offer writing consultations by appointment and drop-in, where they brainstorm and provide feedback on essays, research papers, personal statements, ICT application essays, resumes, cover letters, theses and dissertations, manuscripts for publication, abstracts, digital compositions, and anything between and beyond. They also host writing groups and writing-related presentations. Check out their September events below and visit their webpage and to learn more!

Book Recommendation of the Week: We Are Not Free by Traci Chee

Recommended by Maggie Weimer

“We Are Not Free describes the experiences of several teenagers during the mass incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The book is a beautiful, painful, and necessary work of historical fiction. I highly recommend We Are Not Free to students studying to be high school English teachers, as this would be a great book to add to future curriculums!”

Do you have any books that you would like to recommend? Share your book recommendations here and we will try to get your recommendation in the Round-Up!

Montage Pizza Social

Calling all Pizza Lovers! Come enjoy a fun-filled evening with delicious pizza, great company, and good vibes! Montage is hosting a pizza social in Room 234 of the English Building on Tuesday, September 15th at 5:30pm.

Montage is the undergraduate literary journal edited and designed by Illinois students. Check out their webpage for more information, such as how to join Montage as a new member!

Be a Peer Mentor for the Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative (INI)!

The Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative (INI) is looking for undergraduate students to serve as peer mentors for INI students this fall. This is a bi-directional program: mentors help their mentees explore campus life – clubs, study spots, new activities – and learn about different communication styles and perspectives along the way. 

Student Commitment: 

  • Attend INI Social Connection Nights – Wednesdays, 6:45-7:45 pm (during fall semester)
  • One additional hour with their mentee every two weeks 

This is a great fit for students who are active on campus, involved in RSOs, and interested in inclusive leadership experience. 

Applications are due Friday, September 11. Students can reach out with questions to iniprogram@illinois.edu or visit ini.illinois.edu.

Apply to Be an EXP Ambassador!

The EXP Ambassador Program application for Fall 2026 is open, with a short turnaround with applications due September 16. (Good news for anyone who misses it: they are running a second cycle in early spring.)

This volunteer program is great for current or former EXP/DGS students who are looking for leadership experiences with a flexible time committment.

If you are interested, check out explore.illinois.edu/ambassador-program to learn more and apply.

Apply to the Illinois in Washington (IIW) Internship!

Illinois in Washington (IIW) is an academic internship program open to all U of I undergraduates. Participants live and intern in Washington, DC, while taking U of I classes there.  IIW offers an exceptional opportunity to gain rewarding work experience while enjoying the political, intellectual and cultural experiences that only the nation’s capital can offer.  Student internships have included positions with members of Congress, think tanks, social justice organizations and government agencies.  Stop by our information session on September 15th at 5 pm in DKH 436 and hear from recent IIW alumni.  Apply by Thursday, October 1st for spring admission, at https://washington.illinois.edu/deadlines/.  

INFORMATION SESSION DATE AND TIME: Sept. 15, 2026, 5-6 PM

Psychology Major/Minor Meetings & Drop-In Hours

Are you interested in double majoring or minoring in Psychology? The Psychology advisors are hosting Major/Minor Meetings and fall drop-in hours. See below!

Major/Minor Meetings will take place from 4-4:50pm in Room 21 of the Psychology building on the following dates: Thursday, Sept. 24th; Wednesday, Oct. 22; and Thursday, Nov. 19

Drop-In Advising for Non-Majors will take place from 2-4pm in Room 2 of the Psychology Building on the following dates: Monday, Oct. 12; Monday, Oct. 26; and Monday, Nov. 30

New Entrepreneurship Minor

The new Entrepreneurship Minor is an interdisciplinary minor and includes some LAS courses, so it may be something worth considering as a student in the humanities. Check out the minor’s webpage for more information, such as required coursework and FAQs.

Harper Collins Publishers Spring & Summer 2027 Internship Opportunities

Wondering what a career in publishing is like? Interested in learning more about what working at HarperCollins Publishing has to offer? HarperCollins is recruiting for 2027 Spring and Summer internships!

Visit our website for more information & FAQs: https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/internships

2027 Spring and Summer Internship applications will go live on our website on September 18, 2026. The deadline to apply will be October 1, 2026.

Internship Opportunities with the Migration Policy Institute (MPI)

The Demetrios G. Papademetriou Young Scholars Program, named in honor of MPI’s founding president, has two goals: harnessing the valuable contributions of interns for MPI’s work and training the next generation of migration and communications leaders. Internships are available both in person and remotely, as well as to those residing outside the United States.

MPI is committed to recruiting and supporting interns who reflect the breadth of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives in the countries where it works. As such, the Institute is committed to making sure that interns and staff members of all backgrounds work in an inclusive environment with equity and access for all. 

General Internship Application Deadlines

  • October 15 – Spring Semester (January – April)
  • February 15 – Summer Semester (May – August)
  • June 15 – Fall Semester (September – December)

Check out their webpage to find more information about their research and communications internships and how to apply!

MUSE Scholars Program for the Grad School-Bound

DEADLINE SOON!

The Departments of English and Romance and Classical Studies at Michigan State University are delighted to announce the 6th Annual MUSE Scholars Program, which will be held this fall in East Lansing, from October 14-17th.

 The MUSE Scholars Program is intended for any prospective graduate students interested in issues of access and equal opportunity in academia, and concerned about the challenges of first-generation students and low-income students in higher education. It aims to introduce students to a robust culture of mentoring essential for a rewarding graduate school experience, and a thriving life in academia. All prospective graduate students in English, Spanish, or related fields who are interested in these questions are welcome to apply! You can read more about our recent cohorts of MUSE scholars here.

The all-expenses paid workshop will allow students to learn more about the departments of English and Romance and Classical Studies in the College of Arts and Letters. Students will visit graduate classes, meet faculty and graduate students, receive feedback on their application materials for graduate school, and present their research to faculty. 

Submit your application here by September 12. 

David F. Prindable Internship

Application deadline: September 18

  • The intern will assist HRI with its communications, including social media, event calendar updating, and research and writing projects
  • The intern will also serve as an undergraduate ambassador for HRI
  • Internship begins in October 2026 and runs through May 2027

Don’t Forget These!

Submit Your Work

The Green Observer is a student-run publication of Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS). We publish prose, poetry, visual art, and musical compositions that engage with environmentalism and nature. Oue Fall 2026 edition is currently accepting submissions!

We strive to include the voices of all students on campus within our magazine and would love to feature those of the English Department. This edition’s theme is Migrations, and submissions should be loosely related to the theme. Rough drafts are due October 2nd, by email to samholt2@illinois.edu

Business Minor Study Abroad Opportunity in May 2027

Explore global business where history, innovation, and culture intersect in Berlin. This program offers business minors a unique opportunity to experience one of Europe’s most dynamic economic hubs. Through company visits, guest lectures, and guided cultural experiences, students will gain insight into international markets, entrepreneurship, and the evolving role of Germany in the global economy. The focus of this program will be on startup consulting with students engaging in a consulting project for a local startup. The project will culminate in Berlin where students will present to entrepreneurs.

  • Open to Gies Business Minor (GBM) students 
  • Prerequisite: BADM 310 or BADM 320 preferred
  • Application deadline is October 1, 2026
  • Students will be required to register for BUS 199 (will satisfy 3 hrs., of GBM elective credit) as a POT B class spring, 2027
  • See the Program Guide and Application for more details 

The Jeffries Center Tutoring & Academic Services

Upcoming Lectures

Carr Visiting Author Series: Mary Helen Specht

Sep 24, 2026   4:30 pm  Location TBD

Mary Helen Specht is the author of the forthcoming novel Mudlark (July 2026) and the novel Migratory Animals, a New York Times Editors’ Choice and winner of the Texas Institute of Letters Best First Fiction Award and the Writers’ League of Texas Fiction Prize. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Prairie Schooner, and numerous other publications. A Fulbright Scholar to Nigeria and Dobie-Paisano Writing Fellow, Specht currently teaches creative writing at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, where she lives with her family. She was recently inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters.

English Teaching Social Event

Are you an English Teaching student or interested in studying to become a high school English teacher? In an effort to create a stronger sense of community amongst English Teaching students, some of our upperclassmen are hosting a casual, social event on Thursday, September 24th in Room 200 of the English Building from 5-6pm. Feel free to come and go anytime within the hour. This is a great opportunity for you to meet other students interested in teaching and get to know upperclassmen who can give you some insight to the program! All English Teaching and pre-English Teaching students are invited to join!

Join the English Teaching Network GroupMe to join stay connected with other English Teaching students: https://groupme.com/join_group/116647686/cLgZET4F

Skeuomorph Press

Skeuomorph Press and Undead Media Lab offers hands-on experiences with historical book and information technologies from the 18th to the 20th centuries—including letterpress, book binding, typewriters, risography, and vintage computing—and sponsors creative activities such as poster or zine making. 

Check out their photo gallery to see more!

ESA Welcomes You!

Open Houses for the Fall 2026 Semester – Mark Your Calendar!

Fall 2026 Proud to Be A First-Gen Series

How to Connect with LAS Career Services

  • Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Free Little Library

Check out the ESA Free Little Library outside EB 200. We have a rotating stock of donated books (thanks to all our anonymous donors) and you’re always welcome to stop by and pick something up. If you want to leave a book as well of course you can, but it’s not expected. If you feel like it, you can sign the sheet on the top shelf and tell us what you picked and why!

Share Your News!

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other form of success (as defined by you!) to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!

Posted on

Weekly Round-Up

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Deadline to add a full-semester course: Friday, Sept. 4
Deadline to drop a POT A (first 8 weeks) course: Friday, Sept. 18
English Teaching Social: Thursday, Sept. 24
Spring/Summer 2027 Courses Viewable on Course Explorer: Monday, Oct. 5
Deadline to drop a full semester course: Friday, Oct. 16

Share Your News!

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other form of success (as defined by you!) to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!

Resource of the Week: Stephanie Buldak, LAS Embedded Counselor

Stephanie Buldak is an embedded clinical counselor who primarily offers counseling services to students within the College of LAS. Our LAS embedded counselor provides a safe and welcoming space where you can talk openly about whatever challenges you are facing. Whether you are struggling with stress, anxiety, motivation, or adjusting to college life, Stephanie is here to listen and help you find healthy ways to cope. 

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as working on your grades. Reaching out to a counselor or therapist is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of courage and self-care. You do not need to wait until things feel unmanageable to ask for help. Sometimes, the first step toward feeling better is simply having someone to listen and guide you through what you are experiencing.

To schedule an appointment with Stephanie, email her at sprado2@illinois.edu or call the Counseling Center at 217-333-3704.

Book Recommendation of the Week: The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers

Recommended by Melanie Snyder

“The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers is a collection of short stories with a supernatural, kind of strange theme connecting them. It’s not too scary, just kind of odd and ‘haunting.’ It’s a pretty quick read, I think, especially because it has several stories within.” It’s a great read for the upcoming Fall/scary season!

Do you have any books that you would like to recommend? Share your book recommendations here and we will try to get your recommendation in the Round-Up!

Paid, On-Campus Copywriting Internship Opportunity

DEADLINE SOON!

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Office of Communications and Marketing is seeking a copywriting intern to start in Fall 2026. This is a paid position ($15/hr, up to 10 hours per week) and is a great opportunity to build your professional portfolio while gaining hands-on experience creating content for a large, diverse college. 

Job description: Help tell the stories of LAS students, programs, and experiences through engaging written content. This position will focus primarily on writing blog and web content, with opportunities to contribute to other marketing projects. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

  • Writing blog posts for the college and departmental websites 
  • Identifying topics that would be useful or interesting to prospective students 
  • Writing and editing short-form marketing copy for digital projects 
  • Assisting with email, social media, and student recruitment content as needed 
  • Providing a student perspective and feedback on marketing materials 

To apply, submit a resume and 2 writing samples that demonstrate your ability to write engaging content for an audience. Samples may include articles, blog posts, class assignments, marketing copy, or other relevant writing. Applications should be sent to Angelica Mennella at akm3@illinois.edu by September 8. 

AT RISK U Sawyer Seminar Speaker Series

MUSE Scholars Program for the Grad School-Bound

DEADLINE SOON!

The Departments of English and Romance and Classical Studies at Michigan State University are delighted to announce the 6th Annual MUSE Scholars Program, which will be held this fall in East Lansing, from October 14-17th.

 The MUSE Scholars Program is intended for any prospective graduate students interested in issues of access and equal opportunity in academia, and concerned about the challenges of first-generation students and low-income students in higher education. It aims to introduce students to a robust culture of mentoring essential for a rewarding graduate school experience, and a thriving life in academia. All prospective graduate students in English, Spanish, or related fields who are interested in these questions are welcome to apply! You can read more about our recent cohorts of MUSE scholars here.

The all-expenses paid workshop will allow students to learn more about the departments of English and Romance and Classical Studies in the College of Arts and Letters. Students will visit graduate classes, meet faculty and graduate students, receive feedback on their application materials for graduate school, and present their research to faculty. 

Submit your application here by September 12. 

David F. Prindable Internship

Application deadline: September 18

  • The intern will assist HRI with its communications, including social media, event calendar updating, and research and writing projects
  • The intern will also serve as an undergraduate ambassador for HRI
  • Internship begins in October 2026 and runs through May 2027

The Jeffries Center Tutoring & Academic Services

Business Minor Study Abroad Opportunity in May 2027

Explore global business where history, innovation, and culture intersect in Berlin. This program offers business minors a unique opportunity to experience one of Europe’s most dynamic economic hubs. Through company visits, guest lectures, and guided cultural experiences, students will gain insight into international markets, entrepreneurship, and the evolving role of Germany in the global economy. The focus of this program will be on startup consulting with students engaging in a consulting project for a local startup. The project will culminate in Berlin where students will present to entrepreneurs.

  • Open to Gies Business Minor (GBM) students 
  • Prerequisite: BADM 310 or BADM 320 preferred
  • Application deadline is October 1, 2026
  • Students will be required to register for BUS 199 (will satisfy 3 hrs., of GBM elective credit) as a POT B class spring, 2027
  • See the Program Guide and Application for more details 

Join Rural Area Student Initiative (R.A.S.I.)

Harper Collins Publishers Spring & Summer 2027 Internship Opportunities

Recruitment for Harper Collins Publishers Spring 2027 and Summer 2027 internships takes place in the fall. Their website will be updated when applications go live on September 18, 2026. Application deadline is October 1, 2026.

For more information, visit their internships webpage.

FOCUS Program

A Note on I-Promise

If you are an I-Promise scholar (i.e. a recipient of the Illinois Promise scholarship), check out this page for information about resources available to you through Scholar Support Programs. Note that there is a consent form that you will need to sign if you want to receive regular communications from SSP notifying you of upcoming opportunities and resources.

Submit Your Work

The Green Observer is a student-run publication of Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS). We publish prose, poetry, visual art, and musical compositions that engage with environmentalism and nature. Oue Fall 2026 edition is currently accepting submissions!

We strive to include the voices of all students on campus within our magazine and would love to feature those of the English Department. This edition’s theme is Migrations, and submissions should be loosely related to the theme. Rough drafts are due October 2nd, by email to samholt2@illinois.edu

Carr Visiting Author Series: Mary Helen Specht

Sep 24, 2026   4:30 pm  Location TBD

Mary Helen Specht is the author of the forthcoming novel Mudlark (July 2026) and the novel Migratory Animals, a New York Times Editors’ Choice and winner of the Texas Institute of Letters Best First Fiction Award and the Writers’ League of Texas Fiction Prize. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Prairie Schooner, and numerous other publications. A Fulbright Scholar to Nigeria and Dobie-Paisano Writing Fellow, Specht currently teaches creative writing at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, where she lives with her family. She was recently inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters.

Don’t Forget These!

Upcoming Lectures

English Teaching Social Event

Are you an English Teaching student or interested in studying to become a high school English teacher? In an effort to create a stronger sense of community amongst English Teaching students, some of our upperclassmen are hosting a casual, social event on Thursday, September 24th in Room 200 of the English Building from 5-6pm. Feel free to come and go anytime within the hour. This is a great opportunity for you to meet other students interested in teaching and get to know upperclassmen who can give you some insight to the program! All English Teaching and pre-English Teaching students are invited to join!

Join the English Teaching Network GroupMe to join stay connected with other English Teaching students: https://groupme.com/join_group/116647686/cLgZET4F

Skeuomorph Press

Skeuomorph Press and Undead Media Lab offers hands-on experiences with historical book and information technologies from the 18th to the 20th centuries—including letterpress, book binding, typewriters, risography, and vintage computing—and sponsors creative activities such as poster or zine making. 

Check out their photo gallery to see more!

ESA Welcomes You!

Open Houses for the Fall 2026 Semester – Mark Your Calendar!

Fall 2026 Proud to Be A First-Gen Series

How to Connect with LAS Career Services

  • Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Free Little Library

Check out the ESA Free Little Library outside EB 200. We have a rotating stock of donated books (thanks to all our anonymous donors) and you’re always welcome to stop by and pick something up. If you want to leave a book as well of course you can, but it’s not expected. If you feel like it, you can sign the sheet on the top shelf and tell us what you picked and why!

Posted on

Weekly Round-Up

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Deadline to add a POT A (first 8 weeks) course: Friday, Aug. 28
New Student English Department Orientation: Monday, Aug. 31
Deadline to Nominate an Instructor: Tuesday, August 1
Advising Office Open House: Wednesday, Sept. 2
Deadline to add a full-semester course: Friday, Sept.4
English Teaching Social: Thursday, Sept. 24

Share Your News!

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other form of success (as defined by you!) to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!

Resource of the Week: Self-Care Stations

Need some supplies? McKinley Self-Care Stations provide over-the-counter self-care supplies. Funded by your health service fee, these are provided at no extra cost to you. You will need to present your student i-card before you can receive any items.

Items available include supplies for cold care (nasal spray, lozenges, pain relievers, saline), wound care (band-aids, gauze, ointment), allergy care, and much more!

Book Recommendation of the Week:
The Wolf Border by Sarah Hall

Recommended by Anna Ivy

“For almost a decade Rachel Caine has turned her back on home and worked in Idaho at a reservation for wolves. As one of the few experts in her field she is summoned back to England by the eccentric Earl of Annerdale to help with his plan for re-wilding wolves on his estate in the Lake District.

As Rachel attempts a gradual reconciliation with her estranged family, her work with the Earl begins to generate public outrage and the threat of sabotage. Set against a backdrop of Scottish independence and tumultuous power struggles both locally and nationally, The Wolf Border is a novel steeped in wilderness and wildness, both animal and human.” (https://www.sarahhallauthor.com/the-wolf-border)

Do you have any books that you would like to recommend? Share your book recommendations here and we will try to get your recommendation in the Round-Up!

A Note on I-Promise

If you are an I-Promise scholar (i.e. a recipient of the Illinois Promise scholarship), check out this page for information about resources available to you through Scholar Support Programs. Note that there is a consent form that you will need to sign if you want to receive regular communications from SSP notifying you of upcoming opportunities and resources.

Skeuomorph Press

Skeuomorph Press and Undead Media Lab offers hands-on experiences with historical book and information technologies from the 18th to the 20th centuries—including letterpress, book binding, typewriters, risography, and vintage computing—and sponsors creative activities such as poster or zine making. 

Check out their photo gallery to see more!


New Student English Department Orientation

The English department will be hosting the mandatory New Student Orientation for new creative writing and English majors on Monday, August 31 at 5:30pm in Room 160 of the English Building. At the orientation the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Andrea Stevens, will be sharing crucial information about the English department that you do not want to miss! Afterwards, the department will be providing free pizza and department T-shirts for new students in the Mary Kay Peer Lounge (located in the lower level of the English building).

Upcoming Lectures

Submit Your Work

ESA Welcomes You!

Advising Office Open House

Nomination Deadline Approaching

If you found one of your past English department instructors to be especially skilled, inspiring, or responsive to your needs as a student, we’d like to know about it!

You can nominate any professor, lecturer, or instructor (that includes graduate TAs), who has taught any English department course (BTW, CW, ENGL, RHET) on any topic in the last year, and you are welcome to nominate more than one person. It only takes a few minutes to fill out the Teaching Award Nomination Form. 

The deadline for nominations for the next awards cycle is September 1, 2026.  Thanks in advance for your help! 

English Teaching Social Event

Are you an English Teaching student or interested in studying to become a high school English teacher? In an effort to create a stronger sense of community amongst English Teaching students, some of our upperclassmen are hosting a casual, social event on Thursday, September 24th in Room 200 of the English Building from 5-6pm. Feel free to come and go anytime within the hour. This is a great opportunity for you to meet other students interested in teaching and get to know upperclassmen who can give you some insight to the program! All English Teaching and pre-English Teaching students are invited to join!

Join the English Teaching Network GroupMe to join stay connected with other English Teaching students: https://groupme.com/join_group/116647686/cLgZET4F

Carr Visiting Author Series: Mary Helen Specht

Sep 24, 2026   4:30 pm  Location TBD

Mary Helen Specht is the author of the forthcoming novel Mudlark (July 2026) and the novel Migratory Animals, a New York Times Editors’ Choice and winner of the Texas Institute of Letters Best First Fiction Award and the Writers’ League of Texas Fiction Prize. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Prairie Schooner, and numerous other publications. A Fulbright Scholar to Nigeria and Dobie-Paisano Writing Fellow, Specht currently teaches creative writing at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, where she lives with her family. She was recently inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters.

Don’t Forget These!

Paid Communication Internship

Apply by August 31!

LAS Career Services seeks to hire a Communication Intern for the Fall 2026 semester, with the potential for continued employment into Spring 2027 based on mutual interest.

This is a great opportunity for students who would like to explore their interests and skills in writing, creativity, communication, social media, and customer service in a professional setting. Communication Interns create student-friendly messaging for digital displays, weekly e-newsletters, blogs, flyers, photography, and Instagram posts. Opportunities also exist to draft messaging for campus and external audiences (e.g., faculty, university administrators, employers, and alumni). 

For more information, such as how to apply, visit the posting on Handshake.

MUSE Scholars Program for the Grad School-Bound

The Departments of English and Romance and Classical Studies at Michigan State University are delighted to announce the 6th Annual MUSE Scholars Program, which will be held this fall in East Lansing, from October 14-17th.

 The MUSE Scholars Program is intended for any prospective graduate students interested in issues of access and equal opportunity in academia, and concerned about the challenges of first-generation students and low-income students in higher education. It aims to introduce students to a robust culture of mentoring essential for a rewarding graduate school experience, and a thriving life in academia. All prospective graduate students in English, Spanish, or related fields who are interested in these questions are welcome to apply! You can read more about our recent cohorts of MUSE scholars here.

The all-expenses paid workshop will allow students to learn more about the departments of English and Romance and Classical Studies in the College of Arts and Letters. Students will visit graduate classes, meet faculty and graduate students, receive feedback on their application materials for graduate school, and present their research to faculty. 

Submit your application here by September 12. 

Open Houses for the Fall 2026 Semester – Mark Your Calendar!

Fall 2026 Proud to Be A First-Gen Series & Study Abroad Opportunity

How to Connect with LAS Career Services

  • Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Free Little Library

Check out the ESA Free Little Library outside EB 200. We have a rotating stock of donated books (thanks to all our anonymous donors) and you’re always welcome to stop by and pick something up. If you want to leave a book as well of course you can, but it’s not expected. If you feel like it, you can sign the sheet on the top shelf and tell us what you picked and why!

Sharing News

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other triumph to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks.

Posted on

Back-to-School Round-Up

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

LAS Lift-Off: Friday, Aug. 21
Quad Day: Sunday, Aug. 23
First day of fall instruction: Monday, Aug. 24
ESA’s “Pizza on the Quad” Welcome Event: Wednesday, Aug. 26
Advising Office Open House: Thursday, Aug. 27
Deadline to add a POT A (first 8 weeks) course: Friday, Aug. 28
New Student English Department Orientation: Monday, Aug. 31
Advising Office Open House: Wednesday, Sept. 2
Deadline to add a full-semester course: Friday, Sept.4
English Teaching Social: Thursday, Sept. 24

Welcome Back!

We are so excited to have you all back on campus! The advising office spent the summer welcoming new students and updating our space. Come visit the advising office to take advantage of our new charging stations, comfy reading nook, and plethora of snacks! As always, we will have an ongoing jigsaw puzzle you can help solve – next up is a King Arthur themed puzzle! And if you haven’t already, come meet our new Office Manager, Melanie, who has been transforming the advising space into a welcoming and cozy place for you all to visit!

Resource of the Week: Book Lookup & the Library

Looking for resources on how to buy your books and course materials for the semester? Check out the following resources to get your hands on the books and materials you need:

Shop Books/Course Materials at the Illini Union Bookstore
Look up the exact books and materials you need for each course as specified by your instructors. You can buy them from the Illini Union Bookstore or elsewhere, but just make sure you buy the specified edition/ISBN!

Access Books Affordably Through the Library
Before you buy, check the library catalog to see if they have the book you need! If you cannot find your book in the library catalog, search the I-Share catalog and request the book to be sent to you from another library in the state of Illinois!

New Student English Department Orientation

The English department will be hosting the mandatory New Student Orientation for new creative writing and English majors on Monday, August 31 at 5:30pm in Room 160 of the English Building. At the orientation the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Andrea Stevens, will be sharing crucial information about the English department that you do not want to miss! Afterwards, the department will be providing free pizza and department T-shirts for new students in the Mary Kay Peer Lounge (located in the lower level of the English building).

Book Recommendation of the Week:
Babel by R.F. Kuang

Recommended by Maggie Weimer

“Babel follows Robin Swift, a boy from China who is brought to England to study at Oxford’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation, also known as Babel. At Babel, Robin studies languages and learns about a magic system that is activated by the power of translation. But as Robin uncovers the truth about how that system is used to aid colonialism, he begins to contemplate his own role in it and becomes intrigued by the resistance. Babel is a great pick if you are craving some dark academia or speculative fiction!”

Do you have any books that you would like to recommend? Share your book recommendations here and we will try to get your recommendation in the Round-Up!

ESA’s “Pizza on the Quad” Welcome Event

Advising Office Open House

Nominate an English Department Instructor for a Teaching Award

If you found one of your past English department instructors to be especially skilled, inspiring, or responsive to your needs as a student, we’d like to know about it!

You can nominate any professor, lecturer, or instructor (that includes graduate TAs), who has taught any English department course (BTW, CW, ENGL, RHET) on any topic in the last year, and you are welcome to nominate more than one person. It only takes a few minutes to fill out the Teaching Award Nomination Form. 

The deadline for nominations for the next awards cycle is September 1, 2026.  Thanks in advance for your help! 

What You Will’s Upcoming Auditions: Antigone & Julius Caesar

English Teaching Social Event

Are you an English Teaching student or interested in studying to become a high school English teacher? In an effort to create a stronger sense of community amongst English Teaching students, some of our upperclassmen are hosting a casual, social event on Thursday, September 24th in Room 200 of the English Building from 5-6pm. Feel free to come and go anytime within the hour. This is a great opportunity for you to meet other students interested in teaching and get to know upperclassmen who can give you some insight to the program! All English Teaching and pre-English Teaching students are invited to join!

Join the English Teaching Network GroupMe to join stay connected with other English Teaching students: https://groupme.com/join_group/116647686/cLgZET4F

Fall 2026 Verdell Frazier Young Scholarship

The Women’s Resources Center is now accepting applications for the Fall 2026 Verdell Frazier Young (VFY) Scholarship on a rolling basis. The VFY Scholarship provides scholarships to assist women and gender minorities who have had an interruption in pursuing a college degree. To learn more or apply, visit:

https://go.illinois.edu/VFY

Paid Communication Internship

LAS Career Services seeks to hire a Communication Intern for the Fall 2026 semester, with the potential for continued employment into Spring 2027 based on mutual interest.

This is a great opportunity for students who would like to explore their interests and skills in writing, creativity, communication, social media, and customer service in a professional setting. Communication Interns create student-friendly messaging for digital displays, weekly e-newsletters, blogs, flyers, photography, and Instagram posts. Opportunities also exist to draft messaging for campus and external audiences (e.g., faculty, university administrators, employers, and alumni). 

For more information, such as how to apply, visit the posting on Handshake.

MUSE Scholars Program for the Grad School-Bound

The Departments of English and Romance and Classical Studies at Michigan State University are delighted to announce the 6th Annual MUSE Scholars Program, which will be held this fall in East Lansing, from October 14-17th.

 The MUSE Scholars Program is intended for any prospective graduate students interested in issues of access and equal opportunity in academia, and concerned about the challenges of first-generation students and low-income students in higher education. It aims to introduce students to a robust culture of mentoring essential for a rewarding graduate school experience, and a thriving life in academia. All prospective graduate students in English, Spanish, or related fields who are interested in these questions are welcome to apply! You can read more about our recent cohorts of MUSE scholars here.

The all-expenses paid workshop will allow students to learn more about the departments of English and Romance and Classical Studies in the College of Arts and Letters. Students will visit graduate classes, meet faculty and graduate students, receive feedback on their application materials for graduate school, and present their research to faculty. 

Submit your application here by September 12. 

Open Houses for the Fall 2026 Semester – Mark Your Calendar!

Fall 2026 Proud to Be A First-Gen Series & Study Abroad Opportunity

Interesting Courses for Fall 2026

ENGL 237: Nineteenth-Century British Fiction
Satisfies 19thC period requirement
With their vicious tea parties, romantic moors, melodramatic slums, and sardonic aristocrats, the novels of 19th-century Britain continue to delight the imagination. These stories were balanced between a drive to realism (detailed descriptions of everyday life, recognizable characters, skepticism about the supernatural) and a fascination with the sensational (sudden violence, wicked villains, and dark mysteries from the past). This class will focus on novels that combine romance, the novel of education, the detective story, and uncanny Gothic historicism. We will also learn about some aspects of 19th century British culture including class structures in Regency England, the social effects of the industrial revolution, the laws controlling women’s rights in marriage, the origins of the British Raj in India, the rise of aestheticism, and basic British geography. Our readings will include Jane Austen’s “Emma,” Charles Dickens’s “Bleak House,” Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights,” Wilkie Collins’s “The Moonstone,” and Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” 

CW 208: Creative Nonfiction Workshop
This course introduces students to the fundamental techniques of creative nonfiction, known as creative nonfiction “craft.” We explore these techniques through diverse readings as well as through the writing and workshopping of our own creative nonfiction essays. Each day is dedicated to a specific craft technique, pairing exemplary CNF essays with “craft essays” meant to illuminate, for instance, nonfiction structure or point-of-view or voice. Additionally, we focus on two modes of CNF: the personal essay and the public essay.

BTW 263: Writing in the Disciplines – Game Writing and Design
This course teaches students to apply principles of procedural and expository writing to game design and game development. Similar to structure-based storytelling in screenplays, game creation requires a balance between creativity and practical application. Students will learn how to write proposals for games and/or interactive experiences with the goal of designing, developing, and building a working prototype along with a final draft of a game manual and strategy guide. No prior experience with coding is necessary to take this class.

CPSC 140: Foundations of Quantitative Problem Solving
Quantitative Reasoning I Gen Ed
Discover foundational applied mathematical skills and build a toolbox of quantitative techniques to address challenges in environmental conservation, agricultural management, and ecological research. In this course, you will learn to deconstruct and solve mathematical problems through a series of case studies. This course is designed for students who wish to learn essential quantitative skills in an applied context, with mathematical content at a similar level to MATH 112.

CWL 114: Global Consciousness and Lit
Non-Western Cultures Gen Ed
Exploration of the cultural and historical roots of globalization and the development of global consciousness from ancient Greece to the present, as reflected primarily in literature, but also with reference to historiography, cartography, religion, art, politics, economics, and popular culture. Course materials including literary texts, articles, historical accounts, political tracts, films, and paintings focus on the mutual perception of, and historical relationships among Europe, the Arab world, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

SOC 496: Advanced Topics in Sociology – Crimes of the Powerful
This course examines crimes committed by powerful individuals, corporations, states, and global institutions, shifting the criminological focus to the forms of harm that often produce the greatest social and economic consequences. Through the study of organized crime, white-collar crime, state and corporate crime, corruption and financial crime, and digital and environmental harms, students will critically analyze how power-dynamics shapes the definition and enforcement of law. Emphasizing contemporary case studies, the course explores why many of the most harmful acts remain normalized, under-regulated, or beyond the reach of justice. This course counts for elective credit towards the Criminology, Law, and Society Minor.

How to Connect with LAS Career Services

  • Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Free Little Library

Check out the ESA Free Little Library outside EB 200. We have a rotating stock of donated books (thanks to all our anonymous donors) and you’re always welcome to stop by and pick something up. If you want to leave a book as well of course you can, but it’s not expected. If you feel like it, you can sign the sheet on the top shelf and tell us what you picked and why!

Sharing News

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other triumph to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!