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Important Dates and Deadlines

January 15: Advising Office Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr Day
January 16: Classes Start
January 29: Deadline to ADD full-semester course
January 29: Deadline to add yourself to spring degree list if you expect to graduate in May (you can do this online in Self Service)
February 1: Deadline to apply to Sec Ed minor (for sophomores, not first-year students!)

As always, if you would like to schedule an advising appointment with Anna or Keshia, please CALL the office at 217-333-4346. We are happy to answers questions via email (englishadvising@illinois.edu) but for more complex matters such as schedule rearrangement, overall degree planning, or existential-crisis-management, an actual appointment is preferable (in person or virtual, as you prefer). We look forward to seeing many of you this semester and wish you all safe travels and a lack of frostbite in the coming week!

Poetry Prize for First-Year Students

Submissions are now being accepted for the Kevin T. Early Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible through an endowment by William and Donna Early in memory of their son, a poet, Kevin T. Early. It awards $2000 to a student with freshman standing at UIUC for the 2023-2024 school year. The deadline for application is Friday, February 9, 2024.  (If you started as a first year-student out of high school in the fall but gained sophomore standing early because of test-based credits, you are still eligible).

If you would like to be considered, please submit 5 poems via email to John Dudek at Jdudek4@illinois.edu. The complete submission should not exceed 5 pages (so 1 poem to a page). Submissions should be attached to the email as .docx (Word) files.

The subject line of the email should read: “EARLY PRIZE SUBMISSION: Last name.”

The body of the email should include the student’s name, address, phone number, e-mail, UIN, and the titles of the poems. The name should not appear on the entry file itself. Complete guidelines will be sent out via email. Please direct any questions to Jdudek4@illinois.edu.

LAS Career Services Spring Programming

This will be the first of a series of “How I Got That Job” panels, each one of which features a student from the English Department, so be sure to attend if you can! Following is some more information about these panels and a couple of other upcoming events that may be of interest.

How I Got that First Job with a Nonprofit Organization (Wed., Jan 31, 5 – 6:30pm)
How I Got that First Job in Business/Tech (Mon., Feb. 5, 5 – 6:30pm)
How I Got that First Job Doing What I Love (Wed., Feb. 7, 5 – 6:30pm)

Among the questions to be discussed at these panels:

• What did panelists do while in college to set themselves up for future success?
• How did they land the first job?
• What has the transition from college to working life been like? Highs? Lows?
• How does their current position fit into their overall plan for the future?

Day in the Life of an Intern – Working with a State Representative, Monday, Jan 22, noon – 1pm. Conference Room 143, the Career Center. “Join us for a glimpse into the daily experiences of an intern working alongside a State Representative [Carol Ammons, IL103]! Discover the intricacies of the legislative process, engage with influential leaders, and develop practical skills in research and proposal drafting. Seize the opportunity to inquire and learn more about this distinctive internship, where you can connect with a dynamic network and contribute significantly to impactful projects that directly affect communities.”

Lunch, Learn, and Workshop Your Resume with Teach for America. Tuesday, Jan 23, noon – 2pm, 107 Gregory Hall. Lunch will be provided. Registration required. Bring a resume, get individualized assistance with updating it, and learn more about TFA.

Opportunity for Pre-law Students

Have you considered summer study abroad and are interested in studying law? Join Cornell Law School faculty and the Office of Global Learning to learn more about the Cornell Prelaw Program in Paris, a three-week academic program in international and comparative law. Study law in a uniquely international and culturally rich environment, combining the excellence of Cornell Law School faculty and the Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. Prepare for the law school admissions process and acquire the study skills for success in law school.

Virtual Info Sessions:

• Wednesday, January 17, 1:30pm ET, Virtual (Zoom Link)
• Wednesday, February 7, 5:00pm ET, Virtual (Zoom Link)

Looking for interesting electives? Check these out!

SAME 490: Special Topics
TOPIC: Digital Research Skills
This course is an introduction to digital tools, data management, and data visualization. It is open to both undergraduate and graduate students across various disciplines. Throughout the course, students will acquire the skills to conduct research, efficiently organize their research materials and data, and use digital tools to present their work. Students will have the option to work individually or collaborate with peers or ChatGPT. Importantly, this course provides an opportunity to explore digital tools without the need for coding knowledge. Digital skills are vital for employees in the digital era and new employees needs to have soft and hard skills!