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Important Dates

Majors & Minors Fair: Monday, September 29
Express Advising: Tuesday, September 30 from 10-11:30am
Express Advising: Wednesday, October 1 from 1:30-3pm
Spring 2026 courses viewable on Course Explorer: Monday, October 6
Deadline to drop a full-semester course without a “W”: Friday, Oct. 17

Resource of the Week

The McKinley Self-Care Stations provide over-the-counter self-care supplies. All supplies are included as part of your health service fee, and are provided at no extra cost to you. You will need to present your student i-card before you can receive any items. Click the link above to find Self-Care Station locations on campus!

Read & Resist Fest

Banned books week is the first week of October, and here at Illinois we’re celebrating with Read & Resist fest from October 8-14^th!  The attached flyer has more information about the activities throughout the week, but the first event is on Wednesday, October 8, 12-2!  In partnership with all of the cultural centers (AACC, BNAACC, La Casa, NAH, and Salaam MENA Center), GSRC, WRC, Skeuomorph Press, and the University Library, the AACC will be hosting a pop-up library to promote student awareness and action surrounding intellectual freedom.

Additionally, any students who attend October 8 can participate in the Banned Books Crawl for an opportunity to win a swag pack and gift card to the Illini Union Bookstore!

Please come out to support intellectual freedom and reading banned books at Illinois!

Summer Remote Internships at Penguin Random House

Interested in gaining experience at a major publishing house over the summer? Intrigued by remote opportunities? Check out Penguin Random House’s summer remote internships! They are filling positions for the following departments: Bookmaking, Art & Design, Editorial, Publicity, Marketing, DEI, Sales, and Finance.

Deadline to apply is October 6, 2025.

New Minor!

Effective Fall 2025, the College of Fine and Applied Arts and Hip Hop Innovation Center are excited to announce the launch of a new interdisciplinary undergraduate minor in Hip Hop Culture & The Arts. Students completing this program will explore fundamental content in Hip Hop history, generate original creative work, engage with critical cultural considerations, develop introductory skills with relevant digital media, and participate in youth programming in the Champaign-Urbana community. For more information, please visit http://go.illinois.edu/hiphopminor.

If you have any questions about the Hip Hop Culture & Arts undergraduate minor, please contact Dr. Adam Kruse at faa-hiphop@illinois.edu.

I-Explore Week Events

I-Explore Week is next week (September 29-October 4) and there will be lots to do! This is a series of events for all students who are exploring majors, minors, career paths, etc. The week kicks off with the Majors & Minors Fair on the 29th, and then there will be a series of events taking place throughout the week. We have listed a few events below that you may be interested in, but don’t forget to check out the calendar!

Speak Cafe

When: October 2 from 6-7:30pm
Where: Krannert Art Museum
What: SPEAK stands for Song, Poetry, Art, and Knowledge. It is an open-mic public performance space at Krannert Art Museum curated by local artist, Shaya Robinson, featuring guest performers and welcoming all to the mic.

Scholarship Opportunities

• The LAS Get Experience Scholarship is designed to support students with financial need in hands-on learning experiences that enhance and complement their academic coursework (such as unpaid and underpaid internships). Click the link above to find out more.
• The Truman Scholarship awards $30,000 for use toward a graduate degree in public service fields. Public service includes government, uniformed services, public interest organizations, non-governmental research or educational organizations, public and private schools, and other non-profit organizations. Recipients of the scholarship are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of a Foundation-funded graduate degree program; this is non-negotiable condition of receiving funding. 

Writer’s Workshop Welcome Week

Call for Submissions for Green Observer

Humanities in Action (HIA)

HIA is a semester-long community engagement program that helps students apply their humanities training in new ways while addressing a vital area of need in our Champaign-Urbana community. Selected students can expect to connect with like-minded peers, participate in workshops, and have access to mini grants that offset the costs associated with their service. Additionally, to help remove some of the financial barriers that prevent humanities students from taking advantage of community engagement opportunities selected students will receive $1000 to support their participation. Participants will also become acquainted with HRI and the opportunities available to students studying the humanities at the undergraduate and graduate levels. At the culmination of the program, participants will learn how to communicate this experience in resumes and job applications.

The application deadline is October 10, 2025. 

LAS Career Services

Upcoming Event:
When Plans Change: How to Make an LAS Major Work for You (9/29, 5pm, virtual event)

Connect with LAS Career Service Team:

• 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. 

Carr Visiting Author Series Event on October 9, 2025

Where: Illini Union Bookstore – Authors Corner
When: Oct 9, 2025 at 4:30 pm  
What: A fiction reading by Leland Cheuk made possible by the Robert J. and Katherin Carr visiting author series. 

Leland Cheuk is an award-winning author of three books of fiction, most recently the novel No Good Very Bad Asian (2019). Cheuk’s work has been covered in Buzzfeed, The Paris Review, VICE, San Francisco Chronicle, and elsewhere, and has appeared or is forthcoming in publications such as NPR, The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Salon, among other outlets. He is the founder of the indie press 7.13 Books. You can follow him on Twitter @lcheuk and at lelandcheuk.com.

English Advising Office Open Houses

Montage – Call for Submissions!

Montage publishes art and literary work by undergraduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Submissions are now open! For more information and to submit your work, please visit: https://www.montageartsjournal.com/submit

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!

Library Research Consultations

Students at the University of Illinois have access to free, personalized research support through the Research Consultations at the Main Library. Research consultations offer individual consultations for any student at any stage in the research process, including brainstorming ideas or topics, forming search strategies, and more. For more information and to schedule an appointment, visit go.library.illinois.edu/ResearchConsultations.

Boost Your Speaking Skills

We offer a friendly, low-stakes space for students from any major or discipline to practice and work on oral communication with a peer-consultant, including using visual aids such as powerpoint and research posters. Our main location is in the Armory, with satellite hours in the Main Library, Grainger Library, ACES/Funk Library, and the LAS Hub. We also offer synchronous online appointments. 

Free Little Library

WRC Fall Hours

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Advising Office Open House: Thursday, September 18
Deadline to drop a POT A (first 8-weeks) course: Friday, September 19
Homecoming Week: September 21 – September 27
Spring 2026 courses viewable on Course Explorer: Monday, October 6

Express Advising is Here!

In addition to scheduled appointments, we are now offering express advising twice a week. Express/drop-in sessions will be Tuesdays from 10:00-11:30 and Wednesdays from 1:30-3:00. These are for quick questions, routine check-ins, signatures on forms, and anything else that requires 15 minutes or less. For lengthier discussions please continue to schedule regular half-hour appointments.

Resource of the Week

The Counseling Center is committed to enhancing the well-being of students at Illinois. If you need or are looking to meet with a mental health professional on campus, you can schedule an appointment three types of ways:

• Call the Counseling Center during their business hours at 217-333-3704 for a same-day appointment.
• Schedule an in-person appointment through their online portal.
• Email an embedded counselor that works within your college (LAS).

The Counseling Center does have clinicians available during business hours for same-day urgent meetings without an appointment.

Call for Submissions for Green Observer

LAS Leaders – Currently Accepting New Member Applications!

LAS Leaders consists of 30 undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences who strengthen the relationships among the college’s students, alumni, and friends. These students are selected for the organization based on their commitment to representing the college through programs and community service. They are the face of today’s LAS students to the public.

Applications to become an LAS Leader are now open! Apply at bit.ly/LASLeadersApply

For more information, visit the LAS Leaders webpage.

Illinois Law School Fair & Admissions Panel

The annual Illinois Law School Fair & Admissions Panel will be held next week on September 16 at the Illini Union.  This event is free and open to all – we highly encourage all pre-law students to participate, particularly Junior and Senior students who anticipate applying to law school in the current or next application cycle.  In addition to law school representatives, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with LSAT test prep providers, AccessLex (for questions related to financing law school), and the Pre-Law office.

LAS Career Lab – How to Talk to Strangers

Our first Career Lab of the semester, How to Talk to Strangers, will help prepare you for the many contexts that require talking to strangers, from casual networking to career fairs and job interviews. Get advice, structure, and opportunities to practice in this low-stakes and friendly social setting. 

Register in Handshake to help us estimate the amount of Jet’s pizza and staffing for this event. Handshake registration also means you’ll get an email reminder.

Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative (INI) Peer Mentors Wanted

The Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative (INI) is looking for undergraduate peer mentors who are active on campus and interested in building connections with neurodivergent peers. Must be able to commit to Wednesday evening meetings 6:30-7:30pm plus an additional 1 hour meeting with their mentee. Email iniprogram@illinois.edu with questions.

Library Research Consultations

Students at the University of Illinois have access to free, personalized research support through the Research Consultations at the Main Library. Research consultations offer individual consultations for any student at any stage in the research process, including brainstorming ideas or topics, forming search strategies, and more. For more information and to schedule an appointment, visit go.library.illinois.edu/ResearchConsultations.

ATLAS Internships for Spring 2026

This fall, over 70 LAS students are gaining valuable hands-on experience in technology and professional development through the ATLAS Internship Program. The application window for Spring 2026 internships will open in October. You can learn more by attending the upcoming info session on September 24, 4:00 p.m. – Room 15, English Building

You can also stop by the Lisnek Hub in Lincoln Hall for drop-in Q&A on Wednesdays from 12–1:00 p.m. through December 3.

English Advising Office Open Houses

Study Abroad Opportunities

LAS International Programs is pleased to remind everyone of our two new short-term, faculty-led programs this winter break: REL 360: Sacred Spaces of India and CHEM 199 Coffee, Chemistry, and the Community in Panama. These join our popular returning courses: GLBL 298 Benin Study Abroad: Economic Development in Africa,  GLBL 298 Global Studies in Jordan: From Ancient Ruins to Modern Voices, and IB 496: Tropical Forest Ecology in Panama. IB 496: Natural History of Coral Reefs in Roatán (previously in Belize) and ESE 496 Environment & Sustainability Field Expedition in Costa Rica return again for Spring Break opportunities.  

Application deadlines are approaching:  

Winter Break ’26 (application deadline September 15):
CHEM 199: Coffee, Chemistry, and the Community in Panama* 
GLBL 298 Benin Study Abroad: Economic Development in Africa 
GLBL 298 Global Studies in Jordan: From Ancient Ruins to Modern Voices* 
IB 496: Tropical Forest Ecology in Panama 
REL 360: Sacred Spaces of India* 

Spring Break ’26 (application deadline October 15):
IB 496: Natural History of Coral Reefs in Roatán* 
ESE 496 Environment & Sustainability Field Expedition in Costa Rica 

LAS Global Engagement Scholarship (application deadlines follow program application deadlines): https://app.studyabroad.illinois.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=11564

Summer 2026 Programs will be announced later this month (application deadline February 15).

Visiting Writer Events

Considering Grad School in English?

The Department of English at Michigan State University is delighted to announce the 6th Annual MUSE Scholars Workshop, which will be held this fall in East Lansing, from October 21-24th.

The MUSE Scholars Program is intended for any prospective English 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 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 English department, visit graduate classes, meet faculty and graduate students, receive feedback on their application materials for graduate school, and present their research to faculty.

Students can learn more about the workshop, and submit an application, on our website, here. The deadline for applications is September 24. 

Global Illini Career Networking Event

Attention current international students! The campus-wide Career Services Council is hosting the Global Illini Career Networking Event in Chicago on Sunday, October 19 and you’re invited! 

This event is designed to support our current international undergraduate and graduate students at UIUC by connecting them with international alums. About 100 students will be joining us for networking, career preparation, lunch, and both small- and large-group conversations. 

The $50 non-refundable registration fee (+ taxes) covers all costs of the event including meal and transportation and gives you a chance to network with former international students from Illinois (alumni) working the Chicagoland area. 

Click this link to register and complete payment so you can confirm your participation. Registrations will not be confirmed complete unless payment portion is completed. 

The deadline to register and complete payment is Monday, September 15 at 11:59PM CT. 

In alignment with our mission to foster a supportive environment for all members of our university community, this event is open to all persons regardless of race, color or national origin. Please direct all questions or requests for accommodations to Susie Li, qiranl@illinois.edu 

David F. Prindable Internship in Communications & Outreach

If you are passionate about the humanities and interested in communication work, apply for the David F. Prindable Internship! This isa paid position in communications with projects that include social media, research, writing, and student outreach.

For more information and to apply, visit https://go.illinois.edu/prindable
Application Deadline: September 19, 2025

Humanities in Action (HIA)

HIA is a semester-long community engagement program that helps students apply their humanities training in new ways while addressing a vital area of need in our Champaign-Urbana community. Selected students can expect to connect with like-minded peers, participate in workshops, and have access to mini grants that offset the costs associated with their service. Additionally, to help remove some of the financial barriers that prevent humanities students from taking advantage of community engagement opportunities selected students will receive $1000 to support their participation. Participants will also become acquainted with HRI and the opportunities available to students studying the humanities at the undergraduate and graduate levels. At the culmination of the program, participants will learn how to communicate this experience in resumes and job applications.

An in person information session will be held in room 1000 of the Seibel Center for Design on Wednesday September 24th from 6:00-7:00pm. The application deadline is October 10, 2025. 

Boost Your Speaking Skills

We offer a friendly, low-stakes space for students from any major or discipline to practice and work on oral communication with a peer-consultant, including using visual aids such as powerpoint and research posters. Our main location is in the Armory, with satellite hours in the Main Library, Grainger Library, ACES/Funk Library, and the LAS Hub. We also offer synchronous online appointments. 

If you’d like to participate in the video challenge associated with this event you must be an actively enrolled University of Illinois undergraduate in FA25 with a declared LAS humanities major or minor. First Prize will receive $500; Second Prize, $250; and Third Prize, $125, deposited to the winner’s student account. The deadline for the competition is September 15. Click here to learn more.

Montage – Call for Submissions!

Montage publishes art and literary work by undergraduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Submissions are now open! For more information and to submit your work, please visit: https://www.montageartsjournal.com/submit

Free Little Library

WRC Fall Hours