Weekly Round-Up

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Important Dates

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

Don’t forget that we are now offering express advising twice a week (for quick check-ins and chats). Express/drop-in sessions are Tuesdays from 10:00-11:30am and Wednesdays from 1:30-3:00pm.

Resource of the Week

Need help with a writing task? Check out the Writers Workshop! Consultants offer support to writers at all levels and can work with you on any kind of academic or professional writing. From writing groups and workshops to individual consultations where they provide feedback on essays, personal statements, cover letters, and more, you can get the help you need! Click here to schedule an appointment.

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!

David F. Prindable Internship in Communications & Outreach

DEADLINE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

If you are passionate about the humanities and interested in communication work, apply for the David F. Prindable Internship! This is a 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

Truman Scholarships

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. 

I-Explore Week

I-Explore Week is coming up (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. Check out the calendar and in particular if you are a prospective (or even a current) English Teaching concentrator, please plan to attend “Charting the Course: How to Become a High School English Teacher“ (hosted by the English advising office) featuring a combination of current teaching students and alums of the program who have taught or are now teaching high school English. Registration is requested just so we know how many to expect (there will be treats on hand!): https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/545378774

Get Experience Scholarship

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.

Call for Submissions for Green Observer

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

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. DEADLINE TO APPLY IS SEPTEMBER 24.

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.

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. 

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. 

Preview–Carr Visiting Author Series Event on 10/9

Illini Union Bookstore: Authors Corner
Oct 9, 2025   4:30 pm  
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

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.

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