Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

April 14: Deadline to order academic regalia (for graduates participating in convocation ceremonies)
April 18: Deadline to drop a 2nd-8-week course

Schedule Your Pre-registration Appointment!

Registration has begun! Log in to Student Self-Service to view your time ticket if you don’t already know when to register. When you are ready to schedule your appointment call 217-333-4346 during the hours 8:30-noon or 1:00-4:30.

Need to find a course that satisfies a particular requirement in the major?
Consult the resources available on the Planning Coursework section of the advising site.  You’ll find checklists of major requirements and a “cheat sheet” that tells you which variable topics courses satisfy which requirements in the coming semester.  To access the sheet you’ll need to have your UI Box account set up; instructions are available on this page (scroll down to “Instructions for using Box”).

From LAS Career Services

Career Workshop Resume Critique by HRPO and Research Park: Join us Tuesday, April 15, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. for an informative presentation followed by personalized resume and LinkedIn profile reviews. Gain valuable feedback and learn how to showcase your skills effectively in today’s competitive job market. This is a collaborative session, hosted by HRPO and Research Park. Learn more and register on the Research Park calendar. 

Resources to Combat Stress

Pre-Law? Check Out These Pop-Ups

Public Reading | Ross Gay

The Humanities Research Institute is hosting a public reading and book signing with award-winning poet and essayist Ross Gay, a New York Times bestselling author whose work embraces an exploration and celebration of the human need for joy and delight. This year marks the tenth anniversary of his collection Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude!

April 16, 7:30pm
Alice Campbell Alumni Center Ballroom

Books will be available for purchasing and signing at the event. Please note: per the author’s request, we ask that attendees refrain from taking photos (including selfies), audio, or video during the event and book signing. Thank you in advance for respecting the author’s wishes! 

Ross Gay is the author of four books of poetry: Against Which; Bringing the Shovel Down; Be Holding, winner of the PEN American Literary Jean Stein Award; and Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, winner of the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. In addition to his poetry, Ross has released three collections of essays—The Book of Delights was released in 2019 and was a New York Times bestseller; Inciting Joy was released in 2022, and his newest collection, The Book of (More) Delights was released in September of 2023. 

A Gathering of Poets: Angie Estes and Janice N. Harrington

Thursday, April 17, 2025
7:00 pm–9:00 pm (CDT)
Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL

Poets Angie Estes and Janice N. Harrington will present an evening of imagery and word art. Join us for the premier reading of Estes’ Last Day on Earth in the Eternal City and for poems celebrating a lifetime of writing by Janice N. Harrington. This poetry celebration is sponsored by the Spurlock Museum and the UIUC Creative Writing Program.

Renee Hudson Lecture

Take Care of Yourself!

Two Events Featuring Poet Richard Blanco

Learn About Fulbright Scholarship Opportunities

Interested in research, teaching, or graduate study abroad? The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards 2,000 scholarships annually for students to conduct research, teach English, or pursue graduate study in 140 countries. Apply to be a 2026 awardee! 

Eligibility
Current juniors, seniors, and recent alumni in all academic disciplines, who are U.S. citizens, are eligible to apply. 

Application Preparation
If you are interested in applying, please attend our information sessions:   

Fulbright General Information Sessions:
In Person – Friday, April 11, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – IUB Rm. 514

Fulbright Short Essays Workshops: Your Path and the Fulbright Mission
Online –Tuesday, April 15, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Register HERE
In Person – Wednesday, April 16, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.– IUB Rm. 514

Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Workshops:
Online – Tuesday, April 22, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Register HERE
In Person – Friday, April 25, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – IUB Rm. 514

Fulbright Research & Graduate Study Workshops:
In Person – Thursday, May 1, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – IUB Rm. 514 
Online – Friday, May 2, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Register HERE

Curious about Careers in HR?

The School of Labor & Employment Relations will be offering LER 199: Introduction to Human Resources again this Fall 2025 semester.  During this pilot year, the course has received positive student feedback and high engagement with the material.  The course helps students explore the various functions of Human Resources and how HR professionals lead people within an organization.  The course is interactive and will include around 3-4 HR professionals to speak on their experiences and how the topics apply to their everyday work.  If you’re interested, check out LER 199, Section HR in Course Explorer!

Recognition of Community Engaged Scholars

Every year, through our Scholar Recognition Program, We CU Community Engaged Scholars seeks to recognize students for their community-based work and their commitment to service. Through the Recognition Program, students can also access benefits such as receiving mini-grants up to $199, which are designed to offset the expenses that come up during their service work. Recognized Scholars are invited to our Annual Recognition Reception on April 22nd, where we celebrate the impact made by students, instructors, and community partners in Champaign County.

Becoming a We CU Recognized Scholar is really simple: you just need to complete our Student Recognition Form before April 16. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach us at we-cu@illinois.edu.

Summer Courses

If you’re looking for a summer course to satisfy a requirement in English or creative writing, check these out!

CW 100: Intro to Creative Writing
ENGL 117: Shakespeare on Film
ENGL 206: Enlightenment Lit & Culture
ENGL 360: Environmental Writing
ENGL 378: Fairy Tales and Gender Formation

Women’s Resources Center Book Club–April

Join the staff of the Women’s Resources Center as we discuss “Saving Five“, written by Amanda Nguyen. During our conversations, we will examine the complexities of survivor healing and activism in speaking your truth.

Book discussions will take place at the Women’s Resources Center on Friday, April 18 from 4 – 5 PM.  Limited copies of the book may be available to students intending to attend book club.  Sign up to attend book club and request a copy of the book.

This book club is held in collaboration with the Asian American Cultural Center as part of our Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) programming.

Don’t Forget These!

Chancellor’s Senior Survey

All students graduating in May 2025 are invited to take the Chancellor’s Senior Survey, which prompts students to reflect on their Illinois experience by answering questions about participation in activities and services, perceived gains in abilities linked to the Illinois (campus-wide) student learning outcomes, campus climate, disability support services, attributions of success, barriers to success, and overall satisfaction with the Illinois experience.

New Certificate Programs

There are two new certificate programs you might be interested in, one in Business & Technical Writing, and one in Interactive & Immersive Storytelling. Check them both out to see if you might be interested.

Summer Language Learning

•  June 16th – August 8th, 2025  •

Session includes
• Arabic, Persian, Swahili, Turkish, and Wolof courses
• Small class sizes and dedicated faculty and staff
• Immersive experience, complete with instruction
• Cultural activities, opportunities for language practice, conversation tables,
cooking classes, movie nights, and more!

Program registration timeline
April 24th – May 12th, 2025
Application & Registration

For more information contact silmw@illinois.edu

A New Way to Share Good News

Research Workshops

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) announces its Spring 2025 workshop calendar. We are offering a variety of workshops to support you regardless of where you are in your research journey. Information for each workshop, including how you can register, can be found on our website . For all workshops, participation is by advanced registration only; there are a limited number of spots available for each workshop, so please sign up as soon as possible. Workshops will be added throughout the term based on demand.

Tuesday @7 Workshops with the Counseling Center

Confidential Advising Resources

The Women’s Resources Center (WRC) is the designated confidential campus resource related to sexual assault/rape, sexual harassment, stalking and abuse within a relationship (sometimes called dating or domestic violence). That means when we talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, we make sure you get what you need and on your terms! There are several Confidential Advisors at the WRC who can provide you – or someone looking to support you – with support and advocacy services.

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

April 7: Priority registration begins
April 18: Deadline to drop a 2nd 8-week course

Schedule Your Pre-registration Appointment!

Registration will start April 7. Students are assigned a time on or after that day according to the schedule found here. Time tickets (which tell you when you can register for Summer and/or Fall 2025 classes) should be visible to you starting March 24. Log in to Student Self-Service to view your time ticket. When you are ready to schedule your appointment call 217-333-4346 during the hours 8:30-noon or 1:00-4:30. You may request an in-person or a virtual appointment, whichever suits you. Remember that we are very busy during the registration period so please don’t wait until your time ticket opens up and then send an email demanding an immediate reply. Plan ahead!

Need to find a course that satisfies a particular requirement in the major?
Consult the resources available on the Planning Coursework section of the advising site.  You’ll find checklists of major requirements and a “cheat sheet” that tells you which variable topics courses satisfy which requirements in the coming semester.  To access the sheet you’ll need to have your UI Box account set up; instructions are available on this page (scroll down to “Instructions for using Box”).

RBML Event TODAY

Play Through History: A Hands-On Board Game Adventure — Friday, April 4, from 3-5pm in 346 Main Library

Join the RBML for a hands-on journey through history! Play historical board games that bring the past to life as you roll the dice, make your moves, and uncover the stories behind them. Perfect for all ages, this interactive in-person event invites families, students, and community members to connect, learn, and have fun. Don’t just study history—experience it through play! This event is free and refreshments will be served.

VOICE: MFA student reading

Wednesday, April 9
Gallery Art Bar | 119 W Main St, Urbana, IL 61801

Join us for a reading by Graduate students in the MFA program in Creative Writing. This event will feature: 

• Hannah Thorpe
• Mason McVeigh 
• Justine Mercado
• Steven Bergmark

Learn About Fulbright Scholarship Opportunities

Interested in research, teaching, or graduate study abroad? The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards 2,000 scholarships annually for students to conduct research, teach English, or pursue graduate study in 140 countries. Apply to be a 2026 awardee! 

Eligibility
Current juniors, seniors, and recent alumni in all academic disciplines, who are U.S. citizens, are eligible to apply. 

Application Preparation
If you are interested in applying, please attend our information sessions:   

Fulbright General Information Sessions:

Online – Monday, April 7, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Register HERE
Online – Wednesday, April 9, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Register HERE
In Person – Friday, April 11, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – IUB Rm. 514

Fulbright Short Essays Workshops: Your Path and the Fulbright Mission

Online –Tuesday, April 15, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Register HERE
In Person – Wednesday, April 16, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.– IUB Rm. 514

Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Workshops:

Online – Tuesday, April 22, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Register HERE
In Person – Friday, April 25, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – IUB Rm. 514

Fulbright Research & Graduate Study Workshops:

In Person – Thursday, May 1, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – IUB Rm. 514 
Online – Friday, May 2, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Register HERE

Major Exploration Workshop

While we would like to think that you are all totally in love with your English or creative writing major, we know that sometimes it takes a while to find your major home here, and being able to talk openly about your uncertainties is important. If you’re not sure you’re in the right major, check out this upcoming event:

Carr Visiting Author Series: Dante Micheaux

Dante Micheaux is author of Circus (Indolent Books, 2018), which won the Four Quartets Prize from the Poetry Society of America and the T. S. Eliot Foundation, and Amorous Shepherd (Syracuse University Press, 2010).

Micheaux’s other honors include the 2020 Ambit Poetry Prize and fellowships from the Cave Canem Foundation and the New York Times Foundation. 

Student Gala–Come One, Come All!

Recognition of Community Engaged Scholars

Every year, through our Scholar Recognition Program, We CU Community Engaged Scholars seeks to recognize students for their community-based work and their commitment to service. Through the Recognition Program, students can also access benefits such as receiving mini-grants up to $199, which are designed to offset the expenses that come up during their service work. Recognized Scholars are invited to our Annual Recognition Reception on April 22nd, where we celebrate the impact made by students, instructors, and community partners in Champaign County.

Becoming a We CU Recognized Scholar is really simple: you just need to complete our Student Recognition Form before April 16. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach us at we-cu@illinois.edu.

Summer Courses

If you’re looking for a summer course to satisfy a requirement in English or creative writing, check these out!

CW 100: Intro to Creative Writing
ENGL 117: Shakespeare on Film
ENGL 206: Enlightenment Lit & Culture
ENGL 360: Environmental Writing
ENGL 378: Fairy Tales and Gender Formation

Women’s Resources Center Book Club–April

Join the staff of the Women’s Resources Center as we discuss “Saving Five“, written by Amanda Nguyen. During our conversations, we will examine the complexities of survivor healing and activism in speaking your truth.

Book discussions will take place at the Women’s Resources Center on Friday, April 18 from 4 – 5 PM.  Limited copies of the book may be available to students intending to attend book club.  Sign up to attend book club and request a copy of the book.

This book club is held in collaboration with the Asian American Cultural Center as part of our Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) programming.

Don’t Forget These!

Chancellor’s Senior Survey

All students graduating in May 2025 are invited to take the Chancellor’s Senior Survey, which prompts students to reflect on their Illinois experience by answering questions about participation in activities and services, perceived gains in abilities linked to the Illinois (campus-wide) student learning outcomes, campus climate, disability support services, attributions of success, barriers to success, and overall satisfaction with the Illinois experience.

New Certificate Programs

There are two new certificate programs you might be interested in, one in Business & Technical Writing, and one in Interactive & Immersive Storytelling. Check them both out to see if you might be interested.

Summer Language Learning

•  June 16th – August 8th, 2025  •

Session includes
• Arabic, Persian, Swahili, Turkish, and Wolof courses
• Small class sizes and dedicated faculty and staff
• Immersive experience, complete with instruction
• Cultural activities, opportunities for language practice, conversation tables,
cooking classes, movie nights, and more!

Program registration timeline
April 24th – May 12th, 2025
Application & Registration

For more information contact silmw@illinois.edu

A New Way to Share Good News

Remaining Spring 2025 Creative Writing Events

We’ll advertise these individually as they approach (with location info) but now would be a great time to get them in your calendar.

Poetry Reading by Janice Harrington and Angie Estes
Thursday, April 17, 2025 | 6:00

MFA Public Reading
Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 1:00

Research Workshops

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) announces its Spring 2025 workshop calendar. We are offering a variety of workshops to support you regardless of where you are in your research journey. Information for each workshop, including how you can register, can be found on our website . For all workshops, participation is by advanced registration only; there are a limited number of spots available for each workshop, so please sign up as soon as possible. Workshops will be added throughout the term based on demand.

Tuesday @7 Workshops with the Counseling Center

Confidential Advising Resources

The Women’s Resources Center (WRC) is the designated confidential campus resource related to sexual assault/rape, sexual harassment, stalking and abuse within a relationship (sometimes called dating or domestic violence). That means when we talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, we make sure you get what you need and on your terms! There are several Confidential Advisors at the WRC who can provide you – or someone looking to support you – with support and advocacy services.

Follow the department on social media!

Our love and best wishes go with Keshia as she embarks on a new phase of her life and career. Thank you, Keshia, for everything you’ve done while you’ve been with us. We’ll miss you!

Important Dates

March 28: Deadline to add 2nd 8-week course
March 31: Deadline to register for English & Creative Writing Convocation
April 7: Priority registration begins
April 18: Deadline to drop a 2nd 8-week course

Schedule Your Pre-registration Appointment!

Registration will start April 7. Students are assigned a time on or after that day according to the schedule found here. Time tickets (which tell you when you can register for Summer and/or Fall 2025 classes) should be visible to you starting March 24. Log in to Student Self-Service to view your time ticket. When you are ready to schedule your appointment call 217-333-4346 during the hours 8:30-noon or 1:00-4:30. You may request an in-person or a virtual appointment, whichever suits you. Remember that we are very busy during the registration period so please don’t wait until your time ticket opens up and then send an email demanding an immediate reply. Plan ahead!

Need to find a course that satisfies a particular requirement in the major?
Consult the resources available on the Planning Coursework section of the advising site.  You’ll find checklists of major requirements and a “cheat sheet” that tells you which variable topics courses satisfy which requirements in the coming semester.  To access the sheet you’ll need to have your UI Box account set up; instructions are available on this page (scroll down to “Instructions for using Box).

Calling All Graduating Seniors! Registration required by 3/31

If you expect to graduate in May or August you are invited to participate in the English & Creative Writing Convocation in May. Follow links below to the sites that tell you when, where, and how you can register for our ceremony and/or the universitywide ceremony and order regalia.  Sign up for the English & Creative Writing ceremony by Monday, 3/31!

English & Creative Writing Convocation: Saturday, May 17, 5 pm, Smith Memorial Hall

Universitywide Commencement: Saturday, May 17, 9:30 am, Memorial Stadium

You must have regalia (aka “cap and gown”) to participate in any ceremony.  Information about how to rent your cap and gown can be found here. 

Questions about the English department ceremony should be sent to englishadvising@illinois.edu.  Questions about the universitywide ceremony, or about regalia, should be sent to commencement@illinois.edu.   

Chancellor’s Senior Survey

All students graduating in May 2025 are invited to take the Chancellor’s Senior Survey, which prompts students to reflect on their Illinois experience by answering questions about participation in activities and services, perceived gains in abilities linked to the Illinois (campus-wide) student learning outcomes, campus climate, disability support services, attributions of success, barriers to success, and overall satisfaction with the Illinois experience.

Two RBML Events

The Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RBML) is hosting two public events next week, one of them featuring our esteemed department head, Justine Murison!

Why read The Scarlet Letter today? — Thursday, April 3, from 3-5pm in 346 Main Library

The RBML welcomes Justine Murison, editor of a new critical edition of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel. Murison will discuss the work’s historical and literary contexts, the revolutionary politics with which the novel engages, and the enduring questions it asks about American society. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. This event is free, refreshments will be served, and all are welcome to attend!

Play Through History: A Hands-On Board Game Adventure — Friday, April 4, from 3-5pm in 346 Main Library

Join the RBML for a hands-on journey through history! Play historical board games that bring the past to life as you roll the dice, make your moves, and uncover the stories behind them. Perfect for all ages, this interactive in-person event invites families, students, and community members to connect, learn, and have fun. Don’t just study history—experience it through play! This event is free and refreshments will be served.

New Certificate Programs!

There are two new certificate programs you might be interested in, one in Business & Technical Writing, and one in Interactive & Immersive Storytelling. Check them both out to see if you might be interested.

Please note: it is possible that some graduating students (who are not GSD Minors) may be eligible to receive the this certificate, but don’t know that because they wouldn’t have received the announcing emails. If you are a graduating senior who has taken GSD 103 and at least three courses from the list of approved electives (see page linked above) and at least two of those electives are at the advanced level, you may be eligible to claim the certificate BUT you would have to immediately enroll in GSD 490 JM (a 1-credit-hour certificate completion course). The deadline to add that is TODAY, Friday, March 28, so act quickly!

Scholarship Information Sessions

Upcoming Events with Guest Speaker Theo Gonzalves

Los Angeles Review of Books Publishing Workshop

June 23 – July 25, 2025: Online 
Applications due TUESDAY APRIL 1

The Los Angeles Review of Books is accepting applications for the 2025 LARB Publishing Workshop now through April 1.

A five-week intensive summer course, the LARB Publishing Workshop prepares students to succeed in careers in the ever-changing, seemingly inaccessible business of publishing. From June 23 – July 25, Workshop Fellows will learn from the industry professionals shaping print and digital publishing today. 2025 speakers include Adam Levi (Publisher, Transit Books), Christie Henry (Director, Princeton University Press), Gerald Maa (Editor,The Georgia Review), Jamia Wilson (VP and Executive Editor, Penguin Random House), Katie Dublinski (Associate Publisher, Graywolf Press), Lori Dorr (Executive Director,The Paris Review) Rebecca Saletan (Editorial Director, Riverhead Books), Rose D’Amora (Managing Editor, The Nation) among many others. 

In addition to participating in lectures and workshops featuring over 50 guest speakers, Fellows will have the opportunity to join one of two practical tracks dedicated to magazine and book production. These will culminate in the publication of our online magazine, LARBPubLab.org, or books of their own design. This combination of practical skills, industry insights, and creative networks have helped Workshop Fellows start their own ventures or build careers in publishing. Since our inaugural program in 2017, alumni have gone on to jobs at journals, agencies, and presses such as Bookends Literary Agency, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Getty Publications, Hachette Publishing Group, Harper’s Magazine, Harvard University Press, Unnamed Press, PEN Faulkner Foundation, Penguin Random House, Stanford University Press, and many more.

The program is open to undergraduates completing their degree by December 2025, those who have recently graduated, current graduate students, and people with relevant experience and interest in entering the publishing industry. Need need-based scholarships are available. The Publishing Workshop is online and does not require travel to Los Angeles.

Apply now through April 1. For more information and applications visit www.larbpublishingworkshop.org.

You can listen to 2024 Fellows talk about their experience here.

A video of this year’s information session is available here.

For questions about the workshop, please contact us at publishingworkshop@lareviewofbooks.org.

Careers in Human Resources and Labor Relations

Don’t Forget These!

Summer Language Learning

•  June 16th – August 8th, 2025  •

Session includes
• Arabic, Persian, Swahili, Turkish, and Wolof courses
• Small class sizes and dedicated faculty and staff
• Immersive experience, complete with instruction
• Cultural activities, opportunities for language practice, conversation tables,
cooking classes, movie nights, and more!

Program registration timeline
April 24th – May 12th, 2025
Application & Registration

For more information contact silmw@illinois.edu

A New Way to Share Good News

Preview of Spring 2025 Creative Writing Events

We’ll advertise these individually as they approach (with location info) but now would be a great time to get them all in your calendar.

Carr Visiting Author Series: Dante Micheaux
Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 4:30

Poetry Reading by Janice Harrington and Angie Estes
Thursday, April 17, 2025 | 6:00

MFA Public Reading
Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 1:00

Research Workshops

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) announces its Spring 2025 workshop calendar. We are offering a variety of workshops to support you regardless of where you are in your research journey. Information for each workshop, including how you can register, can be found on our website . For all workshops, participation is by advanced registration only; there are a limited number of spots available for each workshop, so please sign up as soon as possible. Workshops will be added throughout the term based on demand.

Tuesday @7 Workshops with the Counseling Center

Confidential Advising Resources

The Women’s Resources Center (WRC) is the designated confidential campus resource related to sexual assault/rape, sexual harassment, stalking and abuse within a relationship (sometimes called dating or domestic violence). That means when we talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, we make sure you get what you need and on your terms! There are several Confidential Advisors at the WRC who can provide you – or someone looking to support you – with support and advocacy services.

Follow the department on social media!

Important Dates

March 14: Deadline to DROP a full semester course
March 14: Deadline to elect GRADE REPLACEMENT for a full semester course
March 15-23: SPRING BREAK

We’re Hiring!

For the 2025-26 academic year, the Department of English is looking to hire a Social Media Management Intern from any major in the English Department. This is a great opportunity for students to apply their love of writing and literature while gaining valuable media-writing experience.

Eligibility: Undergraduate in the Department of English with at least Sophomore standing for AY25-26

Position Responsibilities:

• Develop creative thematic post series for Facebook and Instagram
• Promote, attend, and create social media posts about department events when safety allows
• Design flyers, memes, and other posts for informing and entertaining students
• Develop creative semester-long multimodal projects
• Attend weekly meetings for brainstorming, task assignments, and collaboration
• Edit videos and design flyers or posts
• Collaborate with Advising Office in creating content
• Conduct and publish interviews with faculty, alumni, students, and visiting speakers
• Average hours worked per week: 5 (about 75 hours over a semester)

Position Wage: $15/hour
Position Starts: April, 2025

Recommended Skills and Experience:

• Concise and catchy writing
• Writing for social media
• Develop and follow through on creative ideas
• Tailor message and style to genre and audience
• Visual design
• Work independently
• Interpersonal communication
• Collaboration
• Reliability
• Word, Publisher, Adobe, photo & video editing
• Photography, video, and editing skills a plus

To Apply: Submit a resume and cover letter. Application materials can be addressed to John Dudek, Associate Director of Creative Writing, and sent as email attachments to jdudek4@illinois.edu by no later than 9:00 am on Friday, March 28.

Calling All Graduating Seniors!

If you expect to graduate in May or August you are invited to participate in the English & Creative Writing Convocation in May.  Please read on to ensure that you know all about when, where, and how you can register for our ceremony and/or the universitywide ceremony and order regalia.  

English & Creative Writing Convocation: Saturday, May 17, 5 pm, Smith Memorial Hall

Universitywide Commencement: Saturday, May 17, 9:30 am, Memorial Stadium

Please note that you must have regalia (aka “cap and gown”) to participate in any ceremony.  Information about how to rent your cap and gown can be found here. 

Questions about the English department ceremony should be sent to englishadvising@illinois.edu.  Questions about the universitywide ceremony, or about regalia, should be sent to commencement@illinois.edu.   

Chancellor’s Senior Survey

All students graduating in May 2025 are invited to take the Chancellor’s Senior Survey, which prompts students to reflect on their Illinois experience by answering questions about participation in activities and services, perceived gains in abilities linked to the Illinois (campus-wide) student learning outcomes, campus climate, disability support services, attributions of success, barriers to success, and overall satisfaction with the Illinois experience.

Spring Break Professional Development Opportunity

If you will be in the Chicagoland area over spring break, please join LAS Career Services for an employer site visit to Feldco in Rosemont, IL, on Thursday, March 20. 

Feldco is an exterior home improvement company in Rosemont, IL The CEO, Doug Cook, is an LAS alumnus (communications major, followed by an MBA from Northwestern) who is eager to connect with current LAS students. This site visit is an opportunity to see how liberal arts and sciences skills can lead to success in a business environment — and to learn about employment opportunities in the Feldco corporate headquarters. All years and LAS majors are welcome!

Register on Handshake (advance registration is required.

Here’s the agenda for the visit:

• Meet in the main lobby of Feldco (6300 N River Rd Suite 600, Rosemont, IL) at 10:00am!
• 10:00am – 10:15am: get settled – snacks, coffee
• 10:15am – 10:45am: office tour
• 11:00am – 12pm: welcome, presentation about the company, Q&A
• 12pm – 1pm: networking lunch (provided by Feldco)
• 1pm to 2pm: panel conversation with UIUC alumni/informational interviews with staff in small groups
• 2pm to 2:15pm: closing remarks.

Dress code is business casual (pants/trousers with a collared shirt or office-appropriate top — no jeans, sweats, or logos).

Some background: Feldco CEO Doug Cook on the commercial jingle that is vital to the company’s success | WGN Radio 720 – Chicago’s Very Own 

Email Kirstin Wilcox at kwilcox@illinois.edu if you have questions!

Scholarship Information Sessions

First-Gen Series Event

NEW SECOND 8-WEEK COURSE OPTION

English 103, Introduction to Fiction, taught by Peter Mortensen

What good is fiction in a world hungry for truth? We’ll search for answers on familiar ground: the college campus. Fiction about collegiate life abounds. We’ll study it by reading novels and short stories that challenge us to imagine our place and ourselves differently, which is to say critically. The critical imagination sparked by fiction can reveal larger truths about humanity and its institutions. These truths may be beautiful or ugly, lasting or fleeting, comforting or disturbing, broadly accepted or sharply contested. Whatever the case, finding truths in fiction requires a particular kind of reading: close reading. The techniques and vocabulary of close reading will equip us to make arguments in writing, arguments aimed at persuading others to share (or at least appreciate) our understanding of what we have read. Fiction on the syllabus includes Jean Hanff Korelitz’s Admission, Richard Powers’ Galatea 2.2, Weike Wang’s Chemistry, and Richard Russo’s Straight Man. With Admission and Straight Man, we’ll use close reading to evaluate what happens when the truths of prose fiction are adapted for presentation to mass audiences on screen.

Interested in Gaming?

Check out these 2nd-8-week courses, open to students in all majors! No prior experience necessary.

INFO 490 SBU/SBG
Makerspaces: Made for Learning 
This course is an exploration of the history and function of community and education-oriented makerspaces. Students in this section will evaluate emergent makerspace curricula for learning in formal environments, like schools, as well as informal settings, like libraries. The students’ coursework will culminate in a final project that will involve the development of a makerspace workshop activity that will be a part of a community event. In preparation for this final project, students will be familiarized with several methods of teaching and learning rapid prototyping and iterative design techniques. This will include a variety of low/no-tech projects and computer-driven tools, such as e-textiles, 3D printing, electronic cutting and small board electronics.

GSD 390 DHP 
Improv for Games
Whether you’ve seen it in your favorite Tabletop Role Playing game, on a television show like Whose Line is it Anyway, or in person at Second City, improvisation is everywhere. In this course, students will learn and practice basic improvisational techniques, with the goal of exploring fictional characters and scenarios in and around games and game design. Students will also get the opportunity to create new Improv games, and approach the space from a designer’s perspective. No theater or game design experience is required!

GSD 390 JAI
AI Systems in Games
Guided exploration of AI tools and how they can be used to design and build games including the use of large language models (LLM).

GSD 390 RPG
2D Game Design with RPG Maker
An introduction to the design behind 2D games. You will become proficient in RPG Maker MZ, a game engine designed for 2D forced perspective games. By the end of class you will have developed a small demo for personal reference for what you’ve learned as well as for your portfolio. No prior programming knowledge is required for students to be successful in the course. BYOL course (Bring Your Own Laptop). Students must purchase their own license of RPG Maker MZ.

Junior Quinn Award 2025

The Junior Quinn Award recognizes achievement and potential in Creative Writing MAJORS or minors with junior class standing by awarding one or more recipients with financial support to attend a writing workshop or conference. This year’s prize will be issued as a flat $1000. We recognize that it is not always easy to determine eligibility. If you are not technically a Junior this academic year but plan to graduate no earlier than December 2025 and no later than December 2026, you may be eligible (check with an advisor if you’re not sure). You may apply for the Junior Quinn only once.

If you are eligible, we want to see a sample of your unpublished prose OR poetry:

Prose submissions can be either fiction or creative nonfiction. Limit your submission to 1-2 pieces, no more than 15 pages total. Poetry submissions should contain 3-5 poems, no more than 7 pages total. The first page of your submission (not included in page count) should be a statement of purpose explaining how attending a writing conference or other professional development opportunity would impact your writing. This statement should be no more than 250 words.

Submit your statement of purpose and creative work in one file (.docx only) to John Dudek at jdudek4@illinois.edu by noon, March 20. To make sure your submission does not get lost, the subject line of the email should be ALL CAPS and either JUNIOR QUINN POETRY or JUNIOR QUINN PROSE. The body of this email should include: Your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and UIN.

Image of Research Competition–Submit by 3/25

Poetry and Jazz!

The Humanities Research Institute presents an evening of jazz and poetry with award-winning poet Janice N. Harrington and musician Charles “Chip” McNeil. Harrington will read selections from her book Yard Show with musical accompaniment by McNeill and student musicians from the University of Illinois School of Music. The book will be available for purchasing and signing!

March 26,  7:00 p.m
Levis Faculty Center, Rm 300

Upcoming LAS Career Events

• Finding an Internship March 26th, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm 715 South Wright Street

Careers in Human Resources and Labor Relations

Don’t Forget These!

Summer Language Learning

•  June 16th – August 8th, 2025  •

Session includes
• Arabic, Persian, Swahili, Turkish, and Wolof courses
• Small class sizes and dedicated faculty and staff
• Immersive experience, complete with instruction
• Cultural activities, opportunities for language practice, conversation tables,
cooking classes, movie nights, and more!

Program registration timeline
April 24th – May 12th, 2025
Application & Registration

For more information contact silmw@illinois.edu

A New Way to Share Good News

Preview of Spring 2025 Creative Writing Events

We’ll advertise these individually as they approach (with location info) but now would be a great time to get them all in your calendar.

Carr Visiting Author Series: Dante Micheaux
Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 4:30

Poetry Reading by Janice Harrington and Angie Estes
Thursday, April 17, 2025 | 6:00

Yard Show: Black Life, Prairies, and Place Making In the Midwest.
Reading and performance featuring Janice N. Harrington and Chip McNeill
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | 4:30

MFA Public Reading
Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 1:00

Research Workshops

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) announces its Spring 2025 workshop calendar. We are offering a variety of workshops to support you regardless of where you are in your research journey. Information for each workshop, including how you can register, can be found on our website . For all workshops, participation is by advanced registration only; there are a limited number of spots available for each workshop, so please sign up as soon as possible. Workshops will be added throughout the term based on demand.

Tuesday @7 Workshops with the Counseling Center

Confidential Advising Resources

The Women’s Resources Center (WRC) is the designated confidential campus resource related to sexual assault/rape, sexual harassment, stalking and abuse within a relationship (sometimes called dating or domestic violence). That means when we talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, we make sure you get what you need and on your terms! There are several Confidential Advisors at the WRC who can provide you – or someone looking to support you – with support and advocacy services.