POT B courses begin: Monday, March 23
Deadline to add a POT B course: Friday, March 27
Deadline to Submit Junior Quinn Award Application: Friday, March 27
Registration time tickets viewable on Self-Service: Monday, March 30
Registration begins: Monday, April 6

Resource of the Week: SLEEP!

Even though many of you will have reading to catch up on over the break, we hope you’re getting some much deserved R&R. We hope you can sleep well, recover from the first half of the semester, and come back refreshed. Check out these tips for effective sleep practices.

New Internship and Job Postings

Administrative and Archival Internship

The Alvin H. Baum Family Fund strives to better the lives of those who live and work predominantly in the Chicagoland area. Through innovative grants and collaborations, the Fund helps ignite new ideas and promote solutions to ensure healthier, more equitable, and peaceful communities.

The focus of this internship will be organizing and preserving the files documenting the Baum Fund’s history with each organization we support. There may be other administrative duties assigned from time to time.

The ideal candidate will be a current undergraduate interested in philanthropy and the not-for-profit world. The intern must be available to work onsite in Deerfield, IL.

Successful candidates will also demonstrate:

-Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
-A high level of organization and professionalism
-Critical thinking skills and good judgement
-Humility and gratitude
-Strong writing skills
-Interest in and curiosity about a career in some element of nonprofit management (fundraising, operations, collaboration, grant-writing, outreach, etc.)

The position pays $18/hr. All work will be conducted onsite at our office in Deerfield, Illinois, about a mile west of downtown Deerfield/the Deerfield Metra station. We expect the intern to work about 30 hours per week, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Thursday. While the approximate dates of work are June 1 – August 6, we are somewhat flexible with start/end dates with the ideal amount of time worked being approximately 10 weeks.

Additional benefits of the role include the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the nonprofit ecosystem and the work of creating meaningful social change through philanthropy.

Part-Time Job with Champaign County Forest Preserves

As an education support specialist you would assist with implementation and evaluation of cultural/historical education programming for people of all abilities and backgrounds served by the Museum of the Grand Prairie within the Museum and Education Department of Champaign County Forest Preserves (CCFP). See this page for full details and application link.

Celebration of Storytelling Conference – All Students Welcome!

Looking for a Second 8-Week (POT B) Course? Check These Out!

Student Success Series: Food Budgeting and AI

When: March 24th from 12:00-1:00pm
Keeping meals both affordable and enjoyable can be tricky, but we don’t need to take on these responsibilities alone! This workshop is designed to cover the basics of how to incorporate AI into food budgeting practices, including meal planning, grocery lists, and more. It covers several tools designed specifically for the purpose of food budgeting and meal planning, as well as discussing how to design clear, specific prompts for general AI chatbots like ChatGPT to assist with these tasks.  

Why Scientists and Scholars Should Communicate Through the Media, Despite the Risks

Who: Laura Helmuth (Slate, Scientific American, Washington Post)
When: Tuesday, March 24th at 5:30pm
Where: Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum

Universities, public health organizations, federal science agencies, and publishers have become targets of political forces that are threatened by the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. New restrictions on funding, collaborations, and inclusion are disrupting crucial research and limiting who is allowed to pursue it. The power imbalance is severe right now, and individuals and institutions are at risk of losing grants, students, jobs, and opportunities. Helmuth will argue for a way out through building support for academic freedom, long-term research, honest assessments of history, and life-saving public health policies. Experts who share their knowledge with journalists or communicate directly through mass media face risks but can make a difference. We’ll cover best practices, practical advice, and possible outcomes of doing so, and how people in different fields of expertise can support one another’s overlapping missions.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Laura Helmuth is a journalist, freelance editor, writer, and consultant who formerly served as editor in chief of Scientific American, where you can still read her many features. She previously worked as an editor for the Washington Post, National Geographic, Slate, Smithsonian and Science. A former president of the National Association of Science Writers, Helmuth is currently a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s standing committee on advancing science communication and an advisory board member for SciLine and The Transmitter. She has a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley, and recently won a Friend of Darwin Award from the National Center for Science Education. Her current writing can also be found at Slate and The Last Word on Nothing.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• Sawyer Seminar Website
• Sawyer Seminar Instagram
• Email sawyerseminar@illinois.edu 

Fulbright For Artists

When: Wednesday, March 25th from 3-5pm
Where: Krannert Art Museum, Room 62 (500 E Peabody Drive)
Register: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/689459119

The National & International Scholarships Program and the Graduate College Office of External Fellowships will kick off the Fulbright application season with a workshop focused on Fulbright opportunities in: 

• Architecture (building and landscape) 
• Creative Writing (fiction, non-fiction, playwriting, poetry, and screenwriting) 
• Music (composition, performance, and world music) 
• Performing Arts (dance, performance art, and theater arts) 
• Visual Arts (animation, photography, illustration, filmmaking, etc.)

The session will feature Melissa Terrall, pianist and former Fulbrighter, who studied Mexican piano repertoire at Mexico City’s National Conservatory; Dani Nutting, flutist and former Fulbrighter to Bulgaria and Assistant Director of the National and International Scholarships Program, who advises undergraduate and alumni applicants; and Dana N. Johnson, former Fulbrighter to Serbia and Director of External Fellowships in the Graduate College, who advises graduate student applicants.

Advanced undergraduates, graduate students (including MFA candidates), alumni, and other interested members of the campus community are invited to attend. Presenters will share insights into pursuing a Fulbright as an artist and preparing a strong application. Topics include identifying a strong affiliation, meeting language expectations, assembling a compelling portfolio, and crafting persuasive narrative statements. 

Participants will also learn about the campus application process and how to make effective use of advising services offered by the National & International Scholarships Program and the Graduate College Office of External Fellowships.

Questions about the event may be directed to: topscholars@illinois.edu. 

Scholarships Information Sessions

Junior Quinn Award

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 scholarship of $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 2026 and no later than December 2027, you may be eligible. If you have any questions about your eligibility, check with our wonderful Undergraduate Advisors at englishadvising@illinois.edu. You may apply for the Junior Quinn only once. If you have eligibility questions, email John Dudek, Associate Director of Creative Writing, at jdudek4@illinois.edu. 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. A few conferences you might consider are listed below. Though feel free to find other opportunities that interest you more!
· AWP Conference
· Juniper Summer Writing Institute
· Kenyon Review Writers’ Workshop
· Port Townsend Writer’s Conference

Submit your statement of purpose and creative work in one file (.docx only) to John Dudek at jdudek4@illinois.edu by noon, March 27. 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.

The Jeffries Center Spring 2026 Workshop Series

The English Department has a study abroad exchange agreement with the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. They are offering online information sessions for students interested in finding out more about spending a semester or year abroad at UEA:

Monday, March 30 – 17:00 BST – Register here
Thursday April 9 – 8:00 BST – Register here

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. 

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!

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Summer & Fall 2026 courses on Course Explorer: Monday, March 9
Deadline to drop a full-semester course: Friday, March 13
Spring Break: March 14-22
POT B courses begin: Monday, March 23
Deadline to add a POT B course: Friday, March 27
Registration time tickets viewable on Self-Service: Monday, March 30

Resource of the Week: Registration Tools

Priority registration begins April 6, and it pays to be ready when your time ticket opens up! There’s a lot you can do in advance, including using the “Plan Ahead” function in the registration system. Start here to get a refresher on how to navigate the system, with step-by-step instructions.

Other things you can do to prepare include:

• Reviewing your degree audit
• Meeting with a departmental advisor
• Checking to make sure you don’t have any holds that would prevent registration
• Browsing the schedule in Course Explorer (the spring schedule goes live March 9)

Summer Job Opportunity (Campus-Based)

The Division of Exploratory Studies (EXP) is hiring Summer Peer Advisors to support our New Student Registration program, where they’ll help guide nearly 1,000 incoming first-year and transfer students through course registration and prepping for their first semester at Illinois.

Pay: $15/hr, ~20–25 hrs/week
Dates: Training May 18–20; Work June 1–25 (fully in-person)
Great for students looking to build leadership and presentation skills
Open to all current Illinois undergraduates in good academic standing

Application deadline: March 11, 2026
Learn more & apply: https://explore.illinois.edu/summer-peer-advisors/

Voice Reading

March 11, 7pm
Gallery Art Bar, 119 W. Main St. Urbana
Join us for a reading of creative work by MFA students from the Department of English. This month’s reading will feature: Garrett Stack, Emory Vens and Samuel Cearlock.

Reminder to Submit Proposal

Submit a proposal to present at the Undergraduate Research Symposium by Friday, March 13 at 11:59pm.

Wolff Internship

The Charles P. Wolff Internship at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs is a paid public policy and communications internship. Wolff Interns will gain exposure to public policy research, public engagement, event management, and our network of scholars across the University of Illinois System. Interns will be assigned to work with the Senior Coordinators at IGPA to help with programming, event planning, newsletters, podcasting, website updates, scholar relations, legislative relations, and more. The Wolff Internship prepares undergraduates for careers in public service, policy, and government relations. Throughout the year, interns collaborate with the IGPA team, top UI System scholars, and government officials. Past interns have gone on to work in major law firms, serve in the State Department, become Rhodes Scholars, and work at the White House. Competitive candidates will have a strong interest in public policy, demonstrated engagement on campus, aptitude for research and communications, and a desire to contribute to ongoing policy conversations. To learn more about the Wolff Internship and to read about our current Wolffs: https://igpa.uillinois.edu/programs/the-charles-p-wolff-internship 

Available Summer 2026 – May 2027. Hours expectation is around 20 per week during the summer semester, and around 15 per week in the fall and spring semester.  Paid hourly position. This opportunity is open to undergraduate students (incoming Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors) at UIC, UIS and UIUC, interested in public policy, communications, public service, government, and journalism. This will be an in-person internship. Office space is available.

Apply by Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 11:59pm. Applicants will be contacted to schedule interviews shortly after the due date.

Email mcama6@illinois.edu and nyeager2@illinois.edu with any questions.

Summer Internship Program

Midstory’s 2026 summer ThinkLab internship program is for the next generation of thinkers who believe in shaping the post-industrial story through a multidisciplinary framework. Students work closely with our team to produce and share hidden stories through research, solutions-oriented projects and multimedia production — with such topics as demography, the environment, culture, arts, education and more. Opportunities for engaging in projects throughout the Midwest include ongoing water-related research, a look at cities across the region through data and more. The nine-week program operates from mid June to mid August.

The program is designed for students to pursue meaningful writing, media production and research in a nonprofit thinkhub setting. Students…

• Obtain experience in a creative, multidisciplinary, team-focused environment
• Connect with professionals, graduate-level researchers and fellow students from all over the country
• Learn multimedia and design skills
• Pitch and publish stories and projects
• Improve interviewing and writing skills
• Have the potential to join future funded projects with Midstory
• Have fun with activities like trips to amusement parks and weekly intern social hours

Application Deadline:
Sunday, March 8, 2026 11:59pm (ET)
Apply now at www.midstory.org/internships

Law Degree for Non-Lawyers

The Master of Studies in Law (MSL) program is designed for individuals who want to increase their legal knowledge in order to further their careers. This degree builds foundational skills in law and legal analysis and can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time. Successful MSL candidates come from backgrounds in liberal arts, business administration, education, information science, technology, and more, and the program may be an ideal next step for graduating students looking to expand their skillset before pursuing a career. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but those received before June 1 will receive fullest consideration for a fall semester start.

Junior Quinn Award

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 scholarship of $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 2026 and no later than December 2027, you may be eligible. If you have any questions about your eligibility, check with our wonderful Undergraduate Advisors at englishadvising@illinois.edu. You may apply for the Junior Quinn only once. If you have eligibility questions, email John Dudek, Associate Director of Creative Writing, at jdudek4@illinois.edu. 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. A few conferences you might consider are listed below. Though feel free to find other opportunities that interest you more!
· AWP Conference
· Juniper Summer Writing Institute
· Kenyon Review Writers’ Workshop
· Port Townsend Writer’s Conference

Submit your statement of purpose and creative work in one file (.docx only) to John Dudek at jdudek4@illinois.edu by noon, March 27. 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.

Writers Workshop Update

The Writers Workshop provides free, individualized writing feedback for any type of writing and at any stage of the writing process. This includes course, papers, senior capstone, personal statements, intercollegiate transfer application essays, resumes and cover letters, group writing projects, theses and dissertations, and manuscripts for publication. They have appointments and drop-in hours; they’re available in-person and online; and they have multiple locations across campus. Check out upcoming presentations and events.

The English Department has a study abroad exchange agreement with the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. They are offering online information sessions for students interested in finding out more about spending a semester or year abroad at UEA:

Monday, March 30 – 17:00 BST – Register here
Thursday April 9 – 8:00 BST – Register here

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. 

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!

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Stage Two Department Scholarship Applications due: Friday, Feb. 20
Summer & Fall 2026 courses on Course Explorer: Monday, March 9

Resource of the Week: Research Opportunities

There are lots of ways to get involved in research at Illinois, and a good place to start exploring is the Office of Undergraduate Research website. Learn how and when to submit your work for presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium (spoiler: you have until March 13), or search the Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities Database.

Remember that research takes many forms and varies by discipline. Research in the humanities may look quite different from STEM or social science research. Talk to your professors about the work they do as professional scholars to understand better what research looks like in various contexts. Find opportunities to practice the arts of research in your literature and writing courses (assignments permitting) and to share the results (here’s a list of conferences that accept undergraduate submissions, and you can apply for travel funds if your paper is accepted). Consider taking more advanced-level courses (in which you’re more likely to be asked to do some kind of research project) and/or sign up for an English Honors seminar this fall (check website for eligibility guidelines, and keep an eye out for an email with instructions for requesting your spot in a seminar). Finally, get comfortable with the research tools available to you through the University Library. Knowing how and where to get help with each stage of the research process is key!

ESA Winter Newsletter

The Department of English offers numerous merit scholarships totaling more than $100,000 in an annual competition in the spring. These scholarships recognize and reward outstanding achievements by English, creative writing, or teaching of English students. The award amounts vary widely; for more information about the scholarship application process, please contact our director of undergraduate studies, Andrea Stevens.

Don’t Forget These!

Spring Creative Writing Contest Open

The English Department is pleased to announce its annual undergraduate literary competitions in Short Fiction and Poetry. The prizes for our judge’s top selections are awards or scholarships ranging from $100-$1500. There are multiple places in each category. Deadline: Noon, Friday, February 27, 2026

Only University of Illinois undergraduate students are eligible. To be considered for a prize, submissions must adhere to the following rules:

Short Fiction: Submit no more than one unpublished story (7500 words, maximum length)
Poetry: Submit up to 5 unpublished poems in a single document.

– All submissions must be sent via email as an attachment to: jdudek4@illinois.edu.
– The subject line of your email message must read as follows: “UNDERGRAD POETRY: Last name” or “UNDERGRAD FICTION: Last name”
– If you enter in both categories (poetry and fiction), you will need to send separate emails.

In the body of your email, please include your:
-name
-address
-phone number
-@Illinois e-mail address
-status (i.e. undergraduate student)
-UIN

This year, we are also able to offer new scholarships in both Fiction and Poetry. These scholarships will be distributed to students based on merit, with preference given to students displaying financial need and who graduated from an Illinois high school.

If you would like to be considered for one of these scholarships, please include the following along with the information above:
–a brief note on your financial need (no more than a couple sentences included below the contact information in the body of the email)
–the name of the Illinois high school from which you graduated

Your entry itself is to be contained in one attached .docx file. The name of this file must be the contest category followed by your last name, such as “FICTION JONES.docx” or “POETRY JONES.docx” Your name should not appear within the document itself.
Winners will be announced in early April. Please direct any questions to John Dudek, Associate Director of Creative Writing at jdudek4@illinois.edu.

East Anglia Study Abroad Info Sessions

The English Department has a study abroad exchange agreement with the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. They are offering online information sessions for students interested in finding out more about spending a semester or year abroad at UEA:

Monday, March 30 – 17:00 BST – Register here
Thursday April 9 – 8:00 BST – Register here

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

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!

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Stage One Department Scholarships Applications Due: Friday, Feb. 6
Deadline to drop a POT A (first 8-weeks) course: Friday, Feb. 13
Advising Office Open House: Thursday, Feb 19
Stage Two Department Scholarship Applications due: Friday, Feb. 20

Resource of the Week: Free and Lower-Cost Books

We know that books for your classes can be expensive and you may have trouble finding affordable copies. You all have access to the amazing resources of the University Library, and of course the IUB often stocks used copies of textbooks, but have you also checked out the public libraries and used bookstores in town? It’s worth joining the Champaign Public Library or the Urbana Free Library (if you’re a member of either one you can get books from either–and indeed from other libraries in the state–through their interlibrary loan system) so that you can borrow books but you should also know about their sales of used books. Check out the Friendshop Bookstore (open Weds-Sun 1-4pm) at the Champaign Public Library and look for news of book sales hosted a few times each year by the Friends of the Urbana Free Library.

We also have two great used bookstores in town, Jane Addams Books and Priceless Books, and you never know what you might find there (in a college town like this, you have a better than average chance of finding the kinds of books your instructors are assigning) and it’s worth taking the time to browse their shelves. You can even call ahead and ask if they happen to have a copy of whatever it is you’re looking for. If you have some books to sell, Jane Addams won’t give you cash but they may give you some store credit.

Here’s a DI story about Jane Addams Books written by one of our own alums.

The Department of English offers numerous merit scholarships totaling more than $100,000 in an annual competition in the spring. These scholarships recognize and reward outstanding achievements by English, creative writing, or teaching of English students. The award amounts vary widely; for more information about this please contact our director of undergraduate studies, Andrea Stevens.

Thursday, Feb. 12 – 8:00 GMT – Register here
Thursday, Feb. 19 – 17:00 GMT – Register here
Monday, March 30 – 17:00 BST – Register here
Thursday April 9 – 8:00 BST – Register here

They are also hosting information sessions for their Creative Writing Summer School:

Wednesday, Feb. 4 – 17:00-18:00 GMT – Register here
Wednesday, Feb. 11 – 8:00-9:00 GMT – Register here

For more information about a study abroad opportunity at the University of East Anglia, such as how to apply, visit the Illinois My Study Abroad webpage

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions is an Afro-futurist film that braids fictional and historical characters in a stunning cinematic experience spanning 247 years across land and sea. Directed by Kahlil Joseph—known for his collaborations with Beyoncé (Lemonade) and Kendrick Lamar—the film is shaped by an extraordinary creative team, including Oscar-winning editor Paul Rogers (Everything Everywhere All at Once), cinematographer Bradford Young (Selma), and MacArthur Award–winning co-director Garrett Bradley (Time).

Premiering at Sundance, BLKNWS was ranked “Best of Festival” by Metacritic and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Gotham Film Awards.

Rich Spirit Studios has granted the University of Illinois an exclusive screening, to be followed by a public conversation with Joseph and collaborators.

Voyager Scholarship

IN-PERSON Voyager Scholarship Information Session
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 3:30-4:30 pm
514 Illini Union Bookstore Building, Floor 5

The Voyager Scholarship (Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service) is awarded to students focused on public service careers. A career in public service includes a range of occupations in government, non-profits or the private sector, from community organizing to social work and from entrepreneurship to the arts—all committed to solving our biggest challenges together. It provides up to $80,000 toward your education ($25,000/yr of financial aid for junior and senior year, $10,000 for a summer experience, and $2,000 annually for 10 years for travel). 

Deadline 
The priority campus deadline is March 2, 2026 at 12:00pm (noon). 
The final submittal deadline is March 17, 2026. 

Open to those who will have a degree in hand by the start of July (so May graduates are eligible).

Advising Office Open House

Career Networking Event

This is a career event for students who:

• Wonder how to build a career around their arts-related interests.
• Love being in cultural, performance, or museum spaces
• Want to promote creative and cultural work
• Seek a career with intellectual purpose

There will be a guided networking event from 2:30 – 4pm with professionals from various Illinois arts and culture organizations, followed by a panel of discussion with student interns working for arts and culture organizations, 4 – 5pm. Students can come for any or all of it. There will be snacks.

Upcoming Poetry Events

Don’t Forget These!

Spring Creative Writing Contest Open

The English Department is pleased to announce its annual undergraduate literary competitions in Short Fiction and Poetry. The prizes for our judge’s top selections are awards or scholarships ranging from $100-$1500. There are multiple places in each category. Deadline: Noon, Friday, February 27, 2026

Only University of Illinois undergraduate students are eligible. To be considered for a prize, submissions must adhere to the following rules:

Short Fiction: Submit no more than one unpublished story (7500 words, maximum length)
Poetry: Submit up to 5 unpublished poems in a single document.

– All submissions must be sent via email as an attachment to: jdudek4@illinois.edu.
– The subject line of your email message must read as follows: “UNDERGRAD POETRY: Last name” or “UNDERGRAD FICTION: Last name”
– If you enter in both categories (poetry and fiction), you will need to send separate emails.

In the body of your email, please include your:
-name
-address
-phone number
-@Illinois e-mail address
-status (i.e. undergraduate student)
-UIN

This year, we are also able to offer new scholarships in both Fiction and Poetry. These scholarships will be distributed to students based on merit, with preference given to students displaying financial need and who graduated from an Illinois high school.

If you would like to be considered for one of these scholarships, please include the following along with the information above:
–a brief note on your financial need (no more than a couple sentences included below the contact information in the body of the email)
–the name of the Illinois high school from which you graduated

Your entry itself is to be contained in one attached .docx file. The name of this file must be the contest category followed by your last name, such as “FICTION JONES.docx” or “POETRY JONES.docx” Your name should not appear within the document itself.
Winners will be announced in early April. Please direct any questions to John Dudek, Associate Director of Creative Writing at jdudek4@illinois.edu.

New Harbinger Publications Hiring Part-Time & Remote Marketing Assistant

New Harbinger Publications, a leading publisher of evidence-based self-help and psychology books, is seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Marketing Assistant to support their marketing and publicity team. This is a virtual, part-time (20 hours/week) contract position ideal for someone interested in learning the ins and outs of book marketing in a mission-driven, independent publishing environment.

For more information, such as how to apply, visit https://www.newharbinger.com/pages/job-opportunities/#marketing

CW 243 & Education Justice Project (EJP) Blended Course for Fall 2026

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

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!