Follow English Department communities on social media!
10th annual ecofeminism summit fINAL EVENT TODAY
Paid copyediting position
The Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL) is a USAID-funded initiative committed to reducing poverty and malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa and globally through advancements in production, processing, and utilization across the soybean value chain. SIL’s clients are practitioners, those who lead and manage the public and private sector organizations along the soybean value chain.
Position Overview: We are seeking a highly skilled Editor to join our team. As an Editor, you will play a crucial role in refining and enhancing written content to meet the highest standards of quality and clarity. Your expertise in the English language and editing, coupled with your meticulous attention to detail, will be instrumental in ensuring the accuracy and coherence of our materials.
Qualifications: -A strong educational background in English, linguistics, or a related field, demonstrating a deep understanding of the English language. -Proven track record of consistently delivering high-quality work within established deadlines. -Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining the integrity of written content. -Experience with research or marketing articles is preferred, highlighting the ability to navigate complex subjects and terminologies. -Proficiency in using editing software and tools. -Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. -Ability to collaborate effectively with a diverse team of writers, editors, and content creators.
Benefits: -From $13/hour on, depending on the experience and work performance. -Estimated workload of 10 hours per week. -Friendly and flexible working environment.
If you possess a passion for language precision and have a keen eye for refining content to its best potential, please contact me via ixh@illinois.edu. Your expertise will be instrumental in maintaining the quality and impact of our written materials.
awp intro journals contest
get involved with montage
new RSO
There’s a new RSO in town and it’s called Uplift! Uplift’s mission is to foster a community of pre-professional students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign dedicated to collaboration, unity, and mutual support. Our RSO will serve as a hub for students of all backgrounds. We are committed to fostering an environment wherein members feel seen, heard, and empowered to pursue their goals. The RSO will provide resources for pre-professional students to prepare for their future careers and professional or graduate schools. We will also enable students to pursue their goals through study hours and access to review resources. Check out their site and sign up for email notifications if you’re interested.
law school fair + admission panel
apply now to be a golden apple scholar!
Prospective Secondary Education minors can apply by Dec 1 for priority acceptance.
Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program
The Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP) is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2024 cohort.
URAP provides students with little or no research experience the opportunity to work with graduate students and post-doctoral scholars on their research projects, explore the culture and process of research, and build on their existing abilities within a community of scholars. In Spring 2024, the undergraduate portion of URAP will consist of two equally important parts: a one-on-one research experience with their research mentor, and the Introduction to Research course. The course is designed to complement the research mentoring experience, orienting undergraduate mentees to broader topics in the research process.
Participation in URAP is by application only; the application portal is now open. Students selected to be part of URAP are expected to commit to: (1) attending the regular weekly class meetings of GC 295, Introduction to Research (3 credit hours) with Office of Undergraduate Research instructors; and (2) working one-on-one with their research mentors, an average of 5-6 hours per week. As part of the course requirement, students will complete a final project, consisting of a poster, to be presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium, an annual event on April 25, 2024.
The deadline for students to apply is October 6, 2023, at 11:59 pm. For more information about URAP, including research project abstracts, and how to apply to the program, please visit our website: http://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/programs/urap.html
LAS career services upcoming events
Careers in Grantwriting
Thursday, Oct. 5, 5 – 6:30pm, virtual
Grant writing is a key skill for making a difference in the world. Many organizations (educational, social services, community, health….) rely on grant funding. Learn about opportunities to build grant writing skills as part of your Illinois education and hear from two Illinois alumni who have built career paths around this superpower: Gloria Yen (Music ’11), former Director, New American Welcome Center here in Champaign, and Vivienne Henning (English ’19), Grant Writer, Mercy Housing.
The Hub is open again! Stop by Tuesday- Thursdays from 10 am to 3 pm. Under the Lincoln Hall theater is the Lisnek Hub where you can chat with peer mentors.
now accepting scholarship applications!
The Illinois Club provides scholarships to outstanding students in the areas of global studies, humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, education, and art. You must be an undergraduate at UIUC who will have earned 60 credit hours by the Spring 2024 semester and be planning to graduate no earlier than December 2024. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is also expected. The application portal is now open and will be live until 5pm CST on October 14th, 2023. More information is available at Illinois Club Scholarships.
find a workshop for you!
If you’re struggling in one or more of your STEM courses, perhaps there’s a workshop that could help. Check out the LAS Success Workshop Schedule, and be sure to click on “see more” at the bottom for the full list of options.
Tuesday@7 Workshops
Each week, undergraduate Counseling Center paraprofessionals offer interactive workshops on various topics. Please visit our website for login information and upcoming topics.
writers workshop
Writers Workshop drop-ins are available beginning 4-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 100b Main Library. These sessions are best for brainstorming, specific questions, or shorter documents (1-3 page papers, application materials, etc.). These sessions are first-come, first-serve.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Want to keep up with research-related opportunities and events hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUA)? Subscribe to OUA’s monthly newsletter and you won’t miss a thing!
You might also want to learn more about the Humanities Research Institute (HRI), particularly opportunities for undergraduates (did you know that they hire student interns and that some of them are English or creative writing majors?) in which case you should check out the Undergraduate section on the HRI website.
It can be hard to take the first step when you’re in need of counseling, so for ease of access the College of LAS has its own embedded counselor, Andy Novinska and you can contact him directly to schedule an appointment at anovinsk@illinois.edu.
Students can also access Counseling Center services by calling 217-333-3704 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday to set up an appointment via the same-day scheduling system. There is also an online scheduling system (please note that appointments are limited via this option so if you try to schedule online and cannot find anything that works please call the office or email Andy).
Workshops for Test Anxiety, ADHD Symptoms, Perfectionism, Body Image, etc. can be found here.
PSA–HEARD ABOUT 211?
CREATIVE WRITING CLUB
DATES & DEADLINES
ICT/Curriculum changes for Spring 2024 Oct. 2-27
Deadline to drop a full semester course without a grade of W October 13
Follow English and Creative Writing communities on social media!
HRI PRINDABLE INTERNSHIP DEADLINE TODAY!
HRI’s Communications and Outreach internship offers real world experience for undergraduate humanities majors.
Are you passionate about the humanities? Undergraduate majors in humanities disciplines are invited to apply for a paid internship in communications and undergraduate outreach at the Humanities Research Institute (HRI), the campus humanities hub. The successful candidate will assist HRI with its communications, including social media, event calendar maintenance, and research and writing projects, in addition to serving as an undergraduate ambassador and a strategist for HRI on undergraduate engagement. For application guidelines see here. Application Deadline: September 15!
Author Talks and Book Signings at urbana free library
Saturday, September 23, 2023, 1:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Stop by the Urbana Free Library, where authors Allison Boot and Francesca T. Royster will be discussing their works and signing books. Boot is a writer who specializes in novels featuring characters who are disabled, and Royster is a scholar and author who will talk about her new memoir. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
For a full list of events (some of which feature members of our own Creative Writing Program!) check out the Pygmalion website.
All Pygmalion events at the Library are free and open to the public.
Las caREER SERVICES UPCOMING EVENTS
Are you ready for the ACES + LAS Career Fairs? In person at the Union on Sept 20 or virtual Sept 26. Swing by the Hub or our office to get yourself ready. Find 3-6 employers you want to chat with, print off your resumes, jot down 3-4 questions to ask recruiters, and go make some new connections.
Sept 21-Coffee with a Diplomat: Learn about Overseas Careers with the U.S. Dept of State —10 am to noon in 105 Greg. Meet Susan Falatko, Diplomat in Residence for the Midwest. Learn about careers in the foreign service and how to get started. (And ask her questions about her own experience living and working abroad for the US Department of State. She will be at the ACES + LAS Career Fair on Aug 20 as well.
Sept 28,How to Have a Career in Business with your LAS Degree from 2:00-3:30. Join us in 105 Greg Hall for Q&A with alumnus David Rothmund (Communications ’14) about his path from a LAS Degree to his current role in Global Corporate Strategy & Operations at Gartner (and is you don’t know what that means, never fear–that’s one of our questions). Note: time change from original posting.
Lisnek Hub
The Hub is open again! Stop by Tuesday- Thursdays from 10 am to 3 pm. Under the Lincoln Hall theater is the Lisnek Hub where you can chat with peer mentors.
employment opportunity
Are you interested in topics related to diversity, inclusion, and social justice? Do you have experience leading difficult conversations? Do you want to become a diversity leader on campus? I-Connect peer educators are university students who lead I-Connect Interactive Workshops in the Spring. This is a paid student position with Diversity & Social Justice Education for Spring 2024. Workshops occur in the evenings from 6:00 – 9:00 PM throughout the Spring 2024 semester. Workshops are held on Zoom. This is a remote work opportunity. Apply at https://go.illinois.edu/iconnectjob (application window opened September 4 and will stay open until all positions are filled).
now accepting scholarship applications!
The Illinois Club provides scholarships to outstanding students in the areas of global studies, humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, education, and art. You must be an undergraduate at UIUC who will have earned 60 credit hours by the Spring 2024 semester and be planning to graduate no earlier than December 2024. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is also expected. The application portal is now open and will be live until 5pm CST on October 14th, 2023. More information is available at Illinois Club Scholarships.
find a workshop for you!
If you’re struggling in one or more of your STEM courses, perhaps there’s a workshop that could help. Check out the LAS Success Workshop Schedule, and be sure to click on “see more” at the bottom for the full list of options.
Tuesday@7 Workshops
Each week, undergraduate Counseling Center paraprofessionals offer interactive workshops on various topics. Please visit our website for login information and upcoming topics.
Here are our workshops for September: September 19 |Building Campus Friendships Where You Alma Mater (Lincoln 1022) September 26 | Intuitive Eating: You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It Too (ISR 94AB)
writers workshop
Writers Workshop drop-ins are available beginning 4-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 100b Main Library. These sessions are best for brainstorming, specific questions, or shorter documents (1-3 page papers, application materials, etc.). These sessions are first-come, first-serve.
Don’t forget these!
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Want to keep up with research-related opportunities and events hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUA)? Subscribe to OUA’s monthly newsletter and you won’t miss a thing!
You might also want to learn more about the Humanities Research Institute (HRI), particularly opportunities for undergraduates (did you know that they hire student interns and that some of them are English or creative writing majors?) in which case you should check out the Undergraduate section on the HRI website.
It can be hard to take the first step when you’re in need of counseling, so for ease of access the College of LAS has its own embedded counselor, Andy Novinska and you can contact him directly to schedule an appointment at anovinsk@illinois.edu.
Students can also access Counseling Center services by calling 217-333-3704 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday to set up an appointment via the same-day scheduling system. There is also an online scheduling system (please note that appointments are limited via this option so if you try to schedule online and cannot find anything that works please call the office or email Andy).
Workshops for Test Anxiety, ADHD Symptoms, Perfectionism, Body Image, etc. can be found here.
PSA–HEARD ABOUT 211?
CREATIVE WRITING CLUB
DATES & DEADLINES
Deadline to drop, CR/NCR, or elect grade replacement in a POT A (first-8-week) course Friday, Sept. 15
ICT/Curriculum changes for Spring 2024 Oct. 2-27
Deadline to drop, CR/NCR, or elect grade replacement in a FULL-SEMESTER course October 13
Follow English and Creative Writing communities on social media!
Important deadline
Please remember that TODAYFriday, September 1 is the deadline to add a full-semester course (aka “10th day”) and thus the deadline to perfect/finalize your fall schedule.
This is also the deadline for new students and students on academic probation to check in with the English advising office. As a reminder, we do not schedule appointments via email. Please call the office at 217-333-4346 and we will get you on the calendar.
If you are an Illinois student with a passion for supporting student success through workshops, trainings, tabletop games, and social media, and you would like to work to promote an inclusive campus community, this is the position for you!
english student association 1ST MEETING!
LAS CAREER SERVICES UPCOMING EVENTS
Resume Workshop for LAS Students Sept 5 @ 3:30 pm Learn to put together a resume that will help you move forward to the future you want. This informal and interactive workshop focuses on the strengths that LAS students bring to internships and jobs. We will cover current resume best practices, as well as strategies for showcasing your skills to give employers the information about you that they need.
Need Career Wear? UIUC/JCPenney Suit-Up Event on Sept 9 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm can help you get ready. The Career Center has arranged this to help you be ready and look as smart as you are.
Some of the above links take you toHandshake; you will need to create an account and then you’ll be able to access Handshake events to sign up. Note that you can also (in many cases) turn up to an event without signing up beforehand. If you’re uncertain whether pre-registration is mandatory for a given event, email las-careerservices@illinois.edu.
Speaking of career fairs, if you’d like to volunteer to help out at the ACES + LAS Career Fair, please sign up via this link. If you’re nervous about attending career fairs, this might be a good way to get a sense of what they’re like first from behind the scenes!
help us reward excellent teaching!
It’s time to nominate your excellent English department instructors for teaching awards if you haven’t already done so this year! If you have found someone to be especially skilled, knowledgeable, inspiring, or responsive to your needs as a student, please consider submitting a nomination using the very simple form available here.
For the 2023-24 award cycle the deadline for nominations is Tuesday, September 5.
You can nominate any professor, lecturer, or instructor (that includes graduate TAs) who has taught any English department course (BTW, CW, ENGL, RHET) on any topic. You can nominate more than one person. It only takes a few minutes and it can be enormously helpful to the teaching awards committee. Thanks in advance for taking the time to do it!
Call for Participation: Creative Writing and AI
Hello!
We are a team of researchers at UIUC studying how language generators may impact creative writing processes and the controversial role they currently have in creative production. We are recruiting participants who self-identify as creative writers. Participants will be asked to write a short story and respond to a survey.
Participation is remote, asynchronous, and will last about one hour. You will be given a $10 Amazon gift card for your time. If you would like to participate in this research, please fill out the consent form at https://forms.gle/3n9hdM78uBJa36mD6, which contains more details about the study. You must be at least 18 years old to participate.
Please reach out to David Zhou at david23@illinois.edu if you have any questions about this study. Thank you!
undergraduate research opportunities
Want to keep up with research-related opportunities and events hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUA)? Subscribe to OUA’s monthly newsletter and you won’t miss a thing!
You might also want to learn more about the Humanities Research Institute (HRI), particularly opportunities for undergraduates (did you know that they hire student interns and that some of them are English or creative writing majors?) in which case you should check out the Undergraduate section on the HRI website.
scholarship opportunity coming up soon!
The Illinois Club provides scholarships to outstanding students in the areas of global studies, humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, education, and art. You must be an undergraduate at UIUC and have earned 60 credit hours by the Spring 2024 semester and be planning to graduate no earlier than December 2024. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is also expected. The applications for these scholarships open on September 5th and will be live until 5pm CST on October 14th, 2023. More information is available at Illinois Club Scholarships.
HRI Prindable Internship in Outreach and Communication
HRI’s Communications and Outreach internship offers real world experience for undergraduate humanities majors.
Are you passionate about the humanities? Undergraduate majors in humanities disciplines are invited to apply for a paid internship in communications and undergraduate outreach at the Humanities Research Institute (HRI), the campus humanities hub. The successful candidate will assist HRI with its communications, including social media, event calendar maintenance, and research and writing projects, in addition to serving as an undergraduate ambassador and a strategist for HRI on undergraduate engagement. For application guidelines see here. Application Deadline: September 15!
New series at the WRC
Join us this semester for a new series: Dinner & Development! This series will offer a variety of professional development workshops specifically designed with women and gender minorities in mind! Join us as we explore how to dismantle traditional pillars of professionalism, build meaningful relationships through networking, and leading with empathy as we enter our careers.
Dismantling Professionalism Cherisse Smith September 13 at BNAAC 6:00-7:30
Networking: Building Meaningful Relationships Kirstin Wilcox October 11 at SDRP Room 2050 6:00-7:30
Leading with Empathy Joy Das November 8 at the Illinois Leadership Center (290 Illini Union) 6:00-7:30
Register today: https://go.illinois.edu/wrc_DD
Dinner is provided at all three events!
The Dinner & Development series is hosted by the Women’s Resources Center in collaboration with the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center, the Illinois Leadership Center, LAS Career Services, and University Housing.
Pre-health? The Career Center can help!
If you’re interested in working in a health field (we know that not all pre-med students are biology majors!) consider attending the Pre-Health Kick-Off on September 6!
invitation from the provost’s office
Dear Students,
Are you looking for opportunities to get involved and work together with peers and campus leadership to strengthen our community? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!
The Office of the Provost is now accepting applications for appointment to the 2023-2024 Student Success Undergraduate Advisory Board.
The board is a group of diverse undergraduate students who volunteer to serve as advisors to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost and Student Success @ Illinois. They aim to accurately portray the current realities of the undergraduate experience by articulating the highlights and challenges of being a student at the university. As representatives of the undergraduate population at Illinois, their objective is to convey what could make a successful undergraduate student experience.
If selected to participate as a Board member, appointments will be for one full academic year. All applications are due Friday, September 8, 2023, at 11:59 PM CDT.
We hope you will consider applying because your voice is a critical part of the work that we do to ensure your success while at Illinois and beyond graduation!
Sincerely,
Kathy Martensen
Associate Provost for Educational Programs and Success Initiatives
It can be hard to take the first step when you’re in need of counseling, so for ease of access the College of LAS has its own embedded counselor, Andy Novinska and you can contact him directly to schedule an appointment at anovinsk@illinois.edu.
Students can also access Counseling Center services by calling 217-333-3704 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday to set up an appointment via the same-day scheduling system. There is also an online scheduling system (please note that appointments are limited via this option so if you try to schedule online and cannot find anything that works please call the office or email Andy).
Workshops for Test Anxiety, ADHD Symptoms, Perfectionism, Body Image, etc. can be found here.
PSA–Heard about 211?
creative writing club
amazing alumni
Congratulations to English department alumnus Andy Sima on the recent publication of Climate: Our Changing World, a book in the Science in Action series for middle-grade readers. Andy graduated from Illinois with majors in creative writing and environmental sustainability and we’re delighted to hear of his success!
dATES & DEADLINES
Labor Day — No Class Monday, Sept. 4
Deadline to drop, CR/NCR, or elect grade replacement in a first-half session course Friday, Sept. 15
We invite all undergraduates who expect to complete their degree requirements by May or August of this year to complete this short Exit Survey about your experience in the English department at your earliest convenience (if you are registered for the ceremony please complete this survey BEFORE you pick up your tickets). Everyone who completes the survey before May 11 will be entered into a random prize drawing, and five lucky winners will be chosen to receive a gift card!
Only the aggregate results will be distributed to the department for assessment purposes; individual participants will not be identified. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will be used to improve our programs and services.
help a professor!
Please consider responding to this call for survey participants from Professor John Gallagher:
Dear students,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to request your participation in a survey that I am conducting as part of my research project on perceptions of academic dishonesty and artificial intelligence writing programs, such as ChatGPT (IRB approved #23989). I am reaching out to you as I believe that your valuable input and insights, as students, would contribute to the success of my study.
Your participation is entirely voluntary and confidential, and you have the right to withdraw at any time. The survey will take approximately 7-10 minutes to complete, and your responses will be strictly anonymous and confidential.
Your participation in this survey will enable me to gather valuable information, which will help me to better understand perceptions of academic dishonesty and make meaningful conclusions about AI writing technologies.
Reading Day (no classes, no final exams) Thursday, May 4
Final exams May 5-12
Students may view grades Saturday, May 20
Don’t Forget These!
Seniors: Please share your next steps after graduation!
Every year the University of Illinois surveys graduating seniors to find out where they are going next. The information you provide helps future students find their path at Illinois, and it helps departments and colleges support students more effectively. For example, in the English department we really rely on the results of this campus-wide survey to help us make the argument to prospective students that English and creative writing majors really do go on to find interesting jobs!
Whether you are still figuring out your next steps, plan to volunteer or travel, or have already accepted a job or graduate school offer, your data matters! Completing the Illini Success survey qualifies you for a drawing for Amazon gift cards. It also provides us with critical information necessary for career and academic advising, student recruitment, and institutional reporting needs.
La Estación Gallery and Minor Aesthetics Lab Present: A Staged Reading of Fefu and Her Friends written by María Irene Fornés, produced by Dr. Sandra Ruiz, and directed by Laura Coby – In collaboration with Departments of Theatre and English.
Come see Fefu and Her Friends on April 30th at 6PM! This staged reading will be held at the Channing-Murray Foundation Building located at 1209 W. Oregon St. in Urbana, IL.
The Office of Advancement within the College of Education is looking for an undergraduate student who can help the office with advancement initiatives for the fall semester If it works well, the intern can continue as long as they are a student at Illinois. See the flyer below for more information:
Academic Strategies and Independent Living Skills
If you identify with neurodivergent conditions and are struggling with academics and/or the responsibilities of “adulting,” the following classes might be of interest to you:
Academic Strategies and Independent Living Skills
If you identify with neurodivergent conditions and are struggling with academics and/or the responsibilities of “adulting,” the following classes might be of interest to you:
Need to Meet an Advisor?
To contact a college-level advisor, use the online chat, online advising appointment calendar and queue, and online forms for program change requests. Find a list of unit and college advisors along with hours and contact information on the college website.
science writing internship
The science writing internship, offered by the Office of Marketing Communications in the College of ACES will write and distribute press releases and feature stories related to research projects and faculty in ACES.
Major duties and responsibilities will include: -Writing news articles, announcements, and feature stories about peer-reviewed research, grant awards, ACES faculty members, and other topics with the goal of breaking down complex science concepts for lay audiences. (60%) -Collaborating with faculty sources and communications team to revise and rewrite content. (15%) -Assisting with story distribution and promotion, including posting articles on ACES website and news distribution sites; drafting social media posts; working with faculty to create expert pitches; and related activities. (15%) -Acquiring a working knowledge of AP style, ACES style, and editorial best practices. (5%) -Performing other duties as assigned. (5%)
The ideal candidate is a strong, detail-oriented writer who can communicate complex ideas accurately, succinctly, and creatively for various audiences. Applicants must demonstrate excellent organizational and time-management skills and be able to work independently on simultaneous assignments. A familiarity with the scientific process and previous science writing experience is preferred but not required.
The position will start July 1, 2023 and extend through the academic year. Summer hours can be up to 40 hours per week, depending on the intern’s availability. During the fall and spring semesters, hours will be reduced to 10-20 hours per week. This is a paid remote or hybrid position, requiring weekly check-ins with the supervisor. Work schedules may vary depending on story assignments.
Interested candidates should submit a resume and two or three writing samples to Lauren Quinn at ldquinn@illinois.edu. Scientific manuscripts are not acceptable samples. Apply by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 28.
2023 Q Magazine writing contest
The Janelle Joseph Environmental Writing Award gives students a chance to have their work published in Q Magazine, a publication of the Certificate for Environmental Writing (CEW) at Illinois. The top awards also carry a cash prize.
The contest is open to all Illinois undergraduates of any major and is geared toward those with an interest in environmental writing.
Winners will have their work published in an upcoming issue of Q. The top prize is $1,000, and $500 prizes will be available in five categories this year: feature, memoir, op-ed, Q&A, and “At Illinois” (see the below link and attached flyer for descriptions and examples of each category).
Join Darrell Hunter (director of the College of LAS First Year Experience program) for We Got Each Other, a weekly hangout for men of color in LAS. Connect with your peers, get tips on navigating the University of Illinois and College of LAS, and share your experiences in a supportive, welcoming space. Plus, free pizza!
Sessions will continue every Wednesday at Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center (BNAACC) from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Questions? Contact Darrell Hunter
registration appointments still available!
Don’t forget: if you want to talk to an advisor about your plans for the fall, please call 217-333-4346 during the hours 8:30-noon or 1:00-4:30 to request an appointment. 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!
Here are some things you can do ahead of time to make your registration appointment more productive:
Run your degree audit and see what you can make of it. Even if you find it a little confusing, try to get a sense of what requirements you have left to fulfill, and then when we do your registration appointment we can confirm (or correct) your interpretation of the audit and help explain anything that’s confusing.
Think about what you want to accomplish in the fall. What major/minor/Gen Ed requirements would you like to complete, and what other areas would you like to explore?
If you are thinking of adding a major or a minor, do you know what you need to do to get started? If you’ve already begun, can you figure out the next step? You can explore major and minor requirements listed here: http://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
Consult Course Explorer and be sure to read the course descriptions in full. Remember that if a course is called “Topics in X” then you must click through to see the individual sections and find out what topics are available. It’s also worth clicking through on any 199 (usually called Undergraduate Open Seminar) because there you may find some interesting and unusual topics being piloted, and they’re usually unrestricted.
Consult the resources available on the Planning Coursework section of the advising site. You’ll find checklists of major requirements, plus the “cheat sheet” that tells you which variable topics courses satisfy which requirements this fall.
LAS Current Student Scholarships
The scholarship application can be found on the LAS Scholarships webpage under the “Current Students” tab. Filling out this application is quick and easy, and with this one step you are considered for a wide variety of scholarships. Applications accepted through Friday, May 12.
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Now Hiring
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is looking for recent college graduates who are passionate about public service and giving back to the community to join the Illinois Student Assistance Corps (ISACorps). For more information, see the flyer below:
new courses!
We’re pleased to announce a never-before-taught course in the English department’s fall line-up. Lori Newcomb will be teaching an advanced methods course called “The Art of Research” (see ENGL 461), and it’s open to all juniors and seniors who have completed ENGL 301 and 350. This is perfect for any Topics concentrator graduating in December (this will count as your capstone), anybody thinking about graduate school in English or a related field, or anyone who just wants to beef up their research skills. Check it out!
some other recently added courses . . .
CW 463 (meets with GSD 409): Advanced Topics in Creative Writing (TOPIC: Design & Programming of Narrative Games & Simulations)
ENGL 461: (meets with CWL 481) Topics in Arabic Lit & Culture (TOPIC: Arabs and the Americas)
National Name Exchange
The Graduate College invites University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduate and master’s students to enroll in the National Name Exchange. The National Name Exchange was established to help match graduate schools with students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups interested in graduate education. The National Name Exchange seeks to:
Increase the number of qualified students from underrepresented groups accepted into graduate school.
Improve student access to information on graduate school opportunities.
Work towards personalizing the recruitment effort by designating a National Name Exchange institutional representative to facilitate information exchange between the institution and prospective students.
Assist graduate schools in identifying qualified candidates from underrepresented groups for consideration for graduate study.
The NNE enrollment portal is now open for the 2023 year. Students can now enroll in the National Name Exchange database. The password to access the student portal is NNE2023.
Qualifying students must be enrolled at a participating Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) member institution (Illinois is a member institution), maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above, and be from a group historically underrepresented in higher education (qualifying groups can be found here). Students who decide to participate will be asked for their consent to share their information with other participating CGS institutions.
Teacher licensure: Golden Apple Scholars Program Recruitment
Get up to $23,000 in total financial assistance and stipends and become a teacher in Illinois! For more information about the benefits, eligibility requirements, and application, visit https://www.goldenapple.org/scholars.
Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative (INI)
If you need accommodations to be successful in college, INI could be a good resource. See the flyer below:
Ravinia is looking for talented individuals who are able to start working sooner than later. Here’s a list of what’s currently open, with more being added by the week:
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 they talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, they 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. They also have two Confidential Advisors embedded at BNAACC and La Casa two days/week.
Embedded Advocate Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 10am – 4pm @ BNAACC Wednesday 1pm – 5pm and Thursday 10am – 4pm @ La Casa
Advising available by appointment | Monday – Friday @ the WRC Hours may vary. Walk-in appointments offered as available. Learn more about Advocacy & Support Services, here.
Bailey Unpaid Internship Scholarship
The University YMCA’s Fred S. Bailey Unpaid Internship Scholarship program provides scholarship funding to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduate students who accept unpaid internships with public service agencies and not for profit organizations. The Application Opens on March 1, 2023! For more information and to apply, visit https://universityymca.org/bailey/intern/.
Office of Conferences and Special Events
The Office of Conferences & Special Events will be hiring several students to join the 2023 Summer Conference Team. There are a variety of full-time and part-time positions available ranging from Conference Clerk to Conference Coordinator. Summer housing, hourly pay, and discounted meals are included.
You can make use of the Writers Workshop resources. See the flyers below:
Summer Institute for the Languages of the Muslim World (SILMW)
Summer Institute for Languages of the Muslim World will be held from June 12-August 5, 2023.
Session includes • Arabic, Persian, Swahili, Turkish, and Wolofcourses • 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!
OMSA tutoring is free to all UIUC undergrads. For more information and the list of classes, see the flyer below:
Library Workshops, events, and services
With the start of Spring 2023, the University Library has been busy planning and scheduling workshops, consultation services, programs, and other helpful things for students. For information about the events and workshops visit events calendar as well as Savvy Researcher workshops.
You can find some highlighted workshops and services below:
Research Consultations Research consultations start again this Sunday! Students can receive help with their research papers, ranging from brainstorming a topic to synthesizing their sources. Consultations are from 4-9pm, Sunday-Thursday, and are geared towards first- and second-year students.
Speaking Center The Speaking Center opens again this week! Students can sign up for a consultation to work one-on-one with a trained Speaking Consultant to improve presentations and speeches, attend workshops focused on building lasting speaking skills, or participate in language sessions to build foreign language skills. Upcoming workshops include “Coping with Speech Anxiety” and “Nonverbal Communication for Presentations.“
Inclusive Speaker Series: Salvatore De Sando Funded by the Library Innovation and Seed Grant, this series highlights members of the UIUC community who have done important work highlighting underrepresented voices. Salvatore will be the first in this speaker series, and will present on Feb. 14th at noon, via zoom.
Family Study Room For students who are parents or caregivers, there is a space for them in the Main Library! Students can bring their kids with them to the Library, and can also check out Family Kits, a playpen, or children tablets for their children to play with while they study.
Introduction to Library Resources for Literary Studies
Are you new to UIUC? Do you need some help figuring out how to do research? Do you find it difficult to access library resources that can help you to succeed in courses? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, please consider attending “Introduction to Library Resources for Literary Studies.” This one-hour session will teach you to use a variety of library services and features (e.g. Inter-library loan, requesting books, accessing articles, and scheduling a research consultation). To participate, visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/savvy?cid=15337&t=m&d=2023-02&cal=15337&inc=0 and select a session that works for you. Can’t find one? Let Matt Roberts in the Literatures and Languages Library know, and he will reach out to you with more information to receive the instruction that you need.
Matt will continue to offer office hours for students. You can also schedule a consultation with him, but he will be free each Monday from 12-2 to talk with you.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, First Floor of Lincoln Hall, Behind the marble staircase Peer mentors help LAS students access opportunities to gain hands-on experience. Drop-in for a casual conversation about exploring student organizations, undergraduate research, volunteer opportunities, study abroad, internships, and more. Learn how to access resources and apply to opportunities.
Our old friends at the Humanities Professional Resource Center (now LAS Career Services) are still in Greg Hall 105 and available to meet with students to talk about professional development opportunities, career planning, and general life stuff of the “what am I doing here?” variety. See their website for contact info and event announcements.
