2020 – COVID-19 pandemic hits the United States and profoundly alters public and campus life
- March 2020 – At Spring Break students leave campus and don’t return as all classes move to a virtual environment. Faculty and staff are required to work from home. All Illini Union restaurants close for the spring and summer. All retail moves to online sales only. IU Board programming is changed and moved to virtual environments via Zoom. Trivia Tuesdays become a popular online program for the IU Board.
- Summer 2020 – university summer registration is cancelled and moved to a virtual environment. The financial impact on campus and the Illini Union are in the tens of millions in expenses and lost revenue. The Illini Union facilities team prepares the building for COVID-19 restrictions, installing plexiglass at all customer points of sale. Illini Union marketing assists the university in developing and creating COVID-19 policy and alert signage. Document Services takes the lead in printing the policy signage, furniture/space tape, etc. for the university.
- Fall 2020 – University opens campus with a hybrid model (online and in-person classes set up with social distancing, and mask cover requirements).
- August 2020 – The Illini Union converts the Ballroom and Room 104 into university classroom space, along with two study areas. The Pine Lounge is closed due to social distancing requirements. All Illini Union furniture is reconfigured to allow social distancing space between guests and to cut down on the overall capacity of the Union.
- August/September 2020 – The Illini Union Bookstore moves its Fall 2020 textbook distribution to the Union I-Rooms to allow for spacing of students. The Bookstore also leads the university effort to distribute PPE (personal protection equipment) Kits to all enrolled students, handing out almost 30,000 kits in a 3-week period. These are distributed from the Illini Union I-Rooms with Union staff and university colleagues assisting.
- September 2020 – All Illini Union student programming is held virtually until October. The Courtyard Café highlights the Noontime Performers virtually through Facebook Live. IU Board hosts Trivia Nights, esports, lectures, comedy shows, etc. all in virtual environments.
- October 23-30, 2020 – In-person Homecoming 2020 was cancelled so a virtual program was hosted by the university. The IU Board held 4 virtual events open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
- October 31, 2020 – IU Board teams up with the university’s Wellness Ambassadors to host an outdoor, social distanced trick-or-treating event and costume contest. Over 1,000 students attend as it is the first in-person activity that is allowed on campus in the fall semester.
- November 2020 – In-person Dads Weekend was cancelled so the Dads Association and the Parents and Family Program Office held virtual events to help families engage with their students and campus.
- 2021 – Becki Salzman named Executive Director of the Illini Union
- 2021 – Just BEE Acai and Tropical Smoothie open restaurants on the first floor
- 2021 – Spring Jam – outdoor concert on the Quad returns after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic, the artist is Yung Gravy (due to rain it moved from the Quad to the State Farm Center)
- 2022 – Conferences and Events administratively moves under the Illini Union, office is reorganized with a focus to bring large-scale, university-wide conferences and events to campus
- 2022 – Due to pandemic issues, supply chain delays, and worker shortages – Qdoba, Blaze Pizza, and Einstein Bros. Bagels all close their restaurants in the Illini Union
- 2022 – Spring Jam happens on the Quad for the first time in 3 years with Sean Kingston headlining. More than 5,500 students come out for the FREE concert
- 2023 – July 1 – Parent and Family Programs Office moves administratively to Student Success, Inclusion, and Belonging
- 2023 – Maize Mexican Grill and Thai Fusion open in the Illini Union Food Court
- 2024 – Mia Za’s Express pizza opens in the Illini Union Food Court
- 2024 – Roof Project begins – replacing the entire roof from all sections of the Union (2.5 year process)
- 2025 – Lower Level is renovated with new furniture, lighting, wall art and is renamed “the Underground”
- 2025 – Moo of I ice cream opens in Underground
- 2025 – Noontime events (trivia, bingo, and board games) happen weekly in the Underground
- 2026 – Illini Union turns 85 years old