Welcome to the Illinois Administrative Professionals

The Illinois Administrative Professionals is an organization for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign employees in certain Civil Service classifications. Over the years, office support functions and responsibilities have changed, as have the skills required to perform these roles effectively. Illinois Administrative Professionals seeks to build collegiality across campus. Our primary objectives are:

    • Establish a fellowship and create a high standard of ethics among members. 
    • Assist in the professional development of members.
    • Serve as a forum for the discussion of issues affecting support staff of the University of Illinois.
    • Further knowledge about the University of Illinois and uphold its honor and dignity. 

Brief History of IAP

In 1948, Kathryn G. Hansen helped organize a group of non-academic employees at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, called The Secretariat. The group met on a regular basis to become better acquainted with others in similar positions across campus, provide a medium for interchange of ideas, and gain professional advancement through guest speakers and group discussions. In May, 2018, members voted to change the name to Illinois Administrative Professionals to better represent all of the organization’s eligible classifications. The organization has seen many changes over the years, but our mission has always remained the same: to improve the skills of our members and provide connections across our campus.

Membership

The Illinois Administrative Professionals is an organization for the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign employees in all classifications within the following series:

  • Office Support Series
  • Clerk Series
  • Specialized Classifications

Membership fee: $20 per year (membership renewal in July of every year)

Benefits of Membership:

Grow—Opportunities for professional development
Build—Network of administrative professionals on campus
Make/Share—A forum for discussion of important issues affecting administrative professionals

IAP Monthly Meetings

Meetings are typically held during the lunch hour on the third Wednesday of every month. Locations vary across campus depending on the events or via zoom.

Why should I attend a lunch meeting? How would it benefit me? Guest speakers present topics that relate to our jobs and professional life. Previous topics have included OBFS changes, Faculty/Staff Assistance Services, Recycling on campus, Continuing Education, changes in the State University Civil Service System, Staff Human Resources, and so much more. We also take tours of buildings on campus, including:

  • Chez Veterans Center
  • Altgeld and Bell Tower
  • Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • Natural History Building
  • Krannert Art Museum

Meetings also provide an opportunity to meet and network with others on campus you may have corresponded with through email or by phone, but have never had a chance to meet!

Past Professional Development Events

  • Tour of the Electrical And Computing Engineering Building
  • Tour of the Natural History Building
  • Tour of the Chez Veterans Center
  • Mentoring/Leadership Development
  • SURS Retirement
  • Diversity in the Workplace
  • FAST3
  • Speed Networking
  • Source2Pay/Parking App