Weekly Round-Up

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Coming up very soon (see below for more details):

Oct 7: Friday Forum (with free lunch at YMCA)
Oct 7: In Search of Marcel Proust (RBML)
Oct 7: deadline to apply for publicity internship

Voice reading:

The first VOICE readings of the semester will take place on October 13th at the Literary Bar at 7:00 p.m.

The FOCUS Scholars Program is now accepting applications!

FOCUS (Fostering Opportunity, Community, and Unwavering Support) is a year-long program to help eliminate the gap in post-graduation outcomes and starting salaries between underrepresented, first-generation students and their peers to positively impact their career trajectory.

Students selected for the FOCUS program will receive a $2,500 scholarship. A student can directly apply at https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1375192482

Deadline for nominations and applications is October 16, 2022 (at 11:59 p.m.)

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER INTERNSHIP

Are you interested in how criminal courts work?  Would you like to see an arraignment, a motion hearing, or a real criminal trial?  Want to meet with Public Defender clients about their cases?  Would you like to help an attorney prepare cases for court?  The Department of Political Science and the Champaign County Public Defender’s Office plan to offer an internship for academic credit in Spring, 2023.   In this internship, students will be awarded credit for their work in the Public Defender’s Office combined with a series of structured academic assignments requiring integration of internship experiences with readings on the political systems, the legal system and constitutional and human rights. This class requires one hour of class time per week, and about six hours per week of work at the internship site.

By Friday, October 14, students seeking to participate in the Public Defender Internship Program must submit an application online at https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/592901422. The application consists of a cover letter, informal transcript, resume and writing sample. The cover letter should address each of the following elements: 1) explain your interest in and motivation for undertaking this internship, 2) share your experience in working with only a modest level of direct supervision, and 3) discuss your plans for accommodating participation in the internship in your schedule (including how many other credit hours you plan to carry, whether you will be studying for the LSAT, whether you have other significant time commitments).  All of those materials will be reviewed for a decision on acceptance into the program by the departmental internship committee.

At a minimum, students seeking to participate in this program need (1) to have completed 45 credit hours by Spring 2023 (2) with at least one year of residence on this campus and (3) to have earned a cumulative UIUC grade point average of 3.0 or higher.  They must (4) have completed PS 101: U.S. Government & Politics; and (5) have no arrests or criminal convictions – as an adult or juvenile – or serious campus disciplinary violations involving campus or local law enforcement.  In addition to work in the courthouse, students will need to attend a class for one hour per week on Tuesdays at 4:00 pm.  Submit all applications online at the link above.  

Questions?  Contact Jamie Thomas-Ward at thomas99@illinois.edu

Friday Forum + Conversation Café

Join the University YMCA and Diversity & Social Justice Education for Fall 2022 Friday Forum + Conversation Café Series, Our Community in Action: Advancing Social Justice in Champaign Urbana and Beyond. We will hear from community leaders tackling our most pressing public concerns through an unwavering pursuit of social justice.

Friday, October 7th
noon-1pm at the University YMCA (1001 Wright St.)
Anthony Brown
Professional baritone and international peace ambassador discusses music, peacemaking and his upcoming performance of Go On Singing: Paul Robeson’s Life in his Word and Song Accompanied by Phillip De Luna. FREE LUNCH PROVIDED

ESA Presents English + sECONDARY EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM

If you’re at all interested in being a high school English teacher post-graduation, join ESA for an informational event all about the English + Secondary Education Track! Two upperclassmen in the track will be explaining the requirements, discussing the benefits and applications of the program, and telling their personal experiences. We will be in English Building room #104 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12th. Hope to see you there!

Volunteer opportunity

The university YMCA is looking for tutors for K-12 students this semester. It’s a wonderful opportunity for anyone who likes working with children or wants to get more connected to the immigrant community in CU.

If interested, please contact nawctutoring@universityymca.org.

Campus Mental Health Fair:

Student Mental Health Fair will take place on October 25, 2022, 1-3 p.m. in the Illini Rooms at the Union.

Boren Scholarship Informational Events:

The Boren Scholarship provides undergraduate study abroad scholarships up to $25,000 for a full academic year or up to $12,500 for a semester. All scholarships may be used for U.S. citizens to study in Asia, Africa, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, or the Middle East in a language-intensive study abroad program (Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.) These are merit-based scholarships, and approximately 1 in 5 eligible applicants receive awards.

In order to receive the scholarship, award winners must agree that they attempt to work in a paid position for the federal government in an area related to national security—generally the Departments of State, Defense, Homeland Security, or the Intelligence Community within three years of graduation (deferrals possible/encouraged for graduate study). Working for USAID or tenure in the Peace Corps counts in the service requirement. Winners also receive priority-hiring status.  

The campus application deadline is January 2023 for any semester or year of study between June 2023 and March 2024.

If you are interested in applying, please join one of the information sessions (either in person or online) and the application writing workshop.

Boren (Undergraduate) Information Session (in person)
Date: Oct 20, 2022   3:30 – 4:30 pm  
Location: 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building

Boren (Undergraduate) Information Session (online)
Date: Oct 21, 2022   9:00 – 10:00 am  
Zoom Registration Link: https://illinois.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAud-6trT0iG9DsvOXdYoABsc_LNoOmU0J8  

Boren (Undergraduate) Workshop
This workshop is intended to help you get started on your application for the Boren Scholarship.
Date: Oct 21, 2022   3:00 – 4:00 pm  
Location: 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building
For more information, undergraduate students should contact the National and International Scholarships Program at topscholars@illinois.edu or visit our website. Graduate students interested in the Boren Fellowship can contact Dana Johnson, Assistant Director of External Fellowships, for more information at dnj@illinois.edu.

Christine Adams, “Fashion and Politics

You are invited to attend a lecture, “Fashion and Politics: Elégantes and Merveilleuses under the Directory and Beyond,” by Christine Adams, Professor of History at St. Mary’s College.

The lecture (with visuals) takes place on Tuesday October 11 at 4pm in 1000 Lincoln Hall.

Dates and Deadlines:

October 14: DROP deadline for full semester classes (and the last chance to petition for grade replacement in a class you’re currently re-taking, or to switch from letter grade to CR/NC, an option only available for elective courses, not for those you are using to satisfy a major, minor, or Gen Ed requirement).  
October 17: 2nd 8-week (aka Part of Term B) classes begin
Oct 17 is also the day that your registration time tickets for Spring 2023 should become visible in Student Self-Service
October 21: Deadline to ADD a POT B course
October 31: Priority registration for Spring 2023 begins (your own registration time will be determined by the schedule available here: https://registrar.illinois.edu/registration/reg-spring-2023/)

Don’t forget these!

THE ILLINOIS CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS 2022-2023:

This year, The Illinois Club will be awarding the following scholarships:

Humanities and Social Sciences Award of $4,000
Engineering and Science Award of $4,000
Global Focus Award of $4,000
Isabelle Purnell Education Award of $4,000
The Judith Life Ikenberry Fine Arts Award of $4,500

Application Deadline: 5 PM, October 15, 2022.

To learn more about the individual scholarships, and to apply, see go.illinois.edu/TICScholarshipApplication. If you have questions, please direct them to scholarship@theillinoisclub.org.

General Eligibility:

You must be an undergraduate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, have earned at least 60 credit hours by the beginning of the Spring 2023 semester, and graduate no earlier than December 2023. A minimum GPA of 3.0 at both the time of application and winning of award is also required.

VOICE Creative Writing Readings:

The first VOICE readings of the semester will take place on October 13th at the Literary Bar at 7:00 p.m.

Jason Pfister, Matthew Fash, and Erin Hoffman will be reading from their works on this day.

RBML Event 10/7: In Search of Marcel Proust:

Are you curious to find out who Marcel Proust was, or how to say his name? Are you a devoted reader? Join Professor François Proulx (Department of French and Italian) and RBML curator Caroline Szylowicz for a conversation about Proust’s life and works. The 100th anniversary of his death will be marked with an exploration of his books, manuscripts and letters. All are welcome, and refreshments will be served.

ENGL 199 Begins 10/17:

ENGL 199: Writing to get that job begins classes in the second 8-weeks of this semester and is open for enrollment. The newly updated curriculum makes landing an interview easier than ever!

University of Illinois Press Seeking Publicity Intern:

The University of Illinois press is seeking a Publicity Intern to assist the University of Illinois Press Senior Publicity Manager with publicizing UI press books via creation of press releases, researching media contacts, filing, adding author events to the press calendar, pulling quotes from book reviews, and other related tasks. Strong writing and communications skills, intellectual curiosity, close attention to detail and organization, and interest in books and publishing or marketing and PR, good problem-solving skills and a high level of comfort using general programs such as MS word and excel are required. English and Creative Writing majors are strongly encouraged to apply.

Send a cover letter and resume to Heather Gernenz by October 7. For more information, send an email to gernenz2@illinois.edu or visit https://secure.osfa.illinois.edu/vjb/detail.aspx?type=fws&postid=45913.

Call For Applications: Funded MA/PhD, Hudson Strode Program in Renaissance Studies:

The Hudson Strode Program in Renaissance Studies at the University of Alabama is currently accepting applications for MA and PhD admissions for Fall of 2023.

  • The Strode MA program offers students the unique opportunity to specialize in Renaissance studies at the master’s level. Students admitted to the Strode MA program receive enhanced graduate stipends, and they are fully funded for two years (the current MA stipend is $19,500 per year)..
  • The Strode PhD program offers advanced training in Renaissance studies for a select cohort of students who pursue their research interests through an individually tailored plan of study. Students admitted to the Strode PhD program receive enhanced graduate stipends, and they are fully funded for five years (the current PhD stipend is $21,500 per year).
  • All MA and PhD students can also take full advantage of the resources of the Strode Program, including travel funding, summer support, and access to a range of programming, such as the Alabama Shakespeare Project, Shakespeare in performance workshops, and lectures by distinguished guest speakers. The University of Alabama is also a member of The Folger Institute. Students and faculty in early modern studies at The University of Alabama are eligible to participate in the Institute’s many cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary workshops and seminars, designed to enhance participants’ research interests.
  • The Strode Program works closely with the Alabama Digital Humanities Center (ADHC) and co-sponsors of the University of Alabama’s international Digital Humanities conference, Digitorium (https://apps.lib.ua.edu/blogs/digitorium/). Strode students have access to the ADHC for support with digital techniques for their research and teaching,

Please note that the deadline for applying for admission to either the MA or the PhD program for the Fall term is December 1.

For more details about the program and the application process visit  https://strode.english.ua.edu/

FLAS Fellowships for English Majors:

Do you study a less commonly taught language (any language except French, German, and Spanish)? Are you a U.S. citizen or permanent resident? If so, consider applying for a Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship for summer 2023 or academic year 2023-24. FLAS fellowships support both undergraduate and graduate study in modern foreign languages in combination with global or area studies. The purpose of the FLAS program is to train students to integrate global knowledge into a future career in areas of national need like cyber security and business, where knowledge of additional languages is crucial. Learn more about FLAS fellowship opportunities through the European Union Center here, and learn more about FLAS opportunities across campus here. Please look out for the FLAS information session in November. Applications will be due in late January.

undergraduate research support grant:

This grant provides students from all disciplines with the funds necessary to conduct research or creative projects during the academic year both on and off campus (including summer terms). Awards will be up to $2,000 and are meant to cover research travel costs, living expenses incurred during academic breaks (i.e., winter break and summer terms, NOT regular semester living expenses), and materials or other ancillary costs.

For details, eligibility requirements, and link to the application please visit: http://go.illinois.edu/OUR_RSG

The deadline to apply is October 14, 2022 at 11:59pm. For questions or concerns, contact Office of Undergraduate Research at ugresearch@illinois.edu.

English student association meetings and more!

You are invited to attend the weekly ESA meetings: Wednesdays from 6-7 in the Mary Kay Peer Lounge (basement of the English building), for example. If you want to know more email esaillinois1867@gmail.com.

Or, get involved with Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honors Society if you want to connect with fellow English students, writers, and lovers of literature. You will have opportunities to gain experience publishing, speaking as a panelist at conferences, and/or meeting English students from around the world. For more information, email sigmataudeltaillinois@gmail.com.

More help with research:

MONTAGE ARTS JOURNAL:

Montage Arts Journal, the undergraduate literary magazine of UIUC, is now open for submissions. All publishable forms of art—photography, paintings, sketches, digital art, collages, sculptures, poetry, prose, creative nonfiction, drama, and more—are welcome. This semester’s reading period closes December 15th, but submissions can be emailed to montagejournal@gmail.com any time before then. Please see https://montagejournal.wordpress.com for more information. 

DOUBLE YOUR ADVISING, DOUBLE YOUR FUN!

Ready to connect with our humanities professional development experts?  Beginning 9/22 you can stop by Greg Hall 105 any TUESDAY MORNING between 9:30 and noon or THURSDAY AFTERNOON between 1:00 and 4:00 to meet with Julie Higgs (note that these times have changed since last spring).  Starting September 24 Anna will be there Tuesday mornings as well so if you want some academic advising you can schedule an in-person appointment with her during that time and then talk to Julie before or afterwards. It’s one-stop shopping!

You can also connect with Julie in the English advising office during her drop-in hours: 1:30-4:00 every other Monday starting September 12.

fall workshops:

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