Month: January 2024

Posted on

Weekly Round-Up

Follow the department on social media!

Important Dates and Deadlines

January 29: Deadline to ADD full-semester course
January 29: Deadline to add yourself to spring degree list if you expect to graduate in May (you can do this online in Self Service)
February 1: Deadline to apply to Sec Ed minor (for sophomores, not first-year students!)

As always, if you would like to schedule an advising appointment with Anna or Keshia, please CALL the office at 217-333-4346. We are happy to answers questions via email (englishadvising@illinois.edu) but for more complex matters such as schedule rearrangement, overall degree planning, or existential-crisis-management, an actual appointment is preferable (in person or virtual, as you prefer). We look forward to seeing many of you this semester and wish you all safe travels and a lack of frostbite in the coming week!

For those of you planning to graduate in May or August, be on the lookout for information about the English & Creative Writing Convocation ceremony, which will take place on Saturday, May 11 at 5pm in Smith Hall. We will be sending out emails in February with more details about the registration process, and we are in the process of updating the webpage for the event.

Study Abroad Open House Events TODAY!

LAS International Programs have been promoting study abroad programs for summer, fall and academic year 2024-2025 ahead of the February 15th application deadline. See the remaining events TODAY:

Call for Student Alumni Ambassadors

Interested in becoming a Student Alumni Ambassador? Come to an Info Nights on January 29th OR 31st at Lincoln Hall Theater, 7 PM! 

The Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA) group is responsible for events such as Illinois Sights and Sounds, Homecoming events, I love Illinois week, iHelp, Senior 100 Honorary, and more! Members of the Student Alumni Ambassadors are involved in fostering the Illini spirit in the campus community of the University of Illinois. Through engagement with their peers, as well as networking with professionals and alumni, the members of our organization create once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Each carefully selected member gets the opportunity to be a part of the planning and execution of long-standing traditions as well as developing new traditions for students to come.

If you wish to make a mark on campus that will be remembered for years to come, the Student Alumni Ambassadors is the organization for you. The application is now open and due on February 3rd at 11:59 PM. Visit our website www.illinisaa.com and apply now at SAA2023.”

Proud to Be First Gen Series – First Gen Resource Fair

Identify as a First Gen college student? You’re invited to attend next Wednesday’s First Gen Resource Fair.

Hosted in partnership with University Library. Open to all students and all majors.

Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Time: 4pm-6pm
Location: 1st Floor Main Library, Orange Room
Cost to attend: Free, no rsvp needed.

Featured tables will include Writers’ Workshop, Counseling Center, McKinley Health Center, International Education, Grainger Library IDEA Lab, First-Gen Student Initiatives, Library Research Consultations, Career Center, National and International Scholarships Program, and Illinois Extension (financial literacy and management resources).

Visit firstgen.illinois.edu for additional information and resources.

John Levi Barnard Lecture

Kimberly Mack Lecture

“We pushed the boundaries by rocking through the boundaries”: Living Colour, Race, and Rock and Roll

Dr. Kimberly Mack (UIUC, English)
Smith Hall Room 220
Monday, February 5, 7:00 PM
Free and open to the public

The iconic Black rock band Living Colour’s album Time’s Up, released in 1990, was recorded in the aftermath of the spectacular critical and commercial success of their debut record Vivid. Given the segregated nature of the record industry during the 1980s, with artists tethered to strict, race-based musical categories, and the resistance Black rockers sometimes faced from both White rock audiences and skeptics in the Black community, Living Colour’s success was entirely unexpected. After succeeding beyond what anyone predicted and evolving away from the need to conform to the sonic expectations of critics and fans, or chasing commercial success, their next release reflected significant creative growth. Time’s Up is a musical and lyrical triumph, incorporating distinct forms and styles of music and featuring inspired collaborations with artists as distinct as Little Richard, Queen Latifah, Maceo Parker, and Mick Jagger.

In this presentation focused on her recent 33 1/3 series book, Time’s Up, Kimberly Mack uses autobiographical narrative to explore her experience growing up in Brooklyn, New York in a family both musical and violent, and the ways in which that upbringing impacted her coming of age and musical listening. She will also have a larger conversation about race, musical genre, and cultural gatekeeping, while exploring the importance of Time’s Up sonically, lyrically, and politically.

Poetry Prize for First-Year Students

Submissions are now being accepted for the Kevin T. Early Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible through an endowment by William and Donna Early in memory of their son, a poet, Kevin T. Early. It awards $2000 to a student with freshman standing at UIUC for the 2023-2024 school year. The deadline for application is Friday, February 9, 2024.  (If you started as a first year-student out of high school in the fall but gained sophomore standing early because of test-based credits, you are still eligible).

If you would like to be considered, please submit 5 poems via email to John Dudek at Jdudek4@illinois.edu. The complete submission should not exceed 5 pages (so 1 poem to a page). Submissions should be attached to the email as .docx (Word) files.

The subject line of the email should read: “EARLY PRIZE SUBMISSION: Last name.”

The body of the email should include the student’s name, address, phone number, e-mail, UIN, and the titles of the poems. The name should not appear on the entry file itself. Complete guidelines will be sent out via email. Please direct any questions to Jdudek4@illinois.edu.

LAS Career Services Spring Programming

Festival of Questions: Gap Year, Tuesday, Jan 30 at 3:30 in 205 Greg Hall
If you are an undergrad sorting out grad or professional programs and wondering if you should wait a year or more, come to this session. We will talk about how to strategize and find options for that time. We will discuss how to talk to your faculty letter writers now and then how to stay in touch with your letter writers after you leave campus.

And don’t forget that coming up soon is a series of “How I Got That Job” panels (click through for more details). Read on for details about a couple of other upcoming events that may be of interest.

How I Got that First Job with a Nonprofit Organization (Wed., Jan 31, 5 – 6:30pm)
How I Got that First Job in Business/Tech (Mon., Feb. 5, 5 – 6:30pm)
How I Got that First Job Doing What I Love (Wed., Feb. 7, 5 – 6:30pm)

Among the questions to be discussed at these panels:

  • What did panelists do while in college to set themselves up for future success?
  • How did they land the first job?
  • What has the transition from college to working life been like? Highs? Lows?
  • How does their current position fit into their overall plan for the future?

Illinois Part-Time Job Fair – Jan 30, 11 am – 3 pm at the Illini Union. Print off some resumes, talk to local employers, and see how many opportunities you have now or in the future. More career fairs are on Handshake. LAS students are allowed and even encouraged to attend the Gies and Granger fairs. We wrap the fair season up with the big Illinois Illini Career and Internship Fair on March 27 from 11 to 3 pm. There will be employers looking to fill jobs and summer positions.

Voyager Scholarship Information Sessions & Workshop

Have you demonstrated a commitment to public service? Do you plan to purse a career in public service upon graduation?  If so, the Voyager Scholarship is for you!

Eligibility
U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients who are entering their junior year (will be a junior in the Fall 2024), with a 3.0+ GPA and demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply. 

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). 

Learn about recent Illinois Voyager Scholars.

Deadline 
The priority campus deadline is February 22, 2024 at 12:00pm (noon). 
The final submittal deadline is in March 2024, the date is TBA.

Application Preparation
If you are interested in applying, please attend our informational session:   

IN-PERSON Voyager Scholarship Information Session

Tuesday, January 30th, 2024, 3:30-4:30 pm

514 Illini Union Bookstore Building, Floor 5

For more information, contact the scholarships office at topscholars@illinois.edu or visit our website at www.topscholars.illinois.edu 

Gilman Scholarship Information Sessions & Workshop

Are you a Pell grant recipient who wants to study abroad or do an international internship? If so, the Gilman Scholarship is for you!

Eligibility
Freshmen through Seniors who are U.S. citizens or nationals, Pell grant recipients, in good academic standing, and will be participating in a credit-bearing study abroad program or international internship are eligible to apply. 

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship provides enrolled students, who are Pell grant recipients, up to $5,000 for either study abroad or an internship abroad. If you plan to study a language critical to U.S. national security while abroad, you can apply for an additional $3,000. If you plan to conduct STEM-related research while studying abroad, you can apply for an additional $1,000.   

Get tips about applying from recent Illinois Gilman Scholars.

Deadline 
The national deadline is March 7, 2024.

Application Preparation
If you are interested in applying, please attend our informational sessions:   

IN-PERSON Gilman Scholarship Information Session
Thursday, February 1, 2024, 3:30-4:30 pm
514 Illini Union Bookstore Building, Floor 5

ONLINE Gilman Scholarship Information Session
Friday, February 2, 2024, 9:00-10:100 am
Register in advance for this Zoom session.

IN-PERSON Gilman Scholarship Workshop
Friday, February 2, 2024, 3:00-4:00 pm
514 Illini Union Bookstore Building, Floor 5

For more information, contact the scholarships office at topscholars@illinois.edu or visit our website at www.topscholars.illinois.edu 

Apply now to be a Summer 2024 Community-Academic Scholar!

Apply now to be a Summer 2024 Community-Academic Scholar

The Community-Academic Scholars program is a 10-week summer research experience that empowers undergraduates in all majors to address critical issues in Champaign-Urbana. Scholars work with an Illinois researcher and a community organization on a research project designed to directly benefit the community members served by the partner organization. Review the project descriptions and the scholar’s role within each project to find projects that best match your strengths and background. Apply by Feb. 6. 

Opportunities in Business Consulting and More!

The following opportunities are open to students in all majors, so if you are looking ahead to a career in business or entrepreneurship, check these out!

Professional Development with the ILC!

Call for Submissions

You are invited to submit your work to the Madison Journal of Literary Criticism for the Spring 2024 Dream Edition! This edition will encompass what it means to “dream of more,” which includes both contemplating future aspirations and reimagining in a multitude of constructed contexts. Whether it entails the past, present, future, systems, institutions, relationships, methodologies, holidays, politics, fashion, education, emotions…we live in a world of constructs. To break away from these constructs, we dream of something new, something kinder, something better. This edition focuses on how those dreams take shape and will showcase the collective desire—and manifestation—of change that transcends the limits of our current reality. This edition we hope to publish criticism: academic, poetic, in the medium of art or prose or short stories. We hope to have a loose theme as writers and creators are more than willing to interpret, define, and redefine the term however suits them best, so the submitted work does not have to explicitly tie to abolition or social justice. We welcome nuanced perspectives and multiple interpretations, so please submit! 

For samples of work previously published : View MJLC’s Past Editions

If you have any questions, please direct them to mjlc@rso.wisc.edu

Image of Research-Undergraduate Competition

Image of Research – Undergraduate Competition
Deadline to enter: Tuesday, March 19
All undergraduate students are invited to enter the 2024 Image of Research competition. Students should submit a photo related to their research, scholarship, or creative work and a short (100-200 word) narrative to communicate the connection between the image and their research. Awards include 1st ($300), 2nd ($200), and People’s Choice ($100). All submissions will be celebrated at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Opportunity for Pre-law Students

Have you considered summer study abroad and are interested in studying law? Join Cornell Law School faculty and the Office of Global Learning to learn more about the Cornell Prelaw Program in Paris, a three-week academic program in international and comparative law. Study law in a uniquely international and culturally rich environment, combining the excellence of Cornell Law School faculty and the Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. Prepare for the law school admissions process and acquire the study skills for success in law school.

Virtual Info Session:

Don’t forget these great elective options!

SAME 490: Special Topics
TOPIC: Digital Research Skills
This course is an introduction to digital tools, data management, and data visualization. It is open to both undergraduate and graduate students across various disciplines. Throughout the course, students will acquire the skills to conduct research, efficiently organize their research materials and data, and use digital tools to present their work. Students will have the option to work individually or collaborate with peers or ChatGPT. Importantly, this course provides an opportunity to explore digital tools without the need for coding knowledge. Digital skills are vital for employees in the digital era and new employees needs to have soft and hard skills!

Posted on

Weekly Round-Up

Follow the department on social media!

Important Dates and Deadlines

January 29: Deadline to ADD full-semester course
January 29: Deadline to add yourself to spring degree list if you expect to graduate in May (you can do this online in Self Service)
February 1: Deadline to apply to Sec Ed minor (for sophomores, not first-year students!)

As always, if you would like to schedule an advising appointment with Anna or Keshia, please CALL the office at 217-333-4346. We are happy to answers questions via email (englishadvising@illinois.edu) but for more complex matters such as schedule rearrangement, overall degree planning, or existential-crisis-management, an actual appointment is preferable (in person or virtual, as you prefer). We look forward to seeing many of you this semester and wish you all safe travels and a lack of frostbite in the coming week!

For those of you planning to graduate in May or August, be on the lookout for information about the English & Creative Writing Convocation ceremony, which will take place on Saturday, May 11 at 5pm in Smith Hall. We will be sending out emails in February with more details about the registration process, and we are in the process of updating the webpage for the event.

Study Abroad Open House

LAS International Programs will host an Open House  in 3060 Lincoln Hall on Wednesday, January 24 to promote study abroad programs for summer, fall and academic year 2024-2025 ahead of the February 15th application deadline. Lunch will be provided, and the schedule is as follows:

During the rest of the week, we will also host several info sessions:

Pre-Law Advising Workshop

Next week the Pre-Law Advising Services Office will be hosting their annual LSAT Jumpstart workshop series on  January 23 and January 24.  Sessions will be held via Zoom from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.  Program is open to both UIUC students and alumni.    Below is a brief agenda of the program.

Tuesday, January 23
6:00 pm CT: LSAT Overview with LSAC
7:00 pm CT: Blueprint Reading Comprehension Workshop

Wednesday, January 24
6:00 pm CT: Blueprint Logical Reasoning Workshop
7:00 pm CT: Blueprint Analytical Reasoning “Logic Games” Workshop

In addition to programming next week, participants will have the following benefits:

  • Free  mock LSAT with TestMasters,
  • LSAT Peer Perspective Panel on January 30, and
  • Be eligible to receive a  FREE LSAT prep course through Blueprint (2 courses will be given away–must be a current student to receive).  

Students may register online  through early next week.  All program details can be found online at:  https://prelaw.illinois.edu/node/98. 

A full list of upcoming pre-law programs and events can be found on the PLAS events calendar:  Pre-Law Advising Services Calendar (illinois.edu).

Call for Student Alumni Ambassadors

Interested in becoming a Student Alumni Ambassador? Come to an Info Nights on January 29th OR 31st at Lincoln Hall Theater, 7 PM! 

The Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA) group is responsible for events such as Illinois Sights and Sounds, Homecoming events, I love Illinois week, iHelp, Senior 100 Honorary, and more! Members of the Student Alumni Ambassadors are involved in fostering the Illini spirit in the campus community of the University of Illinois. Through engagement with their peers, as well as networking with professionals and alumni, the members of our organization create once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Each carefully selected member gets the opportunity to be a part of the planning and execution of long-standing traditions as well as developing new traditions for students to come.

If you wish to make a mark on campus that will be remembered for years to come, the Student Alumni Ambassadors is the organization for you. The application is now open and due on February 3rd at 11:59 PM. Visit our website www.illinisaa.com and apply now at SAA2023.”

Poetry Prize for First-Year Students

Submissions are now being accepted for the Kevin T. Early Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible through an endowment by William and Donna Early in memory of their son, a poet, Kevin T. Early. It awards $2000 to a student with freshman standing at UIUC for the 2023-2024 school year. The deadline for application is Friday, February 9, 2024.  (If you started as a first year-student out of high school in the fall but gained sophomore standing early because of test-based credits, you are still eligible).

If you would like to be considered, please submit 5 poems via email to John Dudek at Jdudek4@illinois.edu. The complete submission should not exceed 5 pages (so 1 poem to a page). Submissions should be attached to the email as .docx (Word) files.

The subject line of the email should read: “EARLY PRIZE SUBMISSION: Last name.”

The body of the email should include the student’s name, address, phone number, e-mail, UIN, and the titles of the poems. The name should not appear on the entry file itself. Complete guidelines will be sent out via email. Please direct any questions to Jdudek4@illinois.edu.

LAS Career Services Spring Programming

Coming up soon is a series of “How I Got That Job” panels (click through for more details). Read on for details about a couple of other upcoming events that may be of interest.

How I Got that First Job with a Nonprofit Organization (Wed., Jan 31, 5 – 6:30pm)
How I Got that First Job in Business/Tech (Mon., Feb. 5, 5 – 6:30pm)
How I Got that First Job Doing What I Love (Wed., Feb. 7, 5 – 6:30pm)

Among the questions to be discussed at these panels:

  • What did panelists do while in college to set themselves up for future success?
  • How did they land the first job?
  • What has the transition from college to working life been like? Highs? Lows?
  • How does their current position fit into their overall plan for the future?

Day in the Life of an Intern – Working with a State Representative, Monday, Jan 22, noon – 1pm. Conference Room 143, the Career Center. “Join us for a glimpse into the daily experiences of an intern working alongside a State Representative [Carol Ammons, IL103]! Discover the intricacies of the legislative process, engage with influential leaders, and develop practical skills in research and proposal drafting. Seize the opportunity to inquire and learn more about this distinctive internship, where you can connect with a dynamic network and contribute significantly to impactful projects that directly affect communities.”

Lunch, Learn, and Workshop Your Resume with Teach for America. Tuesday, Jan 23, noon – 2pm, 107 Gregory Hall. Lunch will be provided. Registration required. Bring a resume, get individualized assistance with updating it, and learn more about TFA.

Opportunities in Business Consulting and More!

The following opportunities are open to students in all majors, so if you are looking ahead to a career in business or entrepreneurship, check these out!

Professional Development with the ILC!

FOCUS Scholars Program

Become a FOCUS Scholar
Application deadline: Wednesday, Jan. 24
Are you looking for a way to impact your career trajectory and earnings potential for years to come? FOCUS is an intensive semester-long program created to aid in eliminating the gap in post-graduation outcomes and starting salaries between underrepresented, first-generation students and their peers. 

Call for Submissions

You are invited to submit your work to the Madison Journal of Literary Criticism for the Spring 2024 Dream Edition! This edition will encompass what it means to “dream of more,” which includes both contemplating future aspirations and reimagining in a multitude of constructed contexts. Whether it entails the past, present, future, systems, institutions, relationships, methodologies, holidays, politics, fashion, education, emotions…we live in a world of constructs. To break away from these constructs, we dream of something new, something kinder, something better. This edition focuses on how those dreams take shape and will showcase the collective desire—and manifestation—of change that transcends the limits of our current reality. This edition we hope to publish criticism: academic, poetic, in the medium of art or prose or short stories. We hope to have a loose theme as writers and creators are more than willing to interpret, define, and redefine the term however suits them best, so the submitted work does not have to explicitly tie to abolition or social justice. We welcome nuanced perspectives and multiple interpretations, so please submit! 

For samples of work previously published : View MJLC’s Past Editions

If you have any questions, please direct them to mjlc@rso.wisc.edu

Opportunity for Pre-law Students

Have you considered summer study abroad and are interested in studying law? Join Cornell Law School faculty and the Office of Global Learning to learn more about the Cornell Prelaw Program in Paris, a three-week academic program in international and comparative law. Study law in a uniquely international and culturally rich environment, combining the excellence of Cornell Law School faculty and the Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. Prepare for the law school admissions process and acquire the study skills for success in law school.

Virtual Info Session:

Don’t forget these great elective options!

SAME 490: Special Topics
TOPIC: Digital Research Skills
This course is an introduction to digital tools, data management, and data visualization. It is open to both undergraduate and graduate students across various disciplines. Throughout the course, students will acquire the skills to conduct research, efficiently organize their research materials and data, and use digital tools to present their work. Students will have the option to work individually or collaborate with peers or ChatGPT. Importantly, this course provides an opportunity to explore digital tools without the need for coding knowledge. Digital skills are vital for employees in the digital era and new employees needs to have soft and hard skills!

Posted on

Pre-Semester Round Up

Follow the department on social media!

Important Dates and Deadlines

January 15: Advising Office Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr Day
January 16: Classes Start
January 29: Deadline to ADD full-semester course
January 29: Deadline to add yourself to spring degree list if you expect to graduate in May (you can do this online in Self Service)
February 1: Deadline to apply to Sec Ed minor (for sophomores, not first-year students!)

As always, if you would like to schedule an advising appointment with Anna or Keshia, please CALL the office at 217-333-4346. We are happy to answers questions via email (englishadvising@illinois.edu) but for more complex matters such as schedule rearrangement, overall degree planning, or existential-crisis-management, an actual appointment is preferable (in person or virtual, as you prefer). We look forward to seeing many of you this semester and wish you all safe travels and a lack of frostbite in the coming week!

Poetry Prize for First-Year Students

Submissions are now being accepted for the Kevin T. Early Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible through an endowment by William and Donna Early in memory of their son, a poet, Kevin T. Early. It awards $2000 to a student with freshman standing at UIUC for the 2023-2024 school year. The deadline for application is Friday, February 9, 2024.  (If you started as a first year-student out of high school in the fall but gained sophomore standing early because of test-based credits, you are still eligible).

If you would like to be considered, please submit 5 poems via email to John Dudek at Jdudek4@illinois.edu. The complete submission should not exceed 5 pages (so 1 poem to a page). Submissions should be attached to the email as .docx (Word) files.

The subject line of the email should read: “EARLY PRIZE SUBMISSION: Last name.”

The body of the email should include the student’s name, address, phone number, e-mail, UIN, and the titles of the poems. The name should not appear on the entry file itself. Complete guidelines will be sent out via email. Please direct any questions to Jdudek4@illinois.edu.

LAS Career Services Spring Programming

This will be the first of a series of “How I Got That Job” panels, each one of which features a student from the English Department, so be sure to attend if you can! Following is some more information about these panels and a couple of other upcoming events that may be of interest.

How I Got that First Job with a Nonprofit Organization (Wed., Jan 31, 5 – 6:30pm)
How I Got that First Job in Business/Tech (Mon., Feb. 5, 5 – 6:30pm)
How I Got that First Job Doing What I Love (Wed., Feb. 7, 5 – 6:30pm)

Among the questions to be discussed at these panels:

  • What did panelists do while in college to set themselves up for future success?
  • How did they land the first job?
  • What has the transition from college to working life been like? Highs? Lows?
  • How does their current position fit into their overall plan for the future?

Day in the Life of an Intern – Working with a State Representative, Monday, Jan 22, noon – 1pm. Conference Room 143, the Career Center. “Join us for a glimpse into the daily experiences of an intern working alongside a State Representative [Carol Ammons, IL103]! Discover the intricacies of the legislative process, engage with influential leaders, and develop practical skills in research and proposal drafting. Seize the opportunity to inquire and learn more about this distinctive internship, where you can connect with a dynamic network and contribute significantly to impactful projects that directly affect communities.”

Lunch, Learn, and Workshop Your Resume with Teach for America. Tuesday, Jan 23, noon – 2pm, 107 Gregory Hall. Lunch will be provided. Registration required. Bring a resume, get individualized assistance with updating it, and learn more about TFA.

Opportunity for Pre-law Students

Have you considered summer study abroad and are interested in studying law? Join Cornell Law School faculty and the Office of Global Learning to learn more about the Cornell Prelaw Program in Paris, a three-week academic program in international and comparative law. Study law in a uniquely international and culturally rich environment, combining the excellence of Cornell Law School faculty and the Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. Prepare for the law school admissions process and acquire the study skills for success in law school.

Virtual Info Sessions:

Looking for interesting electives? Check these out!

SAME 490: Special Topics
TOPIC: Digital Research Skills
This course is an introduction to digital tools, data management, and data visualization. It is open to both undergraduate and graduate students across various disciplines. Throughout the course, students will acquire the skills to conduct research, efficiently organize their research materials and data, and use digital tools to present their work. Students will have the option to work individually or collaborate with peers or ChatGPT. Importantly, this course provides an opportunity to explore digital tools without the need for coding knowledge. Digital skills are vital for employees in the digital era and new employees needs to have soft and hard skills!