Follow the department on social media!
Important Dates and Deadlines
February 9: Deadline to drop a first 8-week course (aka Part of Term A) without a W
February 9: Deadline for Kevin T. Early Poetry Prize Submissions
March 8: Deadline to drop a full-semester course (aka Part of Term 1) without a W
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.
Congrats!
Please join us congratulating three English department winners of 2023-2024 LAS Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Hina Nazar, Julie Price, and Annah Freudenburg. Thanks to these wonderful teachers for all they do!
American Literary History Symposium–FRIDAY, FEB 2!
Free and open to the public!
Call for Student Alumni Ambassadors–DEADLINE APPROACHING
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.”
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.
Scholarship Info Session
You’re invited to an informational meeting on applying for our department undergraduate scholarships. The meeting will explain the application materials and process, along with due dates.
WHAT: Applying for English Undergraduate Scholarships
WHEN: Wednesday, February 7th at 5:00pm
WHERE: Zoom. You’ll have to sign in to join. For link and password, see below
Every year, we give out numerous scholarships that recognize and reward our English majors, including English, Creative Writing, and Teaching of English. (Several of our scholarships are specifically for future teachers of English). Scholarship amounts vary, but most of them range from $300 to $3000, with a few scholarships giving nearly full tuition for a semester or year.
If you can’t make the meeting or if you have questions, please email Professor Catharine Gray at cathgray@illinois.edu.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/83149765763?pwd=OS92VTJvQk1iNGVyeVhCQXRXOTkvUT09
Meeting ID: 831 4976 5763
Password: 172038
Support for Undergraduate Research
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.
Humanities in Action (HIA)
Get $1000 to learn, grow, and serve the community
Interested in applying your humanities training to address a vital area of need in the Champaign-Urbana community? Apply to be a Fall 2024 Humanities in Action scholar. HIA Scholars receive $1000, training, and support for their participation in this semester-long service program. Learn more at an information session on Feb. 15. Complete applications are due March 8. View application details.
Register for the information session
LAS Career Services Spring Programming
Spring 2024 WRC Book Clubs
Register for February sessions using the links provided:
Unf*ck Your Boundaries: Build Better Relationships Through Consent, Communication, and Expressing Your Needs by Dr. Faith G. Harper, LPC-S, ACS, ACN
Discussion will take place on Friday, February 9 at 3 pm at the WRC. | Sign up and request a copy of the book: go.illinois.edu/boundariesbookclub
House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City, 3) by Sarah J. Maas
Discussion will take place on Friday, February 23 at 3 pm at the WRC. | Books will not be provided for this book club. However, participants will receive book-related merch.
Research Park Internships
Free Panel Event in Partnership with Research Park
Friday, Feb 16, 12:00-1:00 pm
Illini Union, Room 104
Particular focus on opportunities for students in non-STEM majors and programs!
Research Park internships are not just for engineering students! Hear from a panel of current Illinois students who have worked for Research Park companies in many diverse areas. Learn about the projects they are working on, the benefits of Research Park internships, and how you can find an on-campus opportunity to work for a tech company. This event is hosted by the Research Park and The Career Center. Food will be served.
This event is free. However, space is limited to 80 student attendees.
Students should register at https://go.illinois.edu/ResearchParkPanel. This event will also be a great way to prepare for the Research Park Career Fair, which will follow on February 26th.
Beinecke Scholarship Information Sessions & Workshop
Looking to gain a graduate degree (PhD or MFA) in the arts, humanities, or social sciences?
If so, the Beinecke Scholarship is a merit- and need-based scholarship that can fund you!
Eligibility
Juniors who are U.S. citizens, who have received need-based financial aid at UIUC, and who are pursuing a terminal degree in the arts, humanities, and social sciences are eligible to apply.
The Beinecke Scholarship provides $5,000 to recipients immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school.
The Beinecke seeks students with demonstrated superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement, and personal promise. Students who have taken a breadth of coursework (not just artistic performance classes) and who seek a terminal degree (PhD or MFA) in the arts, humanities, and social sciences are prioritized. While eligible, applications for professional degrees such as law or business are generally not competitive. Applicants should have received need-based financial aid at Illinois and be dependent on financial assistance to attend graduate school.
Get tips about applying from recent Illinois Beinecke Scholars.
Deadline
The required campus deadline is March 4, 2024, at 12:00pm (noon).
Application Preparation
If you are interested in applying, please attend our informational sessions:
IN-PERSON Beinecke Scholarship Information Session
Thursday, February 8, 2024, 3:30-4:30 pm
514 Illini Union Bookstore Building, Floor 5
ONLINE Beinecke Scholarship Information Session
Friday, February 9, 2024, 9:00-10:100 am
Register in advance for this Zoom session.
IN-PERSON Beinecke Scholarship Workshop
Friday, February 9, 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
Don’t forget these!
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.
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–WORKSHOPS THIS FRIDAY, FEB 2!
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 one of our informational sessions:
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.
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:
Wednesday, February 7, 5:00pm ET, Virtual (Zoom Link)