Follow the department on social media!
Important Dates and Deadlines
- Nov 15: Deadline to DROP a POTB course
Registration Advising
Time tickets are now visible in Self Service, and registration has begun (see your time ticket for individualized registration date). We encourage all students to check in with an advisor before signing up for classes (first-year students are required to meet with us). We do not schedule via email; please call the office at 217-333-4346 to make an appointment.
To help you prepare, we have the SP25 “cheat sheet” available on the Planning Coursework page. This tells you which courses will fall into which categories within the various majors/concentrations (period categories, topical clusters, etc.) in the spring.
As a reminder, if you want to take an English honors seminar (ENGL 396) you must email Nancy Rahn at nrahn@illinois.edu to request permission. Please be sure to include your name and UIN, and the CRN and topic of the course you want to take. Once Nancy contacts you to let you know you have permission to take the course you will be able to add it to your spring schedule. Act now, before the classes fill up, particularly if you are getting close to graduation!
TODAY: Wellness Check-in
Final Day of First-Gen Celebration TODAY, NOV 8
Undergraduate Research Workshops
Undergraduate Research Ambassador Program
The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is looking for motivated and personable undergraduate students in all majors who are excited to introduce and support peers through the Illinois research experience. If you have participated in a research project, be it through coursework, assisting faculty, research staff, or graduate students, or conducting a project of your own, we invite you to apply to become an Illinois Undergraduate Research Ambassador (IURA) and help other students along their research journeys. We are particularly interested in adding students in the humanities & arts to our team of ambassadors.
This application is for ambassador positions beginning Spring 2025, with the intent that selected candidates can and will continue into the following Fall 2025/Spring 2026 academic year. Students will be expected to work 30 hours per semester and will be paid a stipend of $450 per semester.
To learn more about the IURA program and how to apply, check out our call for applications. If you are unsure if your experience counts, reach out to us! We are happy to answer any questions. Contact us at ugresearch@illinois.edu.
Deadline to apply is Monday, November 18, 2024, at 11:59pm.
Participate in a Study–FINAL CALL
You are invited to participate in a study (IRB approved) that aims to learn how undergraduate students define the term “student success” and what factors can contribute to or hinder that success. Estimated time spent on study is up to 1 hour, which will be a one-on-one interview. Participants will receive a $40 Amazon gift card for their time. This study caps at 30 participants. If interested, please complete the pre-screening survey by November 12 to be considered for selection in the study: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/106057268.
ESA Upcoming Events
Upcoming Event in LLS Speaker Series
Carr Visiting Author Series: Devon Walker-Figueroa
You’re invited to a poetry reading by Devon Walker-Figueroa, made possible by the Robert J. and Katherin Carr visiting author series, on Nov 14, 4:30, Author’s Corner, Illini Union Bookstore.
Devon Walker-Figueroa is the author of Philomath (Milkweed Editions, 2021). A winner of the National Poetry Series and the Levis Reading Prize, Philomath was the first poetry collection to be named a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize. Her next collection, Lazarus Species, is forthcoming from Milkweed Editions in 2025.
Upcoming Event–Registration Required
Also seeking volunteers . . .
The event above is organized by Ryan Ross, an alum of our department and curator of the Richmond Family Welcome Gallery in the Alice Campbell Alumni Center (he’s also senior editor of the Illinois Alumni Magazine). Ryan is seeking a few volunteers to help out on November 14 (arrival time 6:20 or 6:40, depending on what tasks you’re assigned). Specifically, he needs one or two people to help with registration and/or with the Q&A session. If you’re interested, please email Ryan at rross2@illinois.edu to let him know and to get more details. Thanks!
Gillen Wood Lecture
The Animal Turn Research Cluster presents:
“Brooch Clams & Hairy Mussels”
A Public Talk on New Work
Professor Gillen D’Arcy Wood
Wednesday November 20, 4pm
Room TBA
Abstract:
This lecture recreates the visit of HMS Challenger, the pioneering oceanographic expedition, to Sydney Harbour in 1874. In colonial Australia, the Challenger naturalists encountered the molluscan legacies of recently displaced First Nation peoples, and an estuarine ecology already seriously damaged by oyster harvesting. Victorian-era Sydney offers a case study in early industrial marine exploitation and also “shifting baseline syndrome,” where lost species and their habitats are rapidly erased from cultural memory. Only recovered consciousness of these losses can open the possibility for real-world, biophysical restoration.
Student Internship Opportunity
Student Intern – Survey Data Analysis and Report Writing
Position Type: Part-time Internship (10-15 hours per week) $15 per hour
Job Description:
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Student Intern to assist with analyzing and crafting summaries from survey data. This position requires a student who can effectively distill and communicate insights derived from qualitative data. The ideal candidate has strong written communication skills, an ability to synthesize information for a quick and accurate understanding of survey topics, and is comfortable working in an office environment.
Key Responsibilities:
-Review and analyze survey comments to extract key themes and insights.
-Craft concise, well-written summaries and reports that accurately reflect survey findings.
-Collaborate with the team to ensure accuracy and clarity in all written content.
-Work in qualitative analysis software (such as ATLAS.ti) to organize and code survey data as needed.
-Assist in compiling data and insights into clear, structured reports, incorporating visual elements where appropriate.
To apply, fill out an application.
Please register in advance for this event.
Reminder! Submit to Montage
Montage publishes work by undergraduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is now accepting submissions through (tentative date) February 14, 2025.
See this page for more details or email montagejournal@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
FLAS Fellowships
University of Minnesota PhD Program Info
Greetings from the English Department of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities:
U of M offers six years of funding through a combination of teaching and fellowships for all PhD candidates. For the academic year 2025-2026, we look forward to admitting a cohort of five students, and would be especially delighted to admit an applicant interested in studying pre-1800 Anglophone literatures. For more information on our program, including faculty specialties, past course offerings, and how our professors contribute to the field, please visit our website and feel free to reach out to me if you or your students have any questions.
The University of Minnesota also offers many cross-disciplinary opportunities for students and faculty, such as the Institute for Advanced Study, Center for Premodern Studies, The Institute on the Environment, and The Center for Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender, and Sexuality. Our libraries are home to archival holdings such as the Givens Collection, James Ford Bell Library, and the Upper Midwest Literary Archives. The Twin Cities is a vibrant, urban setting with rich literary and cultural scenes, including a variety of independent presses, world renown theaters, and music organizations.
Courses of Interest in SP25
Don’t Forget These!
New First Gen Undergraduate Research Opportunity for Spring 2025
The First-Gen Scholars Research Program (FSRP) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers first-generation college students eligible for federal work-study the opportunity to participate in meaningful and high-impact research. The FSRP allows students to explore the culture and process of research and gain hands-on experience while building on their existing abilities within a supportive community of scholars. Accepted applicants will be matched with one of our experienced faculty mentors – many of whom were First Generation college students. Full details along with faculty profiles can be found online at: https://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/programs/first-gen-scholars-research.html
ATLAS Internships–Application portal for SP25 OPEN NOW!
Call for Submissions
Hello! My name is Miao Wang, and I am the Editor-in-Chief of Rainy Day, Cornell University’s longest-running undergraduate literary magazine, which has published outstanding works of poetry and fiction since 1969. We accept submissions from undergraduate students throughout the nation, including those at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. We are pleased to share the opportunity for English and Creative Writing students to submit their poetry, short fiction, short plays, and any other literary works to Rainy Day this semester. The deadline for this round of submissions is November 10.
For more information or to view past issues of the magazine, please visit our website at https://www.rainydaymagazine.org/. In addition, please do not hesitate to contact us at rainydaycornell@gmail.com if you have further questions.
Critical Language Scholarships
The Critical Language Scholarship, provided by the U.S. Department of State, is a fully-funded, intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for undergraduate and graduate students. A list of eligible languages is available here. CLS institutes are 8 to 10 weeks in length, are held over the summer, and cover one academic year of university-level language coursework. CLS Institutes include cultural programming, local language partners, and in-country excursions. Participants receive academic credit at their U.S. institutions. The national deadline is November 19, 2024, at 7:00 pm (CST).
Upcoming Pre-Law Programs
All upcoming events can be found our PLAS Events calendar.
Need Help With Research?
Peer Mentors are in the Hub!
With the return of the Peer Mentors in the Hub, here are a few reasons to head to the Hub in Lincoln Hall (Tues, Weds, Thurs from 10- 3):
- building a resume from scratch or a quick look before a career fair
- connecting to research around campus
- learning how to gain some other experience to gain insights about your skills and preferences for future jobs
- finding that RSO or other group that are around to join
- Career Services has special drop-in times on Tues, Weds (10-noon)
Confidential Advising Resources
The Women’s Resources Center (WRC) is the designated confidential campus resource related to sexual assault/rape, sexual harassment, stalking and abuse within a relationship (sometimes called dating or domestic violence). That means when we talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, we make sure you get what you need and on your terms! There are several Confidential Advisors at the WRC who can provide you – or someone looking to support you – with support and advocacy services.
Undergraduate Research Workshops
Check out workshops offered by the Office of Undergraduate Research. You’ll find a list here with schedules and registration links (space is limited)!