Weekly Round-Up

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tickets for convocation

This is a reminder that those of you who are participating in the English & Creative Writing Convocation ceremony can pick up your tickets in EB 200 next week if you haven’t already. We will have shorter hours on Monday, May 8 (between 10 am and 2 pm only), but regular hours Tuesday through Thursday (9 am-noon and 1-4 pm). Please be sure to fill out the English Department’s Exit Survey first, and please also do the Illini Success Survey at some point. Thank you!

Immediate Opening—High School Teaching Position (Theatre/English)

Streamwood High School (Streamwood, Illinois) is looking for a Theatre/English teacher. This full-time position in Kane County is comprised of drama courses (9-12) and freshmen-level English classes in Streamwood’s new Academy program. There are also opportunities to direct extracurricular theatre productions for stipends. Applications must be submitted ASAPClick the following link to apply:
http://www.generalasp.net/u46/OnlineApp/default.aspx?Category=High+School+Teacher&subcategory=English&AppliTrackJobId=30486&AppliTrackLayoutMode=detail&AppliTrackViewPosting=1

LAS marketing internship

An important message from LAS Student Academic Affairs:

Spring 2023 grades will be available to students on Saturday May 20.  All students will be able to access their posted grades online and will see an academic status of “status under review.”  Final academic standing can be viewed on Friday May 26 at 5 pm.

*Students who are confirmed or placed on academic drop status by the College during its review will be informed by e-mail only, on Friday May 26. It will be delivered via Secure Message Delivery (SMD) and will be from a noreply address, so it is important you check your spam digest/junk if you don’t see a message in your inbox.

What follows is relevant only for those students who are at risk of being dropped if their term GPA is below a 2.0 (you would know this because you would have had a meeting with a college advisor and would have signed an advising agreement that lays out the terms of a “last chance” semester):

  • The drop status for some students is “Not Petitionable” (drop 18)
  • The drop status for other students is “Petitionable” (drop 17): we expect most such students to provide documentation of extenuating circumstances and/or evidence they are receiving appropriate medical treatment or have a viable plan for moving forward
  • Eligible students must submit their petitions by 5 pm on Wednesday June 7, so students anticipating a drop status decision may wish to gather petition materials now, as the period is short between drop status notification and the petition deadline.
  • Students who submit a petition should not plan on returning for the next semester until they hear the outcome of the petition review which will be available by the first week of July.
  • Students should be reminded that the purpose of the drop is to give them time and space to take care of whatever issue is getting in the way of their academic progress.  We don’t want students using precious financial resources and limited semesters to get themselves into a dire academic situation for which there is no solution.
  • Students on drop status are permitted to continue with Summer 2023 enrollments, but Summer term academic outcomes will NOT change the drop status.
  • Academic Standing decisions are made on the basis of a student’s entire academic record.  As such, grade changes should only be pursued in rare cases where an instructor has miscalculated a final grade: it is inappropriate to ask instructors for additional points or to accept redone assignments.  Please also understand most grade changes do not result in a corresponding change of academic standing.
  • Grade changes submitted after Monday, August 21, will not result in changes to academic standing.   

Don’t Forget These!

exit questionnaire for graduating seniors

We invite all undergraduates who expect to complete their degree requirements by May or August of this year to complete this short Exit Survey about your experience in the English department at your earliest convenience (if you are registered for the ceremony please complete this survey BEFORE you pick up your tickets).  Everyone who completes the survey before May 11 will be entered into a random prize drawing, and five lucky winners will be chosen to receive a gift card!  

Only the aggregate results will be distributed to the department for assessment purposes; individual participants will not be identified.  Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will be used to improve our programs and services. 

help a professor!

Please consider responding to this call for survey participants from Professor John Gallagher:

Dear students,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to request your participation in a survey that I am conducting as part of my research project on perceptions of academic dishonesty and artificial intelligence writing programs, such as ChatGPT (IRB approved #23989). I am reaching out to you as I believe that your valuable input and insights, as students, would contribute to the success of my study.

Your participation is entirely voluntary and confidential, and you have the right to withdraw at any time. The survey will take approximately 7-10 minutes to complete, and your responses will be strictly anonymous and confidential.

Your participation in this survey will enable me to gather valuable information, which will help me to better understand perceptions of academic dishonesty and make meaningful conclusions about AI writing technologies.

To participate, please click on the following link: https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8IGCw8YKsxiEZDw

Seniors: Please share your next steps after graduation!

Every year the University of Illinois surveys graduating seniors to find out where they are going next. The information you provide helps future students find their path at Illinois, and it helps departments and colleges support students more effectively. For example, in the English department we really rely on the results of this campus-wide survey to help us make the argument to prospective students that English and creative writing majors really do go on to find interesting jobs!

Whether you are still figuring out your next steps, plan to volunteer or travel, or have already accepted a job or graduate school offer, your data matters! Completing the Illini Success survey qualifies you for a drawing for Amazon gift cards. It also provides us with critical information necessary for career and academic advising, student recruitment, and institutional reporting needs.

You can receive your unique survey link here: go.illinois.edu/MyIlliniSuccess

Education Advancement Office intern posting

The Office of Advancement within the College of Education is looking for an undergraduate student who can help the office with advancement initiatives for the fall semester If it works well, the intern can continue as long as they are a student at Illinois. See the flyer below for more information:

Academic Strategies and Independent Living Skills

 If you identify with neurodivergent conditions and are struggling with academics and/or the responsibilities of “adulting,” the following classes might be of interest to you:

Academic Strategies and Independent Living Skills

 If you identify with neurodivergent conditions and are struggling with academics and/or the responsibilities of “adulting,” the following classes might be of interest to you:

Need to Meet an Advisor?

To contact a college-level advisoruse the online chat, online advising appointment calendar and queue, and online forms for program change requests. Find a list of unit and college advisors along with hours and contact information on the college website.

2023 Q Magazine writing contest

The Janelle Joseph Environmental Writing Award gives students a chance to have their work published in Q Magazine, a publication of the Certificate for Environmental Writing (CEW) at Illinois. The top awards also carry a cash prize.

The contest is open to all Illinois undergraduates of any major and is geared toward those with an interest in environmental writing.

Winners will have their work published in an upcoming issue of Q. The top prize is $1,000, and $500 prizes will be available in five categories this year: feature, memoir, op-ed, Q&A, and “At Illinois” (see the below link and attached flyer for descriptions and examples of each category).

The final deadline to submit an article is Sept. 30, 2023. You can find more information on the attached flyer and the “Janelle Joseph Environmental Writing Award” page on the Q Magazine website.

LAS Current Student Scholarships

The scholarship application can be found on the LAS Scholarships webpage under the “Current Students” tab. Filling out this application is quick and easy, and with this one step you are considered for a wide variety of scholarships. Applications accepted through Friday, May 12.

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Now Hiring

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is looking for recent college graduates who are passionate about public service and giving back to the community to join the Illinois Student Assistance Corps (ISACorps). For more information, see the flyer below:

new courses!

We’re pleased to announce a never-before-taught course in the English department’s fall line-up.  Lori Newcomb will be teaching an advanced methods course called “The Art of Research” (see ENGL 461), and it’s open to all juniors and seniors who have completed ENGL 301 and 350.  This is perfect for any Topics concentrator graduating in December (this will count as your capstone), anybody thinking about graduate school in English or a related field, or anyone who just wants to beef up their research skills. Check it out!

some other recently added courses . . .

CW 463 (meets with GSD 409): Advanced Topics in Creative Writing (TOPIC: Design & Programming of Narrative Games & Simulations)


ENGL 461: (meets with CWL 481) Topics in Arabic Lit & Culture (TOPIC: Arabs and the Americas)

National Name Exchange

The Graduate College invites University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduate and master’s students to enroll in the National Name Exchange. The National Name Exchange was established to help match graduate schools with students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups interested in graduate education. The National Name Exchange seeks to:

  • Increase the number of qualified students from underrepresented groups accepted into graduate school.
  • Improve student access to information on graduate school opportunities.
  • Work towards personalizing the recruitment effort by designating a National Name Exchange institutional representative to facilitate information exchange between the institution and prospective students.
  • Assist graduate schools in identifying qualified candidates from underrepresented groups for consideration for graduate study.

The NNE enrollment portal is now open for the 2023 year. Students can now enroll in the National Name Exchange database. The password to access the student portal is NNE2023.  

Qualifying students must be enrolled at a participating Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) member institution (Illinois is a member institution), maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above, and be from a group historically underrepresented in higher education (qualifying groups can be found here). Students who decide to participate will be asked for their consent to share their information with other participating CGS institutions.

Teacher licensure: Golden Apple Scholars Program Recruitment

Get up to $23,000 in total financial assistance and stipends and become a teacher in Illinois! For more information about the benefits, eligibility requirements, and application, visit https://www.goldenapple.org/scholars.

Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative (INI)

If you need accommodations to be successful in college, INI could be a good resource. See the flyer below:

Sourcebooks summer internships

Some summer internships are available at Sourcebooks. For more information, visit https://read.sourcebooks.com/careers.html

Confidential Advisors @ BNAACC, La Casa, & WRC

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 they talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, they 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. They also have two Confidential Advisors embedded at BNAACC and La Casa two days/week.

Embedded Advocate Hours: 
Tuesday and Wednesday 10am – 4pm @ BNAACC
Wednesday 1pm – 5pm and Thursday 10am – 4pm @ La Casa

Advising available by appointment | Monday – Friday @ the WRC
Hours may vary. Walk-in appointments offered as available.
Learn more about Advocacy & Support Services, here.

Office of Conferences and Special Events

The Office of Conferences & Special Events will be hiring several students to join the 2023 Summer Conference Team. There are a variety of full-time and part-time positions available ranging from Conference Clerk to Conference Coordinator. Summer housing, hourly pay, and discounted meals are included.

For more information, go to: go.illinois.edu/csejobs2023  

Summer Institute for the Languages of the Muslim World (SILMW)

Summer Institute for Languages of the Muslim World will be held from June 12-August 5, 2023.

Session includes
• ArabicPersianSwahiliTurkish, and Wolof courses
• Small class sizes and dedicated faculty and staff
• Immersive experience, complete with instruction
• Cultural activities, opportunities for language practice, conversation tables,
cooking classes, movie nights, and more!

Program registration deadline May 7, 2023

Apply and earn up to 10 credits! To apply, visit https://linguistics.illinois.edu/academics/less-commonly-taught-languages/arabic/application-and-registration. For more information contact silmw@illinois.edu

Find peer mentoring at the Lisnek LAS Hub

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, First Floor of Lincoln Hall, Behind the marble staircase
Peer mentors help LAS students access opportunities to gain hands-on experience. Drop-in for a casual conversation about exploring student organizations, undergraduate research, volunteer opportunities, study abroad, internships, and more. Learn how to access resources and apply to opportunities. 

Our old friends at the Humanities Professional Resource Center (now LAS Career Services) are still in Greg Hall 105 and available to meet with students to talk about professional development opportunities, career planning, and general life stuff of the “what am I doing here?” variety. See their website for contact info and event announcements.

Weekly Round-Up

Follow us on social media!
Poetry reading:

The graduate poetry workshop will be reading next week at the Urbana Free Library. Details below!

WORD WORK: Poetry on Family, Work & Life Writ Large
Date: Wednesday, May 03
Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Place: Urbana Free Library – Busey Mills Reading Room

exit questionnaire for graduating seniors

We invite all undergraduates who expect to complete their degree requirements by May or August of this year to complete this short Exit Survey about your experience in the English department at your earliest convenience (if you are registered for the ceremony please complete this survey BEFORE you pick up your tickets).  Everyone who completes the survey before May 11 will be entered into a random prize drawing, and five lucky winners will be chosen to receive a gift card!  

Only the aggregate results will be distributed to the department for assessment purposes; individual participants will not be identified.  Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will be used to improve our programs and services. 

help a professor!

Please consider responding to this call for survey participants from Professor John Gallagher:

Dear students,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to request your participation in a survey that I am conducting as part of my research project on perceptions of academic dishonesty and artificial intelligence writing programs, such as ChatGPT (IRB approved #23989). I am reaching out to you as I believe that your valuable input and insights, as students, would contribute to the success of my study.

Your participation is entirely voluntary and confidential, and you have the right to withdraw at any time. The survey will take approximately 7-10 minutes to complete, and your responses will be strictly anonymous and confidential.

Your participation in this survey will enable me to gather valuable information, which will help me to better understand perceptions of academic dishonesty and make meaningful conclusions about AI writing technologies.

To participate, please click on the following link: https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8IGCw8YKsxiEZDw

Dates and Deadline

Last day of class
Wednesday, May 3

Reading Day (no classes, no final exams)
Thursday, May 4

Final exams 
May 5-12

Students may view grades
Saturday, May 20

Don’t Forget These!

Seniors: Please share your next steps after graduation!

Every year the University of Illinois surveys graduating seniors to find out where they are going next. The information you provide helps future students find their path at Illinois, and it helps departments and colleges support students more effectively. For example, in the English department we really rely on the results of this campus-wide survey to help us make the argument to prospective students that English and creative writing majors really do go on to find interesting jobs!

Whether you are still figuring out your next steps, plan to volunteer or travel, or have already accepted a job or graduate school offer, your data matters! Completing the Illini Success survey qualifies you for a drawing for Amazon gift cards. It also provides us with critical information necessary for career and academic advising, student recruitment, and institutional reporting needs.

You can receive your unique survey link here: go.illinois.edu/MyIlliniSuccess

Fefu & Her Friends

La Estación Gallery and Minor Aesthetics Lab Present: A Staged Reading of Fefu and Her Friends written by María Irene Fornés, produced by Dr. Sandra Ruiz, and directed by Laura Coby – In collaboration with Departments of Theatre and English. 

Come see Fefu and Her Friends on April 30th at 6PM! This staged reading will be held at the Channing-Murray Foundation Building located at 1209 W. Oregon St. in Urbana, IL.

Free & open to all! RSVP at this link to reserve a seat!:http://tinyurl.com/fefuuiuc

Education Advancement Office intern posting

The Office of Advancement within the College of Education is looking for an undergraduate student who can help the office with advancement initiatives for the fall semester If it works well, the intern can continue as long as they are a student at Illinois. See the flyer below for more information:

Academic Strategies and Independent Living Skills

 If you identify with neurodivergent conditions and are struggling with academics and/or the responsibilities of “adulting,” the following classes might be of interest to you:

Academic Strategies and Independent Living Skills

 If you identify with neurodivergent conditions and are struggling with academics and/or the responsibilities of “adulting,” the following classes might be of interest to you:

Need to Meet an Advisor?

To contact a college-level advisoruse the online chat, online advising appointment calendar and queue, and online forms for program change requests. Find a list of unit and college advisors along with hours and contact information on the college website.

science writing internship

The science writing internship, offered by the Office of Marketing Communications in the College of ACES will write and distribute press releases and feature stories related to research projects and faculty in ACES.

Major duties and responsibilities will include:
-Writing news articles, announcements, and feature stories about peer-reviewed research, grant awards, ACES faculty members, and other topics with the goal of breaking down complex science concepts for lay audiences. (60%)
-Collaborating with faculty sources and communications team to revise and rewrite content. (15%)
-Assisting with story distribution and promotion, including posting articles on ACES website and news distribution sites; drafting social media posts; working with faculty to create expert pitches; and related activities. (15%)
-Acquiring a working knowledge of AP style, ACES style, and editorial best practices. (5%)
-Performing other duties as assigned. (5%)

The ideal candidate is a strong, detail-oriented writer who can communicate complex ideas accurately, succinctly, and creatively for various audiences. Applicants must demonstrate excellent organizational and time-management skills and be able to work independently on simultaneous assignments. A familiarity with the scientific process and previous science writing experience is preferred but not required.

The position will start July 1, 2023 and extend through the academic year. Summer hours can be up to 40 hours per week, depending on the intern’s availability. During the fall and spring semesters, hours will be reduced to 10-20 hours per week. This is a paid remote or hybrid position, requiring weekly check-ins with the supervisor. Work schedules may vary depending on story assignments.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and two or three writing samples to Lauren Quinn at ldquinn@illinois.edu. Scientific manuscripts are not acceptable samples. Apply by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 28.

2023 Q Magazine writing contest

The Janelle Joseph Environmental Writing Award gives students a chance to have their work published in Q Magazine, a publication of the Certificate for Environmental Writing (CEW) at Illinois. The top awards also carry a cash prize.

The contest is open to all Illinois undergraduates of any major and is geared toward those with an interest in environmental writing.

Winners will have their work published in an upcoming issue of Q. The top prize is $1,000, and $500 prizes will be available in five categories this year: feature, memoir, op-ed, Q&A, and “At Illinois” (see the below link and attached flyer for descriptions and examples of each category).

The final deadline to submit an article is Sept. 30, 2023. You can find more information on the attached flyer and the “Janelle Joseph Environmental Writing Award” page on the Q Magazine website.

We Have Each Other

Join Darrell Hunter (director of the College of LAS First Year Experience program) for We Got Each Other, a weekly hangout for men of color in LAS. Connect with your peers, get tips on navigating the University of Illinois and College of LAS, and share your experiences in a supportive, welcoming space. Plus, free pizza!

Sessions will continue every Wednesday at Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center (BNAACC) from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Questions? Contact Darrell Hunter

registration appointments still available!

Don’t forget: if you want to talk to an advisor about your plans for the fall, please call 217-333-4346 during the hours 8:30-noon or 1:00-4:30 to request an appointment. Remember that we are very busy during the registration period so please don’t wait until your time ticket opens up and then send an email demanding an immediate reply. Plan ahead!

Here are some things you can do ahead of time to make your registration appointment more productive: 

  • Run your degree audit and see what you can make of it. Even if you find it a little confusing, try to get a sense of what requirements you have left to fulfill, and then when we do your registration appointment we can confirm (or correct) your interpretation of the audit and help explain anything that’s confusing. 
  • Think about what you want to accomplish in the fall. What major/minor/Gen Ed requirements would you like to complete, and what other areas would you like to explore?   
  • If you are thinking of adding a major or a minor, do you know what you need to do to get started? If you’ve already begun, can you figure out the next step?  You can explore major and minor requirements listed here: http://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
  • Consult Course Explorer and be sure to read the course descriptions in full.  Remember that if a course is called “Topics in X” then you must click through to see the individual sections and find out what topics are available. It’s also worth clicking through on any 199 (usually called Undergraduate Open Seminar) because there you may find some interesting and unusual topics being piloted, and they’re usually unrestricted. 
  • Consult the resources available on the Planning Coursework section of the advising site.  You’ll find checklists of major requirements, plus the “cheat sheet” that tells you which variable topics courses satisfy which requirements this fall. 

LAS Current Student Scholarships

The scholarship application can be found on the LAS Scholarships webpage under the “Current Students” tab. Filling out this application is quick and easy, and with this one step you are considered for a wide variety of scholarships. Applications accepted through Friday, May 12.

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Now Hiring

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is looking for recent college graduates who are passionate about public service and giving back to the community to join the Illinois Student Assistance Corps (ISACorps). For more information, see the flyer below:

new courses!

We’re pleased to announce a never-before-taught course in the English department’s fall line-up.  Lori Newcomb will be teaching an advanced methods course called “The Art of Research” (see ENGL 461), and it’s open to all juniors and seniors who have completed ENGL 301 and 350.  This is perfect for any Topics concentrator graduating in December (this will count as your capstone), anybody thinking about graduate school in English or a related field, or anyone who just wants to beef up their research skills. Check it out!

some other recently added courses . . .

CW 463 (meets with GSD 409): Advanced Topics in Creative Writing (TOPIC: Design & Programming of Narrative Games & Simulations)


ENGL 461: (meets with CWL 481) Topics in Arabic Lit & Culture (TOPIC: Arabs and the Americas)

National Name Exchange

The Graduate College invites University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduate and master’s students to enroll in the National Name Exchange. The National Name Exchange was established to help match graduate schools with students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups interested in graduate education. The National Name Exchange seeks to:

  • Increase the number of qualified students from underrepresented groups accepted into graduate school.
  • Improve student access to information on graduate school opportunities.
  • Work towards personalizing the recruitment effort by designating a National Name Exchange institutional representative to facilitate information exchange between the institution and prospective students.
  • Assist graduate schools in identifying qualified candidates from underrepresented groups for consideration for graduate study.

The NNE enrollment portal is now open for the 2023 year. Students can now enroll in the National Name Exchange database. The password to access the student portal is NNE2023.  

Qualifying students must be enrolled at a participating Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) member institution (Illinois is a member institution), maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above, and be from a group historically underrepresented in higher education (qualifying groups can be found here). Students who decide to participate will be asked for their consent to share their information with other participating CGS institutions.

Teacher licensure: Golden Apple Scholars Program Recruitment

Get up to $23,000 in total financial assistance and stipends and become a teacher in Illinois! For more information about the benefits, eligibility requirements, and application, visit https://www.goldenapple.org/scholars.

Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative (INI)

If you need accommodations to be successful in college, INI could be a good resource. See the flyer below:

Sourcebooks summer internships

Some summer internships are available at Sourcebooks. For more information, visit https://read.sourcebooks.com/careers.html

Open positions at ravinia festival

Ravinia is looking for talented individuals who are able to start working sooner than later. Here’s a list of what’s currently open, with more being added by the week:

Ravinia Steans Music Institute

Program Assistant, Ravinia Steans Music Institute

Coordinator, Ravinia Steans Music Institute

Production and Artistic
Production Assistant

Assistant Production Coordinator

Development

Development Seasonal Assistant, Auxiliary Boards

Development Intern, Major Gifts

Development Intern, Corporate Relations

Communications

Intern, Web Content Editor

Guest Services

Box Office Representative

Confidential Advisors @ BNAACC, La Casa, & WRC

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 they talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, they 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. They also have two Confidential Advisors embedded at BNAACC and La Casa two days/week.

Embedded Advocate Hours: 
Tuesday and Wednesday 10am – 4pm @ BNAACC
Wednesday 1pm – 5pm and Thursday 10am – 4pm @ La Casa

Advising available by appointment | Monday – Friday @ the WRC
Hours may vary. Walk-in appointments offered as available.
Learn more about Advocacy & Support Services, here.

Bailey Unpaid Internship Scholarship

The University YMCA’s Fred S. Bailey Unpaid Internship Scholarship program provides scholarship funding to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduate students who accept unpaid internships with public service agencies and not for profit organizations. The Application Opens on March 1, 2023! For more information and to apply, visit https://universityymca.org/bailey/intern/.

Office of Conferences and Special Events

The Office of Conferences & Special Events will be hiring several students to join the 2023 Summer Conference Team. There are a variety of full-time and part-time positions available ranging from Conference Clerk to Conference Coordinator. Summer housing, hourly pay, and discounted meals are included.

For more information, go to: go.illinois.edu/csejobs2023  

Writers Workshop Resources

You can make use of the Writers Workshop resources. See the flyers below:

Summer Institute for the Languages of the Muslim World (SILMW)

Summer Institute for Languages of the Muslim World will be held from June 12-August 5, 2023.

Session includes
• ArabicPersianSwahiliTurkish, and Wolof courses
• Small class sizes and dedicated faculty and staff
• Immersive experience, complete with instruction
• Cultural activities, opportunities for language practice, conversation tables,
cooking classes, movie nights, and more!

Program registration deadline May 7, 2023

Apply and earn up to 10 credits! To apply, visit https://linguistics.illinois.edu/academics/less-commonly-taught-languages/arabic/application-and-registration. For more information contact silmw@illinois.edu

OMSA Free Tutoring Class List

OMSA tutoring is free to all UIUC undergrads. For more information and the list of classes, see the flyer below:

Library Workshops, events, and services

With the start of Spring 2023, the University Library has been busy planning and scheduling workshops, consultation services, programs, and other helpful things for students. For information about the events and workshops visit events calendar as well as  Savvy Researcher workshops.

You can find some highlighted workshops and services below:

Research Consultations
Research consultations start again this Sunday! Students can receive help with their research papers, ranging from brainstorming a topic to synthesizing their sources.  Consultations are from 4-9pm, Sunday-Thursday, and are geared towards first- and second-year students.

Speaking Center
The Speaking Center opens again this week! Students can sign up for a consultation to work one-on-one with a trained Speaking Consultant to improve presentations and speeches, attend workshops focused on building lasting speaking skills, or participate in language sessions to build foreign language skills. Upcoming workshops include “Coping with Speech Anxiety” and “Nonverbal Communication for Presentations.

Academic Success Series and Student Success Workshops
The Academic Success Series is in collaboration with the Counseling Center, and covers topics like “Healthy Relationships,” “Imposter Syndrome,” and more. Student Success Workshops will include some repeats from the fall, like “Study Skills for Neurodiverse Students,” and “Budgeting 101,” and also introduce new workshops, like “Using and Creating a LinkedIn Profile.”

Inclusive Speaker Series: Salvatore De Sando
Funded by the Library Innovation and Seed Grant, this series highlights members of the UIUC community who have done important work highlighting underrepresented voices. Salvatore will be the first in this speaker series, and will present on Feb. 14th at noon, via zoom.

Family Study Room
For students who are parents or caregivers, there is a space for them in the Main Library! Students can bring their kids with them to the Library, and can also check out Family Kits, a playpen, or children tablets for their children to play with while they study.

Introduction to Library Resources for Literary Studies

Are you new to UIUC? Do you need some help figuring out how to do research? Do you find it difficult to access library resources that can help you to succeed in courses? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, please consider attending “Introduction to Library Resources for Literary Studies.” This one-hour session will teach you to use a variety of library services and features (e.g. Inter-library loan, requesting books, accessing articles, and scheduling a research consultation). To participate, visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/savvy?cid=15337&t=m&d=2023-02&cal=15337&inc=0 and select a session that works for you. Can’t find one? Let Matt Roberts in the Literatures and Languages Library know, and he will reach out to you with more information to receive the instruction that you need.

Matt will continue to offer office hours for students. You can also schedule a consultation with him, but he will be free each Monday from 12-2 to talk with you.

Find peer mentoring at the Lisnek LAS Hub

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, First Floor of Lincoln Hall, Behind the marble staircase
Peer mentors help LAS students access opportunities to gain hands-on experience. Drop-in for a casual conversation about exploring student organizations, undergraduate research, volunteer opportunities, study abroad, internships, and more. Learn how to access resources and apply to opportunities. 

Our old friends at the Humanities Professional Resource Center (now LAS Career Services) are still in Greg Hall 105 and available to meet with students to talk about professional development opportunities, career planning, and general life stuff of the “what am I doing here?” variety. See their website for contact info and event announcements.

Weekly Round-Up

Follow us on social media!
Shakespeare’s First Folio Fête

Join us in the RBML on Friday, April 21st from 3-5 pm for a celebration of all things Shakespeare! 

Shakespeare’s First Folio, published in 1623, gathered 36 of the Bard’s plays, including 18 that would otherwise have disappeared. Come help us mark this 400th milestone: visit with some of RBML’s Shakespearean treasures, dare to read or recite a few lines, wear your Elizabethan finery if you wish, and “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” This event is free and open to all, and refreshments and party favors will be on hand!

MFA Public reading

Illini Union Room 210
Saturday, April 22 | 1:00pm
Featuring readings by:

Claire Christoff
Maddy Furlong
Chelsea Christine Hill
Erin Hoffman
Weston Morrow

Seniors: Please share your next steps after graduation!

Every year the University of Illinois surveys graduating seniors to find out where they are going next. The information you provide helps future students find their path at Illinois, and it helps departments and colleges support students more effectively. For example, in the English department we really rely on the results of this campus-wide survey to help us make the argument to prospective students that English and creative writing majors really do go on to find interesting jobs!

Whether you are still figuring out your next steps, plan to volunteer or travel, or have already accepted a job or graduate school offer, your data matters! Completing the Illini Success survey qualifies you for a drawing for Amazon gift cards. It also provides us with critical information necessary for career and academic advising, student recruitment, and institutional reporting needs.

You can receive your unique survey link here: go.illinois.edu/MyIlliniSuccess

creative writing awards ceremony and reading

Creative Writing and the Department of English present a selection of Spring Creative Writing Award winners reading from their work in Authors’ Corner, Illini Union Bookstore, April 27, 4:30-6pm.

Join the Library of Congress for Fall 2023

The Library of Congress 2023 Archives, History and Heritage Advanced (AHHA) Internship Program is accepting applications through Monday, April 24, 2023. AHHA 2023 is a paid internship offering remote and onsite projects for many different majors and interests.

The program targets Black, Hispanic or Latino, Indigenous, and communities of color historically underrepresented in the United States and in the Library’s collections. Currently enrolled undergraduate juniors and seniors, masters and Ph.D. candidates from all majors or those who have graduated between December 1, 2022 – August 31, 2023 are eligible.

How to Apply:

  • Download the AHHA How to Apply guide from AHHA’s Of the People: Widening the Path page. This brochure provides step-by-step advice for preparing and submitting an application.
  • Read the full description of AHHA 2023 on the Library’s Internships and Fellowships Opportunities portal. Review remote and/or onsite project offerings and follow the links to USAJOBS to apply.

Learn More: 

Connect with AHHA: 

Subscribe to the Of the People blog, an active platform for intern spotlights, program resources, and new ways to use Library collections.

Film screening: “Overland” (2020) + falconry demonstration

A documentary film “Overland” (2020) will be screened on Friday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m. You can view the trailer for “Overland” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joZTG6y5nTU. The screening will be preceded by a falconry demonstration at 4:30 p.m. See the flyer below:

Fefu & Her Friends

La Estación Gallery and Minor Aesthetics Lab Present: A Staged Reading of Fefu and Her Friends written by María Irene Fornés, produced by Dr. Sandra Ruiz, and directed by Laura Coby – In collaboration with Departments of Theatre and English. 

Come see Fefu and Her Friends on April 30th at 6PM! This staged reading will be held at the Channing-Murray Foundation Building located at 1209 W. Oregon St. in Urbana, IL.

Free & open to all! RSVP at this link to reserve a seat!:http://tinyurl.com/fefuuiuc

Education Advancement Office intern posting

The Office of Advancement within the College of Education is looking for an undergraduate student who can help the office with advancement initiatives for the fall semester If it works well, the intern can continue as long as they are a student at Illinois. See the flyer below for more information:

Academic Strategies and Independent Living Skills

 If you identify with neurodivergent conditions and are struggling with academics and/or the responsibilities of “adulting,” the following classes might be of interest to you:

SKY Happiness Retreat

SKY Happiness Retreat is a total well-being training offered to thousands of university students, faculty, and staff across the country. A recent study at Yale University found that SKY Happiness Retreat significantly reduces stressdepression, and has a long-lasting impact on mental health, mindfulness, positive emotion and social connectedness. The SKY Happiness Retreat introduces SKY Meditation, an evidence-based meditation practice integrated with breath work that can significantly increase one’s well-being and calmness, and significantly reduces anxiety and stress markers. The course features interactive group processes, experiential learning, emotional intelligence training, breath-work, yoga, and evidence-based meditation. It’s a place to connect with yourself, make new friends, and most importantly, have fun.

We’re happy to share that the SKY Happiness Retreat is fully funded for University of Illinois affiliates. Availability is first-come-first serve, by registration only and requires attendance to all sessions. Limited spots are available.

Location: Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building (Room 4100)
Timings:  
April 28th (Fri) | 6pm – 9pm
April 29th and 30th (Sat & Sun) | 1pm – 5:30pm

Apply here: https://tiny.cc/skyapril2023uiuc

Dates and Deadlines

Last day of class
Wednesday, May 3

Reading Day (no classes, no final exams)
Thursday, May 4

Final exams 
May 5-12

Students may view grades
Saturday, May 20

Don’t Forget These!

Need to Meet an Advisor?

To contact a college-level advisoruse the online chat, online advising appointment calendar and queue, and online forms for program change requests. Find a list of unit and college advisors along with hours and contact information on the college website.

science writing internship

The science writing internship, offered by the Office of Marketing Communications in the College of ACES will write and distribute press releases and feature stories related to research projects and faculty in ACES.

Major duties and responsibilities will include:
-Writing news articles, announcements, and feature stories about peer-reviewed research, grant awards, ACES faculty members, and other topics with the goal of breaking down complex science concepts for lay audiences. (60%)
-Collaborating with faculty sources and communications team to revise and rewrite content. (15%)
-Assisting with story distribution and promotion, including posting articles on ACES website and news distribution sites; drafting social media posts; working with faculty to create expert pitches; and related activities. (15%)
-Acquiring a working knowledge of AP style, ACES style, and editorial best practices. (5%)
-Performing other duties as assigned. (5%)

The ideal candidate is a strong, detail-oriented writer who can communicate complex ideas accurately, succinctly, and creatively for various audiences. Applicants must demonstrate excellent organizational and time-management skills and be able to work independently on simultaneous assignments. A familiarity with the scientific process and previous science writing experience is preferred but not required.

The position will start July 1, 2023 and extend through the academic year. Summer hours can be up to 40 hours per week, depending on the intern’s availability. During the fall and spring semesters, hours will be reduced to 10-20 hours per week. This is a paid remote or hybrid position, requiring weekly check-ins with the supervisor. Work schedules may vary depending on story assignments.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and two or three writing samples to Lauren Quinn at ldquinn@illinois.edu. Scientific manuscripts are not acceptable samples. Apply by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 28.

2023 Q Magazine writing contest

The Janelle Joseph Environmental Writing Award gives students a chance to have their work published in Q Magazine, a publication of the Certificate for Environmental Writing (CEW) at Illinois. The top awards also carry a cash prize.

The contest is open to all Illinois undergraduates of any major and is geared toward those with an interest in environmental writing.

Winners will have their work published in an upcoming issue of Q. The top prize is $1,000, and $500 prizes will be available in five categories this year: feature, memoir, op-ed, Q&A, and “At Illinois” (see the below link and attached flyer for descriptions and examples of each category).

The final deadline to submit an article is Sept. 30, 2023. You can find more information on the attached flyer and the “Janelle Joseph Environmental Writing Award” page on the Q Magazine website.

We Have Each Other

Join Darrell Hunter (director of the College of LAS First Year Experience program) for We Got Each Other, a weekly hangout for men of color in LAS. Connect with your peers, get tips on navigating the University of Illinois and College of LAS, and share your experiences in a supportive, welcoming space. Plus, free pizza!

Sessions will continue every Wednesday at Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center (BNAACC) from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Questions? Contact Darrell Hunter

registration appointments still available!

Don’t forget: if you want to talk to an advisor about your plans for the fall, please call 217-333-4346 during the hours 8:30-noon or 1:00-4:30 to request an appointment. Remember that we are very busy during the registration period so please don’t wait until your time ticket opens up and then send an email demanding an immediate reply. Plan ahead!

Here are some things you can do ahead of time to make your registration appointment more productive: 

  • Run your degree audit and see what you can make of it. Even if you find it a little confusing, try to get a sense of what requirements you have left to fulfill, and then when we do your registration appointment we can confirm (or correct) your interpretation of the audit and help explain anything that’s confusing. 
  • Think about what you want to accomplish in the fall. What major/minor/Gen Ed requirements would you like to complete, and what other areas would you like to explore?   
  • If you are thinking of adding a major or a minor, do you know what you need to do to get started? If you’ve already begun, can you figure out the next step?  You can explore major and minor requirements listed here: http://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
  • Consult Course Explorer and be sure to read the course descriptions in full.  Remember that if a course is called “Topics in X” then you must click through to see the individual sections and find out what topics are available. It’s also worth clicking through on any 199 (usually called Undergraduate Open Seminar) because there you may find some interesting and unusual topics being piloted, and they’re usually unrestricted. 
  • Consult the resources available on the Planning Coursework section of the advising site.  You’ll find checklists of major requirements, plus the “cheat sheet” that tells you which variable topics courses satisfy which requirements this fall. 
LAS Current Student Scholarships

The scholarship application can be found on the LAS Scholarships webpage under the “Current Students” tab. Filling out this application is quick and easy, and with this one step you are considered for a wide variety of scholarships. Applications accepted through Friday, May 12.

Social Justice Scholarship

The Campus Faculty Association is proud to announce that we are awarding up to eight $1000 scholarships for undergraduate students who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to social justice in the community. This year we will award scholarships in both the fall and spring semesters.

These scholarships will be awarded in memorial of longtime CFA member and fighter for social justice Kathryn J. Oberdeck who served until her death as a professor of History at the University of Illinois.

To be considered, an undergraduate must be currently enrolled as a student in good standing at the UIUC with at least one more semester of study before graduation. Preference will be given to students who will be involved in social justice activity during the period of the award. Applications must include a curriculum vitae, a short (250 word) essay describing the student’s involvement in social justice work, and the name and contact information for one reference who can speak to the student’s record in this regard. We are currently accepting applications. Awards will be announced at the end of the Fall semester. The deadline for applications is April 21. For more information and to apply, visit https://cfaillinois.org/

Odyssey Project Internships for Humanities and Education Undergraduates

The Humanities Research Institute is currently seeking two interns for the Odyssey Project. See the flyer below for more information:

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Now Hiring

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is looking for recent college graduates who are passionate about public service and giving back to the community to join the Illinois Student Assistance Corps (ISACorps). For more information, see the flyer below:

new courses!

We’re pleased to announce a never-before-taught course in the English department’s fall line-up.  Lori Newcomb will be teaching an advanced methods course called “The Art of Research” (see ENGL 461), and it’s open to all juniors and seniors who have completed ENGL 301 and 350.  This is perfect for any Topics concentrator graduating in December (this will count as your capstone), anybody thinking about graduate school in English or a related field, or anyone who just wants to beef up their research skills. Check it out!

some other recently added courses . . .

CW 463 (meets with GSD 409): Advanced Topics in Creative Writing (TOPIC: Design & Programming of Narrative Games & Simulations)


ENGL 461: (meets with CWL 481): Topics in Arabic Lit & Culture (TOPIC: Arabs and the Americas)

National Name Exchange

The Graduate College invites University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduate and master’s students to enroll in the National Name Exchange. The National Name Exchange was established to help match graduate schools with students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups interested in graduate education. The National Name Exchange seeks to:

  • Increase the number of qualified students from underrepresented groups accepted into graduate school.
  • Improve student access to information on graduate school opportunities.
  • Work towards personalizing the recruitment effort by designating a National Name Exchange institutional representative to facilitate information exchange between the institution and prospective students.
  • Assist graduate schools in identifying qualified candidates from underrepresented groups for consideration for graduate study.

The NNE enrollment portal is now open for the 2023 year. Students can now enroll in the National Name Exchange database. The password to access the student portal is NNE2023.  

Qualifying students must be enrolled at a participating Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) member institution (Illinois is a member institution), maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above, and be from a group historically underrepresented in higher education (qualifying groups can be found here). Students who decide to participate will be asked for their consent to share their information with other participating CGS institutions.

Teacher licensure: Golden Apple Scholars Program Recruitment

Get up to $23,000 in total financial assistance and stipends and become a teacher in Illinois! For more information about the benefits, eligibility requirements, and application, visit https://www.goldenapple.org/scholars.

Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative (INI)

If you need accommodations to be successful in college, INI could be a good resource. See the flyer below:

Sourcebooks summer internships

Some summer internships are available at Sourcebooks. For more information, visit https://read.sourcebooks.com/careers.html

Open positions at ravinia festival

Ravinia is looking for talented individuals who are able to start working sooner than later. Here’s a list of what’s currently open, with more being added by the week:

Ravinia Steans Music Institute

Program Assistant, Ravinia Steans Music Institute

Coordinator, Ravinia Steans Music Institute

Production and Artistic
Production Assistant

Assistant Production Coordinator

Development

Development Seasonal Assistant, Auxiliary Boards

Development Intern, Major Gifts

Development Intern, Corporate Relations

Communications

Intern, Web Content Editor

Guest Services

Box Office Representative

Confidential Advisors @ BNAACC, La Casa, & WRC

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 they talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, they 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. They also have two Confidential Advisors embedded at BNAACC and La Casa two days/week.

Embedded Advocate Hours: 
Tuesday and Wednesday 10am – 4pm @ BNAACC
Wednesday 1pm – 5pm and Thursday 10am – 4pm @ La Casa

Advising available by appointment | Monday – Friday @ the WRC
Hours may vary. Walk-in appointments offered as available.
Learn more about Advocacy & Support Services, here.

Bailey Unpaid Internship Scholarship

The University YMCA’s Fred S. Bailey Unpaid Internship Scholarship program provides scholarship funding to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduate students who accept unpaid internships with public service agencies and not for profit organizations. The Application Opens on March 1, 2023! For more information and to apply, visit https://universityymca.org/bailey/intern/.

Office of Conferences and Special Events

The Office of Conferences & Special Events will be hiring several students to join the 2023 Summer Conference Team. There are a variety of full-time and part-time positions available ranging from Conference Clerk to Conference Coordinator. Summer housing, hourly pay, and discounted meals are included.

For more information, go to: go.illinois.edu/csejobs2023  

Writers Workshop Resources

You can make use of the Writers Workshop resources. See the flyers below:

Summer Institute for the Languages of the Muslim World (SILMW)

Summer Institute for Languages of the Muslim World will be held from June 12-August 5, 2023.

Session includes
• ArabicPersianSwahiliTurkish, and Wolof courses
• Small class sizes and dedicated faculty and staff
• Immersive experience, complete with instruction
• Cultural activities, opportunities for language practice, conversation tables,
cooking classes, movie nights, and more!

Program registration deadline May 7, 2023

Apply and earn up to 10 credits! To apply, visit https://linguistics.illinois.edu/academics/less-commonly-taught-languages/arabic/application-and-registration. For more information contact silmw@illinois.edu

OMSA Free Tutoring Class List

OMSA tutoring is free to all UIUC undergrads. For more information and the list of classes, see the flyer below:

Library Workshops, events, and services

With the start of Spring 2023, the University Library has been busy planning and scheduling workshops, consultation services, programs, and other helpful things for students. For information about the events and workshops visit events calendar as well as  Savvy Researcher workshops.

You can find some highlighted workshops and services below:

Research Consultations
Research consultations start again this Sunday! Students can receive help with their research papers, ranging from brainstorming a topic to synthesizing their sources.  Consultations are from 4-9pm, Sunday-Thursday, and are geared towards first- and second-year students.

Speaking Center
The Speaking Center opens again this week! Students can sign up for a consultation to work one-on-one with a trained Speaking Consultant to improve presentations and speeches, attend workshops focused on building lasting speaking skills, or participate in language sessions to build foreign language skills. Upcoming workshops include “Coping with Speech Anxiety” and “Nonverbal Communication for Presentations.

Academic Success Series and Student Success Workshops
The Academic Success Series is in collaboration with the Counseling Center, and covers topics like “Healthy Relationships,” “Imposter Syndrome,” and more. Student Success Workshops will include some repeats from the fall, like “Study Skills for Neurodiverse Students,” and “Budgeting 101,” and also introduce new workshops, like “Using and Creating a LinkedIn Profile.”

Inclusive Speaker Series: Salvatore De Sando
Funded by the Library Innovation and Seed Grant, this series highlights members of the UIUC community who have done important work highlighting underrepresented voices. Salvatore will be the first in this speaker series, and will present on Feb. 14th at noon, via zoom.

Family Study Room
For students who are parents or caregivers, there is a space for them in the Main Library! Students can bring their kids with them to the Library, and can also check out Family Kits, a playpen, or children tablets for their children to play with while they study.

Introduction to Library Resources for Literary Studies

Are you new to UIUC? Do you need some help figuring out how to do research? Do you find it difficult to access library resources that can help you to succeed in courses? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, please consider attending “Introduction to Library Resources for Literary Studies.” This one-hour session will teach you to use a variety of library services and features (e.g. Inter-library loan, requesting books, accessing articles, and scheduling a research consultation). To participate, visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/savvy?cid=15337&t=m&d=2023-02&cal=15337&inc=0 and select a session that works for you. Can’t find one? Let Matt Roberts in the Literatures and Languages Library know, and he will reach out to you with more information to receive the instruction that you need.

Matt will continue to offer office hours for students. You can also schedule a consultation with him, but he will be free each Monday from 12-2 to talk with you.

Find peer mentoring at the Lisnek LAS Hub

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, First Floor of Lincoln Hall, Behind the marble staircase
Peer mentors help LAS students access opportunities to gain hands-on experience. Drop-in for a casual conversation about exploring student organizations, undergraduate research, volunteer opportunities, study abroad, internships, and more. Learn how to access resources and apply to opportunities. 

Our old friends at the Humanities Professional Resource Center (now LAS Career Services) are still in Greg Hall 105 and available to meet with students to talk about professional development opportunities, career planning, and general life stuff of the “what am I doing here?” variety. See their website for contact info and event announcements.

Weekly Round-Up

Follow us on social media!
MFA Public reading

Illini Union Room 210
Saturday, April 22 | 1:00pm
Featuring readings by:

Claire Christoff
Maddy Furlong
Chelsea Christine Hill
Erin Hoffman
Weston Morrow

Learn about the Illinois in Washington Program

Illinois in Washington is an academic internship program run by the Department of Political Science open to all undergraduates. Participants live, intern, and take classes in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit https://washington.illinois.edu/.

Application deadline: Saturday, April 15.

Need to Meet an Advisor?

To contact a college-level advisoruse the online chat, online advising appointment calendar and queue, and online forms for program change requests. Find a list of unit and college advisors along with hours and contact information on the college website.

Nikki Finney and Ruth Nicole Brown

You are invited to join Nikky Finney and Ruth Nicole Brown (African American Studies, Michigan State University and Founder, Saving Our Lives, Hearing Our Truths – SOLHOT) in conversation, with Janice Harrington (Creative Writing, Department of English) moderating. For more information, please click here.

Shakespeare’s First Folio Fête

Join us in the RBML on Friday, April 21st from 3-5 pm for a celebration of all things Shakespeare! 

Shakespeare’s First Folio, published in 1623, gathered 36 of the Bard’s plays, including 18 that would otherwise have disappeared. Come help us mark this 400th milestone: visit with some of RBML’s Shakespearean treasures, dare to read or recite a few lines, wear your Elizabethan finery if you wish, and “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” This event is free and open to all, and refreshments and party favors will be on hand!

science writing internship

The science writing internship, offered by the Office of Marketing Communications in the College of ACES will write and distribute press releases and feature stories related to research projects and faculty in ACES.

Major duties and responsibilities will include:
-Writing news articles, announcements, and feature stories about peer-reviewed research, grant awards, ACES faculty members, and other topics with the goal of breaking down complex science concepts for lay audiences. (60%)
-Collaborating with faculty sources and communications team to revise and rewrite content. (15%)
-Assisting with story distribution and promotion, including posting articles on ACES website and news distribution sites; drafting social media posts; working with faculty to create expert pitches; and related activities. (15%)
-Acquiring a working knowledge of AP style, ACES style, and editorial best practices. (5%)
-Performing other duties as assigned. (5%)

The ideal candidate is a strong, detail-oriented writer who can communicate complex ideas accurately, succinctly, and creatively for various audiences. Applicants must demonstrate excellent organizational and time-management skills and be able to work independently on simultaneous assignments. A familiarity with the scientific process and previous science writing experience is preferred but not required.

The position will start July 1, 2023 and extend through the academic year. Summer hours can be up to 40 hours per week, depending on the intern’s availability. During the fall and spring semesters, hours will be reduced to 10-20 hours per week. This is a paid remote or hybrid position, requiring weekly check-ins with the supervisor. Work schedules may vary depending on story assignments.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and two or three writing samples to Lauren Quinn at ldquinn@illinois.edu. Scientific manuscripts are not acceptable samples. Apply by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 28.

2023 Q Magazine writing contest

The Janelle Joseph Environmental Writing Award gives students a chance to have their work published in Q Magazine, a publication of the Certificate for Environmental Writing (CEW) at Illinois. The top awards also carry a cash prize.

The contest is open to all Illinois undergraduates of any major and is geared toward those with an interest in environmental writing.

Winners will have their work published in an upcoming issue of Q. The top prize is $1,000, and $500 prizes will be available in five categories this year: feature, memoir, op-ed, Q&A, and “At Illinois” (see the below link and attached flyer for descriptions and examples of each category).

The final deadline to submit an article is Sept. 30, 2023. You can find more information on the attached flyer and the “Janelle Joseph Environmental Writing Award” page on the Q Magazine website.

We Have Each Other

Join Darrell Hunter (director of the College of LAS First Year Experience program) for We Got Each Other, a weekly hangout for men of color in LAS. Connect with your peers, get tips on navigating the University of Illinois and College of LAS, and share your experiences in a supportive, welcoming space. Plus, free pizza!

Sessions will continue every Wednesday at Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center (BNAACC) from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Questions? Contact Darrell Hunter.

Dates and Deadlines

Last day to drop, CR/NC, or elect grade replacement for a second eight-week course
Friday, April 14

Last day of class
Wednesday, May 3

Reading Day (no classes, no final exams)
Thursday, May 4

Final exams 
May 5-12

Students may view grades
Saturday, May 20

Don’t Forget These!

registration appointments still available!

Don’t forget: if you want to talk to an advisor about your plans for the fall, please call 217-333-4346 during the hours 8:30-noon or 1:00-4:30 to request an appointment. Remember that we are very busy during the registration period so please don’t wait until your time ticket opens up and then send an email demanding an immediate reply. Plan ahead!

Here are some things you can do ahead of time to make your registration appointment more productive: 

  • Run your degree audit and see what you can make of it. Even if you find it a little confusing, try to get a sense of what requirements you have left to fulfill, and then when we do your registration appointment we can confirm (or correct) your interpretation of the audit and help explain anything that’s confusing. 
  • Think about what you want to accomplish in the fall. What major/minor/Gen Ed requirements would you like to complete, and what other areas would you like to explore?   
  • If you are thinking of adding a major or a minor, do you know what you need to do to get started? If you’ve already begun, can you figure out the next step?  You can explore major and minor requirements listed here: http://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
  • Consult Course Explorer and be sure to read the course descriptions in full.  Remember that if a course is called “Topics in X” then you must click through to see the individual sections and find out what topics are available. It’s also worth clicking through on any 199 (usually called Undergraduate Open Seminar) because there you may find some interesting and unusual topics being piloted, and they’re usually unrestricted. 
  • Consult the resources available on the Planning Coursework section of the advising site.  You’ll find checklists of major requirements, plus the “cheat sheet” that tells you which variable topics courses satisfy which requirements this fall. 
LAS Current Student Scholarships

The scholarship application can be found on the LAS Scholarships webpage under the “Current Students” tab. Filling out this application is quick and easy, and with this one step you are considered for a wide variety of scholarships. Applications accepted through Friday, May 12.

Social Justice Scholarship

The Campus Faculty Association is proud to announce that we are awarding up to eight $1000 scholarships for undergraduate students who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to social justice in the community. This year we will award scholarships in both the fall and spring semesters.

These scholarships will be awarded in memorial of longtime CFA member and fighter for social justice Kathryn J. Oberdeck who served until her death as a professor of History at the University of Illinois.

To be considered, an undergraduate must be currently enrolled as a student in good standing at the UIUC with at least one more semester of study before graduation. Preference will be given to students who will be involved in social justice activity during the period of the award. Applications must include a curriculum vitae, a short (250 word) essay describing the student’s involvement in social justice work, and the name and contact information for one reference who can speak to the student’s record in this regard. We are currently accepting applications. Awards will be announced at the end of the Fall semester. The deadline for applications is April 21. For more information and to apply, visit https://cfaillinois.org/

Odyssey Project Internships for Humanities and Education Undergraduates

The Humanities Research Institute is currently seeking two interns for the Odyssey Project. See the flyer below for more information:

The Michael Curry Summer Internship Program

The Michael Curry Summer Internship Program offers college juniors, seniors, and graduate students in all disciplines an opportunity to work in one of the agencies under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Governor on a full-time basis for ten (10) weeks during the summer. Positions are available in both Springfield and Chicago.

Applications are due April 17th at 11:59PM.

Eligible applicants must be Illinois residents who have not previously participated in the Curry Internship Program

Curry interns will receive a stipend of $2,500 per month.

Applicants are asked to choose their top three (3) preferred placements from the following agencies:

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Capitol Development Board
Illinois Department of Agriculture
Illinois Department of Central Management Services
Illinois Department of Employment Security
Illinois Department of Human Rights
Illinois Department of Human Services
Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology
Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
Illinois Department of National Resources
Illinois Department of Public Health
Illinois Department of Transportation
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission
Illinois State Police

The application process for the 2023 Michael Curry Summer Internship Program is done online. Complete information available here: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/gov/about/opportunities/Documents/2023%20Curry%20Internship%20Application.pdf

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Now Hiring

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is looking for recent college graduates who are passionate about public service and giving back to the community to join the Illinois Student Assistance Corps (ISACorps). For more information, see the flyer below:

Introduction to Computer Vision for Humanists Workshop

You are invited to attend the workshop “Introduction to Computer Vision for Humanists” sponsored by the HRI Cluster for “The Social Lives of Digitized Culture.” This online workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 18th from 2-4pm. Full details are in the attached flyer, and you can register  at https://go.illinois.edu/computervision4dh

new courses!

We’re pleased to announce a never-before-taught course in the English department’s fall line-up.  Lori Newcomb will be teaching an advanced methods course called “The Art of Research” (see ENGL 461), and it’s open to all juniors and seniors who have completed ENGL 301 and 350.  This is perfect for any Topics concentrator graduating in December (this will count as your capstone), anybody thinking about graduate school in English or a related field, or anyone who just wants to beef up their research skills. Check it out!

some other recently added courses . . .

CW 463 (meets with GSD 409): Advanced Topics in Creative Writing (TOPIC: Design & Programming of Narrative Games & Simulations)


ENGL 461: (meets with CWL 481): Topics in Arabic Lit & Culture (TOPIC: Arabs and the Americas)

Paid Student Intern Positions

LAS International Programs is hiring for two paid undergraduate student intern positions in the Academic Year 2023-2024! Both positions have a flexible, but preferred, start date of August 1, 2023. Interested students should apply here by April 14, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Siebel Center for Design – Fall courses

If you are interested in learning more about design thinking, human-centered design, and the creative process, you might consider registering for the following courses offered by Siebel Center for Design in Fall 2023:

National Name Exchange

The Graduate College invites University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduate and master’s students to enroll in the National Name Exchange. The National Name Exchange was established to help match graduate schools with students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups interested in graduate education. The National Name Exchange seeks to:

  • Increase the number of qualified students from underrepresented groups accepted into graduate school.
  • Improve student access to information on graduate school opportunities.
  • Work towards personalizing the recruitment effort by designating a National Name Exchange institutional representative to facilitate information exchange between the institution and prospective students.
  • Assist graduate schools in identifying qualified candidates from underrepresented groups for consideration for graduate study.

The NNE enrollment portal is now open for the 2023 year. Students can now enroll in the National Name Exchange database. The password to access the student portal is NNE2023.  

Qualifying students must be enrolled at a participating Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) member institution (Illinois is a member institution), maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above, and be from a group historically underrepresented in higher education (qualifying groups can be found here). Students who decide to participate will be asked for their consent to share their information with other participating CGS institutions.

Sigma Tau Delta Informal Research Symposium Presentation Night

Have a project you’ve been working on? A paper in class or independent study that you want to share with your peers? Sign up for Sigma Tau Delta’s first-ever informal research symposium to present your work at the end of April! Final date will be determined after participants provide their availability.

Please fill out the questions in this form so we can gauge interest: https://forms.gle/jLoePtrsoErMcenc8. Presentations can be on research, creative, and/or personal projects. Questions? Email sigmataudeltaillinois@gmail.com.

Teacher licensure: Golden Apple Scholars Program Recruitment

Get up to $23,000 in total financial assistance and stipends and become a teacher in Illinois! For more information about the benefits, eligibility requirements, and application, visit https://www.goldenapple.org/scholars.

Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative (INI)

If you need accommodations to be successful in college, INI could be a good resource. See the flyer below:

Sourcebooks summer internships

Some summer internships are available at Sourcebooks. For more information, visit https://read.sourcebooks.com/careers.html

Open positions at ravinia festival

Ravinia is looking for talented individuals who are able to start working sooner than later. Here’s a list of what’s currently open, with more being added by the week:

Ravinia Steans Music Institute

Program Assistant, Ravinia Steans Music Institute

Coordinator, Ravinia Steans Music Institute

Production and Artistic
Production Assistant

Assistant Production Coordinator

Development

Development Seasonal Assistant, Auxiliary Boards

Development Intern, Major Gifts

Development Intern, Corporate Relations

Communications

Intern, Web Content Editor

Guest Services

Box Office Representative

Confidential Advisors @ BNAACC, La Casa, & WRC

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 they talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, they 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. They also have two Confidential Advisors embedded at BNAACC and La Casa two days/week.

Embedded Advocate Hours: 
Tuesday and Wednesday 10am – 4pm @ BNAACC
Wednesday 1pm – 5pm and Thursday 10am – 4pm @ La Casa

Advising available by appointment | Monday – Friday @ the WRC
Hours may vary. Walk-in appointments offered as available.
Learn more about Advocacy & Support Services, here.

Friday Forum + Conversation Café

Please join Diversity & Social Justice Education this spring as Diversity & Social Justice Education (Conversation Café) continues to partner with the University YMCA (Friday Forum) for Our Community in Action:  Advancing Social Justice in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond.  We will be hearing from community leaders tackling our most pressing public concerns through an unwavering pursuit of social justice.  

Fridays Noon – 1PM at the University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign 

Bailey Unpaid Internship Scholarship

The University YMCA’s Fred S. Bailey Unpaid Internship Scholarship program provides scholarship funding to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduate students who accept unpaid internships with public service agencies and not for profit organizations. The Application Opens on March 1, 2023! For more information and to apply, visit https://universityymca.org/bailey/intern/.

Office of Conferences and Special Events

The Office of Conferences & Special Events will be hiring several students to join the 2023 Summer Conference Team. There are a variety of full-time and part-time positions available ranging from Conference Clerk to Conference Coordinator. Summer housing, hourly pay, and discounted meals are included.

For more information, go to: go.illinois.edu/csejobs2023  

Writers Workshop Resources

You can make use of the Writers Workshop resources. See the flyers below:

Summer Institute for the Languages of the Muslim World (SILMW)

Summer Institute for Languages of the Muslim World will be held from June 12-August 5, 2023.

Session includes
• ArabicPersianSwahiliTurkish, and Wolof courses
• Small class sizes and dedicated faculty and staff
• Immersive experience, complete with instruction
• Cultural activities, opportunities for language practice, conversation tables,
cooking classes, movie nights, and more!

Program registration deadline May 7, 2023

Apply and earn up to 10 credits! To apply, visit https://linguistics.illinois.edu/academics/less-commonly-taught-languages/arabic/application-and-registration. For more information contact silmw@illinois.edu

OMSA Free Tutoring Class List

OMSA tutoring is free to all UIUC undergrads. For more information and the list of classes, see the flyer below:

Library Workshops, events, and services

With the start of Spring 2023, the University Library has been busy planning and scheduling workshops, consultation services, programs, and other helpful things for students. For information about the events and workshops visit events calendar as well as  Savvy Researcher workshops.

You can find some highlighted workshops and services below:

Research Consultations
Research consultations start again this Sunday! Students can receive help with their research papers, ranging from brainstorming a topic to synthesizing their sources.  Consultations are from 4-9pm, Sunday-Thursday, and are geared towards first- and second-year students.

Speaking Center
The Speaking Center opens again this week! Students can sign up for a consultation to work one-on-one with a trained Speaking Consultant to improve presentations and speeches, attend workshops focused on building lasting speaking skills, or participate in language sessions to build foreign language skills. Upcoming workshops include “Coping with Speech Anxiety” and “Nonverbal Communication for Presentations.

Academic Success Series and Student Success Workshops
The Academic Success Series is in collaboration with the Counseling Center, and covers topics like “Healthy Relationships,” “Imposter Syndrome,” and more. Student Success Workshops will include some repeats from the fall, like “Study Skills for Neurodiverse Students,” and “Budgeting 101,” and also introduce new workshops, like “Using and Creating a LinkedIn Profile.”

Inclusive Speaker Series: Salvatore De Sando
Funded by the Library Innovation and Seed Grant, this series highlights members of the UIUC community who have done important work highlighting underrepresented voices. Salvatore will be the first in this speaker series, and will present on Feb. 14th at noon, via zoom.

Family Study Room
For students who are parents or caregivers, there is a space for them in the Main Library! Students can bring their kids with them to the Library, and can also check out Family Kits, a playpen, or children tablets for their children to play with while they study.

Introduction to Library Resources for Literary Studies

Are you new to UIUC? Do you need some help figuring out how to do research? Do you find it difficult to access library resources that can help you to succeed in courses? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, please consider attending “Introduction to Library Resources for Literary Studies.” This one-hour session will teach you to use a variety of library services and features (e.g. Inter-library loan, requesting books, accessing articles, and scheduling a research consultation). To participate, visit https://uiuc.libcal.com/calendar/savvy?cid=15337&t=m&d=2023-02&cal=15337&inc=0 and select a session that works for you. Can’t find one? Let Matt Roberts in the Literatures and Languages Library know, and he will reach out to you with more information to receive the instruction that you need.

Matt will continue to offer office hours for students. You can also schedule a consultation with him, but he will be free each Monday from 12-2 to talk with you.

NSP is hiring Orientation Leaders!

New Student Programs is looking for undergraduate students to serve as Orientation Leaders to help them welcome the Fall 2023 new students!  For position description and link to apply, see below:

Find peer mentoring at the Lisnek LAS Hub

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays, First Floor of Lincoln Hall, Behind the marble staircase
Peer mentors help LAS students access opportunities to gain hands-on experience. Drop-in for a casual conversation about exploring student organizations, undergraduate research, volunteer opportunities, study abroad, internships, and more. Learn how to access resources and apply to opportunities. 

Our old friends at the Humanities Professional Resource Center (now LAS Career Services) are still in Greg Hall 105 and available to meet with students to talk about professional development opportunities, career planning, and general life stuff of the “what am I doing here?” variety. See their website for contact info and event announcements.