Greetings! If you are eligible, we are writing to invite you to the English & Creative Writing Convocation in May (all students who received degrees or expect to receive them between August 2023 and August 2024 are eligible to participate). Please read on to ensure that you know all about when, where, and how you can register for our ceremony and order regalia.
Note: if you already participated in a graduation ceremony (in either May or December of 2023), you may disregard this message, but accept our congratulations and please keep in touch!
In addition to our unit convocation, there is also a big university-wide commencement in May. You are welcome to participate in either ceremony, or neither, or both, as you wish (graduation ceremonies are optional and have nothing to do with the technical certification of your degree). If you plan to attend both, you must register for each ceremony separately. The English department’s ceremony is a ticketed event; each graduate may request tickets for up to five guests when they register. Further instructions about this process will be forthcoming via email and available on the website.
You must have regalia (aka “cap and gown”) to participate in any ceremony. Information about how to rent your cap and gown can be found here:
Note that the deadline to order academic attire for the early order discounted rate is April 9. If you order by that date you will get the best price and can have your regalia shipped to the US address of your choice.
Questions about the English department ceremony should be sent to englishadvising@illinois.edu. Questions about the campus-wide ceremony, or about your regalia order, should be sent to commencement@illinois.edu.
February 9: Deadline to drop a first 8-week course (aka Part of Term A) without a W February 9: Deadline for Kevin T. Early Poetry Prize Submissions March 8: Deadline to drop a full-semester course (aka Part of Term 1) without a W
As always, if you would like to schedule an advising appointment with Anna or Keshia, please CALL the office at 217-333-4346. We are happy to answers questions via email (englishadvising@illinois.edu) but for more complex matters such as schedule rearrangement, overall degree planning, or existential-crisis-management, an actual appointment is preferable (in person or virtual, as you prefer). We look forward to seeing many of you this semester and wish you all safe travels and a lack of frostbite in the coming week!
For those of you planning to graduate in May or August, be on the lookout for information about the English & Creative Writing Convocation ceremony, which will take place on Saturday, May 11 at 5pm in Smith Hall. We will be sending out emails in February with more details about the registration process, and we are in the process of updating the webpage for the event.
Spring Creative Writing Contests
Deadline: Noon, Thursday, February 29, 2024
The English Department is pleased to announce its annual undergraduate literary competitions in Short Fiction and Poetry. Prizes range from $100 to $1500 with multiple awards in each category.
Contest rules are as follows: Short Fiction: Submit no more than one unpublished story (7500 words, maximum length) Poetry: Submit up to 5 unpublished poems in a single document.
Only University of Illinois undergraduate students are eligible. To be considered for a prize, submissions must adhere to the following rules:
All submissions must be sent via email as an attachment to: jdudek4@illinois.edu.
The subject line of your email message must read as follows: “UNDERGRAD POETRY: Last name” or “UNDERGRAD FICTION: Last name”
If you enter in both categories (poetry and fiction), you will need to send separate emails.
In the body of your email, please include: Your name address phone number e-mail address status (undergraduate student) UIN
This year, we are also able to offer new scholarships worth $1000 in both Fiction and Poetry. These scholarships will be distributed to students based on merit, with preference given to students displaying financial need and who graduated from an Illinois high school.
If you would like to be considered for one of these scholarships, please include the following along with the information above:
a brief note on your financial need
the name of the Illinois highschool from which you graduated
Your entry itself is to be contained in one attached .docx file. The name of this file must be the contest category followed by your last name, such as “FICTION JONES.docx” or “POETRY JONES.docx” Your name should not appear within the document itself.
Winners will be announced April 1. Please direct any questions to John Dudek, Associate Director of Creative Writing at jdudek4@illinois.edu.
ESA Upcoming Events
Alumni Reading
Poetry Prize for First-Year Students–DEADLINE TODAY!
Submissions are now being accepted for the Kevin T. Early Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible through an endowment by William and Donna Early in memory of their son, a poet, Kevin T. Early. It awards $2000 to a student with freshman standing at UIUC for the 2023-2024 school year. The deadline for application is Friday, February 9, 2024. (If you started as a first year-student out of high school in the fall but gained sophomore standing early because of test-based credits, you are still eligible).
If you would like to be considered, please submit 5 poems via email to John Dudek at Jdudek4@illinois.edu. The complete submission should not exceed 5 pages (so 1 poem to a page). Submissions should be attached to the email as .docx (Word) files.
The subject line of the email should read: “EARLY PRIZE SUBMISSION: Last name.”
The body of the email should include the student’s name, address, phone number, e-mail, UIN, and the titles of the poems. The name should not appear on the entry file itself. Complete guidelines will be sent out via email. Please direct any questions to Jdudek4@illinois.edu.
Spring 2024 WRC Book Clubs– 1st Meeting Today!
Register for February sessions using the links provided:
House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City, 3) by Sarah J. Maas Discussion will take place on Friday, February 23 at 3 pm at the WRC. | Books will not be provided for this book club. However, participants will receive book-related merch.
Support for Undergraduate Research
Humanities in Action (HIA)
Get $1000 to learn, grow, and serve the community
Interested in applying your humanities training to address a vital area of need in the Champaign-Urbana community? Apply to be a Fall 2024 Humanities in Action scholar. HIA Scholars receive $1000, training, and support for their participation in this semester-long service program. Learn more at an information session on Feb. 15. Complete applications are due March 8. View application details.
Free Panel Event in Partnership with Research Park Friday, Feb 16, 12:00-1:00 pm Illini Union, Room 104
Particular focus on opportunities for students in non-STEM majors and programs!
Research Park internships are not just for engineering students! Hear from a panel of current Illinois students who have worked for Research Park companies in many diverse areas. Learn about the projects they are working on, the benefits of Research Park internships, and how you can find an on-campus opportunity to work for a tech company. This event is hosted by the Research Park and The Career Center. Food will be served. This event is free. However, space is limited to 80 student attendees.
Beinecke Scholarship Information Sessions & Workshop
Looking to gain a graduate degree (PhD or MFA) in the arts, humanities, or social sciences?
If so, the Beinecke Scholarship is a merit- and need-based scholarship that can fund you!
Eligibility Juniors who are U.S. citizens, who have received need-based financial aid at UIUC, and who are pursuing a terminal degree in the arts, humanities, and social sciences are eligible to apply.
The Beinecke Scholarship provides $5,000 to recipients immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school.
The Beinecke seeks students with demonstrated superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement, and personal promise. Students who have taken a breadth of coursework (not just artistic performance classes) and who seek a terminal degree (PhD or MFA) in the arts, humanities, and social sciences are prioritized. While eligible, applications for professional degrees such as law or business are generally not competitive. Applicants should have received need-based financial aid at Illinois and be dependent on financial assistance to attend graduate school.
Illinois Student Undergraduate Research Journal (ILSURJ)
Illinois Student Undergraduate Research Journal (ILSURJ) are looking for Copy Editors, Content Editors, Layout Specialists/Graphic Designers, and Public Relations Staff.
ILSURJ has been established for the purpose of advancing undergraduate research in all disciplines at the University of Illinois. Through the biannual publication of student research in both print and electronic format, ILSURJ showcases the dynamic nature of undergraduate inquiry on campus. Our goal is to build bridges between undergraduate and graduate students, faculty among varying disciplines, and the public.
Through our peer-edited, faculty-reviewed electronic and print publications, we strive to develop and display the work produced by our high-achieving undergraduate researchers in all academic disciplines in the spirit of development towards professional research. We aim to inspire interest in research and individual curiosity throughout the student body, faculty, and surrounding community. To review the roles available check out the application below!
Don’t forget, UI-CON is being held at the Illini Union on March 2nd & 3rd, 2024!
This is Chambana’s first-ever Comic and Anime Convention, and you can register for FREE!
Register Now! Pre-registration closes February 11th!
We offer same-day registration, but pre-registering will save you time during badge pick up!
UI-CON aims to provide a free convention for Central Illinois residents through the efforts of various UIUC RSOs. This includes JAC (Japanese Anime Club), CDL (Cosplay Design League), Character Creation Hub (CCH), and many more. Our convention focuses on anime, comics, and WEBTOON. We aim to provide opportunities to students and local artists to sell their art and products, make new connections, and support fan culture in Central Illinois, especially for students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
With the help of the UIUC English Department, this free convention is hosting a wide variety of events, such as performances, a cosplay contest, and a huge hall for artists and vendors. We are also collaborating with multiple high-scale entities such as video game developers, voice actors, and WEBTOON.
Check out all our special events and our latest news announcements here!
The Middle Grades Graduate Certificate program at the College of Education provides a pathway for non-teachers to earn their teaching license in the state of Illinois. This Graduate Certificate (CERT) program is offered with endorsement options in two areas (Literacy and Science) and culminates with licensure to teach learners in grades 5-8. Candidates who have completed a bachelor’s degree in a relevant content area are eligible for this program (NOTE: This program is most suitable for students with undergraduate degrees in English or science). Graduates of the Middle Grades Certificate program may also apply their coursework toward a master’s degree in the College of Education. The deadline to apply for the Summer 2024 cohort is March 15th.
Check Out Tuesday @ 7 Workshops
Each week, undergraduate Counseling Center paraprofessionals offer interactive workshops on topics relevant to other students. Please visit our website for login information and upcoming topics.
Here are our workshops for the month of February:
February 13 | Cupid’s Compass: Navigating Healthy Relationships*
February 20 | Brrrreaking the Ice: Coping with the Winter Blues*
February 27 | Your Lucky Charm to Reduce Harm: Safe Substance Use During Unofficial | La Casa 104
All workshops denoted with a (*) are held over Zoom. Click here to join the Zoom meeting or check out the meeting information below.
Meeting ID: 863 0232 2916
Password: T@7
New Student & Family Experiences is hiring Orientation Leaders
New Student and Family Experiences is looking for undergraduate students to serve as Orientation Leaders to help us welcome our Fall 2024 new students! The position description and link to apply are below.
The OL position is designed to offer students the opportunity to implement orientation programming for new first year students and family members. OLs should be knowledgeable about the University of Illinois and have a desire to help new students have a successful transition. OLs attend a paid spring training session to help prepare them to be student leaders for New Student & Family Experience events. All OLs will assist at various events such as International Student Orientation, Fall Orientation/Welcome Days and various other orientation programs. Opportunities for continued fall/spring OL work will also be available. More information will be provided at training. The hourly rate for the OL position is $15.
Voyager Scholarship Information Sessions & Workshop
Have you demonstrated a commitment to public service? Do you plan to purse a career in public service upon graduation? If so, the Voyager Scholarship is for you!
Eligibility U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients who are entering their junior year (will be a junior in the Fall 2024), with a 3.0+ GPA and demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply.
The Voyager Scholarship (Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service) is awarded to students focused on public service careers. A career in public service includes a range of occupations in government, non-profits or the private sector, from community organizing to social work and from entrepreneurship to the arts—all committed to solving our biggest challenges together. It provides up to $80,000 toward your education ($25,000/yr of financial aid for junior and senior year, $10,000 for a summer experience, and $2,000 annually for 10 years for travel).
Gilman Scholarship Information Sessions & Workshop
Are you a Pell grant recipient who wants to study abroad or do an international internship? If so, the Gilman Scholarship is for you!
Eligibility Freshmen through Seniors who are U.S. citizens or nationals, Pell grant recipients, in good academic standing, and will be participating in a credit-bearing study abroad program or international internship are eligible to apply.
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship provides enrolled students, who are Pell grant recipients, up to $5,000 for either study abroad or an internship abroad. If you plan to study a language critical to U.S. national security while abroad, you can apply for an additional $3,000. If you plan to conduct STEM-related research while studying abroad, you can apply for an additional $1,000.
You are invited to submit your work to the Madison Journal of Literary Criticism for the Spring 2024 Dream Edition! This edition will encompass what it means to “dream of more,” which includes both contemplating future aspirations and reimagining in a multitude of constructed contexts. Whether it entails the past, present, future, systems, institutions, relationships, methodologies, holidays, politics, fashion, education, emotions…we live in a world of constructs. To break away from these constructs, we dream of something new, something kinder, something better. This edition focuses on how those dreams take shape and will showcase the collective desire—and manifestation—of change that transcends the limits of our current reality. This edition we hope to publish criticism: academic, poetic, in the medium of art or prose or short stories. We hope to have a loose theme as writers and creators are more than willing to interpret, define, and redefine the term however suits them best, so the submitted work does not have to explicitly tie to abolition or social justice. We welcome nuanced perspectives and multiple interpretations, so please submit!
Image of Research – Undergraduate Competition Deadline to enter: Tuesday, March 19 All undergraduate students are invited to enter the 2024 Image of Research competition. Students should submit a photo related to their research, scholarship, or creative work and a short (100-200 word) narrative to communicate the connection between the image and their research. Awards include 1st ($300), 2nd ($200), and People’s Choice ($100). All submissions will be celebrated at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Opportunity for Pre-law Students
Have you considered summer study abroad and are interested in studying law? Join Cornell Law School faculty and the Office of Global Learning to learn more about theCornell Prelaw Program in Paris, a three-week academic program in international and comparative law. Study law in a uniquely international and culturally rich environment, combining the excellence of Cornell Law School faculty and the Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. Prepare for the law school admissions process and acquire the study skills for success in law school.
January 29: Deadline to ADD full-semester course January 29: Deadline to add yourself to spring degree list if you expect to graduate in May (you can do this online in Self Service) February 1: Deadline to apply to Sec Ed minor (for sophomores, not first-year students!)
As always, if you would like to schedule an advising appointment with Anna or Keshia, please CALL the office at 217-333-4346. We are happy to answers questions via email (englishadvising@illinois.edu) but for more complex matters such as schedule rearrangement, overall degree planning, or existential-crisis-management, an actual appointment is preferable (in person or virtual, as you prefer). We look forward to seeing many of you this semester and wish you all safe travels and a lack of frostbite in the coming week!
For those of you planning to graduate in May or August, be on the lookout for information about the English & Creative Writing Convocation ceremony, which will take place on Saturday, May 11 at 5pm in Smith Hall. We will be sending out emails in February with more details about the registration process, and we are in the process of updating the webpage for the event.
Study Abroad Open House Events TODAY!
LAS International Programs have been promoting study abroad programs for summer, fall and academic year 2024-2025 ahead of the February 15th application deadline. See the remaining events TODAY:
Interested in becoming a Student Alumni Ambassador? Come to an Info Nights on January 29th OR 31st at Lincoln Hall Theater, 7 PM!
The Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA) group is responsible for events such as Illinois Sights and Sounds, Homecoming events, I love Illinois week, iHelp, Senior 100 Honorary, and more! Members of the Student Alumni Ambassadors are involved in fostering the Illini spirit in the campus community of the University of Illinois. Through engagement with their peers, as well as networking with professionals and alumni, the members of our organization create once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Each carefully selected member gets the opportunity to be a part of the planning and execution of long-standing traditions as well as developing new traditions for students to come.
If you wish to make a mark on campus that will be remembered for years to come, the Student Alumni Ambassadors is the organization for you. The application is now open and due on February 3rd at 11:59 PM. Visit our website www.illinisaa.com and apply now at SAA2023.”
Proud to Be First Gen Series – First Gen Resource Fair
Identify as a First Gen college student? You’re invited to attend next Wednesday’s First Gen Resource Fair.
Hosted in partnership with University Library. Open to all students and all majors.
Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Time: 4pm-6pm Location: 1st Floor Main Library, Orange Room Cost to attend: Free, no rsvp needed.
Featured tables will include Writers’ Workshop, Counseling Center, McKinley Health Center, International Education, Grainger Library IDEA Lab, First-Gen Student Initiatives, Library Research Consultations, Career Center, National and International Scholarships Program, and Illinois Extension (financial literacy and management resources).
Visit firstgen.illinois.edu for additional information and resources.
John Levi Barnard Lecture
Kimberly Mack Lecture
“We pushed the boundaries by rocking through the boundaries”: Living Colour, Race, and Rock and Roll
Dr. Kimberly Mack (UIUC, English) Smith Hall Room 220 Monday, February 5, 7:00 PM Free and open to the public
The iconic Black rock band Living Colour’s album Time’s Up, released in 1990, was recorded in the aftermath of the spectacular critical and commercial success of their debut record Vivid. Given the segregated nature of the record industry during the 1980s, with artists tethered to strict, race-based musical categories, and the resistance Black rockers sometimes faced from both White rock audiences and skeptics in the Black community, Living Colour’s success was entirely unexpected. After succeeding beyond what anyone predicted and evolving away from the need to conform to the sonic expectations of critics and fans, or chasing commercial success, their next release reflected significant creative growth. Time’s Up is a musical and lyrical triumph, incorporating distinct forms and styles of music and featuring inspired collaborations with artists as distinct as Little Richard, Queen Latifah, Maceo Parker, and Mick Jagger.
In this presentation focused on her recent 33 1/3 series book, Time’s Up, Kimberly Mack uses autobiographical narrative to explore her experience growing up in Brooklyn, New York in a family both musical and violent, and the ways in which that upbringing impacted her coming of age and musical listening. She will also have a larger conversation about race, musical genre, and cultural gatekeeping, while exploring the importance of Time’s Up sonically, lyrically, and politically.
Poetry Prize for First-Year Students
Submissions are now being accepted for the Kevin T. Early Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible through an endowment by William and Donna Early in memory of their son, a poet, Kevin T. Early. It awards $2000 to a student with freshman standing at UIUC for the 2023-2024 school year. The deadline for application is Friday, February 9, 2024. (If you started as a first year-student out of high school in the fall but gained sophomore standing early because of test-based credits, you are still eligible).
If you would like to be considered, please submit 5 poems via email to John Dudek at Jdudek4@illinois.edu. The complete submission should not exceed 5 pages (so 1 poem to a page). Submissions should be attached to the email as .docx (Word) files.
The subject line of the email should read: “EARLY PRIZE SUBMISSION: Last name.”
The body of the email should include the student’s name, address, phone number, e-mail, UIN, and the titles of the poems. The name should not appear on the entry file itself. Complete guidelines will be sent out via email. Please direct any questions to Jdudek4@illinois.edu.
LAS Career Services Spring Programming
Festival of Questions: Gap Year, Tuesday, Jan 30 at 3:30 in 205 Greg Hall If you are an undergrad sorting out grad or professional programs and wondering if you should wait a year or more, come to this session. We will talk about how to strategize and find options for that time. We will discuss how to talk to your faculty letter writers now and then how to stay in touch with your letter writers after you leave campus.
And don’t forget that coming up soon is a series of “How I Got That Job” panels (click through for more details). Read on for details about a couple of other upcoming events that may be of interest.
Among the questions to be discussed at these panels:
What did panelists do while in college to set themselves up for future success?
How did they land the first job?
What has the transition from college to working life been like? Highs? Lows?
How does their current position fit into their overall plan for the future?
Illinois Part-Time Job Fair – Jan 30, 11 am – 3 pm at the Illini Union. Print off some resumes, talk to local employers, and see how many opportunities you have now or in the future. More career fairs are on Handshake. LAS students are allowed and even encouraged to attend the Gies and Granger fairs. We wrap the fair season up with the big Illinois Illini Career and Internship Fair on March 27 from 11 to 3 pm. There will be employers looking to fill jobs and summer positions.
Voyager Scholarship Information Sessions & Workshop
Have you demonstrated a commitment to public service? Do you plan to purse a career in public service upon graduation? If so, the Voyager Scholarship is for you!
Eligibility U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients who are entering their junior year (will be a junior in the Fall 2024), with a 3.0+ GPA and demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply.
The Voyager Scholarship (Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service) is awarded to students focused on public service careers. A career in public service includes a range of occupations in government, non-profits or the private sector, from community organizing to social work and from entrepreneurship to the arts—all committed to solving our biggest challenges together. It provides up to $80,000 toward your education ($25,000/yr of financial aid for junior and senior year, $10,000 for a summer experience, and $2,000 annually for 10 years for travel).
Gilman Scholarship Information Sessions & Workshop
Are you a Pell grant recipient who wants to study abroad or do an international internship? If so, the Gilman Scholarship is for you!
Eligibility Freshmen through Seniors who are U.S. citizens or nationals, Pell grant recipients, in good academic standing, and will be participating in a credit-bearing study abroad program or international internship are eligible to apply.
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship provides enrolled students, who are Pell grant recipients, up to $5,000 for either study abroad or an internship abroad. If you plan to study a language critical to U.S. national security while abroad, you can apply for an additional $3,000. If you plan to conduct STEM-related research while studying abroad, you can apply for an additional $1,000.
Apply now to be a Summer 2024 Community-Academic Scholar!
Apply now to be a Summer 2024 Community-Academic Scholar
The Community-Academic Scholars program is a 10-week summer research experience that empowers undergraduates in all majors to address critical issues in Champaign-Urbana. Scholars work with an Illinois researcher and a community organization on a research project designed to directly benefit the community members served by the partner organization. Review the project descriptions and the scholar’s role within each project to find projects that best match your strengths and background. Apply by Feb. 6.
Opportunities in Business Consulting and More!
The following opportunities are open to students in all majors, so if you are looking ahead to a career in business or entrepreneurship, check these out!
Professional Development with the ILC!
Call for Submissions
You are invited to submit your work to the Madison Journal of Literary Criticism for the Spring 2024 Dream Edition! This edition will encompass what it means to “dream of more,” which includes both contemplating future aspirations and reimagining in a multitude of constructed contexts. Whether it entails the past, present, future, systems, institutions, relationships, methodologies, holidays, politics, fashion, education, emotions…we live in a world of constructs. To break away from these constructs, we dream of something new, something kinder, something better. This edition focuses on how those dreams take shape and will showcase the collective desire—and manifestation—of change that transcends the limits of our current reality. This edition we hope to publish criticism: academic, poetic, in the medium of art or prose or short stories. We hope to have a loose theme as writers and creators are more than willing to interpret, define, and redefine the term however suits them best, so the submitted work does not have to explicitly tie to abolition or social justice. We welcome nuanced perspectives and multiple interpretations, so please submit!
Image of Research – Undergraduate Competition Deadline to enter: Tuesday, March 19 All undergraduate students are invited to enter the 2024 Image of Research competition. Students should submit a photo related to their research, scholarship, or creative work and a short (100-200 word) narrative to communicate the connection between the image and their research. Awards include 1st ($300), 2nd ($200), and People’s Choice ($100). All submissions will be celebrated at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Opportunity for Pre-law Students
Have you considered summer study abroad and are interested in studying law? Join Cornell Law School faculty and the Office of Global Learning to learn more about theCornell Prelaw Program in Paris, a three-week academic program in international and comparative law. Study law in a uniquely international and culturally rich environment, combining the excellence of Cornell Law School faculty and the Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. Prepare for the law school admissions process and acquire the study skills for success in law school.
SAME 490: Special Topics TOPIC: Digital Research Skills This course is an introduction to digital tools, data management, and data visualization. It is open to both undergraduate and graduate students across various disciplines. Throughout the course, students will acquire the skills to conduct research, efficiently organize their research materials and data, and use digital tools to present their work. Students will have the option to work individually or collaborate with peers or ChatGPT. Importantly, this course provides an opportunity to explore digital tools without the need for coding knowledge. Digital skills are vital for employees in the digital era and new employees needs to have soft and hard skills!
Follow English Department communities on social media
Calling December graduates!
Are you an English or Creative Writing major graduating this winter? @illinoisenglish want to honor you!
For the rest of the semester, @illinoisenglish will be posting senior spotlights every Wednesday. If you are willing to be featured in a post, please direct message the account or comment on their senior spotlight post.
Expect us to ask for your name, major/concentration (if applicable), favorite course or professor, and another unique question about your experience at the University of Illinois!
Library job opportunity, apply by dec 4
The library is seeking undergraduate students to work in the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections in the Main Library for the spring semester. English department students are strongly encouraged to apply!
Professor John Gallagher is seeking students who are interested in a research assistantship (RA) for the spring of 2024. These would be paid hourly positions of 5 hours/week for 8-12 weeks (depending on RAs availability). He writes:
“I’m currently looking for RAs for three projects. The first two projects aren’t technical in nature (but will require detail-oriented work), whereas the third is related to web-scraping and requires computer programming.
Watching YouTube and Tiktok videos around monetizing artificial intelligence (AI), likely around ChatGPT. The goal of this project would be to identify the strategies the creators argue the technologies can do and what kinds of argumentation do they use to describe these strategies (rhetorical, artistic, style, etc.). Part of this project would be to find the videos to watch.
Watching YouTube and Tiktok videos about each platform’s algorithms and determining what figurative language the content creators use to describe the algorithm (analogies, metaphors, motifs, etc.)
Web scraping a subreddit and a hastag from twitter.”
If you think you’d be a good match for some or all of these projects please send your resume and a cover letter consisting of a couple of paragraphs describing your interest and relevant experience to Professor Gallagher at johng@illinois.edu by December 6. Any questions you might have should also be directed to Professor Gallagher at that address.
FLAS Fellowships, fiNAL info session approaching soon!
The application cycle for Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships will open Nov. 28, and the FLAS-granting centers will be holding info sessions on Nov. 28 and Dec. 4. This is a great fellowship for both undergrad and grad students who study languages other than French, German, or Spanish. FLAS fellows can apply for academic-year and/or summer fellowships, and they have the option to study abroad. The one caveat is that applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Students from all majors and programs are encouraged to apply, and although the application isn’t due until Jan. 26, the sooner they start thinking about their applications, the better. This is a prestigious fellowship that comes with generous tuition support and stipends.
2024 Summer Undergraduate Health Equity Research Experience at Mayo Clinic | Apply by Jan. 22
The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute and Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance invite outstanding undergraduates across campus to apply for the 2024 Health Equity Research Experience at Mayo Clinic. This 10-week summer program gives undergrads the opportunity to examine health equity through hands-on research at Mayo Clinic. Selected students will be matched with a faculty mentor, receive a $6,000 stipend to cover living expenses, and be fully immersed in the research and culture of a major medical center with top-notch scientists. Learn more and apply by Jan. 22.
Eligibility and Preference
Illinois students in their sophomore or junior year, with a minimum 3.0 GPA, who are considering a research career focused on addressing health disparities are eligible to apply.
Preference is given to students whose background reflects a commitment to health equity.
NEW LAS INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY!
Job Title: Media and Communications Intern, LAS Career Services
Job Description:
LAS Career Services is looking to hire a Media and Communications Intern for the Spring 2024 semester, with the potential for continued employment into the summer and/or 2024-25 school year based on mutual interest.
This is a great opportunity for students who would like to explore their love of writing, creativity, communication, and/or social media in a professional setting. Gain valuable career-related experience in a supportive and high-energy environment.
The LAS Career Services Media and Communications Intern will contribute to initiatives to share with LAS undergraduate students the value of engaging in career exploration and development throughout your college experience. We are looking for help creating student-friendly messaging for digital displays, weekly e-newsletters, blogs, flyers, and Instagram posts. APPLY NOW!
great new spring courseS!
TWO MORE GREAT COURSES TO CHECK OUT!
Here are a couple of courses hanging out under the generic “Topics in Lit & Culture” title that you might be interested in.
The first is the relatively new “Art of Research” course, an advanced research methods course open to all junior and senior English majors. It’s particularly geared toward students in the Topics concentration (for whom it serves as the capstone, so wait to take it once you’ve completed your four topical courses), and for students who expect to go on to write a senior thesis (this course cannot count as your thesis, but is excellent preparation for the semester-long honors independent study you will ultimately do). It’s also just a great option for students who want to gain research skills that they can use in all their courses and in a variety of professional settings.
The second is a 19thC lit course called “The Scandal of Aestheticism.” This course can be used to satisfy the 19thC requirement in the general English concentration, but you’ll also find plenty of ways to apply what you learn in this course to other periods, texts, and issues.
Read on for detailed descriptions of both courses!
ENGL 461: Adv. Topics in Lit & Culture
TOPIC: The Art of Research
Professor Siobhan Somerville
In this writing-intensive capstone course, students will spend the semester developing a major research project of their own design (such as a research paper, an interactive website, or a connected portfolio of related projects). These projects will use the knowledge and skills gained in previous study as English majors to explore a new research problem unique to each individual student. Our work together will be organized as a collaborative workshop focusing on key practices of writing and research, such as: developing research questions; finding and evaluating primary and secondary sources; drafting and revising; participating in peer review; defining an audience; and crafting a public presentation. Assignments will include shared readings and exercises, as well as research and writing assignments geared toward the development of individual projects. Juniors and Seniors only. Students should have completed English 301 and 350.
ENGL 461: Adv. Topics in Lit & Culture
TOPIC: The Scandal of Aestheticism
Professor Eleanor Courtemanche
In the late 19th century, bohemian artists rallied around the slogan of “art for art’s sake” to attack the moral conventions of the Victorian age. This class will examine the Aesthetic Movement in Victorian and early 20th century British literature, ranging from the lingering importance of Keats and Shelley in the poetic works of Tennyson and the pre-Raphaelites to Oscar Wilde’s fusion of aristocratic and queer elegance and Henry James’s theories of the novel. It will also consider some contemporary discussions of aesthetic “autonomy,” the still-controversial declaration that art can transcend its historical context or social utility. Works will include philosophy by Plato, poetry by John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Alfred Tennyson, Robert Browning, Algernon Swinburne, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and Christina Rossetti, fiction by Oscar Wilde, the New Women, George Du Maurier, and Henry James, and cultural criticism by Walter Pater, Oscar Wilde, Queenie Leavis, Sianne Ngai, Linda Dowling, and Dustin Friedman.
spring 2024 courses for neurodivergent students
Is your differently-wired brain causing extra stress, frustration, and difficulty surrounding your academic work? Consider signing up for HDFS 199, Section JK (Academic Strategies) this spring. This course will use the assignments from your current classes to teach executive function strategies that will promote success this semester and throughout the rest of your academic and professional career. You will learn effective strategies to improve difficulty getting started, staying organized, remembering due dates, paying attention, planning projects, managing stress, study skills, and more. Lab time will be used to complete course assignments, build social networks, and provide a quiet study space with structured accountability. This course is for students who have or suspect they have a neurodiverse brain. Instructor approval required. Contact Dr. Jeanne Kramer (jjkramer@illinois.edu) for approval to register.
And for neurodivergent students who are preparing for work after college:
for advanced English and CW majors interested in linguistics
LING 490: Narrative Analysis This course is an advanced sociolinguistic qualitative research methodology course with three components. The first is on conducting narrative interviews (face-to-face or on Zoom) and analyzing interactional positioning. The second is on analysis of narratives in everyday talk (e.g., classrooms, lunch rooms, or any public space). The third unit is about online discourse analysis of narratives on social media, community forums, comment threads, etc. The aim is to have students conduct an empirical study that can be expanded into a publishable article.
Course objectives:
1. To understand the social constructivist epistemologies underlying narrative analysis. 2. To gain familiarity with sociolinguistic analysis of narratives in talk and in online platforms. 3. To engage in empirical data collection and analysis using this research methodology.
List of topics:
Evolution of narrative studies in applied linguistics Narrative inquiry vs narrative analysis Interviews as a social accomplishment Sequential analysis of positioning “Small stories” in everyday talk Participation frameworks for analyzing narratives Narratives co-constructed in online discourse
Questions? annamend@illinois.edu
oNE MORE INTERESTING COURSE FOR SPRING
MUS 199 WP – THE ART OF DJING
CRN 55552
W 5-6:50pm
This course will be open to students from any major and will serve as a foundational hands-on exploration of DJing practice in Hip-Hop and other musical traditions. USB controllers will be provided, but students must bring their own laptop or tablet capable of connecting to the controller as well as their own headphones.
For questions regarding the scholarship criteria that are not answered on the website above, please contact Kasey Umland at umland@illinois.edu.
Don’t Forget These!
How to schedule a registration appointment
Here’s an abbreviated version of the email we recently sent out about advising processes during the registration period. If you didn’t read the email, please read this!
First-semester students (whether first years or transfers) are required to meet with us. Continuing students are not required to meet with us but we certainly recommend that you check in one way or another; email is fine for quick questions or confirmation of your plans, but longer conversations are best had in real time either in person or over zoom.
When you are ready to schedule your appointment call 217-333-4346 during the hours 8:30-noon or 1:00-4:30 to request an appointment (we do not schedule via email).
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 spring. 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 and a “cheat sheet” that tells you which variable topics courses satisfy which requirements in the coming semester.
We need just two more focus group participants!
As part of our ongoing assessment of the undergraduate program in English, we are hoping to conduct another small focus group at some point in the coming month. Participants will be asked to talk about their general learning experience in the major and their answers, which will remain anonymous, will help us gauge and strengthen the program’s goals and learning outcomes. Students who participated in the last focus group are not eligible this time around (but we thank you once again for the feedback you gave us). We plan to hold this meeting at lunchtime (noon to 1pm), and will provide lunch in the form of empanadas from Manolo’s!
If you are willing to help out with this, please do let us know. Just email englishadvising@illinois.edu ASAP.
Social Group for Neurodiverse Students meets every wed!
new tutoring resource
Here’s a message from Brian Becker (academic outreach specialist at OMSA and an alum of our department!):
On behalf of the Office of Minority Student Affairs, I am thrilled to share our new partnership with NetTutor®! Through this partnership, the OMSA now provides FREE 24/7, 1:1 online tutoring across over 350+ subjects and disciplines. Each tutoring session is facilitated by professionally trained, degree-holding NetTutor staff who are committed to providing a welcoming, accessible virtual learning experience! Thanks to our integration with the NetTutor platform, students can conveniently log in using their Illinois credentials at:
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.
The CLS institutes cover one academic year of university-level language coursework in 8 to 10 weeks over the summer, and include cultural programming, local language partners, and excursions. Participants receive academic credit at their U.S. institutions. Applicants must be U.S. citizens at least 18 years of age and enrolled in a degree-granting program at the undergraduate or graduate level. For more information about this scholarship, please visit: http://www.clscholarship.org/.
If you’d like to talk to an advisor about preparing your application, contact the National and International Scholarships Program at topscholars@illinois.edu or visit our website at www.topscholars.illinois.edu
get involved with montage
new RSO
There’s a new RSO in town and it’s called Uplift! Uplift’s mission is to foster a community of pre-professional students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign dedicated to collaboration, unity, and mutual support. Our RSO will serve as a hub for students of all backgrounds. We are committed to fostering an environment wherein members feel seen, heard, and empowered to pursue their goals. The RSO will provide resources for pre-professional students to prepare for their future careers and professional or graduate schools. We will also enable students to pursue their goals through study hours and access to review resources. Check out their site and sign up for email notifications if you’re interested.
apply now to be a golden apple scholar!
Prospective Secondary Education minors can apply by Dec 1 for priority acceptance.
Resource for our LGBTQIA+ Students
Lisnek Hub
The Hub is open again! Stop by Tuesday- Thursdays from 10 am to 3 pm. Under the Lincoln Hall theater is the Lisnek Hub where you can chat with peer mentors.
find a workshop for you!
If you’re struggling in one or more of your STEM courses, perhaps there’s a workshop that could help. Check out the LAS Success Workshop Schedule, and be sure to click on “see more” at the bottom for the full list of options.
Tuesday@7 Workshops
Each week, undergraduate Counseling Center paraprofessionals offer interactive workshops on various topics. Please visit our website for login information and upcoming topics.
writers workshop
Writers Workshop drop-ins are available beginning 4-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 100b Main Library. These sessions are best for brainstorming, specific questions, or shorter documents (1-3 page papers, application materials, etc.). These sessions are first-come, first-serve.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Want to keep up with research-related opportunities and events hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUA)? Subscribe to OUA’s monthly newsletter and you won’t miss a thing!
You might also want to learn more about the Humanities Research Institute (HRI), particularly opportunities for undergraduates (did you know that they hire student interns and that some of them are English or creative writing majors?) in which case you should check out the Undergraduate section on the HRI website.
ACCESSIBLE COUNSELING RESOURCES
It can be hard to take the first step when you’re in need of counseling, so for ease of access the College of LAS has its own embedded counselor, Andy Novinska and you can contact him directly to schedule an appointment at anovinsk@illinois.edu.
Students can also access Counseling Center services by calling 217-333-3704 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday to set up an appointment via the same-day scheduling system. There is also an online scheduling system (please note that appointments are limited via this option so if you try to schedule online and cannot find anything that works please call the office or email Andy).
Workshops for Test Anxiety, ADHD Symptoms, Perfectionism, Body Image, etc. can be found here.
