Author: maweime2@illinois.edu

Posted on

Weekly Round-Up

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Advising Office Open House with Free Bagels: Wednesday, March 4
Summer & Fall 2026 courses on Course Explorer: Monday, March 9
Deadline to drop a full-semester course: Friday, March 13
Spring Break: March 14-22
POT B courses begin: Monday, March 23
Deadline to add a POT B course: Friday, March 27
Registration time tickets viewable on Self-Service: Monday, March 30

Resource of the Week: NetTutor

Midterms are quickly approaching, and if you find yourself needing some extra support, we highly advise you to take advantage of tutoring opportunities sooner than later! As a student at Illinois, you have access to FREE, online tutoring through NetTutor. NetTutor provides students with the opportunity to work with professionally-trained, degree holding tutors. To learn more and connect with an online tutor, visit https://jeffriescenter.illinois.edu/academic-service-programs/tutoring/onlinetutoring

Advising Office Open House with Free Bagels!

You’re Invited to the Spring Sonnet Soiree!

In order to fundraise for What You Will’s spring show, they will be hosting a Spring Sonnet Soiree! This will be a spring regency tea ball complete with dancing, a raffle, and sonnet recital ! The soiree will be Saturday, March 7th from 7-10pm in the Illini Union. Tickets to the soiree can be purchased at this link: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/spring-sonnet-soiree-tickets.

Black, Jewish, and Beautiful: Contemporary Blewish Voices

“Signs of the Material World: Dostoevsky, Science and the 19th Century Novel” with Melissa Frazier

When: Tuesday, March 10 from 5:00-6:00pm
Where: Lucy Elllis Lounge in the Literature, Culture, & Linguistics Building
Who: Melissa Frazier, Ilja Wachs Chair in Outstanding Teaching and Donning at Sarah Lawrence College

Drawing on Dostoevsky’s relationship with science, Signs of the Material World explores the literary impacts of nineteenth-century materialism.  Dostoevsky’s scientific interlocutors range from Auguste Comte and the “vulgar” materialists to Charles Darwin, James Clerk Maxwell, George Henry Lewes, Charles Sanders Peirce, and the Russian Nikolai Strakhov; in literary terms, Dostoevsky writes in conversation with a wide range of contemporary writers across Europe and the United States, including Lev Tolstoy, Nikolai Chernyshevsky, Wilkie Collins, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Friedrich Schiller.  This talk will sketch the broad contours of Dostoevsky’s combined literary and scientific practice before turning to explore one aspect of that practice in particular:  Dostoevsky’s recourse, like Dickens, to an “indexical” allegory that lends itself to the more contingent and relational kind of materiality that Dostoevsky calls “living life.”

Gilman Scholarship Drop-In Advising with Pizza!

Advisors from the National & International Scholarships Program are hosting a Gilman Scholarship Drop-In Advising event next Tuesday, March 3 from 3-6pm in the LAS Hub in Lincoln Hall in collaboration with the Writers Workshop, Study Abroad, and Financial Aid. This is a great chance for students to get some last-minute feedback on their applications before the March 5 deadline — plus, there will be pizza!

Creating Your Powerful Resume Workshop

How can you highlight your service experience in your resume? Through service and volunteer work you get to make a positive impact in your community, but you are also gaining valuable skills and experience that will stay with you long after your project ends. Join We CU and the Career Center’s James Castree on Thursday, March 5th, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Siebel Center for Design, Classroom 1000 for our Creating Your Powerful Resume Workshop.

Having a powerful resume is key to standing out from the applicant pool and landing an interview! Upon completion of this workshop, you will be able to draft an effective resume that describes the qualifications, skills, and experience you have gained from your service and volunteer experience, as well as your other activities as an Illinois student.

Dinner will be served, but space is limited. Register today to make sure you don’t miss this opportunity: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1459647483

Info Session for Institute for Field Education (IFE) in France or Spain

The IFE program offers immersive experience for students in France and Spain that integrate language and cultural immersion, academic coursework, and professional internships. Through IFE, students can earn 17 credit hours while engaging in a three-month internship, committing four days per week (approximately 350 hours). IFE works closely with students to identify and secure internship placements aligned with their academic background and professional interests.

In addition, students complete a pre-internship training program that includes coursework, site visits, discussion sections, and intercultural workshops. At the conclusion of the program, students complete a research paper exploring a specific topic connected to their work with their internship host organization. The courses, internship, and research paper are conducted entirely in Spanish/French, making it an excellent opportunity for students to gain international professional experience in their target language, while building upon their intercultural knowledge and skills. The information session will take place on Tuesday, March 3rd in the LAS HUB located in Lincoln Hall, just behind the marble stairs.

“Dive-In” Movie Night Screening of Sinners

When: 7:00-10:00pm on Friday, Feb. 27th
Where: Activities and Recreation Center Indoor Pool
Make a splash at our Dive-In Movie Night featuring Sinners—where the water’s warm, but the chills run deep. Grab your float, sink into the pool, and experience every twist and turn of this dark thriller!

Looking for a Second 8-Weeks (POT B) Course? Check These Out!

GER 205: Germany and Europe: Europe in Trouble?
Gen Ed – Humanities & the Arts and Western/Comparative Cultures
It may seem like Europe is in trouble all the time, and yet the European Union has proven to be more relevant and resilient than ever. The course’s central theme concerns Europe’s “struggle for identity” in relation to other global powers that underlies many of the controversies surrounding Europe’s global role today. Course material includes a historical overview, in-class screenings of several films, and we will read one novel. No prerequisites or prior knowledge necessary; taught in English.

JS 399: Special Topics – American Jewish History
This course offers an opportunity to learn the nuances of archival work using the collections available locally—the University of Illinois Library! While learning the broader context of the American Jewish experience, enrolled students will apply this knowledge right away to reconstruct the development of Jewish communities in Central Illinois based on the university’s archival holdings.  Meets in English room 109.

RST 226: Esports Foundations
This course introduces the study of the role of video games and esports in society. It explores how the design, implementation, and culture of esports connects with themes related to health, socialization, community development, economic development, and nationhood. Specific focus will be placed on the esports industry broadly defined, including individual stakeholders, game developers and publishers, communication and distribution platforms, live events and venues, and the broader cultural impact of esports.

GEOL 118: Natural Disasters
Gen Ed: Natural Sciences & Technology
Introduces the nature, causes, risks, effects, and prediction of natural disasters including earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, subsidence, global climate change, severe weather, coastal erosion, floods, mass extinctions, and meteorite impacts; covers scientific principles and case histories of natural disasters as well as human responses (societal impact, mitigation strategies, and public policy).

IB 108: The Biology of Dinosaurs
Gen Ed: Natural Sciences & Technology
The origin, diversity, and extinction of dinosaurs will serve as a conceptual framework to explore fundamental principles of biology. We will consider dinosaurs as animals, examining evidence for their physiology and behavior, and how evolution and speciation produced the diversity of dinosaurs. We will relate the influence of Earth’s changing environments on dinosaurs to environmental change on human timescales. We will emphasize how scientists collect and evaluate fossil data through an understanding of living organisms.

RUSS 122: Russia and Black America
Gen Ed – US Minority Cultures
A survey of the interactions and intersections between key African American figures and cultural practices, and Russian imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet culture, in a historical, social, and political context, with emphasis on Russian-sourced cultural transfers that influenced and sometimes shaped the Black American experience and which functioned as the currency and medium of the African American–Russian connection.

Present Your Research at the 2026 Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium

2026 English & Creative Writing Convocation – Register Now

For those of you who are planning to graduate this spring or summer, you can now register to participate in the 2026 English & Creative Writing Convocation! In addition to our departmental celebration, there will also be a universitywide commencement ceremony; you are welcome to participate in either ceremony or both, but please remember that you must register for each one separately. You will need regalia (cap and gown) to participate in any ceremony, so don’t forget to rent your cap and gown by April 13th.

English & Creative Writing Convocation – REGISTER HERE
When: Saturday, May 16 at 5:00pm
Where: Smith Memorial Hall

Universitywide Commencement – REGISTER HERE
When: Saturday, May 16 at 9:30am
Where: Gies Memorial Stadium

For those of you who we believe to have plans to graduate either this spring or summer, we have invited you to participate in the English & Creative Writing Convocation via email. If you believe that you will be graduating this spring or summer and have not received such an invitation, please contact the advising office immediately at englishadvising@illinois.edu

Participate in a Research Study

Students, faculty, and professionals are invited to participate in a research study on how Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, are used and perceived in writing and work contexts. This study is part of an English Honors thesis conducted by Eleanor Henricksen under the direction of Dr. John R. Gallagher at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The anonymous survey takes approximately 8–12 minutes and includes questions about your experiences with GenAI, your writing background, and optional demographic information. Participation is voluntary.

For questions about the study, contact Eleanor Henricksen at eh19@illinois.edu or Dr. John Gallagher at johng@illinois.edu. For questions about your rights as a research participant, contact the University of Illinois Office for the Protection of Human Subjects at irb@illinois.edu or 217‑333‑2670.

Survey link: https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cAZXcH7828p7fTM

Career Fairs, Jobs, Internships, and More!

Apply for a Paid Internship with the Odyssey Project
Majors in the humanities, arts, social sciences are invited to apply for a paid internship with the Odyssey Project, a program through the Humanities Research Institute that offers free college courses to qualifying members of the C-U community. Through this work, the intern will help to translate the world of academia—and ease that transition—for those who are new to it. Deadline to apply is March 31 by 11:59PM. To apply, visit  https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/174211678

2026 UI Advancement Internship Accepting Applications
This is a highly structured summer opportunity for students to learn about the world of institutional fundraising and make a lot of networking connections. This opportunity is great for students who care deeply about the mission of higher ed but may be having second thoughts about the grad school. Deadline to apply is March 6. For more information, including how to apply, visit https://uif.uillinois.edu/news/217/2026-ui-advancement-internship-accepting-applications

Paid Summer Internship at Hasbro as a Board Game Narrative Design Intern
You will work alongside a talented cross-functional team of Graphic Designers, Game Designers, Engineers, Project Managers, and Product Managers to help bring innovative new games to market. This internship blends creative writing, storytelling, editorial accuracy, and cross-functional collaboration ideal for someone who loves games, worldbuilding, and creating engaging player-facing content. This is a unique opportunity to grow as a narrative designer while helping shape the stories, tone, and thematic identity of Hasbro’s future games. For more information, including how to apply, visit https://jobs.hasbro.com/job/Pawtucket-Intern%2C-Narrative-Design-Rhod-02861/1366304400/

Don’t Forget These!

East Anglia Study Abroad Info Sessions

The English Department has a study abroad exchange agreement with the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. They are offering online information sessions for students interested in finding out more about spending a semester or year abroad at UEA:

Monday, March 30 – 17:00 BST – Register here
Thursday April 9 – 8:00 BST – Register here

For more information about a study abroad opportunity at the University of East Anglia, such as how to apply, visit the Illinois My Study Abroad webpage

Senior 100 Honorary – Applications Now Open

The Senior 100 Honorary is one of the Alumni Association’s most prestigious distinctions, recognizing 100 outstanding seniors for their leadership, service, and lasting impact on the campus community. Recipients are selected through an anonymous review process by an impartial panel of judges and will be recognized at a luncheon in May.

Eligibility: Seniors who graduated in December 2025 or are graduating in May 2026

Application Overview:
Opens: January 24, 2026
Closes: March 29, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Format: Google Form with additional questions
Requirements: 4 short essays reflecting on personal experiences

How to Apply:
Scan the QR code or visit the application link
Download and complete the application
Upload it to the Google Form and submit additional responses
Application Link

Questions may be directed to uiucsenior100@gmail.com.
Google Slides
PowerPoint

How to Connect with LAS Career Services

  • Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Present Your Research–Humanities Projects Welcome!

Free Little Library

Check out the ESA Free Little Library outside EB 200. We have a rotating stock of donated books (thanks to all our anonymous donors) and you’re always welcome to stop by and pick something up. If you want to leave a book as well of course you can, but it’s not expected. If you feel like it, you can sign the sheet on the top shelf and tell us what you picked and why!

Sharing News

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other triumph to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!

Posted on

Weekly Round-Up

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Deadline to drop a POT A (first 8-weeks) course: Friday, Feb. 13
Advising Office Open House: Thursday, Feb. 19
Stage Two Department Scholarship Applications due: Friday, Feb. 20
Summer & Fall 2026 courses on Course Explorer: Monday, March 9

Resource of the Week: List of Undergraduate Certificates

Don’t have time or room to add a minor but are interested in developing additional knowledge in a field or subfield? You may be interested in a certificate program! The English department offers the Certificate in Environmental Writing and the Certificate in Business and Technical Writing, but here are some certificates outside of the College of LAS list that are of interest to English department students:

Undergraduate Certificate in Museum Studies
The certificate is “designed to provide students with a working knowledge of museum institutions and operations and promotes museum-related perspectives and skill sets that cross-cut disciplines.” This certificate is offered by the Anthropology department and is perfect for students considering a career in the GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) industry.

Certificate in Immersive & Interactive Storytelling
“The certificate is meant for students whose academic and professional ambitions include writing, storytelling, and narrative design. The quality of the writing and the narrative content of games is crucial to the success of interactive and immersive experiences.” This certificate is offered by Game Studies & Design (GSD).

Certificate in Game Design & Development
This certificate “is meant for students whose academic and professional ambitions include careers in the game or game-adjacent industries as a designer, programmer, or a game developer.” This certificate is offered by Game Studies & Design (GSD).

Certificate in Black Women and Gender Studies
“At present, the subject of black women and gender is one of the fastest growing subfields in the social sciences, history, and humanities.” This certificate is offered by the Department of African American Studies and situates the study of Black women and gender centrally in the analysis of the African American experience, and does so from diverse disciplinary perspectives.

Certificate in Themed Entertainment
“The Certificate in Themed Entertainment invites undergraduate students to explore how story, design, culture, and audience engagement come together to create memorable themed experiences, from Disney Parks to escape rooms, interactive art installations, and more.” This certificate is offered by the Department of Theatre and aims to help students build skills in storytelling, characterization, and audience engagement that are relevant across multiple entertainment industries.

SportMedia Certificate
“The SportMedia Certificate provides students with coursework that emphasizes the technological changes radically reshaping sports entertainment. “They provide a practical foundation for understanding and working in today’s—and tomorrow’s—SportMedia industries. This certificate is offered by the College of Media.

Social Media Certificate
“The Social Media Certificate provides context and knowledge for everyone from the casual social media user to the aspiring social media manager.” This certificate is offered by the College of Media.

You can find a list of undergraduate certificate programs offered by the College of LAS here: https://las.illinois.edu/academics/programs/certificates

Advising Office Open House

2026 English & Creative Writing Convocation – Register Now!

For those of you who are planning to graduate this spring or summer, you can now register to participate in the 2026 English & Creative Writing Convocation! In addition to our departmental celebration, there will also be a universitywide commencement ceremony; you are welcome to participate in either ceremony or both, but please remember that you must register for each one separately. You will need regalia (cap and gown) to participate in any ceremony, so don’t forget to rent your cap and gown by April 13th.

English & Creative Writing Convocation – REGISTER HERE
When: Saturday, May 16 at 5:00pm
Where: Smith Memorial Hall

Universitywide Commencement – REGISTER HERE
When: Saturday, May 16 at 9:30am
Where: Gies Memorial Stadium

For those of you who we believe to have plans to graduate either this spring or summer, we have invited you to participate in the English & Creative Writing Convocation via email. If you believe that you will be graduating this spring or summer and have not received such an invitation, please contact the advising office immediately at englishadvising@illinois.edu

English Department Scholarships – Stage Two Application Due Friday, Feb. 20

Check out the department website for the Stage Two application along with an overview and instructions. The Stage Two application is due Friday, February 20.

The Department of English offers numerous merit scholarships totaling more than $100,000 in an annual competition in the spring. These scholarships recognize and reward outstanding achievements by English, creative writing, or teaching of English students. The award amounts vary widely; for more information about the scholarship application process, please contact our director of undergraduate studies, Andrea Stevens.

Upcoming Study Abroad Deadlines & Study Abroad Advising Sessions

The application deadline for Fall 2026, Summer 2026, and Academic Year 2026–2027 programs is February 15 at 11:59PM (CST). To fulfill the required advising requirement and address any questions, LAS International Programs is holding virtual drop-in advising sessions in additional to regularly scheduled appointments on the following dates and times:

Friday, February 6: 1:00–3:00 p.m. CST
Tuesday, February 10: 2:00–4:00 p.m. CST
Thursday, February 12: 2:00–4:00 p.m. CST

Students can schedule an appointment using the advising calendar. Please note that this is a particularly busy time for their office and availability is limited.

Apply to Be An Orientation Leader (OL)!

We CU Community Engaged Scholars

On Thursday, February 19th, from 5:30 to 7 pm, We CU Community Engaged Scholars will be hosting our Entering Community Partnerships workshop. This workshop provides guidance on how to successfully collaborate in service partnerships with community organizations. It also helps you think about and reflect on the role that your service experience plays in your personal and professional growth.  

The workshop includes interactive activities, and you will have time at the end for questions. Dinner will be provided. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Register here: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1094698655?referrer=https://shibboleth.illinois.edu/

LAS Get Experience Expo

This event will be an opportunity for students to find out how curiosity and learning extend far beyond lectures and labs! You will be able to meet with faculty and staff, explore research, internship, service, and academic opportunities, and network with peers.

This event is open to all undergraduate students. Students are encouraged to pre-register to receive information prior to the event: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/499774977

Participate in a Library & Food Access Study

First-Gen Student Feedback Sessions

LAS & FAA Employer Visit: The Art Institute of Chicago

When: Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 1:00pm
Where: School of Art & Design, Room 133
Stop in and chat with the Assistant Director for Academic Engagement and Research at The Art Institute of Chicago, Rachel Joy Echiverri Rowland! Rachel will be on campus to speak about internships and summer intensive opportunities with the Institute. Register to attend on Handshake.

Job & Internship Opportunities

Apply for a Paid Internship with the Odyssey Project
Majors in the humanities, arts, social sciences are invited to apply for a paid internship with the Odyssey Project, a program through the Humanities Research Institute that offers free college courses to qualifying members of the C-U community. Through this work, the intern will help to translate the world of academia—and ease that transition—for those who are new to it. Deadline to apply is March 31 by 11:59PM. To apply, visit  https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/174211678

2026 UI Advancement Internship Accepting Applications
This is a highly structured summer opportunity for students to learn about the world of institutional fundraising and make a lot of networking connections. This opportunity is great for students who care deeply about the mission of higher ed but may be having second thoughts about the grad school. Deadline to apply is March 6. For more information, including how to apply, visit https://uif.uillinois.edu/news/217/2026-ui-advancement-internship-accepting-applications

Part-Time Public Relations/Customer Service Position
This campus part-time job with the University of Illinois Foundation Engagement Center can offer valuable experience relevant to both the nonprofit and for-profit worlds for students with excellent oral communication skills. For more information, including how to apply, visit https://secure.osfa.illinois.edu/vjb/detail.aspx?type=nonfws&postid=48081

Join the Ravinia Team – Open Summer 2026 Positions
For more information about the positions, including how to apply, visit https://bit.ly/workatravinia

Senior 100 Honorary – Applications Now Open

The Senior 100 Honorary is one of the Alumni Association’s most prestigious distinctions, recognizing 100 outstanding seniors for their leadership, service, and lasting impact on the campus community. Recipients are selected through an anonymous review process by an impartial panel of judges and will be recognized at a luncheon in May.

Eligibility: Seniors who graduated in December 2025 or are graduating in May 2026

Application Overview:
Opens: January 24, 2026
Closes: March 29, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Format: Google Form with additional questions
Requirements: 4 short essays reflecting on personal experiences

How to Apply:
Scan the QR code or visit the application link
Download and complete the application
Upload it to the Google Form and submit additional responses
Application Link

Questions may be directed to uiucsenior100@gmail.com.
Google Slides
PowerPoint

Land Grant Universities: A Discussion with Tristan Ahtone

This presentation examines the entangled histories of Indigenous land dispossession, the founding of the land-grant university system, and epistemicide in settler colonial institutions. Building on the Land-Grab Universities and Misplaced Trust investigations, and drawing from current efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate diversity initiatives at U.S. institutions, this talk draws a direct line between the violent expropriation of Indigenous territories to the erasure of Indigenous peoples on campuses and in American institutions at large, ultimately arguing that ideas of academic freedom cannot be disentangled from questions of historic justice and decolonial action.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Tristan Ahtone is a member of the Kiowa Tribe and is Editor at Large at Grist. He previously served as Editor in Chief at the Texas Observer and Indigenous Affairs editor at High Country News. He has reported for Al Jazeera America, PBS NewsHour, Indian Country Today, and NPR to name a few. Ahtone’s stories have won multiple honors, including a George Polk Award, Richard LaCourse awards, a National Magazine Award nomination, and investigative awards from the Gannett Foundation and IRE: Investigative Reporters and Editors. A past president of the Native American Journalists Association, Ahtone is a 2017 Nieman Fellow.

“As Usual You Have Produced Yet Another Installment Worthy of Archiving”: The Persistence of Obsolescence in Queer Information & Media Technologies with Travis Wagner

Upcoming Poetry Events

Don’t Forget These!

Spring Creative Writing Contest Open

The English Department is pleased to announce its annual undergraduate literary competitions in Short Fiction and Poetry. The prizes for our judge’s top selections are awards or scholarships ranging from $100-$1500. There are multiple places in each category. Deadline: Noon, Friday, February 27, 2026

Only University of Illinois undergraduate students are eligible. To be considered for a prize, submissions must adhere to the following rules:

Short Fiction: Submit no more than one unpublished story (7500 words, maximum length)
Poetry: Submit up to 5 unpublished poems in a single document.

– 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
-@Illinois e-mail address
-status (i.e. undergraduate student)
-UIN

This year, we are also able to offer new scholarships 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 (no more than a couple sentences included below the contact information in the body of the email)
–the name of the Illinois high school 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 in early April. Please direct any questions to John Dudek, Associate Director of Creative Writing at jdudek4@illinois.edu.

East Anglia Study Abroad Info Sessions

The English Department has a study abroad exchange agreement with the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. They are offering online information sessions for students interested in finding out more about spending a semester or year abroad at UEA:

Thursday, Feb. 19 – 17:00 GMT – Register here
Monday, March 30 – 17:00 BST – Register here
Thursday April 9 – 8:00 BST – Register here

For more information about a study abroad opportunity at the University of East Anglia, such as how to apply, visit the Illinois My Study Abroad webpage

Post-Graduate Fellowship Opportunity

The James H. Dunn Memorial Fellowship Program offers 15-20 recent graduates the opportunity to spend a year working full-time within the Illinois Office of the Governor.  Dunn Fellows participate in an annual orientation, bi-monthly lunch & learns, and are welcome into a community of fellowship alumni dating back to 1979. Fellows are paid $43,500 and receive full state benefits. This program attracts talent from across the nation, each cohort united by a shared commitment to public service evident in their academic, professional, and extracurricular profiles. Applicants rank their top teams and if selected, will be assigned to work from Springfield, Chicago, or Washington D.C.

Open to those who will have a degree in hand by the start of July (so May graduates are eligible).

Career Networking Event

This is a career event for students who:

  • Wonder how to build a career around their arts-related interests.
  • Love being in cultural, performance, or museum spaces
  • Want to promote creative and cultural work
  • Seek a career with intellectual purpose

There will be a guided networking event from 2:30 – 4pm with professionals from various Illinois arts and culture organizations, followed by a panel of discussion with student interns working for arts and culture organizations, 4 – 5pm. Students can come for any or all of it. There will be snacks.

Community-Academic Scholars

The Community-Academic Scholars (CAS) program is a 10-week summer research experience that empowers undergraduates in all majors to address critical issues in the local community. 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. 18. 

How to Connect with LAS Career Services

  • Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Present Your Research–Humanities Projects Welcome!

Free Little Library

Check out the ESA Free Little Library outside EB 200. We have a rotating stock of donated books (thanks to all our anonymous donors) and you’re always welcome to stop by and pick something up. If you want to leave a book as well of course you can, but it’s not expected. If you feel like it, you can sign the sheet on the top shelf and tell us what you picked and why!

Sharing News

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other triumph to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!

Posted on

Weekly Round-Up

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Deadline to add a full-semester course for spring: Monday, Feb. 2
Deadline to add yourself to the May degree list: Monday, Feb. 2
Deadline for Stage One applications for English Department Scholarships: Friday, Feb. 6
Deadline to drop a POT A (first 8-weeks) course: Friday, Feb. 13
Deadline for Stage Two applications for English Department Scholarships: Friday, Feb. 20

Resource of the Week: Writers Workshop

The Writers Workshop provides free support to students across all forms of academic and professional writing, at any stage of the writing process. They offer writing consultations where they provide feedback on essays, research papers, personal statements, cover letters, theses and dissertations, manuscripts for publication, presentations, digital compositions, and anything between and beyond.

They offer in-person appointments, video call appointments, written feedback appointments, and drop-in consultations. For more information, such as how to book an appointment, visit https://writersworkshop.illinois.edu/

English Department Scholarships

Did you miss the info session about the English Department Scholarships? You can find information about the application process on the department website. An overview and instructions are provided along with the Stage One application.

The Department of English offers numerous merit scholarships totaling more than $100,000 in an annual competition in the spring. These scholarships recognize and reward outstanding achievements by English, creative writing, or teaching of English students. The award amounts vary widely; for more information about this please contact our director of undergraduate studies, Andrea Stevens.

Do-It-Yourself Fidget Tools Crafting Event

Make a DIY fidget tool and learn about sensory resources at the library! Walk-ins welcome but register in advance for a fidget take home kit. Pizza and materials will be provided while supplies last. This activity is sponsored by the Main Library and the Grainger Engineering Library Information Center IDEA Lab.

Secondary Education Minor Application DEADLINE THIS SUNDAY

The application window to apply to the Secondary Education Minor (for students expecting to graduate in May 2028) will close this Sunday, February 1, 2026. All the information, and a link to the application, can be found on this page.

Please note that before you submit the application, you have to complete the “advisor verification form” and then have Maggie or Anna sign off on it. 

Speak Up, Stand Out!

Beinecke Scholarship Info Sessions & Workshop

Spring Creative Writing Contest Open

The English Department is pleased to announce its annual undergraduate literary competitions in Short Fiction and Poetry. The prizes for our judge’s top selections are awards or scholarships ranging from $100-$1500. There are multiple places in each category. Deadline: Noon, Friday, February 27, 2026

Only University of Illinois undergraduate students are eligible. To be considered for a prize, submissions must adhere to the following rules:

Short Fiction: Submit no more than one unpublished story (7500 words, maximum length)
Poetry: Submit up to 5 unpublished poems in a single document.

– 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
-@Illinois e-mail address
-status (i.e. undergraduate student)
-UIN

This year, we are also able to offer new scholarships 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 (no more than a couple sentences included below the contact information in the body of the email)
–the name of the Illinois high school 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 in early April. Please direct any questions to John Dudek, Associate Director of Creative Writing at jdudek4@illinois.edu.

CW 243 & Education Justice Project (EJP) Blended Course for Fall 2026

Want a Pen Pal?

If you follow Smile Politely, you might have seen this article about the pen pal project. 

If you’d enjoy having a pen pal, please fill out this application! They’ve gotten a huge response from the community so far and are hoping to be able to match everyone up with a student. 

East Anglia Study Abroad Info Sessions

The English Department has a study abroad exchange agreement with the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. They are offering online information sessions for students interested in finding out more about spending a semester or year abroad at UEA:

Thursday, Feb. 12 – 8:00 GMT – Register here
Thursday, Feb. 19 – 17:00 GMT – Register here
Monday, March 30 – 17:00 BST – Register here
Thursday April 9 – 8:00 BST – Register here

They are also hosting information sessions for their Creative Writing Summer School:

Wednesday, Feb. 4 – 17:00-18:00 GMT – Register here
Wednesday, Feb. 11 – 8:00-9:00 GMT – Register here

For more information about a study abroad opportunity at the University of East Anglia, such as how to apply, visit the Illinois My Study Abroad webpage

Join the Public Interest Law Association

Lecture on Generative AI

Lauren Goodlad, the chair of Critical AI @ Rutgers and the editor of Critical AI, will be here on Feb 4th. Professor Goodlad has been a leader in critiques of AI through a humanities lens and has been fostering international conversations about AI literacy. Her visit will include a lecture at 4pm in Main Library titled “THE LIFECYCLE OF WRITING SUBJECTS: On Generative AI and the Future of Writing” with an option to attend via Zoom.

A Screening & Conversation with Kahlil Joseph

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions is an Afro-futurist film that braids fictional and historical characters in a stunning cinematic experience spanning 247 years across land and sea. Directed by Kahlil Joseph—known for his collaborations with Beyoncé (Lemonade) and Kendrick Lamar—the film is shaped by an extraordinary creative team, including Oscar-winning editor Paul Rogers (Everything Everywhere All at Once), cinematographer Bradford Young (Selma), and MacArthur Award–winning co-director Garrett Bradley (Time).

Premiering at Sundance, BLKNWS was ranked “Best of Festival” by Metacritic and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Gotham Film Awards.

Rich Spirit Studios has granted the University of Illinois an exclusive screening, to be followed by a public conversation with Joseph and collaborators.

New Harbinger Publications Hiring Part-Time & Remote Marketing Assistant

New Harbinger Publications, a leading publisher of evidence-based self-help and psychology books, is seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Marketing Assistant to support their marketing and publicity team. This is a virtual, part-time (20 hours/week) contract position ideal for someone interested in learning the ins and outs of book marketing in a mission-driven, independent publishing environment.

For more information, such as how to apply, visit https://www.newharbinger.com/pages/job-opportunities/#marketing

The Career Center is Hiring!

The Career Center is hiring undergraduate student workers for the Career Services Paraprofessionals position. Click here to learn more, and contact Zella Walden at zwalden2@illinois.edu if you have any questions. 

Post-Graduate Fellowship Opportunity

The James H. Dunn Memorial Fellowship Program offers 15-20 recent graduates the opportunity to spend a year working full-time within the Illinois Office of the Governor.  Dunn Fellows participate in an annual orientation, bi-monthly lunch & learns, and are welcome into a community of fellowship alumni dating back to 1979. Fellows are paid $43,500 and receive full state benefits. This program attracts talent from across the nation, each cohort united by a shared commitment to public service evident in their academic, professional, and extracurricular profiles. Applicants rank their top teams and if selected, will be assigned to work from Springfield, Chicago, or Washington D.C.

Open to those who will have a degree in hand by the start of July (so May graduates are eligible).

Submit Your Work for Publication

Career Networking Event

This is a career event for students who:

  • Wonder how to build a career around their arts-related interests.
  • Love being in cultural, performance, or museum spaces
  • Want to promote creative and cultural work
  • Seek a career with intellectual purpose

There will be a guided networking event from 2:30 – 4pm with professionals from various Illinois arts and culture organizations, followed by a panel of discussion with student interns working for arts and culture organizations, 4 – 5pm. Students can come for any or all of it. There will be snacks.

How to Connect with LAS Career Services

  • Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Undergraduate Research Ambassadors Program

Want to inspire and support the next generation of undergraduate researchers at Illinois? The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is looking for motivated and personable undergraduate students in all majors who are excited to introduce and support peers through the Illinois research experience as an Illinois Undergraduate Research Ambassador (IURA). If you have participated in a research project, be it through coursework, assisting faculty, research staff, or graduate students, or conducting a mentored project of your own, we invite you to apply to become an  Ambassador and help other students along their research journeys.  

This application is for Ambassador positions for AY 2026–27 (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027). Ambassadors are paid $15 per hour and are expected to work 30 hours per semester. Selected ambassadors are expected to be able to commit to working both semesters. During Spring 2026, new hires will undergo onboarding and orientation where they will receive all necessary training on being an Ambassador as well as be expected to work 4 hours at the Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 30, 2026. 

Program Description  

IURAs are a collaborative cohort of accomplished and experienced students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Ambassadors promote undergraduate research on The University of Illinois campus and help OUR develop and maintain student-focused programs that represent our University’s diverse array of research disciplines.   

Responsibilities  

IURAs must be active participants in all assigned responsibilities, including occasional mandatory weekend and evening events, for the full academic year. 

As an Ambassador, you will:  

  • Mentor, support, and guide undergraduate students at various stages of their research journey through one-on-one meetings, drop-in sessions, and outreach.   
  • Represent and promote OUR’s mission to current and prospective undergraduate researchers at on-campus recruiting and outreach events, classroom presentations, and other informational sessions.  
  • Lead or assist in workshops on undergraduate research and participate as a panelist to share your experience in undergraduate research.  
  • Support OUR’s social media campaigns.  
  • Assist in the organization and logistics of the Undergraduate Research Symposium.  
  • Be required to attend monthly Ambassador cohort meetings covering professional development topics such as training in peer mentoring, communication, public speaking, event planning, outreach, and program development.  

To learn more about the IURA program and how to apply, check out our call for applications. If you are unsure if your experience counts, reach out to us! We are happy to answer any questions. Contact us at ugresearch@illinois.edu.   

Deadline to apply is Friday, January 30, 2026 at 11:59pm.

Present Your Research–Humanities Projects Welcome!

Free Little Library

Check out the ESA Free Little Library outside EB 200. We have a rotating stock of donated books (thanks to all our anonymous donors) and you’re always welcome to stop by and pick something up. If you want to leave a book as well of course you can, but it’s not expected. If you feel like it, you can sign the sheet on the top shelf and tell us what you picked and why!

Sharing News

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other triumph to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!

Posted on

Beginning-of-Semester Round-Up

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

First day of instruction for spring semester: Tuesday, Jan. 20
Deadline to add a POT A course for spring: Monday, Jan. 26
English Department Scholarship Info Session: Monday, Jan. 26
Deadline to add a full-semester course for spring: Monday, Feb. 2
Deadline to drop a POT A (first 8-weeks) course: Friday, Feb. 13

Resource of the Week: Stephanie Buldak, College of LAS’s Embedded Counselor

Stephanie Buldak is an embedded clinical counselor that primarily offers counseling services to students within the College of LAS. Our LAS embedded counselor provides a safe and welcoming space where you can talk openly about whatever challenges you are facing. Whether you are struggling with stress, anxiety, motivation, or adjusting to college life, Stephanie is here to listen and help you find healthy ways to cope. 

Reaching out to a counselor or therapist is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of courage and self-care. You do not need to wait until things feel unmanageable to ask for help. Counselors can work with you to set realistic goals, manage stress, and develop strategies that make it easier to balance both your personal well-being and academic responsibilities.

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as working on your grades. Sometimes, the first step toward feeling better is simply having someone to listen and guide you through what you are experiencing. You deserve support, understanding, and tools to help you succeed, and the College of LAS’s counseling resources are here to walk alongside you every step of the way.  

Information Session for Applying to English Department Scholarships

When: Monday, January 26th at 6:30pm
Where: Zoom (link and information below)

All interested students are invited to an informational meeting on applying for our internal English Department scholarships that will be hosted on Monday January 26 at 6:30pm on Zoom; this will be an informational meeting on all aspects of the application process, especially the first stage, which is due Friday February 6th (the stage one application, which you soon will be able to find on our website, is short and does not involve extensive preparation. It collects your demographic data and allows us to verify your GPA to then give you permission to proceed to stage 2 of this process).

Please attend! The meeting will explain the application materials and process, along with due dates, and will also include time for questions. Even if you think you aren’t ready to apply for fellowships this spring (to be held next academic year), come and find out about our process!

Every year, we give out numerous scholarships that recognize and reward our English majors, including English, Creative Writing, and Teaching of English. (Several of our scholarships are specifically for future teachers of English). Scholarship amounts vary, but most of them range from $300 to $3000, with a few scholarships giving nearly full tuition for a semester or year.

We hope to see many of you there! In the meantime, you can find useful information on eligibility (especially GPA cutoffs) and the process on our website: https://english.illinois.edu/academics/scholarships-prizes-awards/awards-scholarships. See there for who is eligible to apply and an “Overview and Instructions” document on the “Applying for Merit Scholarships.”

If you have any questions, or can’t make the meeting time, email Prof. Andrea Stevens at arstev@illinois.edu

Zoom Link: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/84403804676?pwd=5gCwu09JB9BNmTE2ntUfTvb4RngbGp.1

Meeting ID: 844 0380 4676
Password: 850127

English Advising Open House

Take These English Department Courses!

ENGL 104: Introduction to Film, Section S (CRN 34538)
Same as MACS 104; Counts as an English major elective
Thoughtful viewing of diverse films, along with ample discussion and critical reading and writing, to gain understanding of cinematic expression and of film’s capacity to entertain and to exert artistic and social influence.

ENGL 251: Twentieth-Century American Novel
Counts as a 20thC course in the English major and as a literature course in the CW major
This course studies the development of the novel in the US through its various phases: realism, naturalism, modernism, and postmodernism. We will be covering many of the classics of the genre, including novels by Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Willa Cather, William Faulkner, and Richard Wright, as well as writers closer to our own time, like Toni Morrison and Philip Roth. Throughout, our aim will be to survey how their novels respond to various political, economic, and cultural crises during the period that was called the American Century, the era that marks the emergence of the nation as the predominant English-speaking world power. To that end, we will especially examine how these writers address some of the great contradictions—of identity and community— animating American society, in all its diversity and oppositionality.

Graduating in May?

If you are expecting to graduate at the end of the spring semester, remember that you must add yourself to the May degree list. You can do this online in Self Service (click on “apply to graduate”) and once you submit your application the records office will do an official degree audit. If you are on track to have all requirements complete by May (taking into account your spring classes), then you will hear nothing from them (in other words, no news is good news), but if they find any shortages they will send you an email. To head off any problems, run your own degree audit and check to see if it says “all requirements complete using in-progress courses” at the top. If you have questions or concerns about your eligibility to graduate, email englishadvising@illinois.edu.

Secondary Education Minor Application Open

If you are planning to apply to do a Secondary Education minor, and you are expecting to graduate in May 2028, then this is the time to apply! The application window will remain open until February 1, 2026. All the information, and a link to the application, can be found on this page.

Please note that before you submit the application, you have to complete the “advisor verification form” and then have Maggie or Anna sign off on it. 

If you have any questions, or if you aren’t sure whether now is the time for you to apply, email englishadvising@illinois.edu and we’ll be happy to help!

A Screening & Conversation with Kahlil Joseph

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions is an Afro-futurist film that braids fictional and historical characters in a stunning cinematic experience spanning 247 years across land and sea. Directed by Kahlil Joseph—known for his collaborations with Beyoncé (Lemonade) and Kendrick Lamar—the film is shaped by an extraordinary creative team, including Oscar-winning editor Paul Rogers (Everything Everywhere All at Once), cinematographer Bradford Young (Selma), and MacArthur Award–winning co-director Garrett Bradley (Time).

Premiering at Sundance, BLKNWS was ranked “Best of Festival” by Metacritic and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Gotham Film Awards.

Rich Spirit Studios has granted the University of Illinois an exclusive screening, to be followed by a public conversation with Joseph and collaborators.

Apply to Be An Student-Alumni Ambassador for LAS Leaders

Apply HERE: bit.ly/LASLeadersSpring
Applications are due Monday, Jan. 26th

How to Connect with LAS Career Services

  • Mondays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Tuesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Wednesdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 10-3 pm LAS Hub (Lincoln Hall) with peer mentors
  • Thursdays- 1-3 pm 105 Greg Hall (short chats)
  • Handshake Appointments (in-person or virtual) are 30 minutes during available staff times. We have an energetic team to help you. Reach out to connect. Having trouble? Reach out to us at las-careerservices@illinois.edu. 

Free Little Library

Check out the ESA Free Little Library outside EB 200. We have a rotating stock of donated books (thanks to all our anonymous donors) and you’re always welcome to stop by and pick something up. If you want to leave a book as well of course you can, but it’s not expected. If you feel like it, you can sign the sheet on the top shelf and tell us what you picked and why!

Sharing News

As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other triumph to report please send news to engl-news@illinois.edu so the social media interns can celebrate you and your accomplishment. Also, if you are a member of a student group affiliated with the English department and you would like an upcoming event posted on our undergraduate calendar (now available at the bottom of the advising page) please send that info to the same address. Thanks!