Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

Stage One Department Scholarships Applications Due: Friday, Feb. 6
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

Resource of the Week: Free and Lower-Cost Books

We know that books for your classes can be expensive and you may have trouble finding affordable copies. You all have access to the amazing resources of the University Library, and of course the IUB often stocks used copies of textbooks, but have you also checked out the public libraries and used bookstores in town? It’s worth joining the Champaign Public Library or the Urbana Free Library (if you’re a member of either one you can get books from either–and indeed from other libraries in the state–through their interlibrary loan system) so that you can borrow books but you should also know about their sales of used books. Check out the Friendshop Bookstore (open Weds-Sun 1-4pm) at the Champaign Public Library and look for news of book sales hosted a few times each year by the Friends of the Urbana Free Library.

We also have two great used bookstores in town, Jane Addams Books and Priceless Books, and you never know what you might find there (in a college town like this, you have a better than average chance of finding the kinds of books your instructors are assigning) and it’s worth taking the time to browse their shelves. You can even call ahead and ask if they happen to have a copy of whatever it is you’re looking for. If you have some books to sell, Jane Addams won’t give you cash but they may give you some store credit.

Here’s a DI story about Jane Addams Books written by one of our own alums.

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.

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

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.

Voyager Scholarship

IN-PERSON Voyager Scholarship Information Session
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 3:30-4:30 pm
514 Illini Union Bookstore Building, Floor 5

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). 

Deadline 
The priority campus deadline is March 2, 2026 at 12:00pm (noon). 
The final submittal deadline is March 17, 2026. 

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

Advising Office Open House

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.

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.

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

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

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

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!

Follow the department on social media

Important Dates

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 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

Resource of the Week

It’s self-serving, but the resource of the week is . . . the advising office! Maggie and Anna are available to meet with students daily, and we look forward to seeing many of you in the coming weeks. Some of you have received emails asking you to check in for one reason or another, but ALL of you are welcome. To schedule an appointment, please call the office at 217-333-4346 or stop by EB 200 between 9 and noon or between 1 and 4. Appointments are usually scheduled for a half hour, and while we love to see you here in person virtual meetings are also available.

Also: our snack bowl is depleted and before we restock we’d love to know what you most enjoy finding there. Email englishadvising@illinois.edu and tell us what your favorite (portable, pre-packaged) snack/sweet treat is, and we’ll do our best to satisfy your cravings!

Information Session About 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.

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

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. 

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. 

Legal Studies Minor Featured in Podcast

In a recent episode of the law school’s podcast series, the Illinois Lawcast, Professors Jennie Pahre and Meghan Brinson, both of whom direct undergraduate studies at the College of Law, discussed the Legal Studies minor, future plans for the program, and other opportunities for undergrads at the law school. Meghan in particular has a unique background, having earned an MFA in creative writing before pursuing her law degree, and she talks specifically about how having a background in the humanities can be beneficial in the legal profession. 

Apply to Be A Student-Alumni Ambassador for LAS Leaders

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

First-Gen Resources Fair

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.

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

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
-@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.

WRC January Book Club

Join the WRC for a BOLD discussion on the intersections of Artificial Intelligence, technology, and sexism using the newly published text, “The New Age of Sexism: How AI and Emerging Technologies Are Reinventing Misogyny.” Limited copies of the book will be given to participants who register & attend the discussion. Priority will be given to student participants (undergraduate & graduate). Click here to register & reserve your copy: https://go.illinois.edu/newsexism

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.

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).

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. 

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.

iSucceed Academic Accountability Group

iSucceed, run by the Jeffries Center Advising & Mentoring program, encourages scholars to work together to build community, support one another’s academic development and understand how and why to engage in academic spaces. Scholars get the opportunity to:

• Meet once per week on Mondays at BNAACC.
• Participate in in-person seminars with guest speakers & self-paced interactive online seminars.
• Discuss various topics on their personal & career development, and academic strategies/resources.
• Have dedicated study time.
• 1:1 Quick Check-Ins with Advising & Mentoring Student Success Advisors.

Students in iSucceed gain a strong network of peer and staff support each week, helping them stay motivated, connected, and focused on their goals.

iSucceed Seminar Details

Date: Weekly on Mondays
Time: 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Location: BNAACC Multipurpose Room

Sign up to participate here: iSucceed Interest Form

Submit Your Work for Publication

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. 

New Certificate in Themed Entertainment

This new 9-credit, interdisciplinary certificate introduces students to how story, design, culture, and audience engagement come together to create memorable themed experiences, ranging from Disney Parks and immersive theatre to escape rooms and interactive installations. The program blends critical analysis with creative practice and may be a good fit for students interested in theatre, design, games, live events, or experiential storytelling more broadly.

Certificate at a glance

• 9 credit hours, typically completed over 2–3 semesters
• Non-transcriptable
• Up to 6 credits may count toward a student’s major or minor

Required courses

• THEA 402: Designing Immersive Adventures – Escape Rooms (Fall, in person)
• THEA 199: One Little Spark: Disney Storytelling, Culture, and Fandom (Spring, online asynchronous)

Electives include

• FAA 102: Design Beyond Boundaries
• FAA 402: Experience Design for Immersion and Interaction
• THEA 284: Introduction to Immersive and Interactive Theatre
• THEA 436: Engagement & Alchemy of the Audience
• THEA 499: Themed Entertainment Scenic Design Lab

More details, including learning outcomes and certificate initiation instructions, are available here: https://theatre.illinois.edu/certificate-in-themed-entertainment/

Present Your Research–Humanities Projects Welcome!

Free Little Library

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!