Weekly Round-Up

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Join us for an outdoor welcome event!

Come to the outdoor Welcome Event for English and Creative Writing Majors on Thursday, September 2nd! It will be hosted by English Student Council (ESC) and there will be free pizza, board games, and crafts, including bracelet-making, button-making, and bookmark-decorating. Stop by anytime from 5:30-7:00 p.m. outside the English Building to hang out with ESC and your fellow English department students!  All are welcome. If you do plan to attend, please RSVP by 5pm next Tuesday so we can get an idea of how many people we’re feeding.  We look forward to seeing many of you there!

information session for english honors society

Interested in exploring how you can use your English/Creative Writing degree? Dreaming of speaking at international conferences on literature? Want to make friends with other students in your major? Join us on Zoom this Tuesday (08/31) at 7 p.m. or Wednesday (09/01) at 6 p.m. to learn more about Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors Society).

At this meeting, we’ll discuss our social activities, writing and publishing opportunities, professional development sessions, and more!

Employers panel

(PS you could go to this and THEN stop by the welcome event!)

Meet the Employers Who Want to Meet You
Thursday, September 2, 5pm
223 Gregory Hall

Corporations send representatives come to the the U of Illinois campus to meet and recruit  undergraduate students for internships or jobs. These positions require skills that you cultivate as a humanities major, and these employers want to meet you. 

Come to this event to meet three such employers. Learn about why these employers recruit here, what they’re looking for, and how a job or internship with them connects to the skills you acquire in your major and your goals for yourself. Come with your questions about the hiring process and learn how to improve your career readiness.

Here’s the lineup for the event:

Mark Moran, Site Director for John Deere Technology Innovation Center and Advanced Sensing Lead for John Deere (MoranMarkD@JohnDeere.com)

Anna Burdi, Senior Campus Recruiter at Addison Group (Anna.Burdi@addisongroup.com)

Steve Baker, Lab Manager-Cat Digital (Baker_Steven_L@cat.com)

  • Welcome and Overview of Panel Goals and Logistics
  • Introduction of Panelists and Moderator
  • Panelists take 3-4 minutes each to share about their industry, company and the types of professional development and career opportunities they offer students (e.g. summer leadership programs, internships and full-time roles)
  • Moderator asks a few questions to get the discussion started.
  • Open Q&A and discussion between students and panelists
HPRC Virtual Drop-Ins coming soon!

The incomparable Julie Higgs from the Humanities Professional Resource Center will be holding virtual “drop-in” hours on Mondays from 2-4 starting August 30.  You can join her in her zoom office to ask questions about career development generally or to get help with a specific task.  

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/83357858858?pwd=dHpIMmV4Q1ltMEFvbzlrME1BOW81Zz09

Meeting ID: 833 5785 8858
Password: HPRCengl

prepare to Apply for Illinois Club Scholarships

The Illinois Club awards a number of scholarships annually.  The following three are open to rising juniors and seniors in all majors including English and creative writing (one is specifically for pre-teaching students): 

Global Focus Award
Open to any major. Applicants must have international experience or an internationally focused program of study. For example: second-language study, study abroad, internships or volunteering abroad, international career plans. Applicants must demonstrate how their internationally focused work and/or volunteer plans will make a difference in the world.

Humanities and Social Sciences Award
Open to all students majoring or minoring in the Humanities or Social Sciences. Applicants must demonstrate the benefits that studying the Humanities or the Social Sciences provides to themselves and their community. 

Isabelle Purnell Education Award
Open to students earning a Secondary Education Certificate or College of Education majors. Applicants must demonstrate how they hope to make a difference in the classroom and in students’ lives.

Application opens September 7 at go.illinois.edu/TICScholarship
Deadline is October 16. 

Eligibility:
You must be an undergraduate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, have earned at least 60 credit hours by the beginning of the Spring 2022 semester, and graduate no earlier than December 2022.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 at both the time of application and winning of award is also required.

Contact: scholarship@theillinoisclub.org

News writers wanted

The College of LAS Office of Communications and Marketing is seeking news interns to help keep print and online audiences informed on the activities of alumni and the latest developments on campus. Are you able to write well and accurately by a deadline? Are you comfortable conducting interviews? Does the idea of covering research, teaching, and student life in the largest college on campus appeal to you? If so, apply here. 

atlas internship program

ATLAS is interviewing for the Fall 2021 semesterApplications are accepted from all undergraduate LAS studentsOpen positions include content creation, social media strategist, communications, and website content. Internships consist of a minimum of 10 hours a week and can be online, in personor hybrid. If you are interested, apply here.

LUNCH ON US: DISH IT UP

Alternating Mondays from Noon – 1pm (with free lunch) at the Women’s Resources Center, 616 E. Green Street, Suite 202 (next to McDonalds)

Each semester the Women’s Resources Center (WRC) hosts a (free!) lunch and learn series with speakers, lecturers, and panelists who explore a variety of topics at the intersection of gender and other social identities. Dish It Up and the Lunch on Us series offers a unique opportunity for students to engage with their peers in a rewarding discussion of identity, social phenomena, and justice on campus.  The first lunch is on Monday, August 30. 

Boost your leadership skills

The Illinois Leadership Center (ILC)is now offering i-Programs in three formats: blended (half online/half in-person), traditional (fully in-person), and online self-paced. For more details about these different formats and program descriptions, please visit https://leadership.illinois.edu/i-programs.

Need to talk to someone? 

The Counseling Center has resumed face-to-face services for all counseling modalities except group (which will remain on Zoom). They are also offering online scheduling for initial appointments and you are also welcome to reach out to the embedded LAS counselor, Andy Novinska, at anovinsk@illinois.edu

New Career Center Podcast

The Career Center has a new podcast titled “Career Qualified” that is now fully available and live on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The goal of this podcast is to speak with industry recruiters and pose commonly asked questions about career development themes (resumes, career fairs, LinkedIn, interviewing, etc.), so that students can understand a behind-the-scenes perspective from recruiters and how they can leverage this in their own professional development. This podcast is meant to be conversational, approachable, and accessible for students at all levels and all majors. The first episode was just released this morning and is all about ‘LinkedIn and Virtual Branding,’ via a conversation with a recruiter. 

Weekly Round-Up

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Sec Ed Application deadline approaching

The summer application for the Secondary Education Minor is open until August 31This is for rising juniors who expect to start the professional course sequence for teaching licensure in Spring 2022 and graduate in May 2023.  If you are a first- or second-year student planning to minor in Secondary Ed you do not need to apply yet. 

Information about the requirements for admission as well as the link to the application can be found here.

Please contact recordsofficer@education.illinois.edu if you have any questions.

library job opportunities

The IHLC is a small unit in the library and undergraduate assistants play a vital role in supporting unit operations and making collection materials available for research. The collections include a wide range of materials documenting the history of Illinois and the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. The IHLC’s holdings include books, periodicals, and other published materials as well as archival and manuscript collections dating from the mid-1700s to the present. The positions will provide hands-on experience both working with our collection materials and researchers. Job description Responsibilities include: • Monitoring the reading room and assisting researchers • Retrieving and reshelving materials • Rehousing print and manuscript materials for better preservation • Helping to arrange and describe archival materials • Creating descriptions of items to be digitized and made available online in the Library Digital Collections site • Assisting with scanning orders and email reference requests • Contributing to other projects and tasks as assigned (past projects have varied by the needs of the unit and skills of the person hired).

Undergraduate student assistants will work 9-12 hours a week under the direction of unit staff. Hours can only be worked when the unit is open, 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday. Preferred skills and experience Interest in history; strong academics; archives or library experience and/or interest.

The successful candidates will demonstrate strong communication skills and an ability to work independently and with sustained attention to detail.

If interested, please submit an application and upload your resume at the following link: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1993432821.

Please email Krista Gray, Archives Program Officer, at graykr@illinois.edu if you have any questions. Please apply by August 26th for full consideration.

Pre-law honors society

If you are looking for a place to network, a place to learn, or simply a community of accepting individuals, this organization has your back.
In our pursuit of continuing the success we experienced last year, we are currently looking to extend the interest in our organization, and have thus created a form for prospective members to fill out; this does not commit you to the organization. If you are interested in potentially becoming a future member, or learning more about Phi Delta Phi, please fill out the form below!

1. Quad Day: August 22nd from 12-4pm
2. Info Night #1: August 25th from 5-6pm
3. Info Night #2: September 1st from 5-6pm
The location of Info Night #1 & #2 is still pending; please fill out the interest form to be updated.

Interest Form

To keep up to date with the organization, get notified of important meetings, and support our efforts, be sure to follow us on Instagram @pdp_uiuc

business Council Info night

Business Council is a professional organization on campus that welcomes ALL majors and focuses on developing well-rounded individuals through professional, social, and service events to explore their passions in any given career.  There will be an information night in person on Wednesday, September 8 at 5 pm in Foellinger Auditorium. 

a message from the HPRC

Welcome to our new freshmen and transfer students, and welcome back to all the returning students!  The HPRC exists to help you get launched towards your future.

Come meet us at LAS Liftoff (Friday, August 30, 1:30 – 4:00 on the quad) and drop by our Open House on Monday, August 23, 1 – 5pm in 105 Gregory Hall.

Among the many things we do, we help students get career-relevant experience. Some opportunities on campus that have recently come our way:

There’s more. There are also many ways to explore and get experience that aren’t part-time jobs or internships. Read our emails, check out our website, send us your questions, come to our programs and workshops (search “HPRC” in Events on Handshake or check the calendar on our website).

We’re also here for one-on-one meetings to discuss your particular situation — everyone’s is different! Whether you have specific questions or just want some ideas to get started, we’re here to help. Make an appointment at https://go.illinois.edu/HPRCAdvising or email us.

Best wishes for a great start to your semester. We look forward to meeting you soon! –Kirstin and Julie

Undergraduate Research Workshops

The Office of Undergraduate Research announces its Fall 2021 workshop calendar.  Information for each workshop including how students can register can be found on our website: http://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/programs/workshops.html 

For all workshops, OUR will be offering both virtual and in-person dates. Participation is by advanced registration only; there are a limited number of spots available for each workshop, so please sign up as soon as possible. Workshops will be added throughout the term based on demand.

want to brush up your study skills?

DGS has created the Student Success Toolkit, designed to assist students with their academic performance. The toolkit provides handouts and worksheets that guide students in developing action steps to help improve their study skills. Students can find resources on effective note taking, critical reading, test taking strategies and more!

looking for a screenwriting course?

THEA 399, TJM: Screenwriting
This course will focus on building the knowledge and skills required to write a spec film script (Short & Feature). This will be accomplished through Screenwriting Exercises, in-class readings of works in progress and any associated rewrites and the reading and discussion of published film scripts. A final assignment will consist of a 1st draft of a short screenplay. For both the beginner and the advanced student.

Fall 2021 Advising Routines

How We Are Doing Advising This Semester

Welcome back!  Here’s a quick overview of how we will be doing advising this fall.  We are transitioning back to some in-person advising but will continue to offer remote options as well.  Please be patient with us (and with yourselves and each other) as we navigate important safety protocols and establish our new routines!

You can connect with us in the following ways:

  • You can email your questions and concerns, and we will email you back. If you have an established relationship with a particular advisor and would like to email her directly you may, or you can email englishadvising@illinois.edu in which case Anna, Keshia, and Nancy will all see your message and the first person available (and equipped) to reply will do so.
  • If you want to communicate with an advisor in real time, please schedule an appointment by calling the office at 217-333-4346 (we do not schedule appointments via email). If you have to leave a message, please include your name, UIN, the reason for the appointment, and your preferred advisor (if any). Someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Depending on your situation and how urgently you want to meet, you may need to schedule a virtual appointment, but if you prefer an in-person appointment please specify that and we will do our best to accommodate you.  
 
IMPORTANT SAFETY GUIDELINES:
 
  • We will not be doing walk-in advising this semester.
  • Please arrive no more than 5 minutes early for a scheduled advising appointment and be sure to follow all posted directions.
  • You must be wearing a mask that covers your mouth and nose.
  • You will be asked to show your Safer Illinois app screen to demonstrate that you have a current “green light” to enter the building.  If you do not, please call to reschedule your appointment, and do not come into the building.  In the interests of both safety and fairness, we will make no exceptions to this rule.  

Summer Round-Up

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Ninth Letter Launch Party

Ninth Letter will be holding a public release party reading over Zoom this Thursday, July 15 at 6:00 CT. The reading will feature several authors from the latest edition, including Anurag Andra, Caryn Cardello, Esther Lin, Michael Martone, and Dennison Schultz, as well as past contributor Diane Seuss. We hope you will join us in celebrating the new issue!

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/88634006382?pwd=NDZPTmZTbDhHdWc3b0R6SGUvQ2VCUT09
Meeting ID: 886 3400 6382
Password: 9L

Congratulations to Undergraduate Researchers!

The Office of Undergraduate Research is proud to showcase the award winners for outstanding presentations as well as honorable mentions

Let’s give a shout-out to one of our own recent graduates, English major Issy Marquez, whose project Reggaeton’s Resistance: Bad Bunny & the Aesthetics & Politics of Perreo was deemed outstanding!  Issy’s research mentor for this project was Professor Sandra Ruiz (Department of Latina/Latino Studies and Department of English). 

For more news on undergraduate research opportunities see https://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/programs/explore.html.  Following is one in particular that some of you might want to check out: 

Congressional Internship Program — CIP provides Latina/o undergraduates of all majors with paid placement in congressional offices for a period of 10 weeks. Interns will learn how the legislative system works, respond to constituent inquiries, write policy briefs, gain work experience, and participate in community service. Spring 2022 Internship deadline is October 1, 2021.

message from the HPRC: a great job opportunity!
This job opening just appeared on the U of I Research Park job board, and it would be a great opportunity for an English or Creative Writing major (yes, those are “related majors”). 
 
Don’t let the words “digital” and “communications” scare you off! There are currently lots of English/CW alumni working in these areas — and a job like this is a great way to get experience relevant to a career. 
 
And yes, while AbbVie will probably never ask a student for an analysis of Othello or their most recent poem, the courses where English/CW majors write those things teach skills that will help you succeed in a job like this. Check out the list of “Preferred Qualifications” in the job ad. 
 
 
If you are interested, but unsure how to put together the resume and writing sample that will make you a compelling candidate, the HPRC can help! You can just email humanitiesprc@illinois.edu OR make an appointment at https://go.illinois.edu/HPRCadvising.
 
save the date: Careers in Publishing event

English alumna Dominique Moore, Acquisitions Editor at the University of Illinois Press, will be speaking about her experience in the world of publishing on September 29 at 5pm.  More details will follow, but for those of you looking toward a career in publishing/editing, get this on your calendar now!

An opportunity for prospective graduate students

The MUSE Scholars Program  is intended for prospective English graduate students from underrepresented groups, including African American, Latinx and Chicanx, Asian American, and Indigenous peoples. It aims to introduce students to a robust culture of mentoring essential for a rewarding graduate school experience, and a thriving life in academia. You can read more about our first two cohorts of MUSE scholars here.

The all-expenses paid workshop will allow students to learn more about the English department, visit graduate classes, meet faculty and graduate students, receive feedback on their application materials for graduate school, and present their research to faculty.

Students can learn more about the workshop and submit an application here.  The deadline for applications is September 3.

pre-health chats

The Pre-Health Team will be hosting four sessions of “Illini Pre-Health Chats: What is Pre-Health?” for incoming students the end of July/early August. These will be led by the Pre-Health Ambassadors and one of the Pre-Health advisors will be available as well. This is a great opportunity for new students in any major who are interested in a health-related career to ask questions regarding pre-reqs, clinical experience, research, volunteering and more before they arrive on campus this August. Below are the dates/times and zoom info.

Tuesday, July 20 at 5 pm
Meeting ID: 835 6999 3140
Passcode: 269971

Friday, July 23 at noon
Meeting ID: 862 2672 1771
Passcode: 145657

Friday, July 30 at 4 pm
Meeting ID: 824 6652 0950
Passcode: 537066

Thursday, August 5 at noon
Meeting ID: 833 6782 4870
Passcode: 724864

I STAR positions open

After a 15 month hiatus, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions is planning to provide in-person tours again this fall 2021 semester! They are currently seeking to hire new student representatives to serve as I STARs, campus tour guides. The application for this position is now open: https://enroll.illinois.edu/register/fall2021istar. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, July 21st and a short job description can be found on the application as well.

courses of interest

CW 199: Mind Music–Writing the Lyric Essay
The lyric essay is a highly flexible hybrid form that blends the musical, imagistic impulses of poetry with the ranging, exploratory mode of creative nonfiction. We’ll read and examine an array of contemporary authors who write in this shape-shifting form, including Eula Biss, Anne Carson, and Claudia Rankine, among others. And you’ll practice the form yourself by writing your own original lyric essays.  Learn more about the course in Professor Hassinger’s video introduction here:

INFO 199:  Intro to Video Game Industry
This class will review the video game industry over the last 35 years with a focus on how it has evolved and where it is heading in terms of genres, development methods, products, and monetization.  We will review how personalities, technology, and design came together to create some of the most impactful games and biggest entertainment products in history. We will use game play sessions to review some of these key games of the past and discuss their impact.  Additionally we will review the industry positions and learn effective ways to prepare and showcase talent for those that are interested in a career in the industry.  A key element will be a focus on the social and humanitarian issues faced by the industry over time and how they are being handled going forward. A video promo is at this website: https://go.illinois.edu/INFO199.

HIST 207: Digital Documentary Publishing
SourceLab is a digital humanities research collective, and students who want to learn about digital documentary publishing and research are invited to sign up for HIST 207.  The course serves as an introduction to the craft of publishing historical materials, with a special focus on how to publish the past in the digital age. Assignments will include historical and methodological readings, as well as hands-on instruction in digital publishing techniques. Skills taught include historical research, content development, project management, and copyright analysis. Check out some of the published editions produced by undergraduates: https://iopn.library.illinois.edu/journals/sourcelab.