Follow English Department communities on social media!

pygmalion literature festival

Check out events happening this weekend at the Pygmalion Festival: 

Lauren Michele Jackson
Friday, September 22, 2023 | 8:00-9:00
Analog Wine Library: 129 N Race St, Urbana, IL 61801

A Conversation with Katherine Gaffney & Allison Boot
Saturday, September 23, 2023 | 1:30
The Urbana Free Library: 210 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801

The Ties that Bind Us: Writers on Connection
MFA faculty and student reading
Saturday, September 23, 2023 | 7:30-9:00
Analog Wine Library: 129 N Race St, Urbana, IL 61801

and next week . . .

The Gwendolyn Brooks Social Justice Initiative Presents:
Roger Reeves and Ja Nelle Davenport-Pleasure
Tuesday, September 26, 5:15
Lincoln Hall Theatre Auditorium

ATLAS Internship Program Symposium

Paid copyediting position

The Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL) is a USAID-funded initiative committed to reducing poverty and malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa and globally through advancements in production, processing, and utilization across the soybean value chain. SIL’s clients are practitioners, those who lead and manage the public and private sector organizations along the soybean value chain.

Position Overview: We are seeking a highly skilled Editor to join our team. As an Editor, you will play a crucial role in refining and enhancing written content to meet the highest standards of quality and clarity. Your expertise in the English language and editing, coupled with your meticulous attention to detail, will be instrumental in ensuring the accuracy and coherence of our materials.

Responsibilities:
-Edit and proofread a variety of written content, including articles, reports, and documents, to ensure grammatical accuracy, clarity, coherence, and adherence to style guidelines.
-Collaborate closely with writers to provide constructive feedback and suggestions for improving content.
-Ensure timely delivery of edited materials, managing multiple tasks and deadlines effectively.
-Demonstrate a keen eye for detail, meticulously checking for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting.
-Maintain a strong grasp of industry terminology and language usage to ensure consistent and accurate content.
-Conduct fact-checking and research, particularly for content related to research or governmental articles.

Qualifications:
-A strong educational background in English, linguistics, or a related field, demonstrating a deep understanding of the English language.
-Proven track record of consistently delivering high-quality work within established deadlines.
-Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining the integrity of written content.
-Experience with research or marketing articles is preferred, highlighting the ability to navigate complex subjects and terminologies.
-Proficiency in using editing software and tools.
-Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
-Ability to collaborate effectively with a diverse team of writers, editors, and content creators.

Benefits:
-From $13/hour on, depending on the experience and work performance.
-Estimated workload of 10 hours per week.
-Friendly and flexible working environment.

If you possess a passion for language precision and have a keen eye for refining content to its best potential, please contact me via ixh@illinois.edu. Your expertise will be instrumental in maintaining the quality and impact of our written materials.

paraprofessional opportunity

get involved with montage

new RSO

There’s a new RSO in town and it’s called Uplift! Uplift’s mission is to foster a community of pre-professional students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign dedicated to collaboration, unity, and mutual support. Our RSO will serve as a hub for students of all backgrounds. We are committed to fostering an environment wherein members feel seen, heard, and empowered to pursue their goals. The RSO will provide resources for pre-professional students to prepare for their future careers and professional or graduate schools. We will also enable students to pursue their goals through study hours and access to review resources. Check out their site and sign up for email notifications if you’re interested.

10th annual ecofeminism summit

law school fair + admission panel

apply now to be a golden apple scholar!

Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program

The Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP) is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2024 cohort.

URAP provides students with little or no research experience the opportunity to work with graduate students and post-doctoral scholars on their research projects, explore the culture and process of research, and build on their existing abilities within a community of scholars. In Spring 2024, the undergraduate portion of URAP will consist of two equally important parts: a one-on-one research experience with their research mentor, and the Introduction to Research course. The course is designed to complement the research mentoring experience, orienting undergraduate mentees to broader topics in the research process.

Participation in URAP is by application only; the application portal is now open. Students selected to be part of URAP are expected to commit to: (1) attending the regular weekly class meetings of GC 295, Introduction to Research (3 credit hours) with Office of Undergraduate Research instructors; and (2) working one-on-one with their research mentors, an average of 5-6 hours per week. As part of the course requirement, students will complete a final project, consisting of a poster, to be presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium, an annual event on April 25, 2024.

The deadline for students to apply is October 6, 2023, at 11:59 pm. For more information about URAP, including research project abstracts, and how to apply to the program, please visit our website: http://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/programs/urap.html

LAS career services upcoming events

Are you ready for the ACES + LAS Career Fairs? Attend a virtual meeting Sept 26 to find out more. Swing by the Hub or our office to get yourself ready. Find 3-6 employers you want to chat with, print off your resumes, jot down 3-4 questions to ask recruiters, and go make some new connections.

 Sept 28, How to Have a Career in Business with your LAS Degree from 2:00-3:30. Join us in 105 Greg Hall for Q&A with alumnus David Rothmund (Communications ’14) about his path from a LAS Degree to his current role in Global Corporate Strategy & Operations at Gartner (and is you don’t know what that means, never fear–that’s one of our questions). Note: time change from original posting.

Don’t Forget These!

Lisnek Hub

The Hub  is open again! Stop by Tuesday- Thursdays from 10 am to 3 pm. Under the Lincoln Hall theater is the Lisnek Hub where you can chat with peer mentors.

now accepting scholarship applications!

The Illinois Club provides scholarships to outstanding students in the areas of global studies, humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, education, and art. You must be an undergraduate at UIUC who will have earned 60 credit hours by the Spring 2024 semester and be planning to graduate no earlier than December 2024. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is also expected. The application portal is now open and will be live until 5pm CST on October 14th, 2023. More information is available at Illinois Club Scholarships.

find a workshop for you!

If you’re struggling in one or more of your STEM courses, perhaps there’s a workshop that could help. Check out the LAS Success Workshop Schedule, and be sure to click on “see more” at the bottom for the full list of options.

Tuesday@7 Workshops

Each week, undergraduate Counseling Center paraprofessionals offer interactive workshops on various topics. Please visit our website for login information and upcoming topics.
September 26 | Intuitive Eating: You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It Too (ISR 94AB)

writers workshop

Writers Workshop drop-ins are available beginning 4-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 100b Main Library. These sessions are best for brainstorming, specific questions, or shorter documents (1-3 page papers, application materials, etc.). These sessions are first-come, first-serve.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Want to keep up with research-related opportunities and events hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUA)? Subscribe to OUA’s monthly newsletter and you won’t miss a thing!

You might also want to learn more about the Humanities Research Institute (HRI), particularly opportunities for undergraduates (did you know that they hire student interns and that some of them are English or creative writing majors?) in which case you should check out the Undergraduate section on the HRI website.

2ND ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH FAIR

TUTORING SERVICES

Take advantage of tutoring services on campus
Many departments within the College of LAS offer tutoring. Find the right fit for you.

ACCESSIBLE COUNSELING RESOURCES

It can be hard to take the first step when you’re in need of counseling, so for ease of access the College of LAS has its own embedded counselor, Andy Novinska and you can contact him directly to schedule an appointment at anovinsk@illinois.edu.

Students can also access Counseling Center services by calling 217-333-3704 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday to set up an appointment via the same-day scheduling system. There is also an online scheduling system (please note that appointments are limited via this option so if you try to schedule online and cannot find anything that works please call the office or email Andy).

Workshops for Test Anxiety, ADHD Symptoms, Perfectionism, Body Image, etc. can be found here.

PSA–HEARD ABOUT 211?

CREATIVE WRITING CLUB

DATES & DEADLINES

ICT/Curriculum changes for Spring 2024
Oct. 2-27

Deadline to drop a full semester course without a grade of W
October 13

now accepting scholarship applications!

The Illinois Club provides scholarships to outstanding students in the areas of global studies, humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, education, and art. You must be an undergraduate at UIUC who will have earned 60 credit hours by the Spring 2024 semester and be planning to graduate no earlier than December 2024. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is also expected. The application portal is now open and will be live until 5pm CST on October 14th, 2023. More information is available at Illinois Club Scholarships.

congrats!

Congratulations to English major Ariah Booker, who was among the winners of the Spring 2023 Rhetoric Program Student Essay Contest!

If you are taking RHET this fall and would like to throw your hat in the ring, the next deadline for submissions will be December 15.

need career wear?

The UIUC/JCPenney Suit-Up Event on Sept 9 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm can help you get ready. Clothes suitable for a variety of professional settings will be available at a discount.

Fall Into Success!

Stop by the “Fall into Success” fair at the library to learn more about different support services to help you in your academic and personal success. Talk to representatives from the following:

The Speaking Center
Writers Workshop
The Counseling Center
Research Consultations
Sexual Health Peers
Stress Management Peers
Talk to everyone and be entered into a raffle to win a plush squirrel or a library tote bag!

Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Main Library Orange Room

Student Panel hosted by LAS career services

Sept 13 @ 4 pm – Internships: Student Panel – virtual. Hear from current students about their internship experiences (summer gigs or other jobs), both on and off campus. Discover how internships can help you prepare for your future and learn about these opportunities right here in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Author Talks and Book Signings at urbana free library

Saturday, September 23, 2023, 1:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.

Stop by the Urbana Free Library, where authors Allison Boot and Francesca T. Royster will be discussing their works and signing books. Boot is a writer who specializes in novels featuring characters who are disabled, and Royster is a scholar and author who will talk about her new memoir. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

For a full list of events (some of which feature members of our own Creative Writing Program!) check out the Pygmalion website.

All Pygmalion events at the Library are free and open to the public.

Lisnek Hub

The Hub  is open again! Stop by Tuesday- Thursdays from 10 am to 3 pm. Under the Lincoln Hall theater is the Lisnek Hub where you can chat with peer mentors.

employment opportunity

Are you interested in topics related to diversity, inclusion, and social justice? Do you have experience leading difficult conversations? Do you want to become a diversity leader on campus? I-Connect peer educators are university students who lead I-Connect Interactive Workshops in the Spring. This is a paid student position with Diversity & Social Justice Education for Spring 2024. Workshops occur in the evenings from 6:00 – 9:00 PM throughout the Spring 2024 semester. Workshops are held on Zoom. This is a remote work opportunity. Apply at https://go.illinois.edu/iconnectjob (application window opened September 4 and will stay open until all positions are filled).

coming up!

The first event in the “Dinner and Development” series (see previous round-up for a full description of the series) is coming up soon:

Dismantling Professionalism
Cherisse Smith
September 13 at BNAAC (1212 W. Nevada St)
6:00-7:30pm
Register today: https://go.illinois.edu/wrc_DD

find a workshop for you!

If you’re struggling in one or more of your STEM courses, perhaps there’s a workshop that could help. Check out the LAS Success Workshop Schedule, and be sure to click on “see more” at the bottom for the full list of options.

Tuesday@7 Workshops

Each week, undergraduate Counseling Center paraprofessionals offer interactive workshops on various topics. Please visit our website for login information and upcoming topics.

Here are our workshops for September:

September 5 | Your Declassified College Survival Guide (Noyes Room 157)
September 12 | Cultivating Confidence: Challenging Your Inner Critic (BIF 1041)
September 19 |Building Campus Friendships Where You Alma Mater (Lincoln 1022)
September 26 | Intuitive Eating: You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It Too (ISR 94AB)

writers workshop

Writers Workshop drop-ins are available beginning 4-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 100b Main Library. These sessions are best for brainstorming, specific questions, or shorter documents (1-3 page papers, application materials, etc.). These sessions are first-come, first-serve.

Don’t forget these!

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Want to keep up with research-related opportunities and events hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUA)? Subscribe to OUA’s monthly newsletter and you won’t miss a thing!

You might also want to learn more about the Humanities Research Institute (HRI), particularly opportunities for undergraduates (did you know that they hire student interns and that some of them are English or creative writing majors?) in which case you should check out the Undergraduate section on the HRI website.

HRI PRINDABLE INTERNSHIP IN OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION

HRI’s Communications and Outreach internship offers real world experience for undergraduate humanities majors.

Are you passionate about the humanities? Undergraduate majors in humanities disciplines are invited to apply for a paid internship in communications and undergraduate outreach at the Humanities Research Institute (HRI), the campus humanities hub. The successful candidate will assist HRI with its communications, including social media, event calendar maintenance, and research and writing projects, in addition to serving as an undergraduate ambassador and a strategist for HRI on undergraduate engagement. For application guidelines see here. Application Deadline: September 15!

INVITATION FROM THE PROVOST’S OFFICE

Dear Students, 

Are you looking for opportunities to get involved and work together with peers and campus leadership to strengthen our community? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

The Office of the Provost is now accepting applications for appointment to the 2023-2024 Student Success Undergraduate Advisory Board. 

The board is a group of diverse undergraduate students who volunteer to serve as advisors to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost and Student Success @ Illinois. They aim to accurately portray the current realities of the undergraduate experience by articulating the highlights and challenges of being a student at the university. As representatives of the undergraduate population at Illinois, their objective is to convey what could make a successful undergraduate student experience. 

The Application can be accessed here:  https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/2104101941

If selected to participate as a Board member, appointments will be for one full academic year. All applications are due Friday, September 8, 2023, at 11:59 PM CDT.

We hope you will consider applying because your voice is a critical part of the work that we do to ensure your success while at Illinois and beyond graduation!

Sincerely, 

Kathy Martensen

Associate Provost for Educational Programs and Success Initiatives

2ND ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH FAIR

TUTORING SERVICES

Take advantage of tutoring services on campus
Many departments within the College of LAS offer tutoring. Find the right fit for you.

ACCESSIBLE COUNSELING RESOURCES

It can be hard to take the first step when you’re in need of counseling, so for ease of access the College of LAS has its own embedded counselor, Andy Novinska and you can contact him directly to schedule an appointment at anovinsk@illinois.edu.

Students can also access Counseling Center services by calling 217-333-3704 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday to set up an appointment via the same-day scheduling system. There is also an online scheduling system (please note that appointments are limited via this option so if you try to schedule online and cannot find anything that works please call the office or email Andy).

Workshops for Test Anxiety, ADHD Symptoms, Perfectionism, Body Image, etc. can be found here.

PSA–HEARD ABOUT 211?

CREATIVE WRITING CLUB

DATES & DEADLINES

Deadline to drop, CR/NCR, or elect grade replacement in a POT A (first-8-week) course 
Friday, Sept. 15

ICT/Curriculum changes for Spring 2024
Oct. 2-27

Deadline to drop, CR/NCR, or elect grade replacement in a FULL-SEMESTER course
October 13

Follow English and Creative Writing communities on social media!

esa welcomes you 😊

ESA (English Student Association) will be hosting their annual Welcome Event next Wednesday, August 30th @ 4:30 p.m. in front of the English Building (on the Quad side)! All new, continuing, and prospective students are encouraged to come and get acquainted while eating pizza and doing crafts. Materials for bracelet making, blackout poetry, and coloring pages will be provided. Hope to see you there!

To learn more about ESA contact esaillinois1867@gmail.com.

LAS Career Services Upcoming Events

LAS – Fall Career Fairs and YOU
Aug 29 @ 3:30 pm or Sept 6 @ 4 pm

Fall campus career fairs are open to all students, regardless of major. Not sure career fairs are for you? Come to this informal workshop to learn how you as an LAS student can stand out. Note: the first job fair is the Illinois Part-Time Job Fair on Aug 30 at the Illini Union 11-3 pm.

Resume Workshop for LAS Students 
Sept 5 @ 3:30 pm
Learn to put together a resume that will help you move forward to the future you want. This informal and interactive workshop focuses on the strengths that LAS students bring to internships and jobs. We will cover current resume best practices, as well as strategies for showcasing your skills to give employers the information about you that they need.

Need Career Wear? UIUC/JCPenney Suit-Up Event on Sept 9 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm can help you get ready. The Career Center has arranged this to help you be ready and look as smart as you are.

Some of the above links take you to Handshake; you will need to create an account and then you’ll be able to access Handshake events to sign up. Note that you can also (in many cases) turn up to an event without signing up beforehand. If you’re uncertain whether pre-registration is mandatory for a given event, email las-careerservices@illinois.edu.

Speaking of career fairs, if you’d like to volunteer to help out at the ACES + LAS Career Fair, please sign up via this link. If you’re nervous about attending career fairs, this might be a good way to get a sense of what they’re like first from behind the scenes!

undergraduate research opportunities

Want to keep up with research-related opportunities and events hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUA)? Subscribe to OUA’s monthly newsletter and you won’t miss a thing!

You might also want to learn more about the Humanities Research Institute (HRI), particularly opportunities for undergraduates (did you know that they hire student interns and that some of them are English or creative writing majors?) in which case you should check out the Undergraduate section on the HRI website.

scholarship opportunity coming up soon!

The Illinois Club provides scholarships to outstanding students in the areas of global studies, humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, education, and art. You must be an undergraduate at UIUC and have earned 60 credit hours by the Spring 2024 semester and be planning to graduate no earlier than December 2024. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is also expected. The applications for these scholarships open on September 5th and will be live until 5pm CST on October 14th, 2023. More information is available at Illinois Club Scholarships.

Pre-health? The Career Center can help!

If you’re interested in working in a health field (we know that not all pre-med students are biology majors!) consider attending the Pre-Health Kick-Off on September 6!

internship opportunity

Applications Open for Social Justice Leadership Interns
Application Deadline: Friday, September 1 by 5:00 PM

If you are an Illinois student with a passion for supporting student success through workshops, trainings, tabletop games, and social media, and you would like to work to promote an inclusive campus community, this is the position for you!

amazing alumni

Congratulations to English department alumnus Andy Sima on the recent publication of Climate: Our Changing World, a book in the Science in Action series for middle-grade readers. Andy graduated from Illinois with majors in creative writing and environmental sustainability and we’re delighted to hear of his success!

accessible counseling resources

It can be hard to take the first step when you’re in need of counseling, so for ease of access the College of LAS has its own embedded counselor, Andy Novinska and you can contact him directly to schedule an appointment at anovinsk@illinois.edu.

Students can also access Counseling Center services by calling 217-333-3704 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday to set up an appointment via the same-day scheduling system. There is also an online scheduling system (please note that appointments are limited via this option so if you try to schedule online and cannot find anything that works please call the office or email Andy).

Workshops for Test Anxiety, ADHD Symptoms, Perfectionism, Body Image, etc. can be found here.

invitation from the provost’s office

Dear Students, 

Are you looking for opportunities to get involved and work together with peers and campus leadership to strengthen our community? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

The Office of the Provost is now accepting applications for appointment to the 2023-2024 Student Success Undergraduate Advisory Board. 

The board is a group of diverse undergraduate students who volunteer to serve as advisors to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost and Student Success @ Illinois. They aim to accurately portray the current realities of the undergraduate experience by articulating the highlights and challenges of being a student at the university. As representatives of the undergraduate population at Illinois, their objective is to convey what could make a successful undergraduate student experience. 

The Application can be accessed here:  https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/2104101941

If selected to participate as a Board member, appointments will be for one full academic year. All applications are due Friday, September 8, 2023, at 11:59 PM CDT.

We hope you will consider applying because your voice is a critical part of the work that we do to ensure your success while at Illinois and beyond graduation!

Sincerely, 

Kathy Martensen

Associate Provost for Educational Programs and Success Initiatives

Important deadline

Please remember that Friday, September 1 is the deadline to add a full-semester course (aka “10th day”) and thus the deadline to perfect/finalize your fall schedule.

This is also the deadline for new students and students on academic probation to check in with the English advising office. As a reminder, we do not schedule appointments via email. Please call the office at 217-333-4346 and we will get you on the calendar.