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Important Dates
Deadline to drop a POT A (first 8 weeks) course: Friday, Sept. 18
English Teaching Social: Thursday, Sept. 24
Spring 2027 Courses Viewable on Course Explorer: Monday, Oct. 5
Deadline to drop a full semester course: Friday, Oct. 16
Resource of the Week: Library Consultations
Consultations are available Sunday-Thursday, 2-6pm throughout the semester, and can be in-person or on zoom. Individual Consultations allow you to work one-on-one with a trained Research Consultant and receive personalized support and guidance and your research paper. This option is best for first-year or second-year students in an introductory or general studies course who are conducting general research or need additional assistance with navigating library resources, while juniors, seniors, graduate students, and/or those taking higher level classes should reach out to their subject specialists for research help.
For more information and to schedule an appointment, visit go.library.illinois.edu/ResearchConsultations.
The Truman Scholarship
Are you interested in a career in public service? Are you actively working to make change in your community, on campus, or in your world more broadly? Attend an upcoming information session and/or application workshop for the Truman Scholarship!
The Truman Scholarship awards $30,000 for use toward a graduate degree in public service fields. Public service includes government, uniformed services, public interest organizations, non-governmental research or educational organizations, public and private schools, and other non-profit organizations. As a non-negotiable condition of receiving funding, recipients are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of their graduate degree program.
Information Sessions
In-person | Thursday 9/24, 3:30-4:30pm
514 Illini Union Bookstore Building
Online | Friday 9/25, 9-10am
Zoom (register here)
Application Writing Workshop
Friday 9/25, 3-4pm
514 Illini Union Bookstore Building
Deadline today: David F. Prindable Internship
Application deadline: September 18
- The intern will assist HRI with its communications, including social media, event calendar updating, and research and writing projects
- The intern will also serve as an undergraduate ambassador for HRI
- Internship begins in October 2026 and runs through May 2027
Harper Collins Publishers Spring & Summer 2027 Internship Opportunities
Wondering what a career in publishing is like? Interested in learning more about what working at HarperCollins Publishing has to offer? HarperCollins is recruiting for 2027 Spring and Summer internships!
Visit our website for more information & FAQs: https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/internships
2027 Spring and Summer Internship applications will go live on our website on September 18, 2026. The deadline to apply will be October 1, 2026.
English Teaching Social Event
Are you an English Teaching student or interested in studying to become a high school English teacher? In an effort to create a stronger sense of community amongst English Teaching students, some of our upperclassmen are hosting a casual, social event on Thursday, September 24th in Room 200 of the English Building from 5-6pm. Feel free to come and go anytime within the hour. This is a great opportunity for you to meet other students interested in teaching and get to know upperclassmen who can give you some insight to the program! All English Teaching and pre-English Teaching students are invited to join!
Join the English Teaching Network GroupMe to join stay connected with other English Teaching students: https://groupme.com/join_group/116647686/cLgZET4F
Carr Visiting Author: Mary Helen Specht
Sep 24, 2026 5:30 pm Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Stage 5
Mary Helen Specht is the author of the forthcoming novel Mudlark (July 2026) and the novel Migratory Animals, a New York Times Editors’ Choice and winner of the Texas Institute of Letters Best First Fiction Award and the Writers’ League of Texas Fiction Prize. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Prairie Schooner, and numerous other publications. A Fulbright Scholar to Nigeria and Dobie-Paisano Writing Fellow, Specht currently teaches creative writing at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, where she lives with her family. She was recently inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters.
Summer Internship at Boeing for English Majors
Apply for a paid internship in corporate communications. The positions allows you the opportunity to:
-Gain the skills and knowledge to become a future leader in the aerospace industry.
-Work directly with a mentor in your field of study while finding solutions to real-world problems.
-Experience our products up close by touring manufacturing, engineering, and research facilities.
-Interact with company leaders to learn about strategy and the future of aerospace
-Build a lasting professional network through social events and engaging activities.
The position responsibilities may require you to:
-Research, write, edit, and publish internal or external communications
-Support digital, social, multimedia, and employee-engagement content
-Assist with events, executive communications, and media/community activities
-Track communication metrics and help improve audience reach and effectiveness
For information on eligibility, role responsibilities, and pay, see the position announcement on LinkedIn.
Study Abroad with LAS
Discover the benefits of studying abroad in the College of LAS! Learn about program types, lengths, locations, scholarships, and the application process. This reoccurring workshop is the first steps for those considering getting started on a study abroad application. Please sign up with this form.
Illinois Club Scholarships
The Illinois Club Scholarships online application is open through 5PM on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The 2027-2028 scholarships will support junior and senior students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, financial need, and participation in activities that enhance academic and professional development. Additional information can be found on the club’s website. Scholarship amounts vary from year to year. Any interested students can apply here.
Scholarships that will be of particular interest to English and/or creative writing students include:
Humanities and Social Sciences Scholarship
Open to students majoring or minoring in the Humanities or Social Sciences. Applicants should demonstrate the benefits that studying the Humanities or Social Sciences provides to themselves and their community. Majors/minors that may apply for the Humanities and Social Sciences Award include English; Philosophy; Religion; Comparative Literature; Cinema Studies; History; Classics; Art History; Communication; Anthropology; Psychology; Musicology; Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication; Human Development and Family Studies; Agriculture and Consumer Economics; all foreign languages; all ethnic studies; all Business majors and minors; and undergraduates in the I-School.
Isabelle Purnell Education Scholarship
Open to students earning a Secondary Education Certificate or College of Education majors. Applicants should indicate how they hope to make a difference in the classroom and in students’ lives.
Judith Life Ikenberry Scholarship
Open to students majoring in the creative arts including all majors within the College of Fine & Applied Arts and Creative Writing. Applicants should demonstrate how their art impacts their lives and the world and what they hope to accomplish with their art. This scholarship is generally given to a student who plans to make a living as a working artist, performer, or writer (e.g., painter, sculptor, musician, composer, dancer, actor, novelist, playwright, poet, screenwriter, essayist, or other creative professions)
Upcoming AACC Book Club Meeting
Montage Arts Journal: Call for Submissions 2026-2027
Internship Opportunities with the Migration Policy Institute (MPI)
The Demetrios G. Papademetriou Young Scholars Program, named in honor of MPI’s founding president, has two goals: harnessing the valuable contributions of interns for MPI’s work and training the next generation of migration and communications leaders. Internships are available both in person and remotely, as well as to those residing outside the United States.
MPI is committed to recruiting and supporting interns who reflect the breadth of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives in the countries where it works. As such, the Institute is committed to making sure that interns and staff members of all backgrounds work in an inclusive environment with equity and access for all.
General Internship Application Deadlines
- October 15 – Spring Semester (January – April)
- February 15 – Summer Semester (May – August)
- June 15 – Fall Semester (September – December)
Check out their webpage to find more information about their research and communications internships and how to apply!
Montage Arts Journal First Editorial Meeting
Book Recommendation of the Week: The Housekeeper and the Professor, by Yoko Ogawa
Recommended by Maninee Maity
Could we forge friendships if our memories fail us? Yoko Ogawa’s The Housekeeper and the Professor is a story about memory, found family, and math! The narrator of the story works for a Mathematics professor whose short-term memory resets every eighty minutes. Despite this hurdle, the Professor and the narrator build their friendship anew everyday, through mathematics.
A short, sweet novella, this book is a great way to think about the role of our memories in making us who we are.
Do you have any books that you would like to recommend? Share your book recommendations here and we will try to get your recommendation in the Round-Up!
iHelp 2026: Volunteering Opportunity
Interested in volunteering in the local community? Participate in iHelp 2026 on October 10th from 10am – 4pm!
Presented by Student Alumni Ambassadors, iHelp is the signature campus-wide day of service in the fall that brings together students, their surrounding community, and university alumni in an organized effort to create a culture of giving at the University of Illinois. Each year, over a thousand students come together to assist dozens of agencies across the Champaign-Urbana area in a display of gratitude to the community we call home. The Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA) handle the logistics of the event, advertise the availability of volunteers to service agencies, and recruit students to participate. We strive to encourage students to realize the effect they have on the community via service in order to better not just the city, but also themselves.
Register now! Whether you want to get your RSO involved or just yourself, we would love to have you! All registration forms and other event info can be found at https://www.illinisaa.com/ihelp . Please reach out to us with any questions at illinivpoutreach@gmail.com .
Opening Reception at the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library
The Rare Books and Manuscripts library has acquired a first edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. To launch the exhibit, a reception celebrating the life and work of Mary Shelley will be held at the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Thursday, September 24 3:00 – 5:00pm. Exhibit curator Lynne Thomas will give brief remarks, and refreshments will be served. This exhibit will be on display through Summer 2027.
Institute for Higher Education Policy
HEP is seeking a communications intern to join their team for the fall term (October – December, 2026). The communications and government affairs team amplifies the impact of their research and policy work by creating strategic communications to reach key audiences. This is a paid internship. Primary responsibilities include:
–Social Media Management: Assist in developing and implementing social media strategies to amplify IHEP research, drive engagement, and engage with our target audiences.
–Media Relations: Support media outreach efforts by tracking news coverage of state and federal higher education issues and policies, drafting talking points, pitching stories that highlight IHEP’s research and expertise, and supporting relationships with journalists.
–Data Analysis: Analyze social media performance, email marketing metrics, and website traffic to measure the effectiveness of communication campaigns and identify areas for improvement.
–Content Creation: As opportunities arise, develop creative and engaging content for various communications channels, including social media, website, newsletters, and/or blog posts.
–Event Support: Assist with promoting and supporting external presentations, events, and convenings by creating materials and managing logistics (as needed).
For more information please visit https://ihep.hiringthing.com/job/1055558/communications-intern-october-december-2026
Apply to the Illinois in Washington (IIW) Internship!
Illinois in Washington (IIW) is an academic internship program open to all U of I undergraduates. Participants live and intern in Washington, DC, while taking U of I classes there. IIW offers an exceptional opportunity to gain rewarding work experience while enjoying the political, intellectual and cultural experiences that only the nation’s capital can offer. Student internships have included positions with members of Congress, think tanks, social justice organizations and government agencies. Stop by our information session on September 15th at 5 pm in DKH 436 and hear from recent IIW alumni. Apply by Thursday, October 1st for spring admission, at https://washington.illinois.edu/deadlines/.
Submit Your Work
The Green Observer is a student-run publication of Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS). We publish prose, poetry, visual art, and musical compositions that engage with environmentalism and nature. Oue Fall 2026 edition is currently accepting submissions!
We strive to include the voices of all students on campus within our magazine and would love to feature those of the English Department. This edition’s theme is Migrations, and submissions should be loosely related to the theme. Rough drafts are due October 2nd, by email to samholt2@illinois.edu
Community Volunteer Fair
If you’re interested in dedicating time to a cause, come to the Community Volunteer Fair at Illini Union Anniversary Plaza (Quad Side) on Wednesday, September 23 at 11:30am to 1:30pm.
Psychology Major/Minor Meetings & Drop-In Hours
Are you interested in double majoring or minoring in Psychology? The Psychology advisors are hosting Major/Minor Meetings and fall drop-in hours. See below!
Major/Minor Meetings will take place from 4-4:50pm in Room 21 of the Psychology building on the following dates: Thursday, Sept. 24th; Wednesday, Oct. 22; and Thursday, Nov. 19
Drop-In Advising for Non-Majors will take place from 2-4pm in Room 2 of the Psychology Building on the following dates: Monday, Oct. 12; Monday, Oct. 26; and Monday, Nov. 30
New Entrepreneurship Minor
The new Entrepreneurship Minor is an interdisciplinary minor and includes some LAS courses, so it may be something worth considering as a student in the humanities. Check out the minor’s webpage for more information, such as required coursework and FAQs.
Don’t Forget These!
Business Minor Study Abroad Opportunity in May 2027
Explore global business where history, innovation, and culture intersect in Berlin. This program offers business minors a unique opportunity to experience one of Europe’s most dynamic economic hubs. Through company visits, guest lectures, and guided cultural experiences, students will gain insight into international markets, entrepreneurship, and the evolving role of Germany in the global economy. The focus of this program will be on startup consulting with students engaging in a consulting project for a local startup. The project will culminate in Berlin where students will present to entrepreneurs.
- Open to Gies Business Minor (GBM) students
- Prerequisite: BADM 310 or BADM 320 preferred
- Application deadline is October 1, 2026
- Students will be required to register for BUS 199 (will satisfy 3 hrs., of GBM elective credit) as a POT B class spring, 2027
- See the Program Guide and Application for more details
The Jeffries Center Tutoring & Academic Services
Upcoming Lectures
Skeuomorph Press
Skeuomorph Press and Undead Media Lab offers hands-on experiences with historical book and information technologies from the 18th to the 20th centuries—including letterpress, book binding, typewriters, risography, and vintage computing—and sponsors creative activities such as poster or zine making.
Check out their photo gallery to see more!
ESA Welcomes You!
Open Houses for the Fall 2026 Semester – Mark Your Calendar!
Fall 2026 Proud to Be A First-Gen Series
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!
Share Your News!
As a reminder, if you have an award, a publication, or some other form of success (as defined by you!) 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!
