Follow the department on social media!

As a reminder, if you need to meet with an advisor, please call the office (217-333-4346) to schedule that appointment. If you are required to check in (you will have received an email to that effect), remember that we want to hear from you before Feb 3 (which is the add deadline).

Secondary Education Minor Application (deadline Feb 1)

If you are a sophomore English major planning to minor in Secondary Education for the purpose of getting a high school teaching license, please take a look at the admissions site of you haven’t already. Note that the deadline is FEB 1 and there are a number of things you will have to do in advance, including getting Anna or Keshia to sign off on a verification form, so this is not something you can do at the last minute).

As a reminder, if you are a first-year (freshman) student then you do NOT have to apply yet. This application is for students who anticipate that they will be here for five more semesters (if you are admitted during this winter application period then you will start the licensure sequence in Spring 2026 and you will be expected to graduate at the end of Spring 2027).

Join Student Alumni Ambassadors (Deadline TODAY, Jan 31)

ESA Upcoming Events

Book Reading This Week

Student Focus Group Open Forum

Message from the Chancellor Search Advisory Committee:

The Committee to Advise the President on the Appointment of the New Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Vice President of the University of Illinois System is hosting an additional in-person open forum for undergraduate and graduate students in order to collect more input from you as important constituencies to inform the committee moving forward.

The forum will take place on Wednesday, February 5 from 3:30-5:00 p.m., Room 2035 of the Campus Instructional Facility, 1405 W. Springfield Ave., Urbana.

The chancellor search webpage provides an additional avenue for your input to the committee. The portal will remain open through Wednesday, February 5.

Thank you for participation in this important process!

Casting Call TODAY!

Casting call for UIUC’s contributions to the medieval York Cycle at the University of Toronto on June 7th. Open to students, faculty, and staff. NO PRIOR ACTING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

Auditions will be Friday, January 31 & Saturday, February 1 from 3:00-6:00 pm at 1101 S. Wright Street (lower level of Canterbury House, the Episcopal Church Foundation at UIUC): producer & director Carol Symes (Director of the Program in Medieval Studies) will hold auditions for UIUC’s medieval acting troupe: members of our campus community who will rehearse and perform two of the 48 pageants that make up the Corpus Christi Cycle performed annually in the English city of York from the 13^th to the 16^th centuries — staging Christian history from Creation to the Last Judgment over the course of one long summer day, beginning at dawn and ending at midnight. To learn more, click here.  To sign up for an audition slot, click here.

Those chosen to perform will rehearse over the course of the Spring semester and will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Toronto from June 5-9, 2025. Rehearsals will be held weekly on Friday and/or Saturday afternoons throughout the semester. All performers will need a valid passport and must be eligible for travel to Canada. 

Gilman Scholarship Information Sessions & Workshop TODAY!

Are you a Pell grant recipient who wants to study abroad or do an international internship? If so, the Gilman Scholarship is for you!

Eligibility
Freshmen through Seniors who are U.S. citizens or nationals, Pell grant recipients, in good academic standing, and will be participating in a credit-bearing study abroad program or international internship are eligible to apply. 

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship provides enrolled students, who are Pell grant recipients, up to $5,000 for either study abroad or an internship abroad. If you plan to study a language critical to U.S. national security while abroad, you can apply for an additional $3,000. If you plan to conduct STEM-related research while studying abroad, you can apply for an additional $1,000.   

Get tips about applying from recent Illinois Gilman Scholars.

The national deadline is March 6, 2025.

Application Preparation
If you are interested in applying, please attend our informational sessions:   

ONLINE Gilman Scholarship Information Session
Friday, January 31, 2025, 9:00-10:100 am
Register in advance for this Zoom session.

IN-PERSON Gilman Scholarship Workshop
Friday, January 31, 2025, 3:00-4:00 pm
514 Illini Union Bookstore Building, Floor 5

For more information, contact the scholarships office at topscholars@illinois.edu or visit our website at www.topscholars.illinois.edu 

LAS Career Events

• Career Lab: How to Talk to Strangers, February 4, 3- 5 pm in 105 Greg. Our first Career Lab will help prepare you for the many contexts that require talking to strangers. Get tips, advice, and opportunities to practice in a low-stakes and friendly social setting.
• Arts & Culture Virtual Employer Panel, February 13 at noon-1:30 (virtual). Come to gain invaluable insights and guidance directly from accomplished industry leaders. You hear firsthand about diverse career paths within the arts and culture sector, discover key trends shaping the industry, and receive practical advice on how to kickstart and navigate a creative journey. Plus, employers will share available opportunities, providing students with a direct link to potential career paths and openings in the vibrant world of arts and culture.
• Career Lab: Internships. February 18 at 12:30-2:30 in 105 Greg. Prepare to find and apply for summer internships at this interactive workshop. Get help clarifying your search, finding opportunities that fit your interests, and preparing effective application materials. Learn how the Illini Career and Internship Fair (Feb. 27!) can help you find opportunities and get your resume reviewed. Bring your laptop! We will provide a light lunch for those who attend. Register in Handshake. 

LAS/ENG Undergraduate Research Opportunities Fair

Voyager Scholarship

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 February 27, 2025, at 12:00pm (noon). 
The final submittal deadline is in March 2025 (exact date TBA). 

For more information, contact the scholarships office at topscholars@illinois.edu or visit our website at www.topscholars.illinois.edu 

Community-Academic Scholars

The Community-Academic Scholars (CAS) program is a 10-week summer research experience that empowers undergraduates in all majors to address critical issues in the local community. Scholars work with an Illinois researcher and a community organization on a research project designed to directly benefit the community members served by the partner organization. Review the project descriptions and the scholar’s role within each project to find projects that best match your strengths and background. Apply by Feb. 6. 

Freshman Poetry Scholarship (deadline Feb 7)

Submissions are being accepted for the 2024-2025 Kevin T. Early Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible from an endowment by William and Donna Early in memory of their son, a poet, Kevin T. Early. It awards $2000 to a student with freshman standing at UIUC for the 2024-2025 school year. The deadline for application is Friday, February 7, 2025. 

For consideration, students must submit 5 poems via email to John Dudek at jdudek4@illinois.edu. The complete submission should not exceed 5 pages (so 1 poem to a page). Submissions should be attached to the email as .docx (Word) files.

The subject line of the email should read: “EARLY PRIZE SUBMISSION: Last name.”

The body of the email should include the student’s name, address, phone number, e-mail, UIN, and the titles of the poems. The name should not appear on the entry file itself.

If you have any questions, please email jdudek4@illinois.edu.

Preview of Spring 2025 Creative Writing Events

We’ll advertise these individually as they approach (with location info) but now would be a great time to get them all in your calendar.

Book Release Reading by David Wright Faladé and Chris Kempf
Thursday, February 6, 2025 | 6:00

Carr Visiting Author series: Illinois Alumni reading
Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 4:30

Kaplan Family Writer in Residence: Jonas Hassen Khemiri
Thursday, March 6, 2025 | 4:30

Carr Visiting Author Series: Dante Micheaux
Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 4:30

Poetry Reading by Janice Harrington and Angie Estes
Thursday, April 17, 2025 | 6:00

Yard Show: Black Life, Prairies, and Place Making In the Midwest.
Reading and performance featuring Janice N. Harrington and Chip McNeill
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | 4:30

MFA Public Reading
Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 1:00

Upcoming Event- Critical Adoption Studies: On Language & Literature

Submit to Montage (deadline Feb 14)

Montage publishes work by undergraduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is now accepting submissions through (tentative date) February 14, 2025.

See this page for more details or email montagejournal@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

SCI-LSAMP Open Application

The Southern and Central Illinois Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (SCI-LSAMP) is accepting applications for its summer program. This NSF-funded program aims to support students from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups pursuing STEM degrees. The application deadline is February 17, 2025, and can be accessed here: https://lsamp.illinois.edu.

Research Workshops

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) announces its Spring 2025 workshop calendar. We are offering a variety of workshops to support you regardless of where you are in your research journey. Information for each workshop, including how you can register, can be found on our website . For all workshops, 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.

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The URS is the signature event of Undergraduate Research Week (April 20 – 26), which brings together students, faculty, and staff from all disciplines on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, as well as the public, to learn more about undergraduate research and its potential to change the world. Throughout the day, students will present their oral and poster presentations, creative performances, and interactive exhibits to members of the campus and local community.

• When: Thursday, April 24, 2025
• Where: Illini Union (A, B, C, South Lounge, and the 2nd Floor)
• Application Deadline: Friday, March 7, 2025 at 11:59 pm

Visit the URS webpage for more information, including answers to frequently asked questions.

Applications are currently being accepted. The deadline for applying to the URS is Friday, March 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm and no late submissions will be accepted. Please note, your presentation is not expected to be complete by the application deadline. On the application, you will only be asked to provide a tentative title that can be revised until March 19 and an abstract which will be used internally by OUR to create and organize thematic sessions. Your abstract will not be published or viewed by anyone other than OUR.

Summer Institute for Languages of the Muslim World

Session includes
• Arabic, Persian, Swahili, Turkish, and Wolof courses
• Small class sizes and dedicated faculty and staff
• Immersive experience, complete with instruction
• Cultural activities, opportunities for language practice, conversation tables,
cooking classes, movie nights, and more!

Program registration timeline
April 24th – May 12th, 2025

APPLY AND EARN UP TO 10 CREDITS!

For more information contact silmw@illinois.edu

ATLAS Internships Still Available for SP25!

Tuesday @7 Workshops with the Counseling Center

Confidential Advising Resources

The Women’s Resources Center (WRC) is the designated confidential campus resource related to sexual assault/rape, sexual harassment, stalking and abuse within a relationship (sometimes called dating or domestic violence). That means when we talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, we make sure you get what you need and on your terms! There are several Confidential Advisors at the WRC who can provide you – or someone looking to support you – with support and advocacy services.

Follow the department on social media!

Important Dates and Deadlines

• Nov 15: Deadline to DROP a POTB course

Registration Advising

Time tickets are now visible in Self Service, and registration has begun (see your time ticket for individualized registration date). We encourage all students to check in with an advisor before signing up for classes (first-year students are required to meet with us). We do not schedule via email; please call the office at 217-333-4346 to make an appointment.

To help you prepare, we have the SP25 “cheat sheet” available on the Planning Coursework page(You will need an Illinois Box account to view the document). This tells you which courses will fall into which categories within the various majors/concentrations (period categories, topical clusters, etc.) in the spring.

As a reminder, if you want to take an English honors seminar (ENGL 396) you must email Nancy Rahn at nrahn@illinois.edu to request permission. Please be sure to include your name and UIN, and the CRN and topic of the course you want to take. Once Nancy contacts you to let you know you have permission to take the course you will be able to add it to your spring schedule. Act now, before the classes fill up, particularly if you are getting close to graduation!

Undergraduate Research Ambassador Program DEADLINE MONDAY!

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. If you have participated in a research project, be it through coursework, assisting faculty, research staff, or graduate students, or conducting a project of your own, we invite you to apply to become an Illinois Undergraduate Research Ambassador (IURA) and help other students along their research journeys.  We are particularly interested in adding students in the humanities & arts to our team of ambassadors. 

This application is for ambassador positions beginning Spring 2025, with the intent that selected candidates can and will continue into the following Fall 2025/Spring 2026 academic year. Students will be expected to work 30 hours per semester and will be paid a stipend of $450 per semester.  

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 Monday, November 18, 2024, at 11:59pm. 

Present at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium

Click the image below for more information!

Critical Language Scholarships Deadline Approaching!

The Critical Language Scholarship, provided by the U.S. Department of State, is a fully-funded, intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for undergraduate and graduate students.  A list of eligible languages is available here. CLS institutes are 8 to 10 weeks in length, are held over the summer, and cover one academic year of university-level language coursework. CLS Institutes include cultural programming, local language partners, and in-country excursions. Participants receive academic credit at their U.S. institutions. The national deadline is November 19, 2024, at 7:00 pm (CST).

Undergraduate Scholarships Informational Meeting

***Due to increased demand, and faculty schedules, the English department is moving up our undergraduate scholarship application process to the start of the Spring semester.

I’m therefore writing to invite you to an informational meeting on applying for our scholarships that will happen next week, in preparation for the first stage of the application process, which will be due at the start of the Spring semester. The meeting will explain the application materials and process, along with due dates.

WHAT: Applying for English Undergraduate Scholarships

WHEN: Wednesday, November 20 at 5:00pm

WHERE: Zoom. You’ll have to sign in to join. For the link and password, see below

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.

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

If you have any questions–or can’t make the meeting time–just email me.

Best,

Catharine

Catharine Gray is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Scholarship Application Process
Time: Nov 20, 2024 05:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 849 7758 0722
Password: 892902

VOICE: Graduate Student Reading

WHAT: A reading by Master of Fine Arts Candidates in Creative Writing.

WHERE: Gallery Art Bar: 119 W Main St, Urbana, IL 61801

WHEN: NOV. 19 AT 7:00PM

ESA Upcoming Event

Gillen Wood Lecture

The Animal Turn Research Cluster presents:

“Brooch Clams & Hairy Mussels”
A Public Talk on New Work
Professor Gillen D’Arcy Wood
Wednesday November 20, 4pm
107 Gregory Hall

Abstract:
This lecture recreates the visit of HMS Challenger, the pioneering oceanographic expedition, to Sydney Harbour in 1874. In colonial Australia, the Challenger naturalists encountered the molluscan legacies of recently displaced First Nation peoples, and an estuarine ecology already seriously damaged by oyster harvesting. Victorian-era Sydney offers a case study in early industrial marine exploitation and also “shifting baseline syndrome,” where lost species and their habitats are rapidly erased from cultural memory. Only recovered consciousness of these losses can open the possibility for real-world, biophysical restoration.

Student Internship Opportunity

Student Intern – Survey Data Analysis and Report Writing
Position Type: Part-time Internship (10-15 hours per week) $15 per hour

Job Description:
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Student Intern to assist with analyzing and crafting summaries from survey data. This position requires a student who can effectively distill and communicate insights derived from qualitative data. The ideal candidate has strong written communication skills, an ability to synthesize information for a quick and accurate understanding of survey topics, and is comfortable working in an office environment.

Key Responsibilities:
-Review and analyze survey comments to extract key themes and insights.
-Craft concise, well-written summaries and reports that accurately reflect survey findings.
-Collaborate with the team to ensure accuracy and clarity in all written content.
-Work in qualitative analysis software (such as ATLAS.ti) to organize and code survey data as needed.
-Assist in compiling data and insights into clear, structured reports, incorporating visual elements where appropriate.

To apply, fill out an application. 

Please register in advance for this event.

Pre-Law Resources

Reminder! Submit to Montage

Montage publishes work by undergraduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is now accepting submissions through (tentative date) February 14, 2025.

See this page for more details or email montagejournal@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

FLAS Fellowships: Attend an Info Session Nov. 19

Courses of Interest in SP25

Don’t Forget These!

University of Minnesota PhD Program Info

Greetings from the English Department of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities:

U of M offers six years of funding through a combination of teaching and fellowships for all PhD candidates. For the academic year 2025-2026, we look forward to admitting a cohort of five students, and would be especially delighted to admit an applicant interested in studying pre-1800 Anglophone literatures. For more information on our program, including faculty specialties, past course offerings, and how our professors contribute to the field, please visit our website and feel free to reach out to me if you or your students have any questions.

The University of Minnesota also offers many cross-disciplinary opportunities for students and faculty, such as the Institute for Advanced Study, Center for Premodern Studies, The Institute on the Environment, and The Center for Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender, and Sexuality. Our libraries are home to archival holdings such as the Givens Collection, James Ford Bell Library, and the Upper Midwest Literary Archives. The Twin Cities is a vibrant, urban setting with rich literary and cultural scenes, including a variety of independent presses, world renown theaters, and music organizations.

New First Gen Undergraduate Research Opportunity for Spring 2025

The First-Gen Scholars Research Program (FSRP) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers first-generation college students eligible for federal work-study the opportunity to participate in meaningful and high-impact research. The FSRP allows students to explore the culture and process of research and gain hands-on experience while building on their existing abilities within a supportive community of scholars. Accepted applicants will be matched with one of our experienced faculty mentors – many of whom were First Generation college students. Full details along with faculty profiles can be found online at: https://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/programs/first-gen-scholars-research.html

ATLAS Internships–Application portal for SP25 OPEN NOW!

Upcoming Pre-Law Programs

All upcoming events can be found our PLAS Events calendar. 

Need Help With Research?

Peer Mentors are in the Hub!

With the return of the Peer Mentors in the Hub, here are a few reasons to head to the Hub in Lincoln Hall (Tues, Weds, Thurs from 10- 3):

• building a resume from scratch or a quick look before a career fair
• connecting to research around campus
• learning how to gain some other experience to gain insights about your skills and preferences for future jobs
• finding that RSO or other group that are around to join
• Career Services has special drop-in times on Tues, Weds (10-noon)

Confidential Advising Resources

The Women’s Resources Center (WRC) is the designated confidential campus resource related to sexual assault/rape, sexual harassment, stalking and abuse within a relationship (sometimes called dating or domestic violence). That means when we talk with students, staff, and faculty who have experienced harm, we make sure you get what you need and on your terms! There are several Confidential Advisors at the WRC who can provide you – or someone looking to support you – with support and advocacy services.

Undergraduate Research Workshops

Check out workshops offered by the Office of Undergraduate Research. You’ll find a list here with schedules and registration links (space is limited)!