blog posts Fighting Illini announce Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Jun 7, 2022 10:30 am The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics named 15 new members to the UI Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022, including athletes and coaches from 11 different teams. Illinois partners with Hope Chicago to support accessible education Jun 6, 2022 1:30 pm The partnership will support all incoming Hope Scholars to Illinois starting this fall, as well as future Hope Parent Scholars. Restaurants are bringing back dress codes. Are they outdated? Jun 3, 2022 1:45 pm Today (June 2) U of I professor Reuben May says dress codes set an expectation for how patrons will conduct themselves once they are inside. But he says dress codes have to be applied consistently - even for high-stature individuals. Interested in Illinois? Visit campus this summer Jun 3, 2022 1:30 pm The best way to know if a school is for you is simply by being there. Visit and find out for yourself what it’s like to be an Illini. Rooks receives College of Media Emerging Leader Award Jun 1, 2022 10:15 am Taylor Rooks, sports broadcaster at Bleacher Report, is known for her interviewing skills and for her ability to connect with athletes. This award honors her exemplary early career achievements and engagement with the college. Great timing, supercomputer upgrade lead to successful forecast of volcanic eruption Jun 3, 2022 1:15 pm Professor Patricia Gregg, research professor Seid Koric, and a former graduate student led a team that produced the fortuitous forecast of the 2018 Sierra Negra volcanic eruption five months before it occurred. Vet Med: Saving an endangered breed of donkey Jun 3, 2022 10:45 am Numbers of Baudet du Poitou donkeys have dwindled to only 300-400 worldwide. A breeding effort is underway at Illinois to expand their numbers and help save the breed from extinction. Photos by Michelle Hassel. Climate change creating more destructive hurricanes - and it will only get worse Jun 2, 2022 12:45 pm Time (New York City, June 2) In Florida that means rising insurance costs. 'There is a price to be paid for living in what is arguably the most vulnerable natural disaster location in the U.S.,' says Lynne McChristian, a U of I risk management expert. Lake Michigan water-level rise affects inland waterways, study finds May 31, 2022 10:15 am 2020 marked Lake Michigan’s highest water level in 120 years, and climate variance makes future water levels tough to predict. Coastal impacts are well-documented, but the effect on the area’s inland waterways has been poorly understood. U of I proposal chosen for USDA's 'Farm of the Future' Jun 2, 2022 9:00 am As the USDA's only 'Farm of the Future' nationwide, 'All eyes will be on this project as we lay the foundations for the future of agriculture,' says U of I's Vikram Adve. 'This grant is a major endorsement of our growing strengths in digital ag.' Matthew Mayer joins Illini Basketball Jun 2, 2022 9:00 am Mayer was sixth man on Baylor's 2021 NCAA Championship team and helped them to back-to-back Big 12 titles. 'We are thrilled to add one of the most versatile players in college basketball to the Illini family in Matthew Mayer,' Coach Underwood said. Beckman professor elected to European Academy of Sciences & Arts May 24, 2022 11:00 am Martin Ostoja-Starzewski was nominated by colleagues in Europe on the basis of his scholarship, editorial activities, and collaboration with European institutions and European centers of scholarship. Study finds producers, consumers must share burden of global plastic pollution May 26, 2022 11:15 am A new study by an international team of researchers explores the global patterns of plastic packaging waste. The study finds three countries – the U.S., Brazil, and China – are the top suppliers of waste. Generating the disruptive ideas needed to achieve sustainable flight by 2050 Jun 1, 2022 1:00 pm A U of I study considers the aircraft configuration needed to support a liquid hydrogen/fuel cell electric propulsion system in a single-aisle, transport-class aircraft having the consistent performance capability of a Boeing 737-800. Fulmer selected dean of Labor & Employment Relations Jun 1, 2022 9:00 am Ingrid S. Fulmer will be the next dean of the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the U of I, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. The appointment takes effect July 1. Campus honors four more with awards for excellence in faculty leadership May 27, 2022 12:15 pm The Office of the Provost sponsors the campus-level awards in recognition of faculty members who distinguish themselves in their vision of the future and their efforts to enable and promote others in shaping that future. State task force urges government, businesses to unite behind ‘quality jobs’ May 31, 2022 12:00 pm Chicago Sun-Times (May 31) 'The state can be a partner either by mandating certain practices or providing other forms of incentives,' such as 'portable' benefits that carryover from job to job, and subsidizing commuting costs, says labor expert Bob Bruno. Olivia Howell qualifies for NCAA Championships for second-straight season May 31, 2022 10:30 am Illini women's track and field junior Olivia Howell will make her second-straight trip to the NCAA Championships after qualifying for the women's 1500m on Saturday night at the 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor West Prelims. U of I's Agronomy Day growing to include pop-up events and more May 25, 2022 11:45 am In its 65th year, Illinois’ 'Agronomy Day' is a day no more. Instead, College of ACES will host a series of events all season long, including traditional field days as well as new pop-up tailgate events and shade tree talks. U of I earns fifth consecutive STARS Gold rating for sustainability May 27, 2022 3:15 pm New solar and geothermal energy projects, reduced water use, and wide-ranging sustainability research helped Illinois earn its fifth consecutive Gold certification from the nation’s most comprehensive sustainability rating system. NCSA names May grad winner of 2022 Fiddler Innovation Fellowship May 25, 2022 12:00 pm Gabe Tavas is the latest recipient of the $10,000 Fiddler Innovation Fellowship for developing a sustainable wood alternative to combat deforestation. Tavas graduated this spring with a degree in Sustainable Design. From indifference to acceptance: The evolution of the NCAA’s views toward Title IX May 27, 2022 11:00 am During its vigorous, sometimes contentious battle with the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, the NCAA dramatically shift in its stance toward the 1972 Title IX legislation between its annual conventions of 1979 and 1981. Considering a nation without Roe v. Wade May 24, 2022 9:30 am How other nations deal with abortion reveals what the U.S. might face in the near future, and U of I sociologist Cynthia Buckley says the U.S. is not prepared to deal with a likely increase of unwanted and unplanned births. Black-hole image shedding light on Milky Way mysteries May 26, 2022 10:15 am Nature (May 25) Scientists want to confirm the clockwise rotation of an accretion disk they've observed. 'The new observations...may have enough information...if we can make a movie and see structures rotating,' says U of I's Charles Gammie. U of I team develops automated platform for plasmid production May 16, 2022 2:45 pm These small, circular DNA molecules are well known for their applications in the production of therapeutic proteins like insulin, but designing and constructing them has been one of the most time-consuming, labor-intensive steps in biology research. Illini Baseball kicks off Big Ten Tournament against Michigan Thursday May 25, 2022 10:45 am The Illinois travel to Omaha, Nebraska, for the 2022 Big Ten Baseball Tournament at Charles Schwab Field. Illinois is making its 24th Big Ten Tournament appearance and looks for its fifth tournament title (1989, 1990, 2000, 2011). Chicago soil can contain high levels of lead and other heavy metals May 25, 2022 10:15 am WBEZ-FM (Chicago, May 24) U of I Crop sciences professor Andrew Margenot's study found that 20% of the city exceeds the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s safe limit of 400 ppm for growing crops and backyard gardens. Three awarded Boren Scholarships for international language study May 19, 2022 10:00 am The National Security Education Program selects students to add international and language components to their education by studying overseas in world regions critical to U.S. interests. Students develop wearable ultrasonic scanner for improved ‘sight’ May 18, 2022 9:30 am The Carle Illinois College of Medicine student team's handheld device uses ultrasound technology to allow people with poor vision to comprehensively scan their environment for obstacles to avoid hazards. Denial of institutional racism linked to anti-Black prejudice, U of I study says May 24, 2022 11:00 am UPI (May 23) 'The denial of structural racism appears to be a big barrier to racial equity because it allows for more victim-blaming explanations of systemic inequality,' says doctoral student, study leader Jacqueline Yi. Grilling and BBQ Science class: Making meat more than a meal May 18, 2022 8:00 am A driven undergraduate student, Jenna Spangler, tackles pork loin and fruit in ANSC 210 - Grilling and BBQ Science - at Illinois. New census figures: Illinois’ population actually gained. Experts say warning signs remain May 23, 2022 2:00 pm Chicago Tribune (May 23) Follow-up survey shows Illinois’ population was likely undercounted in 2020 census that cost it a congressional seat. 'Our problem is we are not growing as fast as places like Florida and Texas,' says U of I's Cynthia Buckley. U of I is a top producer of Fulbright U.S. scholars May 23, 2022 2:30 pm Twelve scholars from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign were awarded Fulbright awards for 2021-2022 — making the university the top doctoral degree-granting institution in terms of numbers of scholars offered grants. Illinois earns four seed in Big Ten Tournament May 23, 2022 8:45 am The Fighting Illini baseball team is the No. 4 seed in the upcoming B1G tournament in Omaha (May 25-29), will play No. 5-seeded Michigan on Wednesday night in its first-round matchup at Charles Schwab Field. Researcher: Women rarely prosecuted for abortions prior to 1973. U of I's Regan disagrees. May 20, 2022 11:00 am Reuters (May 20) But U of I history professor Leslie Reagan says her research showed that women were often threatened by police, interrogated in hospitals and forced to testify about intimate personal details. 150,000-year-old human tooth rare evidence of Denisovans May 20, 2022 11:45 am If confirmed, this discovery would be the first fossil evidence that Denisovans — an extinct hominin species that co-existed with Neanderthals and modern humans — lived in southeast Asia. Illini bats erupt for 18 runs in dominant win at Penn State May 20, 2022 9:45 am Illinois scored 18 runs on 17 hits to take the series opener at Penn State on Thursday evening, 18-7. The Illini improve to 29-20 overall on the season and 15-7 in the Big Ten. U of I hosting 2022 NCAA Tennis Championships May 19, 2022 10:45 am The NCAA Championships will take place at Illinois from May 19-28, with the team championship taking place on May 19-22 and individual bracket play taking place May 23-28. Study tests rotary blade designs in quest for quieter copters, drones May 18, 2022 11:15 am Researchers at Illinois are testing the limits of rotary blade design to find an efficient, but quieter option for helicopters and drones. Noise is one of the key bottlenecks for the urban air mobility market. Tooth of an ancient girl fills gap in human family tree May 18, 2022 10:15 am New York Times (May 17) 'We knew that Denisovans should be here,' said Laura Shackelford, a U of I paleoanthropologist and a co-author of the new study. 'It’s nice to have some tangible evidence of their existence in this area.' Expert: Secure Act regulations seek to dispel 'illusion of wealth' for older adults May 12, 2022 9:45 am New disclosures on quarterly retirement account statements may alarm some workers who could find their projected monthly retirement income to be 'seriously deficient,' says law professor and tax policy expert Richard L. Kaplan. William Trent wins Spencer Foundation Mentorship Award May 11, 2022 10:30 am 'We wanted to tell the story of his mentorship from his students’ perspective... We each had our own personal story of how Dr. Trent had affected us as humans and scholars, and when we shared our stories his cumulative impact was clear.' Online M.B.A.s overtake residential programs May 17, 2022 2:30 pm Inside Higher Ed (May 17) U of I was an early adopter of the online model. 'The traditional MBA market is extremely competitive, particularly for public institutions,' says Brooke Elliott, who helped launch the iMBA program in 2016. Alum Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET, to keynote Title IX summit May 17, 2022 9:45 am 'Sheila has been a pioneer in every sense of the word, breaking new ground throughout the course of her life in education, media, business, and sports,' said DIA Director Josh Whitman. 'Sheila has always been a proud Illini...' Student expenditures decrease at some colleges that receive promise scholarship funds May 17, 2022 9:15 am 'We looked at the alignment between promise program money coming into postsecondary institutions and whether institutions spent it in ways that benefited students... In some ways these were aligned, in other ways they were not.' Long-term study of pregnant women finds increasing chemical exposure May 11, 2022 10:45 am A national, long-term study that enrolled a highly diverse group of pregnant women found rising exposure to chemicals from plastics and pesticides that may be harmful to development. Could wheat’s worst enemy be eliminated in the next few decades? May 16, 2022 11:30 am Illinois Farmer Today (May 13) 'By the time I retire, we should be at the point where almost all the varieties will have pretty good resistance by default,' says U. of I. crop sciences professor Jessica Rutkoski. Fighting white-nose syndrome in bats benefits agriculture, study shows May 16, 2022 9:45 am 'Lost bat populations have harmful ripple effects on food and agriculture,' says Professor Amy Ando,. 'Crop yields fall and input costs rise as farmers try to compensate for the services bats usually provide.' Illini walk-off Nebraska on Senior Day in wild finish May 16, 2022 9:30 am The Illini came back from a four-run deficit to take the final game of the series against Nebraska, 5-4. Justin Janas singled home Branden Comia in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Illinois the series win. Congratulations! May 11, 2022 10:15 am This linked page includes the complete Commencement program, links to the livestream of the ceremony, and much more.