News Bureau

The Urbana-Champaign community will join the U. of I. campus community in January to celebrate the legacy of legendary civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

By 2018, after nearly five decades of using temporary campus facilities, the U. of I.'s Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center will finally have a permanent building of its own.

This year's winter session cohort reached 1,600 students after the number of courses offered was increased from eight to 17 because of last year's interest. The colleges offering winter session courses are Liberal Arts and Sciences, Business, Media and Applied Health Sciences.

Wencui Han is a new assistant professor in the department of business administration in the College of Business.

Campustown lights take on a holiday glow in this time-exposure photo at the intersection of Green and Wright streets. After a short break, business at the U. of I. will resume Jan. 4.  Students return for classes Jan. 19.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been named No. 11 of “The 25 Fittest U.S. Colleges in 2015” by The Active Times, a website that aims to be “the world's best source of authoritative, inspiring, enlightening content for living the active, adventurous life.”

The University of Illinois has received a $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to support economic revitalization in Illinois communities affected by reductions in federal military spending.

More than 3,000 U. of I. employees helped the Urbana-Champaign campus exceed the goals of the 2015 Campus Charitable Fund Drive, raising $1.32 million.

The campus Dial-A-Carol program broke its previous record by a long shot this holiday season, racking up an amazing 12,000 calls in seven days.

Marie Channell is a new assistant professor in the department of speech and hearing science in the College of Applied Health Sciences.

A new book looks at aspects of how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program affects health and well-being. “SNAP Matters” includes a chapter on obesity by University of Illinois economist Craig Gundersen, one of the book’s editors.

Light coats and fog have been mainstays on campus in December, and the unseasonably warm weather is not expected to go away anytime soon. According to preliminary data collected by the U. of I.'s Midwestern Regional Climate Center, this fall was the second warmest since 1895, when record keeping began. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said the Midwest would continue to see above-normal temperatures in December, January and February.

Photo by Joyce Seay-Knobloch

There are dangers lurking in every kitchen. But in Brian Jacobson's kitchen, they are bigger than most.

Simon Rogers is a new assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The Urbana Champaign Senate has nominated four men to receive honorary degrees at the May 2016 Commencement exercises.

The Urbana-Champaign Senate voiced its disapproval Dec. 7 for the university's new criminal background check policy, even as campus administrators continue their work to implement it.

A recent racially motivated incident aimed at U. of I. minority students is a reminder that racism continues to be a serious societal problem.

Two senate committees are suggesting changes to the university's new criminal background check policy, though a resolution to be presented to senators Dec. 7 calls for the policy to be scrapped altogether.

Olga Maslova is a new assistant professor of theatre in the College of Fine and Applied Arts

A trio of decorated trees greets visitors to Krannert Center for the Performing Arts near the entry to the Colwell Playhouse. Upcoming holiday events at Krannert Center include performances Dec. 3-6 of “The Nutcracker,” presented by the Champaign Urbana Ballet and the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra; “Sinfonia da Camera: Messiah and Mozart” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5; the “Annual Carol Concert” at 3 p.m. Dec. 6; and the “Winter Festival With Ginger and Spice, Harp Duo” at 4:10 p.m. Dec. 6.

Members of the University Statutes and Senate Procedures Committee will refine language on proposed rules changes aimed at more clearly delineating the lines of authority for hiring tenure system faculty members. 

A ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 19 commemorated the campus’ Solar Farm being connected to the university’s electrical distribution system a week earlier. The farm is expected to produce 7.86 million killowatt-hours per year or approximately 2 percent of the average electrical demand for the Urbana campus.

Kevin Leicht is a new professor and the head of the department of sociology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

U. of I. President Tim Killeen made a stop at the Urbana campus Nov. 18 during his three-campus town hall tour, engaging constituents and asking them to contribute to the 5- to 10-year university Strategic Plan.

Ginger Passalacqua works hard to make sure area veterinarians are getting the information they need to help make animals healthier and happier.

A graphic illustration of academic and civil service retirement by the numbers, from 2009 to 2015.

The Indian Graduate Students Association sponsored Diwali on the Quad on Nov. 13 as the kickoff for the celebration of the traditional Hindu “festival of lights.”

Rachel Magee is a new assistant professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is the second top destination for international students attending public universities in the United States, according to the annual Open Doors report, released Nov. 16 by the Institute of International Education. The report ranks Illinois as second in the nation for international students in 2014-15 (fifth when accounting for private schools) and ninth for students participating in study abroad programs in 2013-14. According to the report, there are more international students studying in the U.S. today than at any time in history.

All groundbreaking, earth-changing, multidisciplinary research has something in common: a starting point.

According to U. of I. President Tim Killeen, the U. of I. is at "risk of deterioration" unless the state finds a budget solution soon.

The settlement agreement between the University of Illinois and Steven Salaita was approved by the U. of I. Board of Trustees at its Nov. 12 meeting in Chicago.

Cadet Lt. Col. Erin O’Neil, the cadet battalion commander, stands at attention in front of a formation of cadets gathered during the U. of I.'s Tri-Service ROTC Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11 at the indoor track of the Armory building.

Campus leaders say administrative changes in the Center for Advanced Study would not affect academic programs or its mission.

The campus is starting to feel the pinch of the state budget impasse.

Bianca Da Costa Martins is a new assistant professor of ophthalmology in the department of veterinary clinical medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

A two-day Arts Exchange for the College of Fine and Applied Arts allowed FAA students to enroll in workshops to learn about other disciplines within the college, from hip-hop dance to stage lighting design to sustainable papermaking.

The effort to create awareness and learn more about sexual misconduct on campus is being expanded to include a campuswide student survey.

Some say a good elevator mechanic is not seen.

Ramón Soto-Crespo, an associate professor of English in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is among the new faculty members to be included in our New Faces feature.

The University of Illinois contributes $13.9 billion in annual income to the state’s economy – and a 19.3 percent return on the public’s investment – through spending by its campuses, employees and students and the increased earning power of its graduates, according to a new economic impact study released Oct. 21.

Recently retired and long-serving staff employees will be honored at the 2015 Staff Service Recognition Banquet Nov. 5 at the I Hotel and Conference Center. The program will honor 110 employees who retired between Sept. 1, 2014, and Aug. 31, 2015. In addition employess will be honored for service completed during that time.

The chancellor's search committee is nearly formed, with senators last week choosing seven members and selecting two faculty members for chairman consideration.

The university's top administrators covered a wide variety of topics at the Urbana-Champaign Senate-sponsored annual meeting of the faculty, held Oct. 26 in the Illini Union Ballroom.

Interim Chancellor Barbara J. Wilson said removing the U. of I. from the American Association of University Professors censure list continues to be a top concern on campus and a top priority of her administration.

Xin Liu, an assistant professor of astronomy in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is among the new faculty members to be included in our New Faces feature.

Issues related to Chief Illiniwek, the former university symbol, were discussed at the Urbana-Champaign Senate-sponsored annual meeting of the faculty Oct. 26.

Those who have seen sculptor Nnenna Okore’s work at Krannert Art Museum will be able to hear from the artist how she transforms materials and gallery spaces into works of art.

Stephen Long, a professor of plant biology, will deliver the lecture “Feeding and Fueling the World from Crops. Will it be possible by 2050?” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Knight Auditorium in Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana.

The newly expanded background check policy will be implemented by the Nov. 1 deadline, but suggested revisions for it won't be brought to the U. of I. Board of Trustees until January.