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  • Illinois Cares: COVID-19 Support Program

    by Aaron SurrattApr 27, 2020 2:30 pm |  34  Views

    From the Office of the Dean of Students:

    We understand that some students and families will experience financial hardship associated with the impact of COVID-19.

    Spring 2020

    If the financial hardship is related to Spring 2020 enrollment, emergency grant funding may be available.

    • Student Emergency Grant funds of up to $1,000 may be available to students experiencing a COVID-19-related financial hardship due to unexpected expenses, loss of off-campus employment, out-of-pocket medical expenses, technology needs, living expenses or other basic needs. Amounts in excess of $1,000 may be considered in extraordinary situations.
    • All students are eligible to be considered for these funds including those who have not previously received financial aid.
    • Other agencies, including some colleges/departments, are also providing emergency aid to students and families. Students should only be receiving emergency funding from one source.
    • Undergraduate students should complete the Undergraduate COVID-19 Emergency Grant Application.
    • Emergency Grant aid will be awarded in accordance with federal, state and institutional rules and regulations. Please note that students may be asked to provide documentation of their situation.
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  • Active Minds Survey

    by Aaron SurrattApr 27, 2020 2:30 pm |  110  Views

    Hello, I am Alissa Tomanek, a junior here at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, majoring in Clinical Psychology. I am also a part of a mental health organization here at UIUC called Active Minds. 

    Active Minds is a national organization with over 500 chapters across the US. Active Minds UIUC's mission to create a better campus by bettering the students' mental health. Our main goals are to change the conversation about mental health and advocate for the students' mental health needs. We've been able to accomplish these missions by working with the school and the dean of student affairs (Stephen Bryan) to discuss the current climate of mental health on campus. We also have many successful initiatives such as the iCard initiative, whose purpose is to print the Suicide LifeLine on the back of all the students iCards. We have also worked hard on a syllabus requirement that would have all the mental health resources on every student's course syllabi.

    Right now, we are working hard to understand what mental health resources are most beneficial to the student body, and if there is a need for some changes to those resources. Right now, I am emailing on behalf of Active Minds UIUC to ask you if you would send out this mental health survey to all the students within your department. We want to have a better understanding of how students feel about the current climate of mental health on campus. 

    I have linked the URL to this survey below and hope that you will support our mission to better the students', at UIUC, mental health. 

    bit.ly/activemindssurvey  

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  • Virtual Poverty Discussion Series

    by Aaron SurrattApr 27, 2020 1:30 pm |  103  Views

    Virtual Poverty Discussion Series presented by the School of Social Work and Office of  the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

    Session I, May 1, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    Presenter: Dr. Marguerite Teran-Garcia
    Topic: Health Equity and Food Insecurity

    Overview: This session will provide an overview of the concepts of food deserts and their impact on health and well-being outcomes.  Also, to be addressed is how food insecurity influences chronic disease, health conditions and behaviors; along with the introduction of a multi-pronged strategy to defy food insecurity.

    Session II, May  8, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    Presenter: SSW Learning Lab Community Partners
    Topic: Community Organizations' Response to Poverty During COVID-19

    Overview: This session will allow participants to learn about the purpose and needs of various non-profit organizations and how to get involved.

    Session III, May 15, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    Presenter: Dr. Ruby Mendenhall
    Topic: Factors That Create Systematic Impact on Individuals of Color Health and Community

    Overview: Participants will learn about the impact of racism and other factors that affect health and wellness.  A review of coping mechanisms that allow individuals to be resilient will be discussed; along with an introduction to a local wellness center created to address these issues.  

    Registration: https://go.illinois.edu/virtual_poverty_series

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  • SKY Happiness Retreat

    by Aaron SurrattApr 22, 2020 9:15 am |  20  Views

    SKY Happiness Retreat is a total well-being training offered to thousands of university students, faculty, and staff across the country. Participants gain foundational stress-management and leadership skills, develop a personal evidence-based breathing and meditation practice, learn a short personal yoga practice, develop strategies for social connection and community building, and engage in peer-driven service initiatives. The SKY Happiness Retreat introduces SKY Meditation, an evidence-based meditation practice integrated with breath work that can significantly increase one's well-being and calmness, and significantly reduces anxiety and stress markers. The course features interactive group processes, experiential learning, emotional intelligence training, breath-work, yoga, evidence-based meditation, and service leadership. It's one of the coolest places to connect with yourself, make awesome friends, and, most importantly, have fun!

    We're happy to share that the SKY Happiness Retreat is offered with a full scholarship for UIUC students, staff, and faculty members. There are limited spots available for this retreat, and they are filling up fast. Availability is first-come-first-serve, by registration only and requires attendance to all sessions. Please contact skyatuiuc@gmail.com for any questions.


    Location    : Online via Zoom :)
    Timing:   -  April 24 (Fri): 6:00pm - 8:45 pm CST -  April 25 & 26 (Sat & Sun): 11:00 am - 1:45 pm CST
    Apply here:  bit.ly/skyhappinessuiuc

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  • 2020 Undergraduate Research Symposium is Going Virtual

    by Aaron SurrattApr 22, 2020 9:15 am |  47  Views

    We are happy to announce that the 2020 Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) is going virtual! The Office of Undergraduate Research has been working hard to make this happen, and we hope you will join us for what will still be an exciting and inspiring event, whilst in a different medium. Over 350 students will present their work in an asynchronous format, with the opportunity for viewers to engage in conversation with the presenters through a forum.

    The URS will be a multi-day event, running from Monday, April 27 through Friday, May 1. We will kick things off on the 27th at noon (CDT) with our live (Zoom) featured student presentations. [Zoom link: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/96284074411?pwd=L0ZiV1BaOFZiTDFDckt2T0pKdmxzQT09; Meeting ID: 962 8407 4411; Password: URS2020.] The Zoom link is also on the URS Compass2g site (see below on how to access).

    Accessing the 2020 Undergraduate Research Symposium

    Due to concerns surrounding an open access event, the Symposium is available only for those with a University of Illinois NetID. Campus community members wishing to view the Symposium will first need to enroll to view student presentations and interact with our presenters.

    Log into Compass2g. Go to: https://go.illinois.edu/URS_enroll and click the "down arrow" next to "provost_pvcaa_open_189752" and select "enroll". On the next page, hit “submit” and you will be enrolled. You should now be able to view the Symposium at: https://go.illinois.edu/URS2020

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  • Employment Opportunities at DRES

    by Aaron SurrattApr 21, 2020 3:15 pm |  55  Views

    Accessible Media Services (AMS) and the Testing Accommodation Center (TAC) within Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) are currently interviewing for student workers.

    If you are interested a position, please let us know. Job descriptions are attached.

    To be fully considered for a position, please submit this web form.

    When filling out the web form, note that interviews will take place on Zoom.  Please list a few times that you are available to come in as interviews will be filled in on a first come, first serve basis.

    Thank you,

    Ann Fredricksen and Tina Rolfe

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  • Submit your video to Illinifest Student Film Festival

    by Aaron SurrattApr 21, 2020 11:15 am |  1 View

    Illinifest Student Film Festival, hosted by the College of Media and MACS 464, is looking for student-made videos. Submit your short films, home movies made during quarantine, & TikTok videos by Friday, April 24. Videos can be submitted at https://illinifest.illinois.edu/submit/. The festival will be streamed at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, at https://illinifest.illinois.edu/. Prizes awarded for audience favorites. For more information, visit https://media.illinois.edu/illinifest2020.

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  • New for Fall 2020 SOCW 199: Technologies: Social Issues, Ethics and Design

    by Aaron SurrattApr 20, 2020 10:00 am |  52  Views

    Have you ever thought about how as technology advances, devices and services we use might have biases just like us? Have you ever wanted to explore how the technological design of things like phones, apps, or even systems like the criminal justice system, have been designed without thoughtful consideration of societal implications?

    If you have, then meet us at the intersection of humankind + technology as we investigate the history and policy of social sciences and technology, explore emerging technologies through an ethical lens, and be future oriented in ways we can develop, intervene, and create a just future for all through tech.

    Tues/Thurs: 2-3:20 PM Siebel Center for Design
    Instructor: Julie Munoz-Najar MSW, LSW, Clinical Assistant Professor

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  • HOPE Scholarship

    by Aaron SurrattApr 17, 2020 4:30 pm |  23  Views

    Last Spring, the student body voted to create the HOPE Fee to support students who do not qualify for federal financial aid. This year, the HOPE Department has been focusing on the creation of the HOPE Fee Scholarship. The HOPE Scholarship was designed to help undocumented, transgender, and students with minor convictions be equipped with the resources to pursue a higher education at Illinois. Each scholarship recipient may be awarded up to $10,000 in aid. The inaugural year for this scholarship's application period is currently open and closes Friday, May 1st. 

    This scholarship also includes an emergency fund for international students who have faced financial barriers to their education due to unforeseen circumstances. 

    Link to the application: https://go.illinois.edu/ISGscholarship

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  • Earth Day Short Films and Discussions

    by Aaron SurrattApr 13, 2020 2:15 pm |  4  Views

    4/15/20  

    Earth Day Resilience Short Film and Discussion Series: Women on a Mission 
    Time: 12-1 pm
    Facilitated by: Prof. Shanondora Billiot
    Location/URL: Join Zoom Meeting
    https://illinois.zoom.us/j/285580014
    Meeting ID: 285 580 014
    Meeting password: 004075

    This short film is about the Awajun women in the village of Shampuyacu, reviving their culture and restoring their forest after decades of destruction.

    This event is open to all.

    4/22/20  

    Earth Day Resilience Short Film and Discussion Series: Tupi: A Story of Indigenous Courage and Resolve
    Time: 12-1pm
    Facilitated by: Prof. Shanondora Billiot  
    Location/URL: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/348344291?pwd=Sit0bGhmanRDdmdidDJGNTl0Y050Zz09
    Meeting ID: 348 344 291
    Password: 025650

    This short film is about Tupí, an indigenous activist denouncing violence against women and fighting to protect human rights and the environment in her region.

    This event is open to all.

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