Colleagues,
Across the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, our colleges and units are building meaningful connections throughout Chicago through academic programs, research, workforce development, industry and community partnerships, student engagement, alumni relationships, and more. The recently announced Illinois Leads strategic plan calls for continuing to strengthen and grow our work in Chicago.
As we build our strategic presence at the Discovery Partners Institute and at Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, we would like to develop a clearer picture of what is already underway in Chicago from across our university. We are asking each of you to please complete a survey highlighting your college’s or unit’s key Chicago-based programs, partnerships, and activities currently underway or those that will commence soon.
This activity will help us recognize the breadth of our collective engagement, connect related efforts, and identify opportunities to collaborate.
The survey should take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete, and estimates are welcome when exact information is not readily available. Please feel free to forward to others in your units as well. We will share the collected data and analysis with all of you to support continued planning and collaboration.
Please submit by October 9, 2026.
START SURVEY
Thank you for sharing your work and helping us think more collectively about the university’s role and future in Chicago. We look forward to learning more and continuing the conversation.
Thank you,
Charles L. Isbell, Jr.
Chancellor
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Rashid Bashir
Vice Chancellor, Chicago Strategic Partnerships
Dean, Grainger College of Engineering
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign