Guide to Graduate Life
at Illinois
The Graduate College
The Graduate College (second and third floors of Coble Hall, 801 S. Wright, C, 333-0035) has oversight responsibilities for about 9,000 students pursuing degrees in over 100 masters and doctoral programs in more than a dozen academic colleges, schools, and institutes. The College works closely with individual graduate students, with graduate faculty, with graduate program administrative staff, with the academic colleges, with the campus administration, with the Office of Admissions and Records, with many Student Affairs units, and with graduate student representatives on various college and campus committees to address a wide range of issues basic to graduate education at Illinois. More detailed information about these services is online at www.grad.uiuc.edu, and the following list provides a brief overview. The Graduate College participates in a myriad of aspects of graduate education. We invite you to call on the Graduate College staff whenever you believe that we may make your graduate education more rewarding.
Administrative Requests
The Graduate College handles many administrative matters beyond those at a department level, such as admissions, petitions, preliminary examination committees and final examination committees, as well as applications for programs such as the CIC Traveling Scholar program. Policies and forms for administrative requests handled by the Graduate College are available online at www.grad.uiuc.edu.
Career Planning and Professional Development
The Graduate College Career Services Office (GCCSO) assists University of Illinois graduate students with decision making and planning for career paths, both within and beyond the academy. The Office is a centralized resource for graduate students from all disciplines, with services focused especially on the needs of graduate students in the humanities, social sciences, fine arts, and other areas in which students are not presently served by dedicated, discipline-based career services offices. GCCSO staff provide advising, special programs, resources, and referrals to help students with career choices and with the job search itself.
The GCCSO Web site, www.grad.uiuc.edu/careerservices/, provides information about CVs and résumés, interviewing, the academic and nonacademic job search processes, and negotiating job offers. In addition, GCCSO staff present workshops for graduate students each semester on many career topics. See the Calendar of Events for the most up-to-date workshop schedule. All GCCSO workshops are free, although some require advance online registration. GCCSO staff also meet with students individually to provide resume/CV advice and discuss career options. To make an appointment with an adviser, contact the GCCSO at GradCareerServices@uiuc.edu or call 333-4610. Walk-in hours are also available and are posted on the GCCSO Web site.
Fellowships and Financial Assistance
The Graduate College Fellowship Office provides administrative assistance related to graduate fellowships. Each year the Graduate College administers approximately 1,200 fellowship appointments awarded by federal agencies, academic departments, the Graduate College, and other resources. A list of fellowship opportunities for University of Illinois graduate students is online at https://www.grad.uiuc.edu/fellowship/. The Graduate College General Affairs Office also administers conference travel grants for students who will be presenting papers, posters, or creative work at professional conferences.
Educational Equity Programs
The Educational Equity Programs Office helps recruit and retain graduate students from populations that are underrepresented on our campus, in part by participating in a number of recruiting activities across the nation. Once students are admitted to the University, the Office continues to play an important role in their graduate study. For example, the Office is an active participant in the selection of recipients of fellowship awards such as the Graduate College Fellowships, the Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Program, and the Illinois Committee on Educational Opportunity Program. In addition, the office provides assistance to students who seek external fellowship and scholarship support.
The Education Equity Programs Office works with a variety of University organizations, including the Counseling Center, the Black Graduate Student Association, the Native American Student Organization, the Latino Graduate Student Association, La Casa Cultural Latina, the Afro-American Studies and Research Program, and the African American Cultural Program. For more information, call 333-4860 or visit their Web site at www.grad.uiuc.edu/eep/.
Graduate and Professional Admissions and Academic Support Unit (GPASU)
The Graduate and Professional Admissions and Academic Support Unit of the Graduate College is the official admitting office for the University's graduate students. GPASU also provides services to campus academic and administrative offices, as well as to prospective and current graduate students. The Unit is housed on the third floor of Coble Hall, and inquiries can be directed to Room 309 Coble Hall, 801 S. Wright Street, C, 61820, (217) 244-4637, or gradadmissions@uiuc.edu. For more information about admissions procedures or the support functions of GPASU visit www.grad.uiuc.edu/admissions/.
Opportunities for Student Participation In Decision Making
In an effort to ensure graduate input in decision-making on campus, the Graduate College appoints graduate students to Graduate College committees and facilitates appointments of graduate students to campus-wide committees. If you are a student interested in possibly serving on a Graduate College committee, contact Mary Lowry at lowry@uiuc.edu to discover what opportunities are available.
Problem Solving
Students, faculty, and staff at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are a diverse group whose personalities, experiences, activities, and personal goals vary widely. The Graduate College staff are experienced in the types of conflicts and problems that can arise in this environment. Staff members are available to assist students with effective problem solving and to help students identify steps that may be taken to resolve problems without jeopardizing academic progress. To find out more about campus resources for problem solving and conflict resolution, see that section of this guide, and the Graduate College Handbook for Students, Faculty and Staff.
Publications
The Graduate College Handbook is your guidebook to University policy related to graduate studies. It explains what is expected and required of you to successfully complete your graduate degree. The Handbook contains policies for a wide range of academic and administrative procedures at the University, such as those concerning degree and registration requirements, preliminary and final examination committees, thesis deposit, assistantships, and waivers of tuition and select fees. The Handbook is available online at www.grad.uiuc.edu/gradhandbook/.
Grad Links is an electronic newsletter for graduate students distributed through the graduate office in your department. It is designed to help keep you informed of upcoming deadlines, events, and announcements pertinent to graduate study at the University. Past issues are archived at www.grad.uiuc.edu/pubs/gradlinks/.
The GCCSO electronic newsletter is a self-subscription bi-weekly newsletter distributed by the Graduate College Career Services Office that informs graduate students, faculty, and staff about upcoming events and workshops. The newsletter also provides links to interesting career-related articles and occasionally posts job openings and fellowships. To subscribe, go to www.grad.uiuc.edu/careerservices/newsletter/.
Thesis Preparation Consultation
All graduate students completing masters or doctoral theses at the University of Illinois must deposit their theses in the Graduate College Thesis Office. The Thesis Office assures that all requirements for deposit have been met and that a thesis meets the quality standards established by the Graduate College Executive Committee. Information about the Thesis Office, including checklists, formatting rules, and required forms, is available at www.grad.uiuc.edu/thesis/.
