Many departments offer some type of orientation session or course for new graduate students. If offered, you should attend this event or course, to find out about departmental requirements in your program. Additionally, most departments have a graduate handbook that will describe requirements and expectations that you need to fulfill to complete your degree. These are commonly found on your departmental Web site. Each department also has a Director of Graduate Studies. This person is also a resource for questions related to your department and program of study. Other graduate students in your department can also be a resource, especially more senior students, who are progressing through their program and already know the climate and culture of your department.
In addition to being supervised by faculty in the department in which they teach, teaching assistants can obtain help from the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), a campus-wide service unit responsible for assisting faculty, academic units, and teaching assistants in improving instruction.
The staff work closely with colleges and departments but may also work solely with teaching assistants upon request. The staff also invite consultation and discussion on a wide variety of instructional issues including classroom pedagogy, classroom management, student achievement, assessment on issues related to instruction, teaching portfolios, academic integrity, creating an optimal learning environment, and active learning. The center coordinates the All-Campus Teaching Assistants (TA) and International Teaching Assistants (ITA) Orientations twice annually, the corresponding micro-teaching sessions, the follow-up workshops, informal early feedback for TAs during the semesters in which they teach, and the Graduate Teaching Certificate (GTC) and Advanced Graduate Teaching Certificate (AGTC) programs (see below). All of these activities and programs provide teaching assistants with many opportunities for follow-up consultation. The center also provides formal and informal programs and workshops on these and other topics for faculty, staff, and student groups.
In order to encourage graduate students to develop their teaching skills while simultaneously documenting their teaching experience, the University has created the Graduate Teacher Certificate (GTC) and the Advanced Graduate Teacher Certificate (AGTC) programs. These certificates provide documentation of a graduate student's involvement in teacher development and hands-on teaching activities such as instructional orientations, workshops, classroom teaching, and visitation or videotaping of the classroom teaching followed by consultative and student feedback. In addition, the graduate student provides a reflective analysis of the teaching experience. Further information and descriptions of the specific requirements for the GTC and the AGTC can be obtained from Instructional Development in the Center for Teaching Excellence at www.oir.uiuc.edu/.
The Committee on Institutional Cooperation at www.cic.uiuc.edu/ (CIC), a consortium of the Big Ten universities and the University of Chicago, has established the Traveling Scholar Program, www.cic.uiuc.edu/programs/TravelingScholars/, as part of its effort to increase cooperative use of the resources of its member institutions. The program enables a doctoral-level student to attend another CIC institution for a maximum of one year in order to take advantage of special course offerings, laboratory facilities, independent study with an expert in a particular field, or library collections that are not available on the student's own campus. Traveling Scholars register and pay fees as if they were in residence at their home universities. Some host universities may have additional special fees. Credit earned while in this program is automatically accepted by the Graduate College and is considered to carry "in residence" credit. Application forms are available from the Graduate College, 202 Coble Hall, 801 South Wright Street, C, IL 61820.
The procedure for applying to this program is as follows: The student's adviser discusses the proposed visit with a colleague at the host university, and both faculty members agree that the student is qualified to take advantage of the visit and that the work will be advantageous to the student's educational goals. The adviser should obtain course numbers and titles from the host university for the application at this time.
After the executive officer of the student's department approves the application, it should be forwarded to the Graduate College Traveling Scholar liaison officer.
When the liaison officer has approved the visit, the application is sent to the liaison officer of the host campus, who will obtain the signatures of the adviser and executive officer on that campus and approve and return the application to the student's home liaison officer.
The graduate student must register on the University of Illinois campus for CIC 500 for the term(s) for which he or she plans to be a Traveling Scholar. If the student wants to take the course work for Credit/No Credit, the appropriate paperwork must be completed on the home campus. The student must also keep in mind that a course taken for less than two quarter-hours cannot be transferred.
When the student has completed the courses at the host institution and grades have been assigned, the liaison at the host university will supply the liaison at the home university with transcripts from which the courses taken may be transferred to the student's transcript in place of the CIC 500 listing.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers a rich and diverse computing environment. Campus Information Technologies and Educational Services, found at www.cites.uiuc.edu/index.html (CITES) provides computing, networking, telephone, and instructional technology services in support of academic activities on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Computing services include Express Email, found at https://login.express.cites.uiuc.edu/, the campus e-mail system that can be used with a Web-based interface, and NetFiles, an online storage and Web publishing system. CITES supports the campus network, UIUCnet, which is available through Ethenet and dialup connections. There are many locations around campus to connect to UIUCnet Wireless. CITES EdTech offers courseware, training and consultation for those who want to incorporate computer and Web-based technologies into their teaching, while CITES ClassTech provides instructional media support.
More information about CITES services are available on the Web at www.cites.uiuc.edu. The CITES Help Desk is located at 1420 Digital Computer Laboratory, 1304 W. Springfield Ave., U, IL 61801 and is available by phone at 244-7000 or e-mail at consult@uiuc.edu.
International Programs and Studies (IPS) coordinates, promotes, and supports international activities on campus. Through its various units, IPS fosters the development of this international expertise by facilitating faculty and student research abroad, coordinating international exchanges, supporting scholarly activities on campus, and leading public engagement in international affairs. For more information about IPS, visit www.ips.uiuc.edu/.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers a number of opportunities for graduate students to pursue international studies and research, both on campus and abroad. Research opportunities are available through departments and several area centers and international units, such as Center for African Studies; Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies; European Union Center; Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies; Russian, East European and Eurasian Center; Program in South Asia and the Middle Eastern Studies; Arms Control, Disarmament and International Security; Women and Gender in Global Perspectives Program; Center for Global Studies, and Center for International Business Education and Research.
International Programs and Studies (IPS) provides several grants for graduate student research and study abroad, mostly from private donors. The Study Abroad Scholarship coordinator provides advising and support for students interested in national fellowships such as: SSRC's International Pre-dissertation Fellowship Program; Fulbright, Marshall, and Churchill Scholarships; and the Rhodes, Luce, and Jean Monnet programs.
For full information on these opportunities as well as other graduate study abroad programs and a wide range of courses and seminars in international studies, students should consult information available at the Office of International Programs and Studies (www.ips.uiuc.edu/), at various area centers listed above, as well as at the Study Abroad Office (www.studyabroad.uiuc.edu/). Students may search for curricula with overseas options at the Study Abroad Office Web site by clicking on 'programs'. Graduate students who plan to take courses overseas for which they wish to receive credit at Illinois should enroll in GC 499, Graduate Study Abroad, after obtaining approval from their departments. Prior to their return they should have a transcript sent to GPASU. A credit recommendation will be processed after receipt of the transcript, and credit or no-credit will be assigned for each transferred course.
The Office of Academic Human Resources, 807 S. Wright, Suite 420, C, 244-2400, administers the academic human resource program for faculty, academic professionals, academic and graduate hourly employees, and graduate students with assistantships. The Office provides a wide range of services. For more information, visit the Web at www.ahr.uiuc.edu/default.asp.
OAR is located at 901 W. Illinois, U, 333-0302. In addition to application information, OAR provides verification of enrollment to defer loan payments and supplies official University transcripts. Transcripts can be ordered online at www.oar.uiuc.edu.
Robert Henry Allerton donated his private estate, "The Farms" to the University of Illinois in 1946. The property, located just outside of Monticello, Illinois, consists of 1,500 acres of formal gardens, nature areas, and his manor house. The estate is used as a conservation area devoted to education, research, and recreation. You are welcome to visit Robert Allerton Park, www.allerton.uiuc.edu, which is open daily (except Christmas Day) from 8:00 a.m. to sunset.
The University of Illinois Alumni Association, www.uiaa.org/index.html, provides many resources for Illinois alumni.
Located at 1800 S. First, C, Assembly Hall, hosts a variety of events, including sports events, concerts, Broadway productions, marching band performances, conventions and craft shows. Call 333-2923 or visit www.uofiassemblyhall.com for more information.
Campus Conduct, www.provost.uiuc.edu/resources/campusconduct/ or 333-0033, is a University initiative designed to help foster a teaching, learning, and working environment that is free from unlawful and impermissible discrimination or harassment. Campus Conduct maintains an anonymous help line on its Web site to assist students, faculty and staff.
The Division of Campus Recreation oversees the many physical recreation facilities on campus, including the Intramural Physical Education Building (IMPE) at 201 E. Peabody, C, Campus Recreation Center East (CRCE) at 1102 W. Gregory, U, and the Ice Arena at 406 E. Armory, C, among others. Registration for more than 5 credit hours provides free access to these facilities with an i-card . Guests pay a nominal fee and spouses can buy discounted memberships with a U of I spouse ID. The Division also offers hundreds of wellness, sports, exercise and adventure programs for reasonable prices. See www.campusrec.uiuc.edu, or call 333-3806 for more information.
The University Police Department provides service to the campus community 24 hours a day. University of Illinois police officers have full law enforcement ability granted by the Illinois General Assembly under Chapter 110 Section 305 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes. Their jurisdiction includes all property owned or controlled by the University, as well as streets adjacent to and running through the University campus. For emergencies dial 911 (dial 9-911 from campus phones); for all other inquiries dial 333-1232 or visit the Web at www.dps.uiuc.edu.
In addition to the services offered through the Graduate College Career Services Office, many programs and departments provide discipline-specific career services. A complete list is available at www.careerservices.uiuc.edu.
CTE is a campus-wide service unit responsible for assisting faculty, academic units, and teaching assistants in improving instruction. The staff is available for consultation on a wide variety of instructional issues. Among CTE services are the annual All-Campus TA Orientation for new TAs, the Graduate Teacher Certificates Graduate Teacher Certificates (GTC) and Advanced Graduate Teacher Certificate (AGTC). For more information about CTE, go to www.oir.uiuc.edu.
CITES provides over 70 services that address the technology needs of the campus, including networking, e-mail, courseware, and telephone services. To find out more about CITES services, go to www.cites.uiuc.edu, call 244-7000, or visit the CITES Help Desk in room 1420, Digital Computer Laboratory, 1304 W. Springfield, U, or try www.cites.uiuc.edu/help/index.html. Also see section above.
CITES also runs nine sites with over 500 Mac and PC computers that are available to all students.
Visit the CITES Software WebStore to view over 100 University site-licensed software titles available to students at significant discounts or at no cost. For more information, go to http://webstore.uiuc.edu/.
CTEN is a registered student organization of the University that sponsors seminars and workshops of interest to graduate students who are currently teaching college-level classes and/or preparing for an academic career. For more information, go to https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ro/www/CollegeTeachingEffectivenessNetwork/.
The Daily Illini is the University's official student newspaper. It is published daily Monday through Friday when classes are in session and announces most University events. It's probably the best way to find out what is happening on campus. You can obtain a copy from any of the DI newspaper stands placed around campus. They're easy to find and they're free! Read the Daily Illini online at www.dailyillini.com.
The Electrical and Computer Engineering Store room provides a wide variety of computer, office, and networking items available for purchase by he faculty, staff, and students of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Visit the web site, www.ece.uiuc.edu/ecestores/, for store hours and to view the online catalog. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Storeroom is conveniently located in room 60 Everitt Laboratory, at the corner of Wright and Green Streets.
IRIS is a unit of the University Library that maintains a database with over 8,600 active federal and private funding opportunities in the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities, including fellowships and scholarships for grad students. To search the database or to subscribe to the IRIS Alert Service, go to gateway.library.uiuc.edu/iris.
The Foreign Languages Departments offer a unique learning opportunity in the form of the Intensive Foreign Language Instruction Program (IFLIP). IFLIP provides language instruction for three hours each day for a two-week period. Classes are taught by our advanced graduate students or faculty. Each class must have a minimum of 10 participants to be offered and is limited to a maximum of 20 participants to provide for an effective learning environment. IFLIP classes are open to UIUC students, faculty, staff, retirees, and to the general public. Children under the age of 18 are not eligible to participate. No academic credit is given for IFLIP instruction.
The Illini Union is the heart of campus situated at the north end of the Quad (1401 W. Green, U). It offers many services and accommodations, including the Courtyard Café, a food court, a vending room, guest rooms, and various study lounges. Visit the Information Desk (333-4636) at the main entrance for details about campus and local community events. For tickets to many campus events, including those held at Assembly Hall, visit Ticket Central in the northwest corner of the main level.On the main and lower levels, you will also find several recreational activities, including a bowling alley, billiard room, arcade, and art gallery. For more information, go to www.union.uiuc.edu.
Illinois International is a resource for international programming at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. There you can find international headlines, resources, travel/visa information, details about study abroad and international academic programs on campus, and details about international events and outreach on campus. Visit the Illinois International Web site at www.ilint.uiuc.edu/.
Krannert Center, 500 S. Goodwin, U, hosts a wide variety of musical, theatrical and dance performances throughout the year. Students receive discounts on ticket prices for most events. Call 333-6700 or visit the Web page at www.krannertcenter.com to find out about the upcoming season. In the atrium, you will find the Intermezzo Café and the Promenade Gift Shop.
With over 22 million items in its main and specialized collections, the University Library holds the largest public university collection in the world. Its computerized catalog system was the first to serve as a primary access to a large academic library. Today, more than one million people worldwide use the online catalog each week. The Main Library is located at 1408 W. Gregory, U. On the second floor you will find the information desk, the reference department, and the entrance to the main stacks.
The Main Library is a closed-stacks library; however, as a graduate student, your i-card allows you access. Throughout the rest of the building and situated across campus, there are more than forty subject-specific libraries, area studies centers, and special collections. A list of these libraries, which includes addresses and hours of operation, is available online at www.library.uiuc.edu/services/hours.php, or call the information desk at 333-8400. All locations permit open access to their holdings for all graduate students. Each maintains reference materials in its particular subject areas and offers a full range of reference services geared toward assisting library users who need specialized information. You can order books from the University Library and from several other area lending libraries by computer and have them sent to the campus library of your choice. The library's online catalog connects to a network of more than 40 academic libraries in Illinois, which also makes it possible for users in Urbana-Champaign to search for items that are not available on the campus. Public terminals for searching the library's online catalog are located at the Information Desk area on the second floor of the main library, in the Undergraduate Library, and in all departmental and special collection libraries.
If you need a book that is not available through the catalog system, contact the Interlibrary Borrowing Office in either Room 104A of the Main Library or on the library's Web site.
The library publishes a guide and other pamphlets explaining the collections and services. These are available near the Reference Room desk and the Information Desk in the main circulation area. For more information about library hours, policies, and procedures, visit www.library.uiuc.edu or call the information desk at 333-8400.
The Micro Order Center www.cstores.uiuc.edu/moc/moc.html sells new computers and accessories to University students, faculty, and staff at a discounted price. For product or price information, visit the Center in the southwest corner on the first floor of the Illini Union, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call the Center at 244-7938.
OMSA is responsible for providing leadership in developing, implementing and coordinating student support services and activities designed to assist minority students' personal development and academic achievement. OMSA provides guidance and counseling support to minority students in all areas relevant to their success on the campus, including general adjustment, financial aid, and career selection. Particular emphasis is placed on assisting students who are academically under prepared or who come from backgrounds underrepresented on the campus. The OMSA serves both undergraduate and graduate students on campus, and works closely with the Graduate College's Educational Equity Programs office. More information is available online at www.omsa.uiuc.edu or call 333-0054.
The University has three museums on campus. The Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion (500 E. Peabody, C, 333-1861) houses the largest collection of fine art in the state outside of Chicago. The collection contains over 8,000 works, ranging from ancient Egyptian and Pre-Columbian to European, Asian, and contemporary American art. The museum hosts numerous exhibitions, lectures and cultural events throughout the year, and sponsors a Resource Center for teachers. Visit the Web (and even view some of the collection) at www.kam.uiuc.edu/.
The Spurlock Museum (600 S. Gregory, U, 333-2360) features five permanent galleries celebrating the cultures of Africa, ancient Egypt, ancient Mesopotamia, Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania, the Americas, and the Ancient Mediterranean. A multipurpose learning center, 220-seat auditorium, temporary exhibit gallery, and educational resource center are included in the Museum's facilities. See www.spurlock.uiuc.edu for more information.
The Museum of Natural History (Natural History Building, 1301 W. Green, U) is a division of the Spurlock Museum and features permanent exhibits on biology and geology.
More than 800 registered organizations enrich life at the University by providing programs like dances, lectures, movies, tournaments, and races. The Registered Organizations Office is nlocated in the Student Organization Complex, 280 Illini Union. A list of currently registered organizations is available at www.union.uiuc.edu/involvement/rso/a-z_list.aspx.
The Office of Student Accounts and Cashiering is located in Room 100 of the David Dodds Henry Administration Building, 506 S. Wright, U. Payments can be made at the start of the term, either in person in room 100, by mail, or online. For more information, go to www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/.
The Office for Student Conflict Resolution provides mediation, adjudication and referral services to students in support of the educational mission of the University. For more details, visit www.conflictresolution.uiuc.edu.
The SEC is an organization of undergraduate and graduate students, which supervises student elections at the Urbana-Champaign campus, including the election of the Student Trustee for the Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs Office, the election of students to the Student Organizational Resource Fee (SORF) Board, and the election of students to the Senate of the Urbana-Champaign Campus. Although most active during the March elections, the SEC works year-round to update election rules and answer student questions about campaign eligibility and requirements. For more information, contact the Student Elections Commission, 115 Illini Union, 1401 W Green, Urbana IL 61801, 244-4195, or visit the Web at www.vcsa.uiuc.edu/campuscommittees/Stu_Election.html.
Our goal is to assist you and your family in securing the resources necessary to fund your education. In 2005-06, nearly $540 million in financial aid funds were administered and over 75% of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign students received financial aid. OSFA is located at 620 E. John Street, C, IL 61820, and can be reached at (217) 333-0100. See www.osfa.uiuc.edu for more information.
The SORF board is comprised of students and staff who allocate funds to Registered Student Organizations (see above) to promote activities, programming, and events both on and off campus. To find out more, go to www.union.uiuc.edu/involvement/sorf/Default.aspx.
WILL AM-FM-TV, public broadcasting for central Illinois, is a source of high-quality, commercial-free local, regional and national programming. Linking listeners and viewers to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), WILL enriches lives by teaching, entertaining and drawing people into the public affairs of the places they live. WILL is an important community resource, offering tornado safety seminars, free classical music concerts, workshops for parents and child care providers, and outlook sessions for farmers. Call 333-1070 for more information, or visit the Web site at www.will.uiuc.edu. For radio programming tune in to 580 AM for talk radio and 90.9 FM for classical music, TV channels vary depending on your cable provider.
The Writers' Workshop is part of the Center for Writing Studies and provides free writing assistance for University of Illinois students, faculty and staff from all disciplines and levels. Discuss your writing with consultants who are experienced writers and teachers of writing. Call or stop by to set up a 30- or 60-minute session at one of the four Workshop locations. For further information, visit the Web at www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop.
Working in partnership with campus leadership, the VCSA strives to support students in their quest for a college degree and prepare all Illinois graduates for leadership and involvement in an increasingly diverse, technologically sophisticated, and complex global society. The programs, services, and facilities provided by the twelve departments within Student Affairs are designed to create a supportive environment that enhances the personal development and learning of all students. For more information, visit the Web at www.vcsa.uiuc.edu.
Located in room 277 of the Illini Union , the Office of Volunteer Programs provides informational resources on volunteerism; advises student service organizations; connects student groups and agencies; connects the C-U community and the University; offers consulting to strengthen community service-related programs; educates students about community service via workshops; and conducts outreach with community agencies and student groups. To find out more, go to www.union.uiuc.edu/ovp or call 333-7424.