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New law could mean bump in Social Security benefits for some public pensioners, expert says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new law affecting Social Security benefits for workers with a public pension means some retirees will receive a modest increase in their monthly checks, according to a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign expert on U.S. tax policy and retirement issues. The bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act got rid of the Windfall Elimination Provision and […]
Illinois faculty members writing free online textbooks
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When Monica Turchyn was completing her undergraduate degree in community health at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she took an online course on drug use and misuse. The course had an open access textbook written by the course instructor, which the students in the class used free of charge. Saving money on […]
University Archives collection tells history of Illinois athlete, 1924 Olympic champion
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — At the 1924 Paris Olympics, former University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign track star Harold Osborn won two gold medals, in the high jump and the decathlon, making him the first (and still the only) athlete to win the decathlon and another individual event in the same Olympics. One hundred years after Osborn won […]
Project helps librarians use data storytelling to advocate for public libraries
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A toolkit for public librarians can help them use data to communicate the value of their services and justify their funding needs. The Data Storytelling for Librarians Toolkit helps librarians present data in story form using narrative strategies. It was developed by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign information sciences professors. “A well-told library […]
Study: Large language models can’t effectively recognize users’ motivation, but can support behavior change for those ready to act
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Large language model-based chatbots have the potential to promote healthy changes in behavior. But researchers from the ACTION Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have found that the artificial intelligence tools don’t effectively recognize certain motivational states of users and therefore don’t provide them with appropriate information. Michelle Bak, a doctoral […]
Illinois Commencement speaker, architect Jeanne Gang, designs buildings that connect people, nature and communities
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Internationally renowned architect and Illinois alumna Jeanne Gang has designed buildings that have reshaped the Chicago skyline and inspired awe. The 82-story Aqua Tower features curving outdoor terraces that appear to ripple across the façade of the building. Three columns of varying heights and a flowing appearance form the 101-story St. Regis […]
Rare Book and Manuscript Library acquires first edition of Plato’s works in Greek
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has acquired a rare first edition of Plato’s works printed in the Greek language. The “editio princeps” was printed in Venice in 1513 by Aldus Manutius, the founder of Aldine Press, one of the most successful printing houses of the […]
Architect and Illinois alumna Jeanne Gang named 2024 commencement speaker
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Internationally recognized architect and Illinois alumna Jeanne Gang will serve as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s commencement speaker on Saturday, May 11, at 9:30 a.m. in Memorial Stadium. Gang graduated from Illinois with a degree in architecture in 1986. Gang is the founding partner of Studio Gang, an architecture and urban design […]
U. of I. names new endowed chairs, professorships
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Nine University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty members have been named as university endowed chairs or professors, an honor awarded to the highly distinguished scholars for their excellence and prominence in research, teaching and service. “An endowed chair is among the highest honors bestowed to faculty at our university,” said Vice Chancellor for […]
Ballinger to lead U. of I. Division of Public Safety, serve as police chief
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Matt Ballinger is the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s next executive director of public safety and chief of police. The appointment takes effect Feb. 1, subject to approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Ballinger’s title will be interim executive director of public safety and chief of police until board approval. […]
Study shows challenges to protecting privacy of library users
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Librarians have historically taken a strong stand on protecting the privacy of their patrons. But how well they accomplish this varies widely with the size of a library, and technology has made it more difficult, according to the first study of privacy practices and challenges in public libraries. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign […]
Information sciences professor developing tool to make data visualizations accessible to blind researchers, students
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — JooYoung Seo, a professor of information sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is developing a data visualization tool that will help make visual representations of statistical data accessible to researchers and students who are blind or visually impaired. The multimodal representation tool is aimed at the accessibility of statistical graphs, such as bar plots, […]