News Bureau

While thousands of new students were strolling the Quad behind the Illini Union enjoying the hubbub of Quad Day, inside the Union, new faculty members – and new academic professional staff members – were getting information to help them adjust to campus.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. Ten years after a Latino/a student demonstration on the University of Illinois campus called for reforms concerning students, faculty, staff, curriculum and campus climate, a forum on April 27 will take a look at the past experiences of Latinas/os on campus and toward the future.

University of Illinois employees are reminded that if they wish to make changes to their health, dental, state optional life, dependent coverage or re-enroll in the flexible spending plans, these changes must be made using NESSIE, the university’s online self-service benefits application. All changes must be made by midnight May 31 and will be effective July 1.

'How are we doing?' CITES wants to know Although campus administrators are pleased with the results of combining the Office of the Chief Information Officer, the Computing and Communications Services Office (CCSO), and the Center for Educational Technologies (CET) into what is becoming known as CITES (Campus Information Technologies and Educational Services), they want to know what you think. Since its inception last spring, one of the main roles of CITES has been reliable, effective, efficient core services. They hope the launch of a campuswide survey on its services in spring 2003 will tell them how they're doing. "We are working to identify different communities on the campus who have common interests in the use of different technologies," said Pete Siegel, chief information officer of the Urbana campus. "We are doing a better job of figuring out how to engage the campus in discussion of issues at the right time. Too early and we waste their time or we have them involved in things that don't pan out; too late and they don't feel they were properly consulted."

Eight civil service staff employees will be honored with the Chancellor's Distinguished Staff Award at a banquet April 24. The award recognizes exceptional performance.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The identity of "Deep Throat" is no longer a mystery, at least not for one investigative journalism class at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Illinois Public Media (WILL-AM-FM-TV) will premiere a new hourlong talk show March 14. “The 21st" will be broadcast weekdays at 11 a.m., with veteran journalist and public radio host Niala Boodhoo serving as host and as executive producer.

Travel authors often showcase the foreign lands they visit with colorful descriptions of the food and tourist attractions they encounter. Books of this genre depict abbreviated and relaxing trips.

Be suspicious. Be very suspicious. Especially if it looks official - bank, credit card company, university human resources - and they're asking for your personal information.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. The University of Illinois School of Architecture honored 109 undergraduate and graduate students for scholastic excellence during the 2001 spring semester. A total of $235,900 in prizes was awarded.

Derek Peterson talks about Robert Allerton like he knew the man.

Senators will vote Sept. 21 on a resolution asking the U. of I. Board of Trustees to postpone the implementation of an expanded background check policy it approved at its Sept. 10 meeting in Urbana.

The Faculty and Staff Emergency Fund is seeking donations to meet its goal of $50,000.

University of Illinois has a history of Fulbright success, ranking as a Top Producer of Fulbright students nationally for the past six years. To capitalize on this momentum, the National and International Scholarships Program is partnering with several campus units to create the first Illinois Fulbright Week, offering a range of programming that both celebrates Illinois’ Fulbright tradition and seeks to continue it by recruiting the next crop of Fulbrighters.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The 132nd commencement of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will be held in two ceremonies May 18 at the Assembly Hall, 1800 S. First St., Champaign.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign today announced the sale of a UI-licensed virtual biotechnology company to Abbott Laboratories for $7 million. The company, BioDisplay Technologies Inc., was founded to commercialize technology that dramatically shortens the time it takes to discover various drugs that can be tested for their potential therapeutic application.

Installing shade curtains in a greenhouse may seem counterproductive, but the new computer-controlled system of curtains in the UI greenhouses controls the sunlight, reducing energy and labor costs.

UI retains trademark rights to Chief Illiniwek imagery

U. of I. President Tim Killeen made a stop at the Urbana campus Nov. 18 during his three-campus town hall tour, engaging constituents and asking them to contribute to the 5- to 10-year university Strategic Plan.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign honored its students in April at its annual awards banquet.

Edward L. McMillan was re-elected to a second one-year term as chairman of the U. of I. Board of Trustees during its annual organizational meeting Jan. 21. 

Options for Levis Faculty Center being explored

Melissa Marriott is an interior designer for University Housing.

Champaign, call Robin Kaler, assistant chancellor for public affairs, (217) 333-5010

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The campus police department's newest "officer" has a nose for trouble.

It's a rare moment when Brandon Boyd, the facilities manager for McKinley Health Center, isn't doing something related to construction.

Runelle Shriver is a librarian at University Laboratory High School.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - One hundred twenty undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign were honored for scholastic excellence during the 2005 spring semester. A total of $328,135 in prizes was awarded.

Nicole McCurry is an administrative aide in the Facilities and Services Planning Department.

Campus leaders say administrative changes in the Center for Advanced Study would not affect academic programs or its mission.

Tammie Lawson's flower-designing career stems from a flower shop job she had in high school.

President Tim Killeen will lead a universitywide strategic planning initiative meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. March 14 in the Deloitte Auditorium of the Business Instructional Facility. The town hall meeting will help set goals for the University of Illinois system for the next five years.

The U. of I. and the U. of I. Foundation continue to raise the fundraising bar.

Laura Manrique brought something important with her when she started working for the university 18 months ago: experience.

Mike Thomas, athletic director at the University of Cincinnati since 2005, will be the new director of athletics at the UI's Urbana campus, pending approval by the UI Board of Trustees. The announcement was made Aug. 10.

Some Illinois faculty and staff members and students have found that tae kwon do can be much more than a means of self-defense.

CHAMPAIGN Robert L. Brackett III, Architecture Scholarship, Charles Clemens Councell Memorial Fund in Architecture, Gargoyle Society Sophomore Award of Excellence, Mr. and Mrs. Elwood E. Schwenk Scholarship; Scott C. Burge, Francis J. Plym Graduate Fellowship; Craig L. Carter, Bruce Abrams Memorial Award; Laura B. Inskip, Tyler Allhands Undergraduate Scholarship, Edward C. Earl Prize in Design in Versailles; Dana N. Krisch, The Womens Architectural League Foundation of Chicago Scholarship; Xuemei Li, The Louise Woodroofe Prize; Madhura S. Sane, Stephen J.Y. Tang Memorial Award in Architecture

Kevin Knapp is an elevator mechanic in the Elevator Shop in the Facilities and Services Division. He also is an avid bodybuilder and has been weight training for 21 years.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Oscar-winning director and University of Illinois alumnus Ang Lee will be among the featured guests for the 10th annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival, otherwise known as "Ebertfest," coming April 23-27 to Champaign and the U. of I. campus.

Cadet Lt. Col. Erin O’Neil, the cadet battalion commander, stands at attention in front of a formation of cadets gathered during the U. of I.'s Tri-Service ROTC Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11 at the indoor track of the Armory building.

U. of I. graduate student Anson Woodin (Fred/Petruchio) is on the set April 19 during a rehearsal of "Kiss Me Kate" in the Tryon Festival Theatre at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. The Lyric Theatre at Illinois production premieres at 7:30 p.m. April 21, with other performances scheduled at 7:30 p.m. April 22 and 23, and at 3 p.m. April 24. 

Tracy Osby is public functions supervisor in the Facilities & Services Division

Part-time MBA program offered for those working full-time

Instead of spending the waning days of summer vacation honing their dribbling and passing, or their backstrokes, some young people who come to the UI campus will be developing skills that could one day save their lives.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Symbols, signs and other icons and artifacts of popular culture are being combined and reconfigured in a new exhibition on view Jan. 26 through Feb. 24 at I space, the Chicago gallery of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

While many people find that death and dying are topics that they’d rather shy away from, retiree Jean Huddleston has found her purpose helping make life “bear-able” for people who are grieving.

A trio of decorated trees greets visitors to Krannert Center for the Performing Arts near the entry to the Colwell Playhouse. Upcoming holiday events at Krannert Center include performances Dec. 3-6 of “The Nutcracker,” presented by the Champaign Urbana Ballet and the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra; “Sinfonia da Camera: Messiah and Mozart” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5; the “Annual Carol Concert” at 3 p.m. Dec. 6; and the “Winter Festival With Ginger and Spice, Harp Duo” at 4:10 p.m. Dec. 6.

The state's budget stalemate won't affect the university's ability to meet its payroll obligations, Chief Financial Officer Walter Knorr told trustees at their Sept. 10 meeting.

Between Sept. 1, 2012, and Aug. 31, 2013, 32 faculty members and 59 academic professionals retired from the U. of I., according to the Office of Academic Human Resources. Those who retired during that time were honored last spring at the campus's Academic Service Recognition Luncheon. Also honored were employees celebrating an employment milestone (10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 years) during that time.

Lisa Ochoa is a program administrative assistant with the Intensive English Institute. She has served as a foster parent to approximately 300 dogs.