News from the Moms and Dads Associations
Important Dates
Information on Meningococcal Meningitis
Is Your Student Looking for a Ride Home this Spring Break?
Undergraduate Library Extended Hours
Student Consultation Services @ UGL
Engineering Open House 2008
The Non-Profit & Government Career Fair 2008
Advertising Career Night
Career Center Workshops
McKinley Health Center Programs
Illinois in the News

News from the Moms and Dads Associations

The Moms and Dads Associations host the Illini Parent Spring Workshops on March 29, 2008. Scheduled speakers include the Student Health Insurance Office and the Public Safety Division will talk about the new Emergency Notification System. Experienced County Representatives and Moms Club members will talk about how to develop successful events and activities in your local area, and what you can do to stay involved with the Moms and Dads Associations and the University of Illinois. Registration is due Friday, March 14.

The Moms and Dads Associations work in coordination with the Parent Programs Office at the University to provide parents with up-to-date information, resources, services and programs that will help them make the most out of their students' Illinois Experience. We also address the issues and concerns parents bring to us, with the University community and work to get the answers parents and families need. If you are interested in helping to support these efforts and programs that enrich the lives of all students at Illinois, please consider a gift to the University of Illinois Parents Fund. Learn More

Moms Weekend is almost here! This annual event takes place from April 11th to 13th. Bring the whole family for a visit to campus and be prepared for a memorable weekend with your student. Look for more information on the Moms and Dads Associations Web site. For the Moms Weekend Calendar, click here.

Volunteers needed to help with the Moms Association Craft Table and Information Table. Volunteers will have the chance to meet other Illini Moms and learn more about the Association. We only ask that you give at least one hour of your time, click here for more information.

The Parent Programs Office is continually working to improve upon the resources provided to parents of Illinois students. Please take the time to fill out this anonymous survey to help us better understand the community we are serving. We appreciate your input.

Want to get involved? The Moms and Dads Asssociations offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for parents. Visit our web site for a list and description of activities and then call us!

Please urge your student to log on to the emergency system Web site at emergency.illinois.edu and enter their contact information. The Urbana-Champaign campus of the UI has launched a new emergency communication system that will alert students and faculty and staff members to crisis situations on campus through mass cell-phone text and e-mail messages. Learn More

Important Dates

March 3, 2008 -- Priority Registration Times Displayed (Student Self-Service System)
March 3, 2008 -- Deadline to cancel 2008-2009 room reassignment contract without $2,000 settlement charge (returning students only)
March 7, 2008 -- Last Day to drop or Credit/No Credit semester course
March 10, 2008 -- Begin 2nd 8-week courses
March 14, 2008 -- Last Day to add 2nd 8-week course
March 15, 2008 -- Spring Break begins
March 15, 2008 -- Undergraduate Residence Halls close at 3pm for Spring Break

Also see our Calendar for more important dates.

Information on Meningococcal Meningitis

Two cases of meningococcal meningitis have been reported within the past week on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. Read this notice to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of this deadly disease and share the information with your student.

More Information:

Recent Graduate Hospitalized with Meningitis
What is Meningitis? - McKinley Health Center Information

Is Your Student Looking for a Ride Home this Spring Break?

Illinois students have many travel options available to them when they are returning home, including driving themselves, carpooling, and taking a bus. If they are still in need of a way home this spring break, remind them of the following resources:

Amtrak
Greyhound
Illini Union Ride Board
Lincolnland Express
Suburban Express
Willard Airport

Undergraduate Library Extended Hours

Based on the success of the extended hours, and with continued support from the Provost and the Library/IT fee monies, the Undergraduate Library is providing 24 hour service, Sunday at 10am through Friday at 10pm. UGL's hours will remain the same on Saturday (open 10 am-10 pm). Other Library Hours.

Student Consultation Services @ UGL

As part of the new Learning Commons service model, the Undergraduate Library has continued to welcome and invited more academic and student services to create satellite office hours and programmatic relationships in our building and with our staff. This model provides these service units more access to undergraduate students, created a more diverse and customized learning environment and has built robust professional networks for the staff involved. For a listing of units and their Spring 2008 UGL hours, click here.

Engineering Open House 2008

Engineering Open House is a two day event held at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign to showcase the latest in science and technology from the university's professors, students, and sponsoring corporations. EOH annually attracts over 20,000 visitors to learn, experiment, and play with science. Engineering Open House has over 190 exhibits ranging from Concrete Crushing to Liquid Nitrogen Table, and many more.

The Non-Profit & Government Career Fair 2008

The Non-Profit & Government Career Fair offers a wonderful opportunity for all students, regardless of major or year in school, to meet with representatives from various non-profit and governmental agencies. The Fair is open to all graduate and undergraduate UIUC students seeking full-time, part-time, internship, summer or volunteer positions.

Advertising Career Night

The College of Communications will be hosting the Advertising Career Night on March 5 at 6:30pm in 141 Wohlers Hall with breakout sessions in Gregory Hall.

Career Center Workshops

Winning Resumes and Cover Letters - March 3, 5:00pm
Successful Interviewing - March 4, 4:00pm
Career Fairs: Making an Impression - March 6, 4:00pm
Internship Essentials - March 12, 5:00pm
Networking Your Job Search - March 13, 5:00pm

McKinley Health Center Programs

Nutrition Walk-Ins - March 4, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Fitness Walk-Ins - March 4, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
REVIVE, RESTORE, RELAX: Weston Wellness - March 4, 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Nutrition Walk-In - March 5, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Nutrition Walk-Ins - March 11, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Fitness Walk-Ins - March 11, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
REVIVE, RESTORE, RELAX: Weston Wellness - March 11, 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Nutrition Fair - March 11, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Illinois in the News

Student Wins $30,000 Lemelson Award

When Patrick Walsh visited India, as part of a delegation from Engineers Without Borders (EWB), he expected his life to be impacted. He just didn't know how much. The India trip, following his freshman year in college, put him on a path to change the way 1.6 billion people light their homes. Walsh's innovation--a battery-powered, solar-charged LED lamp--was responsible for his being named the winner of this year's $30,000 Lemelson-Illinois Student Prize. The award ceremony was held on February 28 at the Coordinated Science Laboratory. Full Story

U of I Students Create Fairy Tale Garden at Chicago Flower Show

At this year's annual Chicago Flower and Garden Show, the labor of University of Illinois horticulture student will be front and center. As visitors enter the show's exhibit area next week, the first feature garden is a U of I creation - and in keeping with the "Sleeping Beauty" theme sponsored by the American Ballet Company, the garden will feature a fantasy "bed" of flowers. Full Story

Political Science Students Speak Out on ABC News

Four Democratic and Republican students shared their reactions to Super Tuesday with ABC News correspondent Sam Donaldson. Watch Video

A Career in Film Means Being Tested at Every Turn

Chris Folkens began to dream of directing and producing films as a boy, after a brush with Hollywood. When he pursued that goal in earnest as a student at the University of Illinois, the Naperville, Ill., native saw the film industry's decidedly unglamorous, nitty-gritty side-and he still loved it. Full Story

UIParents E-Update is a compilation of information for parents of University of Illinois Students produced by the Parent Programs Office and the Mothers and Dads Associations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign