News from the Moms and Dads Associations
Important Dates
Free Leadership Program Offered in Chicago in June Specifically for New Freshmen
New Campus Desktop Wallpaper and Screensaver Images Available
Activities and Recreation Center
A University Housing Tradition, Midnight Breakfast
GradWeek 2008
GradFest 2008
Commencement Photography Opportunities
Commencement Tickets Available
Commencement Information
Career Center Sponsored Activities
McKinley Health Center Programs
Illinois in the News

News from the Moms and Dads Associations

Volunteers needed for Summer Registration starting on May 27 and ending on July 10 with late registration on August 18 - 20. We welcome all parents of Illinois students to come share their experiences with new Illini Parents. To volunteer or to learn more about this opportunity contact Erin Murtha at (217) 333-7063 or email at uofiparents@ad.uiuc.edu.

If you attended Moms Weekend on April 11-13, 2008, the Association would appreciate your feedback on the event. Please take 5 minutes to complete the Evaluation Form.

There are open positions on the Dads Association Board just waiting for you! Board members serve on committees such as Move-In Day Picnic, Summer Registration, Illini Parent 101 and Dads Weekend just to name a few, and we welcome you to get involved with just one. Contact the Parent Programs Office at (217) 333-7063 or uofiparents@ad.uiuc.edu if interested and we can discuss details

View our informational videos about topics ranging from the Tenant Union to the U of I Police Departmant. The videos highlight some of the featured speakers from this past Conference for Illini Parents and provide a wealth of information on the services and resources available to your students.

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

The Parent Programs Office and The Career Center recently collaborated to provide parents with the interactive workshop, "College Students and Career Success: Where Do Parents Fit In?" The workshop is now available online for all parents to view. After loading the workshop, you will need to fast forward to 13:30.

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

April 30, 2008 -- Last Day of Class
May 1, 2008 -- Reading Day
May 2 - 9, 2008 -- Final Exams
May 10, 2008 -- Undergraduate Residence Halls Close at 12:00pm Unless Participating in Commencement
May 11, 2008 -- Commencement
May 11, 2008 -- Undergraduate Residence Halls Close at 7:00pm for Students Participating in Commencement

Also see our Calendar for more important dates.

Free Leadership Program Offered in Chicago in June Specifically for New Freshmen

Illinois Leadership is offering Intersect, a program on interpersonal communication and teambuilding skills, on Saturday, June 28 at University of Illinois at Chicago Meetings & Conferences Center West (828 S. Wolcott), 9:30am-5:00pm (lunch provided). This program is specifically for new freshmen; space is limited to 80 students. For more registration, go to www.illinoisleadership.uiuc.edu or email Phoebe Smith (pjsmith2@uiuc.edu).

New Campus Desktop Wallpaper and Screensaver Images Available

New campus desktop wallpaper and screensaver images are available for download. The images are available in the three most common screen resolutions. Featured campus landmarks include the Round Barns, Foellinger Auditorium, Assembly Hall, Hallene Gateway, the Quad, NCSA and the Illini Union.

Activities and Recreation Center

The Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) is really taking shape. As you drive by on Peabody, you can see the Winter Garden entrance area with one side entirely glass and the breathtaking vaulted roof complete. Inside there is constant action being done to all four levels. Windows are being put in place, floors are being finished, and rooms are being painted.

A University Housing Tradition, Midnight Breakfast

All meal plan holders are invited to the annual Midnight Breakfast from 11:00pm Wednesday, May 2, to 1 am Thursday, May 3, at the ISR and Peabody Dining Halls. Students can enjoy their favorite breakfast foods, eggs to order, and lattes, mochas, and more. No meals will be deducted from their account. There will be giveaways too, like mountain bikes, an iPod, and a DVD player.

GradWeek 2008

Created for students and by students, the inaugural GradWeek 2008 celebrates the accomplishments of May graduates in an economical, alcohol-free way. GradWeek is sponsored by the University of Illinois Alumni Association and Student Alumni Ambassadors, in partnership with other campus organizations.

GradFest 2008

You and your graduate are invited to attend GradFest 2008, a special open-house gathering that celebrates your student's graduation in the casual atmosphere of the Alice Campbell Alumni Center. The event includes live entertainment, tours of the building, chances to win great prizes and information booths to assist with the students-to-alumni transition.

Commencement Photography Opportunities

Suggested popular landmarks to use as backdrops when taking photographs of graduates.

Commencement Tickets Available

Free tickets for the Campuswide Commencement Ceremony at Assembly Hall will be available through Friday, May 9 to all students on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no limit on the number of tickets you may request; however, please take only as many as you will actually use.

If you plan on attending your student’s college or program ceremony, please view their Web site for more information about tickets and other details.

Commencement Information

Commencement is an exciting time on every university campus. At Illinois, it acknowledges our students' academic achievements and reaffirms the continuing vitality of the campus. This Web site provides important details and information regarding graduation and the activities scheduled for Commencement Weekend, May 10 - 11, 2008.

Career Center Sponsored Activities

Career Conversations at Undergraduate Library - April 27, 6:30 - 9:30pm
Networking Your Job Search - April 28, 3:00pm
Winning Resumes and Cover Letters - April 29, 3:00pm
Salary Negotiation - April 30, 5:00pm

McKinley Health Center Programs

Relaxation of the Mind and Body - April 27, 3:00pm
Relaxation of the Mind and Body - April 27, 7:00pm
Wellness Pursuit - April 27, 7:00pm
Nutrition Walk-Ins - April 29, 1:30 - 3:00pm
Fitness Walk-Ins - April 29, 2:00 - 3:30pm
REVIVE, RESTORE, RELAX: Weston Welnnes - April 29, 2:30 - 4:30pm
Nutrition Walk-In - April 30, 12:30 - 1:30pm
Living Lean - April 30, 5:15 - 6:00pm
Relaxation of the Mind and Body - April 30, 8:00pm
Nutrition Walk-Ins - May 6, 1:30 - 3:00pm
Fitness Walk-Ins - May 6, 2:00 - 3:30pm
REVIVE, RESTORE, RELAX: Weston Wellness - May 6, 2:30 - 4:30pm
Nutrition Walk-In - May 7, 12:30 - 1:30pm
Living Lean - May 7, 5:15 - 6:00pm

Illinois in the News

New Online Textbooks Target Students Raised in the Computer Age

Textbooks have helped turn out job-ready graduates for years, but might not be the best way to connect with a new generation of tech-savvy students who carry laptop computers to class instead of pen and paper, a University of Illinois law professor says. Michael Murray is co-writing three new law textbooks that blend conventional print with an online version, creating a new-age hybrid that he says targets students who learned counting and the alphabet on computers, not flash cards. Full Story

New Graduate-Degree Concept Combines Business with Science

A new graduate degree program under development at the UI aims to expand opportunities for graduates with bachelor's degrees in science and math and provide employers with well-rounded workers who know the fundamentals of business as well as their disciplines. Full Story

LAS Graduate Programs Fare Well in U.S. News & World Report

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences fares well. Among graduate programs with new rankings this year (the magazine does not update all program rankings every year), the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is tied for 10th amongst its peers in the nation, and mathematics is tied for 18th. 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