UIParents E-Update

UIPARENTS E-UPDATE FOR June 8, 2007

News from the Mothers and Dads Associations
Important Dates
Summer 2007 Financial Aid Application
Brilliant Futures Campaign Kick-off: Note from the Chancellor
$2.25 Billion Campaign Launched
Partnership Announced Between CIC Libraries and Google
Message from Dean Kalantzis of the College of Education
2007 Energy Primer
Cycling for a Great Cause
Illinois in the News

News from the Mothers and Dads Associations

The date and location of the 2007 Conference for Illini Parents has been changed to Sept. 15, and moved to Illini Room A located in the Illini Union. The Conference will begin at 8:30 am and wrap-up at 1:00 pm. We want to allow parents plenty of time in the afternoon to catch up with their students and explore campus.

Nominations for the Board of Directors of the Dads Association are now being accepted. Elections will be held during Dads Weekend on October 6th at the breakfast meeting. Officers include a president, three vice-presidents, a treasurer and directors. Members of the Board are elected from among the county chairs.

The Dads Association will be awarding four $500 scholarships in January 2008. The application must be completed and returned by November 30, 2007. Parents must be members of either the Dads or Mothers Association.

Each year the University of Illinois Dads Association awards the Certificate of Merit to a faculty member, student, staff, and student organization at their annual banquet during Dads Weekend. The award recipients will be presented with a monetary award as well as a personalized gift. Nominations are due by September 7, 2007 at 5pm.

Register your contact information with the Mothers and Dads Association! We will work with the Campus Risk Management office to include parent information on the emergency alert system that is currently being developed. We will also use the information to add parents to our Listserv.

Important Dates

June 9, 2007 -- End of Summer Session I
June 11, 2007 -- Instruction Begins, Summer Session II
June 15, 2007 -- Deadline to add a first half-session course, Summer Session II

Deadline to withdraw from the University and receive the 90% pro-rata refund for Summer Session II (8 week) and Summer Session I (Indepedent Study) if not registered for any other summer session

June 19, 2007 -- Deadline to add an 8-week course, Summer Session II
June 22, 2007 -- Deadline to drop or elect credit/no credit for a 1st half-session course, Summer Session II

Tuition Payment Due

Summer 2007 Financial Aid Application

The deadline for the Summer 2007 Financial Aid Application is June 15, 2007. Students must be degree-seeking and enrolled in at least six hours as an undergraduate student or three hours as a graduate student. Additionally, students must complete their registration online prior to submitting their Summer 2007 application to the financial aid office.

Brilliant Futures Campaign Kick-off: Note from the Chancellor

When my three kids were young, our family took a trip to Algonquin Park in Ontario. My wife, Susan, and I had promised the kids we’d take them fishing. So, we trudged through the woods with a rubber raft on our heads until we finally got to a lake. There we sat under the hot sun, casting our lines into the placid water. The kids loved watching the ripples spreading across the lake’s glassy surface. Which is good, because we didn’t catch any fish. The only fish we ate that night were fish sticks! Read More

$2.25 Billion Campaign Launched

Brilliant Futures is the largest and most ambitious Campaign in recent history and aims to raise $2.25 billion over a five-year period for research, faculty, students, local communities, and the campus environment. We hope you will check this site frequently to find out how generous contributions by friends and alumni are helping to provide an excellent education to our students and outstanding contributions to all of society.

Partnership Announced Between CIC Libraries and Google

The Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), a consortium of 12 world-class research universities, advancing their missions by sharing expertise, leveraging campus resources and collaborating on innovative programs, is announcing an agreement with Google to digitize distinctive collections across all its libraries as part of the Google Book Search project. As a member of the consortium, the University of Illinois is part of this important initiative.

Also, read the announcement from the University.

Message from Dean Kalantzis of the College of Education

Our first academic year together has been an amazing one that has concluded on high notes in nearly every possible aspect. With our Campus and University still in a state of transition under new leadership and with a dean new to both the College and to the country, there were countless opportunities over the past ten months for things to go wrong – or at least go awry. Instead, what I have seen is a College of faculty, staff and students who were determined from the outset that this year was a chance to reestablish ourselves as a voice of influence – on the campus, in our local community and across the nation. Read More

2007 Energy Primer

The Energy Club is sponsoring the 2007 Energy Primer. This publication is produced in an effort to increase awareness on campus about the issues concerning renewable energy.

Cycling for a Great Cause

Many students relax, take classes or volunteer for internships during the summer. For the Illini 4000, however, the summer days mean cycling, sunburns and sore muscles as the biking group rides 4,000 miles across the U.S. to raise awareness of pediatric cancer and to support cancer research. During their trek from late May to early August, the Illini 4000 cyclers will visit with alumni and UIAA alumni clubs. Track the riders’ progress.

Illinois in the News

$100 Million Gift Commitment from Alumnus Thomas Siebel Jumpstarts 'Brilliant Futures' Campaign

The University of Illinois announced a record $100 million gift commitment from alumnus Thomas Siebel during the kick-off of the largest fundraising effort in the 140-year history of the University. The gift commitment from Siebel, a high-tech business innovator who holds three degrees from Illinois, is an estate provision combined with outright support of science and engineering on the Urbana-Champaign campus. The Thomas M. Siebel Fund for Excellence will emphasize collaborative work that addresses major problems and opportunities facing humankind in this century, including the convergence of the computational and life sciences and breakthrough developments in energy and human health. Full Story

Golden Gate Bridge corrects history

The Golden Gate Bridge district issued a formal report on 70 years of stewardship of the famous bridge--and decided to right an old wrong by giving major credit for the design of the bridge to an engineer it had ignored. The engineer was Charles Ellis, a University of Illinois professor of engineering. He did much of the technical and theoretical work that built the bridge, but until now, got none of the credit. Full Story

Student projects display automation, imagination

Students enrolled in the Advanced Digital Systems Lab (ECE 395) are not only free of homework and tests but also gain experience and knowledge they need for the future. “A lot of this lab is basically that you dream what you want to do,” said course instructor Lippold Haken, a professor of electrical and computer engineering. “The students pick their own project, and then they work hard to make their dream come true.” Full Story

Job Shadowing Program Links Companies, Students

The Job Shadowing Program helps students explore their career interests by partnering them with business professionals, preferably alumni, whom they follow through a normal day on the job. From a student’s perspective, the chance to spend a day with the chief of a major company or even small business is eye opening. The program also allows employers an early peek into the ranks of potential job candidates, and helps companies to distinguish themselves among students early in their academic studies. Full Story

Welcome to Hollywood

Just finishing his senior year at the University of Illinois, Don Ferguson would have been happy doing odd jobs on the movie set of Welcome to Tolono. Little did he know that he would be promoted six times, finally winding up as a producer on this movie, which was directed by a top television writer. Ferguson, a 2006 LAS graduate from U of I, also served as an assistant editor on Welcome to Tolono, directed by Mark Roberts, head writer for the popular CBS comedy Two and a Half Men. The independent movie will premiere June 30 at the Foellinger Auditorium on the Urbana-Champaign campus. 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


UIPARENTS E-UPDATE FOR June 8, 2007
News from the Mothers and Dads Associations Important Dates Summer 2007 Financial Aid Application Brilliant Futures Campaign Kick-off: Note from the Chancellor $2.25 Billion Campaign Launched Partnership Announced Between CIC Libraries and Google Message from Dean Kalantzis of the College of Education 2007 Energy Primer Cycling for a Great Cause Illinois in the News News from the Mothers and Dads Associations The date and location of the 2007 Conference for Illini Parents has been changed to Sept. 15, and moved to Illini Room A located in the Illini Union. The Conference will begin at 8:30 am and wrap-up at 1:00 pm. We want to allow parents plenty of time in the afternoon to catch up with their students and explore campus. Nominations for the Board of Directors of the Dads Association are now being accepted. Elections will be held during Dads Weekend on October 6th at the breakfast meeting. Officers include a president, three vice-presidents, a treasurer and directors. Members of the Board are elected from among the county chairs. The Dads Association will be awarding four $500 scholarships in January 2008. The application must be completed and returned by November 30, 2007. Parents must be members of either the Dads or Mothers Association. Each year the University of Illinois Dads Association awards the Certificate of Merit to a faculty member, student, staff, and student organization at their annual banquet during Dads Weekend. The award recipients will be presented with a monetary award as well as a personalized gift. Nominations are due by September 7, 2007 at 5pm. Register your contact information with the Mothers and Dads Association! We will work with the Campus Risk Management office to include parent information on the emergency alert system that is currently being developed. We will also use the information to add parents to our Listserv. Important Dates June 9, 2007 -- End of Summer Session I June 11, 2007 -- Instruction Begins, Summer Session II June 15, 2007 -- Deadline to add a first half-session course, Summer Session II Deadline to withdraw from the University and receive the 90% pro-rata refund for Summer Session II (8 week) and Summer Session I (Indepedent Study) if not registered for any other summer session June 19, 2007 -- Deadline to add an 8-week course, Summer Session II June 22, 2007 -- Deadline to drop or elect credit/no credit for a 1st half-session course, Summer Session II Tuition Payment Due Summer 2007 Financial Aid Application The deadline for the Summer 2007 Financial Aid Application is June 15, 2007. Students must be degree-seeking and enrolled in at least six hours as an undergraduate student or three hours as a graduate student. Additionally, students must complete their registration online prior to submitting their Summer 2007 application to the financial aid office. Brilliant Futures Campaign Kick-off: Note from the Chancellor When my three kids were young, our family took a trip to Algonquin Park in Ontario. My wife, Susan, and I had promised the kids we’d take them fishing. So, we trudged through the woods with a rubber raft on our heads until we finally got to a lake. There we sat under the hot sun, casting our lines into the placid water. The kids loved watching the ripples spreading across the lake’s glassy surface. Which is good, because we didn’t catch any fish. The only fish we ate that night were fish sticks! Read More $2.25 Billion Campaign Launched Brilliant Futures is the largest and most ambitious Campaign in recent history and aims to raise $2.25 billion over a five-year period for research, faculty, students, local communities, and the campus environment. We hope you will check this site frequently to find out how generous contributions by friends and alumni are helping to provide an excellent education to our students and outstanding contributions to all of society. Partnership Announced Between CIC Libraries and Google The Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), a consortium of 12 world-class research universities, advancing their missions by sharing expertise, leveraging campus resources and collaborating on innovative programs, is announcing an agreement with Google to digitize distinctive collections across all its libraries as part of the Google Book Search project. As a member of the consortium, the University of Illinois is part of this important initiative. Also, read the announcement from the University. Message from Dean Kalantzis of the College of Education Our first academic year together has been an amazing one that has concluded on high notes in nearly every possible aspect. With our Campus and University still in a state of transition under new leadership and with a dean new to both the College and to the country, there were countless opportunities over the past ten months for things to go wrong – or at least go awry. Instead, what I have seen is a College of faculty, staff and students who were determined from the outset that this year was a chance to reestablish ourselves as a voice of influence – on the campus, in our local community and across the nation. Read More 2007 Energy Primer The Energy Club is sponsoring the 2007 Energy Primer. This publication is produced in an effort to increase awareness on campus about the issues concerning renewable energy. Cycling for a Great Cause Many students relax, take classes or volunteer for internships during the summer. For the Illini 4000, however, the summer days mean cycling, sunburns and sore muscles as the biking group rides 4,000 miles across the U.S. to raise awareness of pediatric cancer and to support cancer research. During their trek from late May to early August, the Illini 4000 cyclers will visit with alumni and UIAA alumni clubs. Track the riders’ progress. Illinois in the News $100 Million Gift Commitment from Alumnus Thomas Siebel Jumpstarts 'Brilliant Futures' Campaign The University of Illinois announced a record $100 million gift commitment from alumnus Thomas Siebel during the kick-off of the largest fundraising effort in the 140-year history of the University. The gift commitment from Siebel, a high-tech business innovator who holds three degrees from Illinois, is an estate provision combined with outright support of science and engineering on the Urbana-Champaign campus. The Thomas M. Siebel Fund for Excellence will emphasize collaborative work that addresses major problems and opportunities facing humankind in this century, including the convergence of the computational and life sciences and breakthrough developments in energy and human health. Full Story Golden Gate Bridge corrects history The Golden Gate Bridge district issued a formal report on 70 years of stewardship of the famous bridge--and decided to right an old wrong by giving major credit for the design of the bridge to an engineer it had ignored. The engineer was Charles Ellis, a University of Illinois professor of engineering. He did much of the technical and theoretical work that built the bridge, but until now, got none of the credit. Full Story Student projects display automation, imagination Students enrolled in the Advanced Digital Systems Lab (ECE 395) are not only free of homework and tests but also gain experience and knowledge they need for the future. “A lot of this lab is basically that you dream what you want to do,” said course instructor Lippold Haken, a professor of electrical and computer engineering. “The students pick their own project, and then they work hard to make their dream come true.” Full Story Job Shadowing Program Links Companies, Students The Job Shadowing Program helps students explore their career interests by partnering them with business professionals, preferably alumni, whom they follow through a normal day on the job. From a student’s perspective, the chance to spend a day with the chief of a major company or even small business is eye opening. The program also allows employers an early peek into the ranks of potential job candidates, and helps companies to distinguish themselves among students early in their academic studies. Full Story Welcome to Hollywood Just finishing his senior year at the University of Illinois, Don Ferguson would have been happy doing odd jobs on the movie set of Welcome to Tolono. Little did he know that he would be promoted six times, finally winding up as a producer on this movie, which was directed by a top television writer. Ferguson, a 2006 LAS graduate from U of I, also served as an assistant editor on Welcome to Tolono, directed by Mark Roberts, head writer for the popular CBS comedy Two and a Half Men. The independent movie will premiere June 30 at the Foellinger Auditorium on the Urbana-Champaign campus. 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
Parent Programs Office, 1401 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801 Phone (217) 333-7063, Fax (217) 333-7872, Email uofiparents@ad.uiuc.edu