At a Glance: August 7, 2023

Aug 8, 2023
Online Programs Announcements
Fall 2023 First 8-Week Courses Begin
Fall courses begin this week on Wednesday, August 9Please be sure to check your course start and end dates for the fall term as some course start dates may vary. Online Programs utilizes dual platforms with Canvas and Coursera. Make sure to access your course in both platforms to be successful.
 
 
Drop and Withdrawal Refund Guides
For your convenience, the Office of the Registrar has created two course refund guides that outline the specific drop dates and withdrawal dates for each course. Just go to “nonstandard courses” and search by course number. Please note that there are two separate refund guides for drops and withdrawals and you can refer to our Dropping Courses and Refunds page about the difference between a drop, withdrawal, and cancellation. As an additional resource, our event calendar posts the academic drop deadlines by course start date. 
 
 
December 2023 and May 2024 iDegrees Convocation Ceremonies
The dates for the December 2023 and May 2024 convocation ceremonies have been confirmed! 

December 2023 iDegrees Convocation Ceremony will be held in person on 
Friday, December 15 from 1:00-3:00 pm CT at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Ceremony registration and details will be shared out to August and December 2023 graduates later in the semester.

The May 2024 iDegrees Convocation Ceremony will be held in person on Friday, May 10 from 3:00-4:30 pm at the State Farm Center. Ceremony registration and details will be shared out to May 2024 graduates closer to the convocation date. 
 
Tedx Gies
Gies has partnered up with TED to create & deliver unique ads, featuring our iDegree students. Students interested must upload an audio or video recording about why their story is unique or compelling, describing how their time in Gies shaped their experience. Semi-Finalists will be selected and sent off to TED. TED will review and select candidates. The selected finalists will meet virtually with a TED producer, be interviewed, and ultimately be featured on TED podcasts! The application deadline is August 9Apply here.
 
Invitation to Participate in Preselection for Research Study
Gies College of Business is inviting students to participate in an extensive research study, done by an outside researcher. Selected candidates will meet 1-1 with an external moderator, or will be put into a trial. We will be looking for a small population (roughly 20) across all three degree programs.
Students interested should complete the prescreen form by August 14, and a small group will review applications. Those selected to participate in the final rounds of interviews will receive a Gies-branded hoodie or pullover! Register here
 
Faculty Feature
 
Oktay Urcan
Oktay Urcanis a Professor of Accountancy and Josef and Margot Lakonishok Faculty Fellow and Fred & Virginia Roedgers Faculty Fellow in Accountancy. Professor Urcan received his Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2007 and joined Gies as an Associate Professor of Accountancy in 2014. He is currently a Professor of Accountancy and serves as the Academic Director for the iMSA. His research interests include archival financial accounting, debt market relevance of accounting information, accounting disclosures, and macro accounting. Professor Urcan teaches graduate classes in financial accounting, advanced topics, doctoral research, and accounting for mergers and acquisitions.

Find Professor Urcan:
In Fall 2023, Professor Urcan is the lead instructor for both ACCY 500: Accounting Measurement, Reporting, and Control (also known as Financial Accounting) and ACCY 532: Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions and Other Complex Transactions.
 
Events
 
Local Graduate Student Parent Meet-Up
Monday, August 7 | 4:00 pm-6:00 pm CT
All local graduate students who are parents are invited to the Student Parent Meet-Up at Hessel Park where kids can play and adults can meet other folks who are parenting while pursuing degrees.
We'll have snacks for kids and adults, as well as bubbles and sidewalk chalk. 
Hessel Park is right off of Kirby Avenue in Champaign and has a play structure, splash pad, grassy fields, and tennis courts. Click here for a map link.
 
 
New Student Webinar Series
August 10, August 17 | 12 pm CT
In the New Student Webinar Series, you will be able to connect with current students who will share their tips and advice to help you succeed in your first term. This webinar series is for August 2023 new learners only.
  • How to Succeed as an Online Student
    Thursday, August 10 | 12 pm CT | Register Here
  • Successfully Managing Your Time in Your First Term
    Thursday, August 17 | 12 pm CT | Register Here
Midwest Healthcare Conference
Thursday, August 17 | 8:00 am-8:00 pm CT | Register Here
Gies College of Business and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine are once again teaming up to host the Midwest Healthcare Management Conference on Thursday, August 17, from 8:00 am-8:00 pm at the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center. At this year's event, participants will discuss the important lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to strategize the management of healthcare in a post-COVID world.

Themes are this year's conference include:
  • Reimagining public health by strengthening primary healthcare and community-based health systems while addressing social determinants of health that contribute to health inequities. 
  • Leveraging digital technologies and data to improve health outcomes and health equity. 
  • Crowdsourcing healthcare by engaging communities to promote health literacy and health equity. Moreover, crowdsourcing healthcare data could lead to fast-track algorithmic innovation.
  • Examining healthcare supply chains in a post-covid world to improve their resilience and responsiveness.
Visit the conference's webpage to learn more and register.
 
Japan Virtual Immersion
October 4-17, 2023 | Apply Here
Please travel virtually with us to Japan for a 2-week capstone course starting October 4, 2023. Space is limited, so please apply as soon as possible. Japanese MBA students will join you in this virtual course which combines interactive activities, lectures/discussions with Japanese and Gies professors, and a team case challenge where you will work together to solve a real business problem facing a Japanese company. 
Please see the attached flyer for detailed course timing and syllabus.   
Participation fee: $550
How can I register? 
To secure your spot, please register and submit a $100 non-refundable deposit by completing this form by August 15.  You will be notified of your acceptance by August 21. If demand exceeds capacity, we will give priority based on seniority (credits earned) in the program.  If you are not selected, your deposit will be refunded.

Capstone Credit 
If successfully completed, the immersion can count for ONE of the two required specialization capstone courses. Students cannot use the immersion for the program capstone. Students can participate in more than one global immersion, however only one will count as a specialization capstone course. Students are welcome to participate in the immersion regardless if it counts as a specialization capstone.

 
Mexico City In-Person Immersion
January 3-8, 2024 | Apply Here
We are very excited to be heading to Mexico!  Join us for our immersion trip to Mexico City, Mexico January 3- January 8, 2024.  This 6-day course will be truly immersive, educational, and fun.  An opportunity that combines academic activities with social, cultural and practical exercise, so each participant will have a chance to transform the theoretical and abstract into experiential learning – where Mexico becomes your classroom.  An overview of the itinerary is attached.  
To secure your spot, please register and submit a $100 non-refundable deposit by completing this form by August 23.  You will be notified of your acceptance by September 13th. If demand exceeds capacity, we will give priority based on credits earned in the program. If you are not selected to participate, your deposit will be refunded.
What costs are involved with this experience?  The fee for this experience is $2,179, plus the cost of traveling to Mexico and obtaining a visa (if needed).  The program fee covers hotel (double room), some meals, transportation, and cultural activities. Please see draft itinerary for more details. A single room will be available at an additional cost.
Capstone Credit 
If successfully completed, the immersion can count for ONE of the two required specialization capstone courses. Students cannot use the immersion for the program capstone. Students can participate in more than one global immersion, however only one will count as a specialization capstone course. Students are welcome to participate in the immersion regardless if it counts as a specialization capstone.

 
In Case You Missed It...
 
 
Update Your Grouping Preference Form
At the beginning of each 8-week session, you should update your availability on the Grouping Preference Form. The grouping preference tool translates your time preferences into UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) so you can be grouped with individuals with similar availability around the globe. 
 
 
CEO Stock Ownership Affects Medical Device Recall Timing
A new paper written by Ujjal Mukherjee, Associate Professor of Business Administration at Gies College of Business, states that the decision to recall faulty medical devices​​​​​​ by firms whose chief executive officers also own company stock is often delayed until long after they become aware of a defect. Read more here. 
 
 
Calendar
Use the Event Calendar for upcoming events and academic deadlines this semester.
 
Student Parent Meet-Up
Monday, August 7 | 4:00-6:00 pm CT| Hessel Park
 
 
August 2023 Degree Conferral 
August 7
The University will begin to confer degrees for August 2023 graduates starting on August 7, but it may take longer for the degree to be officially awarded.
 
 
Fall 1 Courses Launch
Wednesday, August 9
 
New Student Webinar Series
August 10, August 17 | 12 pm CT


 
Summer 2023 Grade Release
August 11
 
 
Fall 2023 First 8-Week Drop Deadline
August 14
Midwest Healthcare Conference
Thursday, August 17 | 8:00 am-8:00 pm CT | Register Here
 
 
Japan Virtual Immersion
October 4-17, 2023 | Apply Here
 
December 2023 Convocation Ceremony
Friday, December 15, 2023 | 1:00-3:00 pm CT
 
 
Mexico City In-Person Immersion
January 3-8, 2024 | Apply Here
 
May 2024 Convocation Ceremony 
Friday, May 10, 2024 | 3:00-4:30 pm CT