At a Glance: January 13, 2025
| Online Programs Announcements | |
|---|---|
| Spring 1 Courses Begin | |
| The Spring semester is officially starting this week! Spring 1 courses begin on Wednesday, January 15. Please be sure to check your course start and end dates for the Spring first eight week term as some course start dates may vary. Online Programs utilizes dual learning platforms with Canvas and Coursera. Make sure to access your course in both platforms to be successful. | |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Closure | |
| The University will be closed on Monday, January 20 to celebrate the life and achievements of US Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor his legacy and those in the movement by volunteering to improve your communities. Please refer to your course syllabi for assignment deadlines and live session schedules. University offices will be closed, and responses via email will be delayed during this time. There will also be no At-a-Glance newsletter delivered on the holiday. We look forward to interacting with you on Tuesday, January 21 when the University reopens. | |
| Spring 2025 Drop and Withdrawal Refund Guides | |
| For your convenience, the Office of the Registrar has created course refund guides that outline the specific drop dates and withdrawal dates for each course. Go to the current semester and scroll down to “non-standard 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. | |
| Applications Now Open for the Carle Capstone Project | |
| We are excited to announce that the application period is now open for the 2025 - 2026 Carle Capstone Project, a unique interdisciplinary opportunity for iMBA learners to collaborate with peers in medicine and engineering. This year- long experiential learning course focuses on solving real healthcare challenges by developing innovative, marketable products. iMBA learners who participate in the Carle Capstone project will fulfill both of their specialization capstone requirements. Eligible learners residing in the U.S. with at least 30 credit hours are encouraged to apply by 11:59 PM CT on Friday, February 7. Visit our calendar page for full details on the Carle Capstone project, application link and process, and key deadlines. | |
| Spring 2 Course Assistant Applications Open Wednesday | |
| The application to become a Gies iDegrees Course Assistant for the second eight weeks of Spring 2025 will be open this week on Wednesday, January 15. If you are interested in being considered for a position that will begin in March, please complete the CA application no later than 11:45 pm CT on January 22. Due to the volume of applications, late submissions will not be accepted. Those selected for a CA position will be notified via email in February. Visit our calendar page for the application link, details and eligibility. If you have any additional questions about the application process or eligibility, please email the Academic Support Group. | |
| Launching Coursera Coach – Your AI Learning Assistant | |
| We’re excited to introduce Coursera Coach, an AI-powered learning assistant designed to enhance your learning experience. Coursera Coach is now available in our massive open online courses (MOOCs) hosted on Coursera. It will provide you with real-time assistance, answer questions, and offer personalized guidance as you progress through our courses. Gies Online is committed to providing our learners with cutting-edge innovations and we encourage you to explore Coursera Coach and make the most of this innovative tool. To learn more about the tool, you can visit the Program Platforms webpage or contact i-support@illinois.edu. | |
| Separating Home Life from Work – Maybe There’s a ‘Vegas Rule’ for That | |
| Oscar Ybarra, professor of business administration, and his coauthor Todd Chan of the University of Michigan, used what they called “the Vegas Rule” to examine how well people separate their work life and home life. Their findings reveal a surprising link between working memory and the ability to keep home and work worlds separate. Read more to discover what they uncovered and how it could apply to your life. | |
| Events | |
| Women's Coffee Chat | |
| Wednesday, January 15 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm CT | Register Here | |
| Join us to explore how women in business are achieving success in Gies Online Graduate Programs! A recruitment leader will be joined by some of the incredible women currently enrolled in our online programs. Bring your questions and a cup of coffee as we discuss the experiences and challenges women face in business and how graduate education is empowering women to succeed. | |
| Scottsdale Meet Up | |
| Wednesday, January 15 | 6:30 - 8:30 pm MT | Register Here | |
| Gies Business is looking forward to providing an opportunity for our iDegree learners and alumni in the Scottsdale, Arizona area to gather for a Meet Up. Join Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, Nerissa Brown, Senior Director of Academic and Operational Strategy, Lisa Marinelli, and your fellow learners to grow your Gies Business network. The event will take place at Roaring Fork (4800 N Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85251). If you are interested in attending the meet up, please register today by 11:59 pm CT. We look forward to connecting with you in person. | |
| Share the Benefits of Gies Online Programs | |
| Friday, January 17 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm CT | Share Registration Link | |
| Do you know someone interested in Gies Online but still has questions about our credentials? Share this event and invite them to learn more directly from our learners and recruitment staff! The event will provide an overview of the available credentials through Gies Graduate Programs, feature insights from current ambassadors, and include a Q&A session. We would love to connect with anyone you know who might be interested. | |
| First Generation Learner Coffee Chat | |
| Tuesday, January 21 | 1:00 - 2:00 pm CT | Register Here | |
| We invite first-generation graduate learners—those who are the first in their family to pursue a graduate degree—to grab a coffee or tea and join our recruitment team, along with current Student Ambassadors who are also first-generation graduate learners, for a coffee chat. This session will explore the challenges faced by first-generation learners and highlight strategies for success in graduate education. You'll also learn about the support services available and gain insight into what it’s like to be a first-generation learner in Gies Online programs. Bring your questions—we look forward to connecting with you! | |
| Cozad New Venture Challenge 2025: A Capstone Opportunity for Innovators | |
| Register by February 2 | Register Here | |
| You can now earn credit for one specialization capstone for participating in the Cozad New Venture Challenge by joining a capstone course for the challenge at no additional cost. Join the challenge and build up your business formulation and entrepreneurship skills. The Grainger College of Engineering is hosting the Cozad New Venture Challenge, with the Gies College of Business partnering as a sponsor for the event. Open to all University of Illinois learners, both on campus and online, this event offers remote workshops via Zoom throughout the semester to help you advance your ideas with mentoring, funding, and developing skills for success. At the end, you can pitch your innovative startup in person, on the UIUC campus, at Demo Day on April 2, 2025 to compete for a share of $500,000 in funding. Teams selected for finals must also attend in person on April 17, 2025 at the UIUC campus. Learn more about the challenge here. For additional questions, please contact Kearsa Rawson. For questions about the specialization capstone credit and course, email i-support@illinois.edu. | |
| This Week at Gies Use the Event Calendar for information on upcoming events, such as iConverge and iDegree Convocation, as well as academic dates and deadlines for the semester. Click event titles below for details on the events happening this week. | |
| Spring 1 Courses Begin | |
| Wednesday, January 15 | |
| Women's Coffee Chat | |
| Wednesday, January 15 | |
| Scottsdale, AZ Meet Up | |
| Wednesday, January 15 | |
| Full Refund Drop Deadline for January 15 Courses | |
| Monday, January 20 Exception: 4 Week Courses | |
| University Closed MLK Day | |
| Monday, January 20 | |
| Spring 2 CA Application Due | |
| Wednesday, January 22 | |
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