At a Glance: December 1, 2025

Dec 9, 2025

Announcements
Your Canvas Course Page Has a Time Limit
Canvas course pages are available for eight weeks from the end of the last course module, as stated in each course syllabus. After eight weeks from the end date, you will no longer have access to your course(s) dashboard in Canvas. Save any documents before that date for your personal archives. Your access to course content and videos in Coursera will not expire.
Spring Virtual Career Fairs
Spring Semester is starting soon and University virtual career fairs are approaching. If you are planning to attend, this article offers some helpful tips and tricks for success. It is important to have a holistic approach to your career search and Gies Online Programs offers resources to diversify your career strategy, including: Handshake- Explore job postings and connect directly with employers Big Interview- Practice mock interviews for a hands-on learning experience VMock- Get help editing your resume to highlight your skills
Virtual Workshop: From Auto-Pilot to Aligned
On behalf of the Gies Business Office of Access and Community, we are excited to share an upcoming virtual workshop that is available to our learners. A proud Gies Business alum, Deanna Brooks (ACCY '13, MAS '14) has dedicated her career to driving financial stability, enhancing operational efficiency, and maximizing profitability across organizations. Beyond her professional success, Deanna is deeply committed to her purpose – understanding the motivation behind what she does and the positive impact it creates. Her life mission is to empower and inspire women who follow in her footsteps, helping them find fulfillment and purpose in their own career journeys. Join us for an inspiring virtual workshop featuring Deanna Brooks, an impact-driven CPA and business financial consultant with over 11 years of diverse industry experience, to learn how women can reprioritize themselves and design a purpose-filled, passion-driven career. This workshop will be held on Friday, December 12, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm CT on Zoom. Register for the workshop here or join directly via Zoom.
Help Grow the Gies Community
As current graduate learners, you understand how our programs empower learners to grow personally and professionally. We invite you to help others take that same step by referring someone who would benefit from joining the Gies community through our graduate programs. Your referral strengthens our alumni network, builds on the legacy of excellence, and ensures that more learners can experience the power of business on purpose. Thank you for being an advocate for Gies and helping shape the future of our programs. Please submit a referral here.
Spring 2026 Ambassador Applications Now Open!
Are you passionate about sharing what makes the Gies Online learner experience special? We’re looking for enthusiastic current learners to join our Gies Online Ambassador Program for the Spring 2026 semester! As an ambassador, you’ll have the opportunity to: Engage in one-on-one conversations with prospective learners Serve as panelists during recruitment webinars Participate in office hours Host LinkedIn Live sessions Create and share quotes or social media posts Applications are now open! We’re seeking learners who bring a positive, proactive, and professional approach and are eager to grow their leadership and presentation skills. Applications are due by December 5 at 11:59pm CT. Click here for the Ambassador Application. Questions? Email Kate Deering.

Gies Events

Cape Town, South Africa Meet Up

Friday, January 9 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm SAST
Gies Business is looking forward to providing an opportunity for our iDegree learners and alumni in the Cape Town, South Africa area to gather for a meet up! Join Professor Steve Raquel and your fellow learners for an evening of networking and connecting. The event will take place at Grand Africa Cafe (1 Haul Road, V&A Waterfront, Granger Bay, Cape Town). Please register by Friday, January 2. Light food and refreshments will be provided. We look forward to connecting with you!

Register for the Cape Town Meet Up

Champaign-Urbana iConnect

Friday, January 16 | 5:00 - 7:00 pm CT
Gies Business is looking forward to providing an opportunity for our iDegree learners and alumni in the Champaign-Urbana area to gather for an iConnect! Join your fellow learners for an evening of networking and connecting. The event will take place at Papa Del’s (1201 S Neil Street Champaign, IL). Please register by Friday, January 9. Light food and refreshments will be provided. We look forward to connecting with you!

Register for the Champaign-Urbana iConnect

Gies News

Study: Auditors Trust Adaptive AI More When Uncertainty Rises
Gies College of Business Professor Jenny Ulla and her coauthor Benjamin Commerford (University of Kentucky) recently published a study answering the question: “How much and when do business professionals trust information that is provided using AI?” Their paper, “Reliance on Algorithmic Estimates: The Joint Influence of Algorithm Adaptability and Estimation Uncertainty,” was published in The Accounting Review and examines the relationship between the use of AI in algorithms and auditors’ trust in the results. Read more about their paper here.
Study: Geopolitical Tensions Mute Corporate Transparency for Foreign Investors
From Washington to Beijing to Moscow, political tensions are shaping not just trade routes and defense strategies—but the very flow of financial information across borders. A new study, coauthored by Gies Business Assistant Professor of Accountancy Yifei Lu, finds that when nations clash diplomatically, the world’s companies become more tight-lipped with foreign investors. Read more about the study here.

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.

Gies Global Learner Coffee Chat
Wednesday, December 3

Deadline to Register for December 2025 Convocation Ceremony Events
Friday, December 5