Announcements

Updated Express Advising Hours

We are excited to announce that Express Advising will now be offered daily, Monday through Friday, from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM CST. These 15-minute, virtual advising sessions (camera not required) are intended to support you with quick questions. In addition to our expanded express advising hours, we have also implemented the Queue, a virtual waiting line, to bring transparency with wait times. You can find detailed instructions and our updated link to join Express Advising on our Advising and Planning website.

Your Input Requested: AI and Academic Integrity Survey

The Gies Academic Integrity and AI Use Task Force invites learners to share feedback on the use of generative AI (GenAI) in Gies courses. Please complete this anonymous survey to help improve clarity, fairness, and learning. Your input will inform future guidance, resources, and policy recommendations. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Seeking Volunteers for the Health Innovators Project

The Gies College of Business has a strategic partnership with the Illinois Carle College of Medicine. One of their collaborative programs, Capstone Innovations, brings together a medical student, an engineering student, and a business student to identify healthcare needs and design innovative products or processes to address them.

 We are seeking iMBA learners who reside within the US to volunteer as consultants to support one of the Capstone Innovation teams. Volunteers will assist by helping define the project scope, conducting research and analysis, and providing data-driven recommendations. These projects will kick off toward the beginning of the Spring 2026 semester and last approximately eight weeks. This is an optional experience and capstone credit is not awarded for volunteers.

The form to sign up as a volunteer will remain open until 11:59 PM CT on Tuesday, January 6.

Spring 1 Soft Launch Starts This Week

Spring 1 courses that begin on Wednesday, January 14 will soft launch on Wednesday, January 7. Soft launch allows you to view your registered classes in both Canvas and Coursera a week ahead, giving you the chance to review your course syllabi and expectations before the official start date. Registering at least two weeks before the course start date ensures access to your course during the soft-launch period. Registration is not permitted beyond beyond 11:59 PM CT on the first day of class.       

Updated Schedule for BADM 544 Live Sessions              

The live session schedule for BADM 544: Strategic Management  has been updated. The course will now have three weekly live sessions instead of two. Please view your program's course offering page or course Canvas page to review your live session options.

MOOC Launch MBA 573     

We’re excited to announce the launch of the MOOCs for MBA 573: Implement - Healthcare Business Strategy and New Business Implementation.

This course equips learners with essential strategy and business skills to launch, manage, and grow successful ventures and prepare for disruption and change within the healthcare landscape. Students will learn to develop sustainable business models, create robust business plans, build and manage venture teams, explore financing options, and engage with investors in the healthcare ecosystem. The course also explores the transformative ideas reshaping healthcare delivery and prepares students to evaluate those innovations to balance cost, quality, and access effectively.

MOOC 1: Healthcare Business Strategy and New Business Design

MOOC 2: The Future of Healthcare and Emerging Trends

 Update Your Grouping Preference Form              

At the beginning of each 8-week session, you should update your availability for your course groups on the Grouping Preference Form. The grouping preference tool translates your time preferences into UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) so you can be grouped in your courses with individuals with similar availability around the globe. Take a moment today to finalize your availability!

Spring 2 2026 Course Support Applications Now Open                          

The Gies iDegrees course support application for the position of Synchronous Course Assistant (SCA) and Plagiarism Reviewer (PR) for Spring 2 2026 is available now. If you are interested in being considered for a position that will begin in Spring 2, please complete the Course Support Application no later than Friday, January 16 at 11:45 pm CT. The application will provide job descriptions for each role. Please read the requirements of each role to determine eligibility.

 Application Process:

• The application process only requires submitting the Gies iDegrees Course Support Application form.
• Even if you are currently working with us, you need to apply each term, so please make sure you apply before the deadline.
• Those selected for a position will be notified via email.
• Due to the volume of applications, late submissions will not be accepted.
• If you work on a course, you will not be eligible to take it for credit as a student later.

If you have any questions about the application, please email Emily Forbes.

Transform Ideas to Impact with Cozad New Venture Challenge 2026!       

Have a great idea for a product or startup? Consider participating in the Cozad New Venture Challenge 2026, sponsored by The Grainger College of Engineering and the Gies College of Business. Cozad helps you advance that idea with mentoring, funding, and developing the skills you need to succeed. At the end, you can pitch your innovative startup at Demo Day in April and compete for a share of $550,000 in funding. This year, Gies students have access to the Business & Engineering Partnership Prize (up to $25,000) as well as several other specialty prizes. 

 This experience is offered to all University of Illinois students, in-person or online. The Cozad New Venture Challenge 2026 is an optional opportunity. No specialization capstone or credit hours will be offered. All iDegree learners are welcome to participate in the experience, but on-campus participation will be required. For additional questions, please review the FAQ or contact Stephanie Faraci. Register by February 1, 2026Gies Events

Orange County iConnect

Monday, January 12 | 6:30 - 8:30 pm PST
 Gies Business is looking forward to providing an opportunity for our iDegree learners and alumni in the Orange County area to gather for an iConnect! Join Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, Ravi Mehta, with Senior Director of Academic and Operational Strategy, Lisa Marinelli, and your fellow learners for an evening of networking and connecting. The event will take place at Walter Grill- South Coast Plaza (3300 Bristol St. Costa Mesa, CA 92626). Please register by Friday, January 9. Light food and refreshments will be provided. We look forward to connecting with you!  

Register for the Orange County iConnect

Women's Coffee Chat

Thursday, January 15 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm CT Join us to explore how women in business can achieve success in Gies Online Graduate Programs! A recruitment leader will be joined by some of the amazing women currently studying in one of our online programs. Bring your questions and a cup of coffee to sit back and discuss the experiences and challenges women face in business and how graduate education can help women succeed.

 Women's Coffee Chat Registration

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

Gies Business Tackles Rural Healthcare Crisis with New Digital Kiosk Initiative

Gies College of Business is driving a new initiative to transform rural healthcare delivery in Illinois, using its expertise in data analytics and healthcare innovation, the College is partnering with Carle Illinois College of Medicine, OSF HealthCare, and Tata Elxsi to launch a network of digital health kiosks, a low-cost first point-of-contact for people who live in remote areas. Read more about the initiative 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

Spring 1 Soft Launch (January 14 Start Date)

Wednesday, January 7

Cape Town, South Africa Meet Up

Friday, January 9

In Case You Missed It...

Previous At-a-Glance issues are available for viewing via the Announcements section of the Online Programs website.

View At a Glance Archive