At a Glance: February 2, 2026
Announcements
Entrepreneurship Course Schedule Changes
Beginning in Academic Year 2026, MBA 551: Strategic Innovation, MBA 552: Fostering Creative Thinking, and MBA 590: Entrepreneurship and Strategic Innovation Capstone will have a shift in their scheduled offering. These courses are part of the Entrepreneurship and Strategic Innovation Focus Area.
- MBA 551: Strategic Innovation will move from its current Spring 2 offering to Spring 1 starting in Spring 2027. The final Spring 2 offering of this course will be Spring 2026.
- MBA 552: Fostering Creative Thinking will move from Summer to Fall 2 beginning in Fall 2026. The final Summer offering of this course will be Summer 2026.
- MBA 590: Entrepreneurship and Strategic Innovation Capstone will move from Fall 2 to Spring 2 in Spring 2027. The final Fall 2 capstone will be held Fall 2026. Please note that completion of the capstone is not required to complete the focus area.
Click to view a graphic of these changes.
MBA 553: Entrepreneurship: From Startup to Growth will continue to be offered during the Fall 1 session. The courses in this specialization are considered standalone and can be taken in any order. If you need assistance updating your degree plan or class schedule in light of these upcoming changes, connect with Student and Academic Success Specialist in Express Advising or email i-support@illinois.edu.
McKinley Relaxation Resources
As a Gies Online learner, you have a lot of commitments and responsibilities to balance — finding time to relax can be a challenge. Luckily, McKinley Health Center provides a list of relaxation techniques, exercises, and tips on their website! Check out their online resources here.
Diversify Your Career Strategy
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- An AI resume builder tailored to your specific skills and career path.
Gies Events
Share the Benefits of Gies Online Programs
Thursday, February 12 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm CT
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 students 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.
Military Coffee Chat
Wednesday, February 18 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm CT
We invite all active-duty service members, reservists, and veterans in Gies Online Programs to our coffee chat. Join our recruitment team and current student veterans as they discuss their successes, answer questions and share advice and resources. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow military members and veterans, exchange perspectives, and share valuable resources that have enhanced your experience in the program.
Register for the Military Coffee Chat
Gies News
Ravi Mehta Honored With the Walter H. Stellner Distinguished Professor in Marketing
To acknowledge his leadership and expertise in marketing with a focus on consumer behavior and innovation, Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois celebrated the investiture of Ravi Mehta as the Walter H. Stellner Distinguished Professor of Marketing in Business Administration January 23, 2026. Read more about Mehta’s contributions 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.
Wednesday, February 4
In Case You Missed It...
Previous At-a-Glance issues are available for viewing via the Announcements section of the Online Programs website.