At a Glance: February 9, 2026
Announcements
Join the FIN 500 Tutor Team for Spring 2
Are you passionate about helping others succeed academically? Gies Graduate Programs Online is hiring peer tutors to support FIN 500. We are seeking dedicated Graduate Tutors to provide academic support and tutoring services to graduate learners enrolled in the course.
Position Details:
Role: Graduate Tutor
Duration: March 18 - May 12, 2026
Primary Responsibilities:
- Provide one-on-one and small group tutoring sessions via Zoom.
- Assist learners in understanding FIN 500 course materials.
- Help improve study skills and develop strategies for academic success.
Why Join Us?
- Make a meaningful impact on your peers' academic journeys.
- Gain valuable experience in tutoring and academic support.
- Flexible online tutoring sessions that fit your schedule.
How to Apply:
- The Peer Tutor application can be found here.
Please submit your application and requested materials no later than 11:59 pm CT on Saturday, February 14. For additional questions, please contact giesgradsuccess@business.illinois.edu.
Entrepreneurship Changes Reflected in Degree Planner
We are following up on a recent update regarding schedule changes to the following courses: MBA 551 Strategic Innovation, MBA 552 Fostering Creative Thinking, and MBA 590 Entrepreneurship and Strategic Innovation Capstone. These changes will take effect from Fall 2026 through Spring 2027. The updated schedules are now reflected in the Gies Student Portal degree planning tool. If you previously had any of these courses in your degree planner under the former schedule, they have been removed to align with the new offering times. You can review the changes here or below.
- MBA 551: Strategic Innovation: Offered in the first eight weeks of the Spring semester, beginning in Spring 2027.
- MBA 552: Fostering Creative Thinking: Offered in the second eight weeks of Fall, beginning Fall 2026.
- MBA 590: Entrepreneurship and Strategic Innovation Capstonein the second eight weeks of Spring semester, beginning in Spring 2027.
If you need assistance with updating your plan, please do not hesitate to reach out to a Student and Academic Success Specialist.
MOOCS 1 and 2 Launch for MBA 542
We are excited to share the launch of the updated MOOCs 1 and 2 for MBA 542: Digital Marketing Analytics. If you’ve already completed a previous version and earned a certificate, it will still count toward your for-credit course. However, we highly encourage you to review the revised materials, as updated content will be reflected in the coursework. Access the new MOOCs today!
MOOC 1: Digital Marketing Analytics in Theory
MOOC 2: Digital Marketing Analytics in PracticeSchedule an Advising Meeting With a Specialist
Have any questions about your degree program? Now is a great time to meet with a specialist to prepare for Spring 2! The Student and Academic Success Specialists provide academic advising and support for all students in Gies Online Programs. Whether you need assistance with registration, course selections, dropping or withdrawing from classes, degree planning, or accessing resources available to you - our team is here to help! We offer 25 minute one-on-one Advising Appointments and 15 minute one-on-one Express Advising sessions (first-come, first-serve). You can also email i-support@illinois.edu at any time, with any question. We are here for you!
New Management Express Advising Process: Follow Two Quick Steps
Gies Business has launched a new Management Express Advising Process this year. We’ve added more Express Advising hours and introduced the Queue, a virtual waiting line that shows how many learners are ahead of you and your estimated wait time.
To meet with a specialist for Express Advising, make sure you complete both steps below:
- Join the Queue to save your spot in line and shows your wait time
- Click the Zoom link on the Queue page to enter the zoom waiting room, where a specialist can communicate with you when its your turn.
You can find detailed instructions here.
Gies Events
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
Qiping Xu Wins Dimensional Fund Advisors Prize for Greenwashing Research
Qiping Xu, assistant professor of finance at Gies College of Business, has been awarded the Dimensional Fund Advisors Distinguished Paper Prize for her research into the asset market for industrial pollution. The Dimensional Fund Advisors Prizes award recognize the top three papers published in the Journal of Finance in an area other than corporate finance. Read more about Professor Xu here.
Bill Chase Brings C-suite Experience to the Leighton Lecture on Ethics and Responsibility “I kind of think [ethics] might be the most important class you can take.”
That’s how Chase, retired executive vice president and chief financial officer of AbbVie, framed his visit to Gies College of Business as this year’s Leighton Lecture on Ethics and Responsibility. Chase drew from his long career in life sciences finance – including the historic spinout of AbbVie from Abbott Laboratories and the development of Humira – to explore what it means to lead ethically within the constraints of fiduciary duty, regulation, and long-term corporate strategy. Read more about Chase’s talk 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.
Tuesday, February 10
Wednesday, February 11
Wednesday, February 11
Spring Deadline for 100% Refund MBA 564 B
Saturday, February 14
In Case You Missed It...Previous At-a-Glance issues are available for viewing via the Announcements section of the Online Programs website.