At a Glance: March 23, 2026
Announcements
Spring 1 Grade Release
Final grades for the Spring 1 term are available to view in Student Self-Service on Saturday, March 28.
Beta Gamma Sigma Members: Request Your Honor Cords for May Convocation
Are you an active member of Beta Gamma Sigma planning to participate in the May 2026 Convocation Ceremony? Make sure to complete the request form by Wednesday, April 15 to receive your honor cords!
Important Reminder: To streamline the graduation process, cords will be distributed exclusively at the Pre-Ceremony Open House event. They will not be available at the ceremony or via mail, so please plan to join us at the Open House to collect yours!
Gies Events
Delhi Meet Up
Wednesday, March 25 | 7:30 - 9:30 pm IST
Gies Business is looking forward to providing an opportunity for our iDegree learners and alumni in the Delhi area to gather for a Meet Up! Join Professor Maria Rodas and your fellow learners for an evening of networking and connecting. The event will take place at The Lalit New Delhi (Fire Brigade Lane, Barakhamba, New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India). If you have questions about the event, please email mkauf5@illinois.edu. We look forward to connecting with you!
Rosemont, IL iConnect
Tuesday, March 31 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm CT
Gies Business is looking forward to providing an opportunity for our iDegree learners and alumni in the Rosemont, IL area to gather for an iConnect! Join your fellow learners for an evening of networking and connecting. The event will take place at Carlucci Rosemont (6111 N. River Rd. Rosemont, Illinois 60018). Please register by Friday, March 25. Light food and refreshments will be provided. We look forward to connecting with you!
Rosemont, IL iConnect Registration
Learn How to Get Started With GiesConnect
Wednesday, April 1 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm CT
Ready to make the most of your Gies experience? Join our Getting Started With GiesConnect webinar to learn how to navigate and use GiesConnect, powered by Inscribe, your central online community for building meaningful connections with fellow learners, alumni, Gies staff, and faculty during your program and beyond.
Whether you’re looking to grow your professional network, connect locally, explore industry discussions, or stay updated on upcoming events, GiesConnect brings the entire Gies community together in one place. In this webinar, you’ll learn how to create your profile, join channels and topics, explore new features, stay organized with helpful tips, and start engaging right away.
GiesConnect Webinar Registration
Champaign - Urbana Baseball Meet Up
Friday, April 10 | 5:30 pm CT
Join Gies Graduate Programs in celebrating Graduate Student Appreciation Week (April 6 - 10) with a baseball game and tailgate at Illinois Field (601 E. Kirby Avenue Champaign, IL) as Illinois takes on the University of New Orleans at 6:00 pm. Starting at 5:30 pm, meet us on the tailgate patios behind the outfield wall for food, refreshments, and a chance to connect with fellow graduate students before and during the game. Admission is free! Please note that seating is not provided on the tailgate patios, so you are welcome to bring a lawn chair if you would like to sit during the event. Please register by Wednesday, April 8. We look forward to celebrating with you and connecting at the ballpark!
Champaign - Urbana Meet Up Registration
Seattle Meet Up
Wednesday, April 15 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm PT
Gies Business is looking forward to providing an opportunity for our iDegree learners and alumni in the Seattle area to gather for a meet up! Join your fellow learners and alumni for an evening of networking and connecting. The event will take place at Elliot's Oyster House (1201 Alaskan Way, Pier 56 Seattle, WA 98101).Please register by Wednesday, April 8. We look forward to seeing you there.
Chicago Meet Up
Tuesday, April 28 | 6:00 - 8:30 pm CT
Gies Business is looking forward to providing an opportunity for our iDegree learners and alumni in the Chicago, IL area to gather for a Meet Up! Join Senior Associate Director of iDegrees, Heather Aldridge; Senior Student and Academic Success Specialists, Micaela Childress and Erica Burks; your fellow learners for an evening of networking and connecting. The event will take place at Puttery (932 W Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60607). Please register by Tuesday, April 21. Light food and refreshments will be provided as well as one round of mini golf. We look forward to connecting with you!
Invite a Colleague to a Gies Virtual Regional Event
We’re hosting a series of virtual regional events for prospective learners interested in exploring Gies—and we’d love your help spreading the word.
If you have a colleague, friend, or professional contact who might benefit from learning more about our programs, invite them to join! You’re also welcome to attend alongside them to share your experience, connect with others in your region, and help showcase the Gies community.
This coffee chat is an opportunity for your guest to learn about our portfolio of online credentials and how to advance their career through Gies graduate business education. When you register, you can share your colleague’s name and email and we’ll send them a personal invitation, or simply share the registration link with them directly.
Illinois Region | Thursday, April 9 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm CT
Illinois Coffee Chat Registration
California Region | Thursday, April 9 | 2:00 - 3:00 pm CT
California Coffee Chat Registration
New York Region | Thursday, April 30 |11:00 am -12:00 pm CT
New York Coffee Chat Registration
International Region | Wednesday, May 6 | 9:00 - 10:00 am CT
International Coffee Chat Registration
Texas Region | Wednesday, May 6 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm CT
Texas Coffee Chat Registration
Gies News
Study Reveals Which Factors are Important in Identifying Cross-Industry Competition
Associate professor of business administration at Gies College of Business Olga Khessina, co-authored a research study, “When should firms watch for cross-industry competition? A demand-side perspective,” to provide insight into how to identify when businesses need to respond to emerging industries as potential threats. Their study – coauthored with Gies alum Ying Li (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) and Samira Reis (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid) – was published in the Strategic Management Journal. Read more about the study here.
PODCAST: How Human-Machine Teamwork is Transforming Healthcare
Every year, 39 million American women get a mammogram, and about 10% of them receive an unsettling call that could trigger weeks of anxiety. Gies Business professor Eren Ahsen thinks new technologies can fix that. Listen to this episode 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.
Taipei Meet Up
Monday, March 23
Hyderabad Meet Up
Monday, March 23
Spring 2 Drop Deadline for 100% Refund (March 18 Start)
Monday, March 23
Inclusion and Empowerment for the LGBTQ+ Community
Tuesday, March 24
Delhi Meet Up
Wednesday, March 25
First Generation Learner Coffee Chat
Thursday, March 26
In Case You Missed It...
Previous At-a-Glance issues are available for viewing via the Announcements section of the Online Programs website.