At a Glance: April 20, 2026
Announcements
May 2026 Gies Convocation Ceremony Event Registration Closing Soon
There is still time to register for the May 2026 Gies Convocation Ceremony. Join us for a pre-ceremony celebration and open house where you and your guests can socialize, take photos, and enjoy refreshments. Afterward, you'll proceed to the main convocation ceremony. Each event requires a separate registration form. The deadline to register is Friday, May 1. You can review the Gies Convocation Ceremony website for more details.
May 2026 iDegree Open House
Friday, May 15 | 7:30 - 8:30 am CT | iHotel and Conference Center
May 2026 Gies Convocation Ceremony
Friday, May 15 | 10:00 - 11:30 am CT | State Farm Center
Register for the Convocation Ceremony
Visit a Specialist in Express Advising
Have a question about summer or fall registration? Our Student and Academic Success Specialist team can assist. We offer 15-minute 1:1 Express Advising appointments (first-come, first serve) every day of the week for all your registration needs.
Instructions to Join Management Express:
Step 1: Express Advising is first-come, first-served. Secure your place in line by joining the Express Advising Queue and following the on-screen instructions.
Step 2: Monitor your place in line. Once you see the green notification that "your question is being answered", please join the Zoom link that's provided in the Queue instructions.
You can find the Express Advising hours and more detailed instructions on the Advising and Planning website.
Goldie Initiative Scholarship Opportunity
Interested in a career in commercial real estate? The Goldie Initiative is now accepting applications for its 2026–2027 Goldie Scholar Program, which supports female graduate students through scholarship, mentorship, and industry networking opportunities.
The award is up to $15,000 for eligible female graduate students with 1-2 years remaining in their program and an interest in commercial real estate. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2026 at 11:59 am CT. The first information session is offered on Tuesday, April 21 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm CT. See the attached PDF to learn more. Click here to view the application details and RSVP for the information sessions. Questions may be directed to Kelsey Cleland, Program Director.
Gies Events
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!
Munich Meet Up
Saturday, May 16 | 5:00 - 6:00 pm CEST
Gies Business is would like to invite our iDegree learners, alumni, and immersion participants in the Munich area to join us for a networking reception during our Germany Immersion. This event offers a great opportunity to connect with local Gies students and alumni, as well as immersion participants, faculty, and staff. Join Clinical Assistant Professor of Accountancy, Dawn Kink; Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Tina Girndt-Clougherty; Student and Academic Success Specialists, Micaela Childress and Eric Powell; and your fellow learners to grow your Gies Business network. The event will take place Saturday, May 16 at Maritim Hotel München in the piano bar (Goethestraße 780336 München). Please register by Wednesday, May 6. Space is limited. Light food and refreshments will be provided. We look forward to connecting with you!
Berlin Meet Up
Friday, May 22 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm CEST
Gies Business We would like to invite you to join us for our closing dinner during the Germany Immersion in Berlin. This event offers a great opportunity to connect with local Gies students and alumni, as well as immersion participants, faculty, and staff. Join Associate Director of Operations, Rachel Ward; Clinical Assistant Professor of Accountancy, Dawn Kink; Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Tina Girndt-Clougherty; Student and Academic Success Specialists, Micaela Childress and Eric Powell; and your fellow learners to grow your Gies Business network. The event will take place on Friday, May 22 at Solar (Stresemannsrtasse 76, 10963, Berlin). Please register by Wednesday, May 6. Dinner and refreshments will be provided. We look forward to connecting with you!
Gies News
State Honors Larry Gies for Transformational Leadership and Public Service
Citing his rare ability to turn visionary ideas into impactful realities throughout Illinois and beyond, Governor JB Pritzker awarded Larry Gies (ACCY ’88) the 2026 Order of Lincoln. This is the state’s highest honor, recognizing individuals for their outstanding professional achievement and dedicated public service. Read more about Larry Gies here.
How AI Chatbots Streamline Gies Business Student Experience
Gies Business is integrating AI chatbots into courses to provide students with instant, reliable answers to questions, reducing repetitive inquiries and freeing faculty to focus on deeper teaching and mentorship. Gies College of Business faculty are leaning into the AI revolution by making it a core part of the classroom experience. Instructors across the College are using custom chatbots to create a more agile and enriched learning environment. Read more about AI integration 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.
iDegree Webinar: Immersion Opportunities Within Gies Online
Wednesday April 22
In Case You Missed It...
Previous At-a-Glance issues are available for viewing via the Announcements section of the Online Programs website.