Announcements

iMBA™ Celebrates 10 Years

The iMBA™ is celebrating its 10th anniversary! What began as an innovative approach to business education has grown into a global community of more than 12,000 learners and graduates. The University of Illinois recently secured a registered iMBA™ trademark in recognition of the program’s impact, innovation and distinctiveness for the past 10 years. This achievement belongs to the entire iMBA community, including you. Thank you for being a part of this remarkable program. 

December Gies Convocation Ceremony

The date of the December 2026 Gies Convocation Ceremony has officially been announced! The ceremony will take place on Friday, December 18, from 1:00 - 3:00 pm CT at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Ceremony details, regalia, and registration information will be posted on the Gies Convocation web page later in the semester. Adding yourself to the Fall 2026 degree list (to earn your degree and diploma) is a separate process from registering for the convocation ceremony, which is optional to attend.

Application to be a Student Speaker at Convocation

Applications are now open to audition to be the student speaker at the Gies December 2026 Convocation Ceremony! If you're interested, please submit your audition via Zoom by midnight on Friday, October 23. As a part of your submission, you will also need to upload a copy of your written speech in a Word or PDF format. Please refer to the criteria requirements and guidelines for speech content in the audition link prior to submission.

Gies Events

Getting Started with GiesConnect Webinar

Wednesday, August 26 | 12:00 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 the Learner and Alumni Networking Hub (the Hub) on 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. 
 

Getting Started with GiesConnect Registration

Gies News

Two Gies Business iMBA Graduates Named Poets&Quants’ 2026 ‘Best & Brightest’

Melissa Cummings and Patrick Surrett earned their spots by translating business theory into immediate results. Both used their studies to tackle complex operational challenges – Cummings in nonprofit workforce development and Surrett in defense healthcare systems. Read more about these iMBA standouts here.

Why Improving Audit Quality is as Much About the People as the Process

New research from Gies College of Business faculty Christie Hayne, Mark Peecher (ACCY 504 Auditing A and B), and Dan Zhou, along with Jeffrey Pickerd of BYU’s Marriott School of Business, examines what it takes for accounting firms to successfully implement quality control changes. Their findings show that internal resistance, competing priorities, and implementation challenges can be greater obstacles than external regulatory demands. Read the article 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.

Fall 1 Deadline to Drop for 100% Refund (August 12 Start)
Monday, August 17
iMBA, iMSM, Management Certificates

In Case You Missed It...

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