blog navigation

University of Illinois System News
Read the latest University of Illinois System news from the Office of External Relations and Communications.
All Results

blog posts

  • Students inspect tomatoes while collecting data in a greenhouse

    Governor releases $37M+ for food research, business growth at innovation hubs

    Dec 13, 2022 9:45 am

    Pritzker administration releases $37.3 million to launch facilities for five hubs of the Illinois Innovation Network, created to accelerate job creation and economic growth through groundbreaking education, research and discovery.

  • Dr. Lauren Forsythe holds Duchess the cat, and Dr. Alex Gochenauer holds Loki the corgi in the Illinois Veterinary Hospital Medication Dispensary

    Pawsitively Collaborative: A new partnership in veterinary pharmacy

    Dec 12, 2022 8:30 am

    A new veterinary pharmacy residency program serves as an example of the collaborations that unite University of Illinois System entities around advancing health and other missions.

  • Senator Scott Bennett speaking in front of the Illini Union

    Statement on the passing of Senator Scott Bennett

    Dec 9, 2022 6:15 pm

    University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen issued this statement today in response to the untimely passing of Illinois State Senator Scott Bennett:

    "Senator Bennett was a great friend to the university, a champion for higher education and a good man. On behalf of the University of Illinois System, I want to express my condolences to his family. His leadership, wisdom and commitment to the people of his district and Illinois will be missed."

  • 2023 Pocket Facts title with smiling graduate in cap and gown

    New Pocket Facts spotlights system strength through facts, figures

    Dec 9, 2022 11:45 am

    Pocket Facts is filled with highlights from our universities, our healthcare enterprise, and collaborative entities such as Illinois Innovation Network and Discovery Partners Institute – all working together for a more prosperous, sustainable future for Illinois and beyond.

  • U of I System President Tim Killeen and First Lady Roberta Johnson Killeen at their home

    Happy holidays from the Killeens, students around the system

    Dec 7, 2022 10:15 am

    U of I System President Tim Killeen said it best. “However you celebrate, we wish you the warmth of family and friends, and the joyful hope each new year brings.”

  • downtown Springfield building

    UIS takes ownership of future Springfield Innovation Center property

    Dec 6, 2022 10:15 am

    The University of Illinois Springfield has officially purchased the downtown building that will serve as the new home of the UIS Innovation Center. Scheduled to open in 2025, the center will serve central Illinois as part of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) to drive innovation, economic growth and workforce development across the state.

  • University of Illinois System leaders get their photo taken at the port of Cairo, with hands aiming cell phone in foreground

    Partnering with Purpose: Enhancing lives and spurring economic development

    Nov 17, 2022 4:00 pm

    U of I System President Tim Killeen’s annual state tour focuses on learning, listening and looking for opportunities to understand challenges and partner on solutions. Robust conversations among legislators, business and community leaders, alumni and other essential connections lead to the next steps that propel our state forward.

     

  • silver seal of the university

    Trustees approve request for funds to expand support for economy

    Nov 17, 2022 12:00 pm

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a request for increased state funding for the next fiscal year that would allow the system to expand its support for the state’s economy by increasing the talent pool, particularly from under-served communities, and further developing the state’s innovation infrastructure.

  • Two-photo collage includes a photo of Robert Lane Sr. and son Robert Lane Jr. in front of a U of I System banner that says Altogether Extraordinary. The second photo is a portrait of Charlotte Medina.

    Real Impact: Universities' Salute events strive to keep top students in Illinois

    Nov 14, 2022 1:45 pm

    Robust U of I System events and other interactions give students from historically underrepresented groups information and experiences to help them see how they’d fit in at University of Illinois universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield.

  • Marie Lynn Miranda portrait

    Marie Lynn Miranda named chancellor of the University of Illinois Chicago

    Nov 11, 2022 11:30 am

    Marie Lynn Miranda, former provost of the University of Notre Dame and a leader in the drive to make higher education more inclusive, will be the new chancellor of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and a vice president of the University of Illinois System.

  • solar panels

    U of I System joins bid to create regional hydrogen hub to combat climate change

    Nov 3, 2022 2:45 pm

    The Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) announced today that it will submit an application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a regional clean hydrogen production and distribution hub to be funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

  • Nicholas P. Jones

    Nicholas Jones named executive vice president of U of I System

    Oct 28, 2022 10:30 am

    Nicholas P. Jones has been appointed as the new executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs of the University of Illinois System, President Tim Killeen announced today. Jones will serve as second-in-command to the president, senior operating officer and chief academic officer of Illinois’ flagship university system.

  • University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen at podium in front of Altogether Extraordinary banner

    University of Illinois Foundation releases annual financial and endowment report

    Oct 14, 2022 1:00 pm

    The Fiscal Year 2022 new business figure tops $400 million for the fifth straight year with alumni contributing more $180 million to total.

  • three university images with logos

    U of I System expands commitment to sustainable investments

    Oct 13, 2022 8:00 am

    The University of Illinois System has expanded its commitment to sustainability through its international equity allocation, investing $144 million in an environmentally and socially focused strategy launched by BlackRock Inc.

  • Cover of Empowering Extraordinary annual report with young woman arms raised in celebration

    2022 report highlights system initiatives in new, interactive format

    Oct 6, 2022 1:15 pm

    U of I System President Tim Killeen: I invite you to read just some of the many stories from all across the U of I System that show how we are laying the foundation upon which we can build a better future for all of Illinois.

  • Aijah Welch sits on porch steps wearing her gray Digital Scholars t-shirt

    Real Impact: Once-reluctant Chicago area teen raises her hand for tech

    Oct 4, 2022 9:30 am

    Digital Scholars helps high school and college students build confidence and skills while connecting them with Chicago’s dynamic tech community. The program represents one facet of the future-focused work happening at Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), part of the University of Illinois System.

  • Graphic and photo with U of I System President Tim Killeen with Mexican delegation and Mexico's flag in the background

    University of Illinois System opens office in Mexico City

    Sep 30, 2022 10:15 am

    The new system office in Mexico City will focus on student recruiting and alumni engagement, as well interactions with Mexican universities and the private sector.

  • Two Synchrony interns and two employees pose in front of an inspirational sign that says driven

    Real Impact: Synchrony culture empowers next-gen innovators

    Sep 28, 2022 10:30 am

    Synchrony is a University of Illinois System partner in fueling innovation. Leaders discussed growing that partnership at Synchrony Chicago during the U of I System’s 2022 state tour.

  • Graphic with Paul Ellinger photo and title, plus University of Illinois System logo

    System names Paul Ellinger vice president/CFO and comptroller

    Sep 26, 2022 2:30 pm

    Paul Ellinger served as vice president/chief financial officer and comptroller on an interim basis since July 2021. He succeeded Avijit Ghosh when he was named interim executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs.

  • Woman with laptop, her image reflected in the glass wall she leans on

    DPI, partners launch Chicago/Skills to develop diverse tech talent for Illinois companies

    Sep 23, 2022 2:45 pm

    Chicago/Skills will provide tuition-free technology training and paid apprenticeship opportunities to as many as 2,500 people over five years.

  • Concept image of new building complete with lots of windows

    Pritzker, stakeholders unveil design for Discovery Partners Institute

    Sep 23, 2022 1:30 pm

    Located on a one-acre site southwest of the Loop, the new DPI headquarters will provide more than 200,000 square feet of office, classroom, lab, and event space for DPI and its university and industry partners.

  • Chicago skyline with "MCS in Chicago: Built to accelerate your career"

    UIUC to launch Professional Master of Computer Science Degree with DPI in Chicago

    Sep 22, 2022 1:30 pm

    The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is launching a new Professional Master of Computer Science degree in Chicago with the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), designed as a path for CS students to continue their education and accelerate their careers.

  • exterior of Specialty Care Building

    UI Health Specialty Care Building opening access to care, jobs

    Sep 22, 2022 1:15 pm

    The newest clinical building on the University of Illinois Chicago’s health sciences campus will open to patients Sept. 26. Leadership from UIC and its health system, UI Health, marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting event outside the $194 million building Sept. 14. 

  • U of I seal on iron gate

    Trustees approve $7.65 billion budget for current year

    Sep 22, 2022 12:15 pm

    The University of Illinois System Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a $7.65 billion operating budget for the current academic year that prioritizes the commitment to student affordability and access.

    The new budget provides a second consecutive year of increased financial support for the three system universities and is 6.5 percent larger than last year’s $7.18 billion operating budget.

  • rendering of new DPI facility in downtown Chicago

    DPI receives $1.5M grant for clean transportation research partnership

    Sep 15, 2022 12:45 pm

    A multi-institutional and multidisciplinary team led by the Discovery Partners Institute has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation PIRE program to reduce pollution in South Asian cities and accelerate a transition to clean transportation.

  • Chicago skyline

    DPI shares in $7.5M award from NSF to improve science gateways

    Sep 13, 2022 10:45 am

    The Discovery Partners Institute is among the recipients of a $7.5 million CyberInfrastructure Center of Excellence Award from the National Science Foundation. The funding will support a five-year project to improve science gateways. 

  • Three panels with a new graduate in cap and gown from each University of Illinois university in each

    U.S. News & World Report ranks U of I System universities high

    Sep 12, 2022 3:00 pm

    All three University of Illinois System universities again ranked high among public institutions and universities nationwide in the 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

  • 94,800 students strong

    Sustained growth sees U of I System reach record 94,800 students

    Sep 7, 2022 11:00 am

    Enrollment across the University of Illinois System reached a record high this fall of more than 94,800 students, driven by managed growth after five years of robust expansion, President Tim Killeen announced today.

  • woman with doll in baby carrier talking to another woman

    U of I System launches Diverse Supplier Development Program

    Sep 2, 2022 11:00 am

    The University of Illinois System on Friday launched its new Diverse Supplier Development Program, welcoming the inaugural cohort of 25 firms from across the state. The program was created to help business owners from diverse backgrounds grow their companies and increase options for serving as public-sector vendors.

  • three campuses

    Fall 2022 welcome

    Aug 25, 2022 1:30 pm

    President Killeen welcomes students to campus for the Fall 2022 semester.

  • five men pose with awards in front of IIN banner

    Illinois Innovation Network honors innovators from across state

    Aug 17, 2022 3:00 pm

    The Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) announced recipients of its second-annual innovation awards Wednesday at the Illinois State Fair’s Tech Prairie STEAM Expo, recognizing individuals from the IIN’s 15 hubs who have made key advances in research, technology commercialization and education.

  • Chicago skyline

    Chicago awarded $18.5M in federal funds to create new jobs in the region

    Aug 17, 2022 2:15 pm

    The Discovery Partners Institute and P33 will spearhead tech-specific workforce development programs in support of an $18.5 million federal Good Jobs Challenge award announced earlier this month.

  • U of I System Leadership Tour 2022 graphic

    Killeen, chancellors plan statewide tour to focus on partnerships

    Aug 11, 2022 3:30 pm

    President Tim Killeen, chancellors from University of Illinois System universities and other system leaders on Tuesday will begin a statewide tour to explore new ways the system can work with partners around the state to meet key challenges and opportunities facing the citizens of Illinois, and to highlight areas where cooperative efforts are already paying off.

     

  • We Hear You CEO and COO

    Real Impact: Start-up shows what happens with the right support

    Aug 11, 2022 2:00 pm

    Through collaboration-centered innovation, start-up and spin-off companies related to the University of Illinois System generated $838 million in added income for the state economy in fiscal year 2021.

  • Lura Buckley, University of Chicago and One Million Degrees graduate

    Real Impact: Giving back tops driven alum’s list of successes

    Aug 11, 2022 1:00 am

    University of Illinois System alumni contribute to the economy and to society by working as well as volunteering, mentoring and supporting others. Their public university education instilled in them the desire to give back.

  • Eli and Linsday Cook and their dog Colby Jack at their Springfield home

    Real Impact: UIS alum stays to help fuel employment pipeline

    Aug 10, 2022 3:45 pm

    Coming full circle, 2017 University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) graduate and Northwestern Mutual financial advisor Eli Cook now recruits and trains the next generation of interns.

  • Sylvia Puente headshot

    Governor appoints Puente to U of I Board of Trustees

    Aug 9, 2022 3:30 pm

    Longtime public policy leader Sylvia Puente has been appointed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

  • Stich Me Apparel owner Brenda Nelson portrait

    Real Impact: New program boosts business for diverse companies

    Aug 9, 2022 12:45 pm

    Beginning in September, Stitch Me Apparel owner Brenda Nelson will be part of the first cohort of the Diverse Supplier Development Program.

  • COVID-19 update and colorized seal of the university

    Fall 2022 COVID guidelines

    Jul 26, 2022 10:15 am

    President Tim Killeen sent a massmail today to students, faculty and staff across the University of Illinois System about Fall 2022 COVID guidelines.

  • building in downtown Springfield

    Trustees approve purchase of new UIS Innovation Center home

    Jul 21, 2022 11:00 am

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday approved the purchase of a property in downtown Springfield that will become the new University of Illinois Springfield Innovation Center.

  • Man at work on a laptop with headphones on

    U of I System ends debt-related transcript holds

    Jul 7, 2022 11:45 am

    University of Illinois System universities have ended the practice of restricting access to transcripts for students with past-due balances.

    The old policy was a barrier for students as they sought transcripts to get jobs, transfer to other educational institutions or pursue advanced degrees. Withholding transcripts, he said, also disproportionately affected students from lower-income backgrounds.

  • Discovery Partners Institute building

    Discovery Partners Institute, UIC CHANCE expand Digital Scholars

    Jul 5, 2022 11:00 am

    The Discovery Partners Institute and University of Illinois Chicago (UIC’s) CHANCE program, in partnership with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, today announced the expansion of its Digital Scholars Program to support and develop promising and diverse tech talent in Illinois.

    Digital Scholars, now in its third year, is an intensive, free, five-week summer program for high school students and incoming UIC freshmen.

  • New U of I Trustee Joseph Gutman

    Governor appoints Gutman to U of I Board of Trustees

    Jun 27, 2022 12:15 pm

    Retired financial executive Joseph D. Gutman has been appointed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Gutman will fill the seat being vacated by Ricardo Estrada and, pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate, serve a term that runs through 2025.

  • IIN logo

    IIN awards seed grants to 8 new projects

    Jun 16, 2022 12:00 pm

    The Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) on Thursday awarded nearly $240,000 in seed grants to eight research teams focused on projects that include using renewable technologies to design equitable STEM education programs, making construction materials from wastes and industrial byproducts, developing a game-like energy career exploration platform, and creating high-performance computing simulation tools for additive manufacturing.

  • aerial rendering of future DPI campus

    DPI’s IWERC awarded funding to expand research on Illinois education issues

    Jun 16, 2022 11:15 am

    The Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC) at the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) has been awarded a total of $275,000 in funding from three organizations — CME Group Foundation, Joyce Foundation, and Crown Family Philanthropies —  that will expand IWERC’s research on Illinois education issues.

  • child kneeling on gym floor spitting into tube

    IDPH to offer free covidSHIELD tests for public schools for 2022-23 school year

    Jun 14, 2022 2:30 pm

    The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced a renewed agreement with SHIELD Illinois that offers every public school outside of Chicago the opportunity to use the University of Illinois System’s innovative, saliva-based COVID-19 testing platform at no cost for the 2022-23 school year. 

  • masked women in lab processing test

    SHIELD program a model for effective pandemic management, data show

    Jun 9, 2022 8:15 am

    A new paper in the journal Nature Communications details the innovations in modeling, saliva testing and results reporting of the SHIELD program that helped mitigate the spread of the virus at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the surrounding community.

    SHIELD has been deployed in schools and communities across the state through the U of I System's SHIELD Illinois unit, and around the world through the university-related organization Shield T3.

  • students walking on three campuses

    U of I System universities formalize partnerships with Hope Chicago

    Jun 7, 2022 10:15 am

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago, and University of Illinois Springfield are among the 23 institutions that have formalized partnerships with Hope Chicago, the innovative two-generation scholarship program providing college and vocational scholarships to Chicago Public School students and their parents.

  • aerial rendering of future DPI campus

    DPI aims to diversify Chicago's tech sector

    Jun 7, 2022 10:00 am

    The U of I System-led Discovery Partners Institute's Pritzker Tech Talent Labs are a resource to help increase the diverse supply of tech talent for Chicago-area businesses. DPI Director Bill Jackson writes about why it is so important in an OpEd in Crain's Chicago Business.

  • The U of I System generates $19 billion a year for the state's economy

    U of I System impact: $19 billion annually on Illinois economy

    May 19, 2022 12:15 pm

    The University of Illinois System generates $19 billion a year for the state’s economy and supports more than 164,000 jobs, one of every 46 jobs in the state, according to the preliminary findings of a new study revealed Thursday by U of I System President Tim Killeen.