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

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  • U of I System official seal with spring background

    With contract extension, Killeen applauds system 'firing on all cylinders'

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees voted unanimously to extend the contract of University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen for three years. Killeen’s current salary of $916,770 will remain the same. 

  • U of I seal on bronze

    Winter 2022 COVID precaution reminder

    University of Illinois System leadership issued a message to students, faculty and staff today asking for health and safety vigilance over the holidays.

  • William C. Jackson

    William C. Jackson to lead Discovery Partners Institute

    William C. Jackson, a former president at Johnson Controls and an alumnus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has been named to head the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), the world-class center for research and innovation led by the U of I System, President Tim Killeen announced today.

  • radio facilities at U of I circa 1925

    WILL celebrates 100 years in broadcasting

    One hundred years ago, on the evening of Thursday, April 6, 1922, the University of Illinois’ radio station went on the air for its first broadcast. WRM, the service that would become WILL Radio, was cutting-edge technology in 1922. 

  • Tim Killeen

    Welcoming students from around the globe

    The University of Illinois System’s three universities are proud to welcome our international students with open arms. We offer hearty greetings and a most sincere Welcome to One and All!

  • Alma Mater, Chicago Skyline, Lincoln bust - university logos

    Welcoming campuses

    University of Illinois System leadership issued a massmail today to students, faculty and staff reaffirming a commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all.

  • President Tim Killeen headshot

    Watch President Killeen's presentation to the City Club of Chicago

    University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen was the guest speaker at the December 9 virtual meeting of the City Club of Chicago, where he delivered a presentation about the latest achievements and initiatives across the U of I System.

  • President Tim Killeen and his family, including two young grandsons, gather for a holiday photo

    Warm holiday wishes from President Killeen (and surprise guests)

    Gratitude and growth take center stage as U of I System President Tim Killeen wishes students, faculty, staff, and alumni a happy and safe holiday season and a peaceful new year.

  • woman carrying samples in lab

    Wall Street Journal: COVID-19 testing could be a viable long-term business bet

    The University of Illinois System, SHIELD Illinois and Shield T3 are featured in a Wall Street Journal Story about how COVID-19 testing could remain a key component for resuming normal life in the U.S.

  • Kara Waldrop, GLIDE art, NASA mission

    Waldrop selected for mission to investigate earth's atmosphere

    Lara Waldrop, Illinois ECE Assistant Professor and Y. T. Lo Fellow in Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been selected by NASA to develop a Solar Terrestrial Probes (STP) Science Mission of Opportunity, budgeted for $75 million.  Her mission, titled “Global Lyman-alpha Imager of the Dynamic Exosphere,”or “GLIDE” for short, was chosen for implementation after a competitive selection process and is expected to be launched in 2025. 

  • Rendering of future DPI home at the 78 in Chicago

    Walder Foundation awards DPI $1.25M

    The Walder Foundation has awarded a Discovery Partners Institute science team led by the University of Illinois at Chicago $1.25 million to develop a prototype capability for detecting COVID-19 outbreaks and trends in Chicago’s wastewater.

  • U of I System Virtual Town Hall Featuring President Killeen

    Virtual Town Hall

    The Illinois Alumni Association recently hosted a Virtual Town Hall featuring University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen. Listen to hear more about the latest system initiatives, and the alumni Q & A with the president.

  • portrait of Karen Whitney, interim chancellor, UIS

    Veteran university leader Karen Whitney named interim chancellor at UIS

    Karen M. Whitney, a nationally recognized higher education leader, has been selected to serve as interim chancellor of the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS), University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen announced today. 

  • vaccines and labels spread out on table

    Vaccine requirements for faculty and staff

    University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen sent a message to all faculty and staff today outlining vaccine guidelines for the coming fall semester.

  • close-up of testing saliva samples in lab

    UW—Madison partners with U of I System's Shield T3 to expand testing

    To accomodate more regular and frequent COVID-19 testing on its campus in the spring, the University of Wisconsin—Madison announced it will partner with the University of Illinois System subsidiary Shield T3.

  • 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

    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.

  • COVID-19 update with colorized seal of the university

    Update on vaccination requirements

    President Tim Killeen sent a massmail to students, faculty and staff with updates on vaccination and mask requirements in keeping with Governor J.B. Pritzker's executive order.

  • Pack of UIC graduates in caps and gowns

    U of I trustees to consider new tuition, fee and housing rates

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Wednesday received recommendations from U of I System administrators for new tuition, fee and housing rates for the 2020-21 academic year that for the first time in six years include modest increases in tuition for in-state freshmen.

  • Alma Mater, Chicago Skyline, Lincoln bust - university logos

    U of I trustees freeze undergraduate tuition rates for 2021

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday voted to freeze tuition for incoming in-state freshmen and non-resident undergraduates for the 2021-22 academic year.

  • U of I seal

    U of I trustees dismiss professor

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Friday dismissed a tenured professor in Urbana-Champaign following allegations that he falsified and fabricated research data in federal grant applications, neglected to properly mentor his graduate students, and failed to take responsibility for errors that occurred in his lab.

  • U of I trustees approve sexual misconduct prevention measures

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a series of recommendations by a system-wide task force that spent the last year developing a holistic approach to prevent sexual misconduct and foster a culture that ensures safety, learning and success.

  • bronze U of I seal

    U of I trustees approve lease to expand DPI space

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a lease that will roughly double the amount of space now occupied by the Discovery Partners Institute’s headquarters to accommodate the growing demand for programming space.

  • John Marshall Law school entrance

    U of I trustees approve juris doctor degree at UIC

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Friday established a juris doctor degree for the new John Marshall Law School at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), which will offer the city of Chicago’s first and only law degree at a public university when it welcomes its first class next fall.

  • U of I seal

    U of I trustees appoint new leaders in key positions

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday approved new high-level campus leadership and passed two measures related to important capital projects.

  • U of I seal

    U of I trustees appoint new chancellor at UIS

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday appointed Janet. L. Gooch as the next chancellor of the University of Illinois Springfield. Trustees also appointed University of Illinois Chicago Provost Javier Reyes as interim chancellor while a search is conducted to replace Chancellor Michael Amiridis.

  • Siebel model

    U of I trustees advance capital projects

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday helped pave the way for nearly a dozen construction projects that will ultimately total more than a quarter of a billion dollars for new or renovated classroom, research and residential facilities.

    Trustees advanced 10 projects at the U of I System’s universities in Urbana-Champaign and Chicago that will total more than $263 million when completed and will all be financed without state-appropriated capital funding.

  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign engineering campus

    U of I to lead two of seven new national AI institutes

    The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will lead two of seven new national artificial intelligence institutes, thanks to $40M in new funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture. One will focus on AI in agriculture and the other will use AI in molecule-making.

  • U of I to host supplier diversity fair

    The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will host a first-ever outreach event next month to expand business opportunities on the state’s largest campus for firms owned by minorities, women, veterans and people with disabilities.

  • Gloved staff member loading samples into a bin for processing

    U of I to expand COVID saliva testing nationally

    The Executive Committee of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Monday created a new university-related organization as part of a broad effort to expand the reach of saliva-based testing pioneered by U of I researchers that supports widespread testing with rapid results to limit spread of the COVID-19 virus.

  • U of I to develop faculty hiring plan

    University of Illinois President Tim Killeen announced Thursday that plans will be developed setting an ambitious goal for increased faculty hiring across the three-university system over the next five years.

  • a group of University of Illinois System students outside

    U of I System welcomes record classes of first-year students, undergraduates

    Enrollment of first-year freshmen at University of Illinois System universities reached a record level of 13,231 this fall, as did total system enrollment of 60,013 undergraduate students. Enrollment of in-state undergraduate students increased by 1.5% across the system, with Illinois residents making up about 79.2% of undergraduate enrollees.

  • campuses of UIUC, UIC, and UIS

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

    All three universities in the U of I System were ranked highly among public institutions again this year in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, with Top 10 ratings in a number of categories.

  • students on quads on all three university campuses

    U of I System universities rank high in latest U.S. News & World Report

    All three universities in the U of I System were ranked highly among public institutions again this year in the U.S. News & World Report 2022 Best Colleges rankings, with Top 10 ratings in a number of categories.

  • students walking on three campuses

    U of I System universities formalize partnerships with Hope Chicago

    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.

  • students in a computer lab

    U of I System, UIUC commit $50M supporting new Illinois Computes program

    This new initiative led by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) will foster collaboration with researchers at all three system campuses on advanced research computing support and systems over the next five years.

  • Researcher in UIC College of Pharmacy Lab

    U of I System trustees name UIC college in honor of donors

    The University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy will become the Herbert M. and Carol H. Retzky College of Pharmacy to reflect the Retzkys’ financial support of the college.  

  • The seal of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees

    U of I System trustees approve $8.3B budget that emphasizes academic excellence, student affordability

    The University of Illinois Board of Trustees approved an $8.3 billion operating budget for the current fiscal year, representing a 6.2% increase from FY 2024 and prioritizing student support, academic excellence and affordability. The increase comes amid another record year in student enrollment for the fall semester, with a systemwide total of 97,772 enrolled students at the universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield.

  • Obama presidential photo

    U of I System to present Obama with Douglas Award for Ethics in Government

    The University of Illinois System will honor former President Barack Obama on Friday, Sept. 7, with the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government, presented annually by the system’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) to recognize public officials who promote the highest standards of public service.

  • iHotel entrance

    U of I System to host diverse business fair

    The University of Illinois System will host the second annual Diverse Business Opportunity Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at the iHotel Conference Center in Champaign.

  • U of I seal

    U of I System team to help coordinate coronavirus response

    The University of Illinois System has established a new COVID-19 Planning and Response Team to help coordinate the system’s response to and communication about the novel coronavirus, U of I System President Tim Killeen announced Monday.

  • trees

    U of I System supports President Biden's climate plan

    The University of Illinois System welcomes President Biden’s publicly announced commitment to action on climate change, a serious and essential statement of the country’s resolve to lead in building a better, more sustainable future.

  • U of I seal

    U of I System supports Illinois Attorney General's challenge

    In a massmail sent today, the University of Illinois System announced its participation in a new legal effort by 18 attorneys general around the country to challenge the recent ICE restrictions on visas for international students.

  • campuses of UIUC, UIC, and UIS

    U of I System's three universities among nation's best in online programs

    Online programs at all three universities in the University of Illinois System are among the nation's best, according to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings.

  • gloved hands sorting vaccine supplies on counter

    U of I System statement on student vaccination guidelines for fall

    The University of Illinois System issued a statement today regarding vaccination guidelines for students for the fall semester.

  • Pipettes placing liquid into a rack of vials

    U of I System’s Shield T3 unit winds down operations

    Shield T3 is a for-profit entity founded in 2020 by the University of Illinois System and its Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), initially to provide the SHIELD saliva-based testing for COVID-19 detection outside of the state of Illinois. At its peak, Shield T3 employed 172 full-time staff members and contractors. It has processed more than 5 million tests.

  • President Killeen and President Kao holding a document

    U of I System Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Taiwan's NTHU

    The agreement was signed during a multiday trip to Taiwan by President Killeen and a delegation of other U of I System leaders. During the trip, the delegation met with Taiwanese Prime Minister Chen Chien-jen; leaders from National Taiwan University and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University; Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute and Ministry of Education; and companies such as Hon Hai, AUO and TSMC.

  • 94,700 students strong, books in background, U of I System logo

    U of I System's fall enrollment tops 94,700

    Enrollment grew nearly 5 percent to more than 94,700 students across the University of Illinois System this fall, setting a record for the ninth straight year despite the pressures of a global pandemic, President Tim Killeen announced today.

  • Urbana-Champaign Quad

    U of I System sets innovation network priorities in Urbana

    Building a world-class center devoted to the fast-growing field of data science and expanding an award-winning Research Park are top priorities at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as the U of I System develops a new statewide innovation network to accelerate job creation and economic growth, officials announced today.

  • UIC campus

    U of I System sets innovation network priorities at UIC

    New research facilities to build on breakthroughs in therapeutic drugs and computer technology at the University of Illinois at Chicago are among top priorities in start-up plans for a new statewide innovation network that the U of I System is developing to accelerate job creation and economic growth, officials announced today.

  • A large group of students

    U of I System sets another record in fall semester student enrollment

    A record 97,772 students enrolled across the University of Illinois System for the fall semester, reflecting continued demand for the quality education offered at the three system universities. Total enrollment for the universities located in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield topped the previous record of 94,861 established in 2022 and increased last year’s enrollment by 3.2%.