University of Illinois System News

blog posts

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  Commencement ceremonies update

  Mar 17, 2020 3:00 pm

  Today University of Illinois System leadership sent a massmail regarding commencement ceremonies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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  U of I to expand COVID saliva testing nationally

  Aug 10, 2020 3:15 pm

  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.

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  Fall semester plans announced

  Jun 18, 2020 3:00 pm

  A message was sent today to University of Illinois System students, faculty and staff regarding plans to resume on-campus activities next fall at its universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield.

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  U of I System guidelines outlined in response to COVID-19 pandemic

  Mar 11, 2020 6:30 pm

  University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen and the chancellors from the system's three universities issued new guidelines today for students, faculty, and staff amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

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  U of I System creates new, $36 million financial aid fund

  Apr 16, 2020 9:00 am

  The University of Illinois System has created a fund that will provide at least $36 million in new, targeted financial aid to help students who are facing increased need now and for the coming academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Tim Killeen announced today. 

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  More than 1,200 Illinois K-12 Schools have signed up for SHIELD testing

  Aug 24, 2021 3:00 pm

  More than 1,200 K-12 schools across the state have signed up to use the SHIELD Illinois COVID-19 saliva test for the start of the 2021-22 academic year. More than 650,000 students in Illinois will now have access to the test, pioneered by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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  Don, Anne Edwards donate $10 million to U of I

  Feb 12, 2020 10:15 am

  University of Illinois Board of Trustees Chairman Don Edwards and his wife, Anne, on Wednesday announced a $10 million gift to their alma mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – the largest gift ever by a U of I trustee.

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  Two U of I System universities move up in rankings of the country’s best

  May 11, 2021 11:00 am

  The University of Illinois System now has two universities among the top 11 public institutions in the country, according to the newly released QS World University Rankings: USA.

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  U of I System assisting state in COVID-19 response

  Mar 26, 2020 3:00 pm

  The University of Illinois System is sharing expertise and resources from across its three universities and healthcare enterprise to support the state’s efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

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  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.

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  CDC endorses Test to Stay strategy piloted by IDPH, SHIELD Illinois

  Dec 20, 2021 8:00 am

  A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report published today confirms that the Test to Stay program, created locally by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and operated by SHIELD Illinois, can help keep kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) students in the classroom. As a result of the report, the CDC endorsed Test to Stay as a useful strategy to be implemented in schools.

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  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.

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  U of I Board of Trustees sets tuition rates for 2023-24 academic year

  Jan 26, 2023 12:00 pm

  Tuition will increase 1.9 percent for in-state freshmen starting in the fall in Urbana-Champaign and Chicago. Under the Illinois guaranteed tuition law, currently enrolled in-state undergraduate students will see no tuition increase. The law guarantees in-state undergraduates four years of unchanged tuition.

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  28 receive U of I System honor for leading COVID-19 response

  Aug 23, 2021 12:00 pm

  University of Illinois President Tim Killeen on Monday honored 28 key leaders of the system’s COVID-19 response with the Presidential Medallion. The medallion is the highest honor that the system president can bestow.

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  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.

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  Trustees approve measures to advance capital projects

  Mar 12, 2020 12:00 pm

  The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday took steps to advance important capital projects at two U of I System universities.

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  Board of Trustees freezes in-state undergraduate tuition rates for 2024-25

  Jan 18, 2024 12:00 pm

  The University of Illinois Board of Trustees today approved tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year that freeze the undergraduate base rate tuition for resident undergraduate students at the three system universities. This decision reflects the system’s ongoing commitment to affordability. 

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  U of I System receives FDA authorization for covidSHIELD test process

  Mar 1, 2021 12:00 pm

  The University of Illinois System received emergency use authorization (EUA) today from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for covidSHIELD, its innovative saliva-based COVID-19 test that was used on the U of I campuses to hold the virus in check by utilizing widespread testing with rapid results. 

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  U of I System invests nearly $2 million in arts and humanities

  Jan 24, 2019 3:45 pm

  Pop-up galleries, an Illinois writer’s festival, theater renovations and using virtual reality to teach performance are among the projects funded in a new, nearly $2 million initiative by the University of Illinois System aimed at emphasizing the impact and influence of the arts and humanities across Illinois.

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  Fall 2020 planning

  Apr 28, 2020 10:00 am

  President Tim Killeen has created a system-wide coordinating committee to support the system's three universities as they begin planning for the reopening of campuses in the fall and examining the changes that will be required to ensure both safety and excellence.

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  2021-22 Salary Program

  May 14, 2021 9:00 am

  Today President Killeen announced a 2 percent, merit-based salary program for faculty, academic professional and civil service staff to take effect August 16.

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  Jay Walsh named interim VP for economic development and innovation

  Apr 30, 2020 10:30 am

  Joseph “Jay” Walsh, a biomedical engineering scholar with a lengthy track record of turning transformative research into economic opportunity, has been named interim vice president for economic development and innovation for the University of Illinois System, President Tim Killeen announced Thursday.

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  William C. Jackson to lead Discovery Partners Institute

  Jan 8, 2020 10:00 am

  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.

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  SHIELD Illinois opens two free COVID testing sites in Chicago

  May 17, 2022 3:00 pm

  SHIELD Illinois is opening two additional free community testing sites in Chicago this month, bringing its total number of locations statewide to 45. The sites will be located at Northeastern Illinois University’s locations in the Bronzeville and El Centro neighborhoods. These newly opened community sites increase access to COVID testing in underserved communities. 

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  Trustees set tuition rates for 2022-23 academic year

  Jan 20, 2022 8:00 am

  The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday approved modest tuition increases for in-state freshmen starting school next fall, only the second tuition increase in the past eight years.

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

  Sep 13, 2021 2:00 pm

  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.

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  CDPH to utilize innovative covidSHIELD test in select city schools

  Jun 1, 2021 10:00 am

  The University of Illinois System today announced that it will begin providing its innovative saliva-based covidSHIELD test to select K-12 Chicago schools through funding from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). The $20 million in funding will go to the system’s nonprofit SHIELD Illinois unit, which provides testing throughout the state. 

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  More world-class faculty added under U of I System initiative

  Feb 4, 2019 10:15 am

  Seven additional professors have expanded the inaugural class to 14 in the first year of a new initiative launched by the University of Illinois System to add more world-class faculty and build its global standing as a leader in education and innovation.

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  Avijit Ghosh named interim executive VP for U of I System

  May 19, 2021 9:30 am

  Avijit Ghosh, vice president/chief financial officer and comptroller for the University of Illinois System since 2018, has been named interim executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs, effective July 15, President Tim Killeen announced today.

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  U of I System has two universities in QS rankings of nation's best

  May 26, 2020 1:00 pm

  The University of Illinois System has two universities that are among the top 15 public institutions in the nation, according to a newly designed set of rankings highlighting institutions that best serve the needs of students and are effecting positive social and economic change, such as equitability and sustainability.

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  Trustees approve plan for liaison office in India

  Jul 22, 2021 11:45 am

  University of Illinois System trustees on Thursday voted to establish a system liaison office in New Delhi, India, and a branch office in Bengaluru (Bangalore) to engage in student recruitment and further develop relationships with academic and corporate partners and alumni in the country.

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  UI Ride: shuttle service launching soon

  Sep 6, 2019 11:00 am

  We are delighted to announce the upcoming launch of UI Ride, a new University of Illinois System shuttle service that will make its inaugural run on October 31.

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  New Shield T3 board installs inaugural officers

  Aug 19, 2020 4:00 pm

  The Board of Managers of a new organization created to expand the reach of saliva-based COVID-19 testing pioneered by University of Illinois researchers installed its inaugural slate of officers during an organizational meeting Wednesday.

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  Illinois Innovation Network adds 9 new hubs

  May 15, 2019 8:45 am

  The Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), a group of hubs across the state that aims to boost Illinois’ economy through entrepreneurship, research and workforce development, announced the addition of nine new members today. IIN now has 15 hubs, including all of Illinois’ public universities and spans the entire state.

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  SHIELD Illinois launches free testing site at DePaul's Loop Campus

  Jan 18, 2022 8:15 am

  SHIELD Illinois, the University of Illinois System’s in-state, non-profit COVID-testing unit, is partnering with DePaul University and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) to launch a free community testing site at DePaul’s Loop Campus.

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

  Sep 8, 2021 10:00 am

  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.

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  Real Impact: Southern Illinois educators unite for more milestones

  Jan 10, 2024 8:00 am

  The U of I System is partnering with community colleges statewide to connect educators and administrators with public university transfer pathways for their students, especially to system universities in Springfield, Chicago and Urbana. 

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  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.

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  U of I System makes lead investment in new BlackRock strategy

  May 14, 2020 8:00 am

  The University of Illinois System has invested nearly $160 million of the system endowment into its commitment to sustainability, becoming the first investor in a new environmentally and socially focused strategy launched by BlackRock Inc., a global asset manager and leader in sustainable investing.

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  DPI announces first round of seed funding recipients

  Mar 27, 2019 10:00 am

  Helping communities utilize sustainable development strategies, creating a statewide pipeline to train computer science teachers, and integrating people with autism spectrum disorders into the technology and innovation workforce are among the projects funded in the Discovery Partners Institute’s (DPI) first round of seed grants.

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  U of I System launches initiative to increase Mexican enrollment, partnerships

  Feb 17, 2021 12:00 pm

  University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen launched an initiative Wednesday to expand connections with Mexico, seeking to increase enrollment of Mexican students as well as academic and research partnerships with universities, government agencies and private industry in Mexico.

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  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.

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  Janet L. Gooch named chancellor of University of Illinois Springfield

  Mar 22, 2022 11:00 am

  Janet L. Gooch, the executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at Truman State University, an accomplished higher education leader and educator, has been named chancellor of the University of Illinois Springfield and vice president for the University of Illinois System, pending formal approval by the Board of Trustees at its May 19 meeting.

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  U of I System team to help coordinate coronavirus response

  Mar 2, 2020 5:30 pm

  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.

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  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.

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  U of I System adds new academic, research partners in India

  Dec 17, 2018 12:00 pm

  The University of Illinois System signed agreements for new academic and research partnerships with seven of India’s top universities and research agencies during a weeklong visit to India by President Tim Killeen and a delegation of system and university officials.

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  U of I trustees freeze undergraduate tuition rates for 2021

  Jan 21, 2021 11:45 am

  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.

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  State budget provides increase in U of I System appropriation

  Apr 12, 2022 4:15 pm

  The new state budget passed by the Illinois General Assembly and expected to be signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker will provide $655.2 million in general operating funds to the University of Illinois System for the coming fiscal year, as well as a $122 million increase for the Monetary Award Program (MAP), the state’s primary student financial aid program.

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  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.

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  Trustees give green light to design of Discovery Partners Institute’s headquarters

  Mar 30, 2023 11:45 am

  The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on Thursday approved the design of the new Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) headquarters, planned as an anchor for a new innovation district in Chicago’s newest neighborhood.