University of Illinois System News

Before the prescription. Before the crisis. Before the cost.

lmabry@illinois.edu (Laura Mabry) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:00:00 CDT

At the University of Illinois Springfield, a program that places graduates in in-demand jobs touts the real difference exercise science can make. “If we can prevent people from being physically inactive, we’re finally putting to good use one of the most cost-effective tools we have in healthcare,” one professor says.

From her mother’s kitchen to Chicago’s food deserts: A UIC student’s case for nutrition as justice

ekrivo99@illinois.edu (Emily Krivograd) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:30:00 CDT

Brianna Guerrier came to the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) as a transfer student looking for more opportunities. She found them, and then some. Now a senior in UIC’s Nutrition Sciences program, Brianna has channeled those opportunities into action: deep engagement in food policy, a string of leadership roles, and a volunteer record that has made her one of the most visible students in the College of Applied Health Sciences.

The Healthiest State Starts Here

alittles@uillinois.edu (Ash Littles) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:00:00 CDT

The University of Illinois System doesn’t just study public health. It practices it. This is not a distant ambition dressed up in a mission statement. Across its three universities, the U of I System has positioned health and wellbeing not as a byproduct of education, but as one of its central obligations to the people of Illinois and one of its greatest opportunities to lead.

$50,000 to support life-changing work? Here’s how.

lmabry@illinois.edu (Laura Mabry) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:00 CDT

Nominate alumni, colleagues, or other humanitarians working to change the world for the better using this form. The deadline is April 13.

Research with impact: Celebrating extraordinary women driving discovery

ekrivo99@illinois.edu (Emily Krivograd) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:45:00 CDT

From science to the humanities to healthcare, women researchers across our three universities have made discoveries, launched innovations, and driven change — not just throughout our history, but right now. Read on for spotlights on just a handful of the women powering some of the top discoveries to come out of the University of Illinois System in the last five years.

U of I System, National Taiwan University launch joint R&D teams

bktaylor@illinois.edu (Ben Taylor) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:15:00 CDT

The University of Illinois System and National Taiwan University earlier this month awarded funding to three new interdisciplinary research teams that will drive innovations and advance collaboration between the universities, plus four travel grants to strengthen academic connections between the U of I System and NTU. This marks the second group of awards from an institutional partnership launched in 2023.

Trustees approve new UIS major in engineering technology

aquigley@illinois.edu (Alex Quigley) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:15:00 CDT

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois System today approved a new major at the University of Illinois Springfield that will help meet employers’ growing need for skilled engineering technologists who can apply a multidisciplinary approach to solve complex problems and drive industrial innovation.

Who teaches the teachers — when the teachers can’t stop teaching?

lmabry@illinois.edu (Laura Mabry) — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:00:00 CDT

The University of Illinois System’s new Early Childhood Education Collaboration addresses the barriers working adults face, ensuring clear pathways to career and financial success.

Discovery Partners Institute announces new West Loop headquarters

aquigley@illinois.edu (Alex Quigley) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:30:00 CST

The University of Illinois System on Feb. 27 closed on its purchase of an office building at 250 S. Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago to serve as the permanent headquarters of the Discovery Partners Institute led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The purchase is a significant milestone in DPI’s continued growth and mission to drive economic development and position Illinois as a global center for emerging technologies.

Zoey’s UIC story: Money worries erased. Support from all angles.

lmabry@illinois.edu (Laura Mabry) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:00:00 CST

Transfer student Zoey Zhang learned she and her parents could rely on the financial support of the University of Illinois Chicago’s new Aspire grant. Eligible families have a life-changing opportunity: a degree for $0 in tuition and fees.

Gov. Pritzker’s proposed budget would increase U of I System funding

aquigley@uillinois.edu (Alex Quigley) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:15:00 CST

The state budget proposed today by Gov. JB Pritzker would provide a 1 percent increase in state-appropriated general operating funds for the University of Illinois System. If approved by the General Assembly and signed into law, the governor’s proposed budget would increase the system’s general funds appropriation to $736.5 million for the coming fiscal year.

Opening Doors, Powering Illinois

deneenj@uillinois.edu (Deneen Gillespie) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:45:00 CST

The decision to attend college usually comes with a catch: You can go, but only if you can afford it. Across the country, that calculation fails—college costs rising, aid falling short, families left to bridge the gap or walk away. In Illinois, something different is happening. This year, the University of Illinois System enrolled over 100,000 students for the first time in its history—a milestone powered by a simple principle: Cost should never close the door to opportunity.

Collective Strength, Public Good: The 2025 University of Illinois System annual report

aquigley@illinois.edu (Alex Quigley) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:30:00 CST

The 2025 University of Illinois System annual report, Collective Strength, Public Good, is now available. It reflects the essence of our mission: expanding access, driving discovery, and delivering impact—while highlighting our steadfast commitment to serving Illinois while making a difference nationally and globally.

Pocket Facts 2026 provides easy-to-read key data points about U of I System

aquigley@illinois.edu (Alex Quigley) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:15:00 CST

Our new 2026 edition of Pocket Facts is your go-to resource for data-based highlights from the University of Illinois System’s universities, healthcare enterprise, and collaborative entities such as Illinois Innovation Network and Discovery Partners Institute—all essential to the state’s economic power. Bookmark or download now!

IIN awards seed grants to two new AI-related social innovation projects

aquigley@illinois.edu (Alex Quigley) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:45:00 CST

The Illinois Innovation Network has awarded over $160,000 to two new social innovation seed grant projects. These two newly funded projects bring the total recipients of the IIN’s Social Innovation and Impact Seed Grant program to seven.

Modest tuition increases approved for incoming freshmen at U of I System universities

aquigley@illinois.edu (Alex Quigley) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:30:00 CST

After freezing resident undergraduate tuition rates in seven of the previous 11 years, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois today approved a 2% tuition increase for Illinois resident undergraduate students admitted to the fall 2026 academic year.

Looking Ahead: A Message from President Killeen

aquigley@illinois.edu (Alex Quigley) — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:30:00 CST

University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen informed the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois today that he will step down at the conclusion of his current contract on June 30, 2027.

Illinois-Taiwan partnership awards second round of joint research grants

aquigley@illinois.edu (Alex Quigley) — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:30:00 CST

The University of Illinois System and University Academic Alliance in Taiwan jointly launched five new interdisciplinary research teams that will drive innovations and advance collaboration between the universities. These are the second awards from an institutional partnership launched in 2023 and were selected from 41 applications.

VIDEO: Wrapping up 2025 with warm holiday greetings

ekrivo99@illinois.edu (Emily Krivograd) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:00:00 CST

President Tim Killeen and Dr. Roberta Johnson Killeen invite you to reflect on University of Illinois System achievements by watching the 2025 holiday greeting. This year’s video connects the history of the U of I System and its three institutions with the modern-day breakthroughs our students are making today. We’re celebrating how far we’ve come and where we’re headed next—a true must-watch.

Quad Cities Manufacturing Institute, QC Chamber hire joint executive director to advance economic growth

aquigley@illinois.edu (Alex Quigley) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:15:00 CST

Two nonprofit corporations in the Quad Cities region of Illinois and Iowa have joined forces and hired a joint executive director to enhance the potential of the Rock Island Arsenal to drive large-scale economic growth in the region. In announcing their partnership, the Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance — an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber — and the Quad Cities Manufacturing Institute also reported the hiring of retired Army Col. Shawn Creamer as executive director.

Board approves University of Illinois System appropriations request for FY27

aquigley@illinois.edu (Alex Quigley) — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:00:00 CST

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois today approved the University of Illinois System administration’s request to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for a 10.9% increase in operating and capital appropriations from the state General Assembly in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

She ‘leads from the heart and her mind’ — Dr. Evelyn Figueroa earns Shin Award

ekrivo99@illinois.edu (Emily Krivograd) — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:45:00 CST

If you asked anyone at Chicago’s University of Illinois College of Medicine who best exemplifies what it means to be a physician with impact, chances are one name would come up again and again: Dr. Evelyn Figueroa. The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) alumna, accomplished physician, and community advocate splits her days between treating patients at her family and community medicine practice, ensuring her family-run foundation is running smoothly, and connecting with community members at her Pilsen-based food pantry.

Broadening opportunities for adult learners’ varied needs

lmabry@illinois.edu (Laura Mabry) — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 07:30:00 CST

A systemwide working group is exploring opportunities and will make recommendations for expanding and refining adult learning opportunities.

Odyssey in Chicago: The richness of shared exploration

lmabry@illinois.edu (Laura Mabry) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 07:30:00 CDT

In May, The Odyssey Project/Proyecto Odisea in Chicago graduated 51 students, its largest graduating class since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The Odyssey impact: Aiesha’s no-cost return to college

lmabry@illinois.edu (Laura Mabry) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:30:00 CDT

The Odyssey Project invites low-income adult learners to earn college credits at no cost — with free meals, textbooks, even bus fare.