Commencement is May 13, 2012!

Visit the following link to make sure you know all the details regarding: academic attire (pick up/ drop off); tickets; ceremonies; and photographers. Be sure to get a photo by the Alma Mater during Commencement Weekend-- one of the last times you can see her before she is removed for restoration for the upcoming year.

Some important events during Commencement weekend include:

Native American House Congratulatory Ceremony
The Native American House will host a congratulatory program for all Native American graduates. The program will be held at 5:30pm on Saturday, May 12 at the Illini Union, in Illini Rooms A, B and C. Academic attire and/or traditional Native American regalia is encouraged.

Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center Black Congratulatory Ceremony
The Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center will host a formal congratulatory ceremony for all graduating African American students. The ceremony will be held at 6:30pm on Saturday, May 12 in 100 George Huff Hall, 1206 South Fourth Street, Champaign. Academic attire and tickets are required.

La Casa Cultural Latina Congratulatory Ceremony
La Casa Cultural Latina will host a formal Latina/Latino Congratulatory Program at 7:30pm on Saturday, May 12 in Foellinger Great Hall, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana.

President’s and Chancellor’s Reception
The President and the Chancellor extend a cordial invitation to all graduates, candidates, and their families to a continental breakfast from 8:00am to 9:30 am on Sunday, May 13 in the gardens of The President’s House, 711 West Florida Avenue, Urbana. Academic attire is encouraged.

GradFest 2012
The University of Illinois Alumni Association and its Student Alumni Ambassadors invite all UI graduates and their families to GradFest 2012 — the annual commencement party held at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center on Lincoln Avenue near Illinois Street. Sunday, May 13 from 11:30am to 2:30pm.

Tri-Service ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
The Military Education Council will host a Tri-Service ROTC Commissioning Ceremony at 11:00am on Monday, May 14 in Foellinger Auditorium, 709 South Mathews, Urbana. The formal ceremony is open to the public.

Congratulations to the 2012 graduates!

Senior 100 Honorary is a University of Illinois Alumni Association program that acknowledges notable UI seniors for both their past achievement and their future commitment to the University. The program serves a two-fold purpose: to honor what these select 100 have already accomplished and to recognize the skills of leadership and University loyalty these new graduates will bring to the world at large. As they were active campus leaders, so too will Senior 100 honorees bring their enthusiasm and sense of responsibility to their new communities as they continue to engage with the University of Illinois to help maintain its excellence and strengthen its stature.

Congratulations to the Senior 100 Class of 2012. To see the list, click here.

The May 2012 issue of the Student Health 101: The Parent Perspective is now available online! Read about topics like:

• Changing Career Direction
• Steps to Beat the Blues
• Planning Ahead for Paying Student Loans
• ...and more!

What's Online

• End of the Year Assessments: Ways to Help Your Student Reflect on the Past Year
• Moms Weekend 2012 Survey
• Spring 2012 Newsletter, "Moms & Dads Illini"

Why Give to Student Affairs?

Just because our children “go off to college,” doesn’t mean that it’s the end of our involvement in their education and their lives. It merely means that our day to day, hands-on responsibilities are turned over to them, giving our children not just an academic education but the opportunity to discover on their own what the world has to offer. This new found freedom can be overwhelming, not just for the student, but for the parent as well. It’s wonderful to know that the University of Illinois Student Affairs is there to provide activities and programs that will support our students in the same manner we would if they were home with us. A donation to the Parent Fund is a small way for me to insure that there continues to be a connection and support system for my children as they find their way to adult independence. --- Gloria Pavese, Illinois parent

Funding from the state now accounts for less than 19% of the University’s total budget. That is a substantial reduction from the nearly 50% support the University received in the early 1980’s. Student Affairs depends on the support of alumni and friends to provide vital services and resources to our students that round out their education at Illinois. Your unrestricted gift to the Parent Fund will:

• Provide programs that offer non-alcoholic alternatives to clubs and bars
• Create an inclusive environment supportive of diversity and prepare students to be citizens of a global community
• Encourage student development and growth through cultural and professional programs
• Provide continued communications and programming to parents and families through the Illini Union Parent Programs Office

GIVE TODAY!

Important Dates

The Dads Association at the University of Illinois has allocated a portion of its funds
generated through Dads Association activities to help fund and aid worthy projects that
promote the safety, guidance, care, and well-being of our children attending the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. If you are a registered student organization,
not-for-profit association, or University department that has a project or program
requiring financial support for the 2012-2013 school year, please apply.
Deadline: May 30, 2012. More info on how to apply can be found here.

Each year, the Moms and Dads Associations of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign coordinate a tuition drawing. The first place student is awarded $10,000 toward their tuition and expenses ($5,000 for Spring 2013 and $5,000 for Fall 2013), and the second place student is awarded $5,000 toward tuition and expenses ($5,000 for Spring 2013).

Winners will be announced at the November 10, 2012 Dads Day Football Game; winners need not be present to win. 1 ticket for $10.00. 6 tickets for $50.00. All proceeds benefits Moms and Dads Associations Projects.

For a full list of rules and entry instructions, please click here. For more information, contact the Illini Union Parent Programs Office at 217-333-7063 or at uofiparents@illinois.edu.

Summer registration will be here before you know it! Parent Programs is looking for volunteers for summer registration! Registration is coordinated by the Office of Admissions-- the Parent Programs Office runs a workshop in the morning that involves parent volunteers and has a table at the afternoon information fair that parent volunteers staff. Volunteers are needed from 8:00am to 4:00pm on the following days. Lunch vouchers and housing in residence halls are offered to volunteers.

Note: If you can't volunteer for the whole 8:00am - 4:00pm slot but could do an hour or two on the following dates, please let us know! We do need help from 8:00am - 9:00am; 10:30am - noon; and 2:00pm - 3:00pm on the following dates. We'd appreciate any help!

If you are interested in helping out with these events, visit https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/5961822 to sign up, email the Illini Union Parent Programs Office at uofiparents@illinois.edu, or call (217) 333-7063.

The Ignite Leadership program focuses on the skills necessary for effectively leading formal groups and organizations. Students who participate can expect to develop skill in leading change initiatives, as well as learn about systems thinking and coalition building. Of particular interest at Ignite is that students will learn about organizational successes of past Illinois students and work to develop a plan for their own change initiative.

Monday, May 14, 9:30am - 6:00pm, Illini Union, FREE to U of I students
For more information, visit: http://www.illinoisleadership.illinois.edu/

The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center and the Sexual Orientation Diversity Allies (SODA) committee of the Counseling Center offer LGBT Ally Trainings and Transgender Ally Trainings throughout the year. Below is a list of this academic year's training dates. These trainings are open to faculty, staff, and students. Because of limited space, registration is required. Please use the following link to register: http://go.illinois.edu/allytrainingregistration.

LGBT Ally Training: Tuesday, June 12, 8:45am - 12:00pm
Transgender Ally Training: Wednesday, July 18, 12:45pm - 4:00pm

The LENS Diversity Certificate Program is a two-semester (Fall 2012 - Spring2013) commitment that provides students with enriching, thought-provoking experiences culminating in a certificate. Get a certificate for taking classes, developing projects with a team of your peers, and attending events!

The LENS Diversity Certificate Program operates on a multi-dimensional framework that encourages students to view and explore diversity, social justice, and intercultural relations to develop skills for functioning in a diverse and global society.
To register, log into https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/9095042.  

For more information about the LENS Diversity Certificate Program, go to http://go.illinois.edu/lens  or e-mail DiversityEd@illinois.edu

ILLINOIS IN THE NEWS

Learn about some of the cutting-edge research by University of Illinois Professors and students. To read more articles about Illinois in the News, visit the University of Illinois News Bureau website.

Even Positive Stereotypes Can Hinder Performance, Researchers Report

Hearing that you are a member of an elite group – of chess players or scholars – doesn't necessarily enhance your performance on tasks related to your alleged area of expertise. Researchers found that broad generalizations about the likely success of a social group – of boys or girls, for example – actually undermined both boys’ and girls’ performance on a challenging activity.

“Some children believe that their ability to perform a task is dictated by the amount of natural talent they possess for that task,” said University of Illinois psychology professor Andrei Cimpian, who led the study. “Previous studies have demonstrated that this belief can undermine their performance. It is important, therefore, to understand what leads children to adopt this belief.”

Click to read more.