The History Graduate Students' Survival Guide

You will deal with a few different advisors during your career at UIUC. The one that you will likely have the most contact with is your primary advisor, but you will also interact frequently with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and the Graduate Program Coordinator. The DGS is a professor in the history department who is responsible for evaluating the progress of all of the graduate students in the department, while the graduate program coordinator handles administrative and logistical business for History graduate students. The graduate advisor can be the best source of information on department and graduate college regulations. The DGS also provides general advising for all graduate students in the department and serves as a liaison for resolving any issues between graduate students and the department. If you are having issues with your primary advisor it is your responsibility to go to the DGS to seek guidance about any problems that have arisen between you and your primary advisor. Petitions for waiving different requirements go to the Graduate Studies Committee, but these can also be sent to the DGS. Approximately every three years there is a new DGS.

Your primary advisor is responsible for providing you with personalized guidance throughout your graduate career at UIUC. If you are a PhD student, you will already have selected an advisor prior to being admitted to the program. If you are an MA/MS student, you will be assigned a primary advisor upon admission. However, in some cases, MA/MS students may need to work with the DGS to find a primary advisor in the History Department. If the direction of your research changes drastically or you have significant conflicts with your advisor, it is recommended that you reach out to the DGS to consider changing your primary advisor. When PhD students file their PhD portfolio (typically in the third or fourth semesters if they entered with an MA OR the fourth or fifth semesters if they entered with a BA), they will need to list a particular professor as their primary advisor.  Make certain you secure the professor’s permission before putting their name down.

If possible, you should take a course with your prospective advisor during your first year here.  Even better, take an Independent Reading Course (Hist 597) or an Independent Research Project (Hist 596) with your potential advisor because it is of the utmost importance to see if you and that professor work well together on major writing projects. It is also a good idea to check with the professor’s other advisees (if there are any) to see what their experience has been. If the professor you have in mind has no advisees, reach out to other graduate students who have either similar research interests to that professor or students who have taken classes with them in the past. Other things to take into consideration include the following: the standing of the faculty member within the broader academic community; the number of other advisees and major commitments the professor has, which may determine how much personal attention you will get; and whether the professor has tenure in the department.

Sometimes professors move to other institutions, whether they have tenure or not, although the chances of that happening are less likely with tenure. Sometimes, your advisor’s new position may mean that they are allowed to bring their graduate students with them to the new institution. If this is the case, be sure to do as much research as possible when making the decision between following your old advisor to a new institution or finding a new advisor here at UIUC.

PhD students take 12 credit hours per semester if they do not hold an appointment such as a PGAship, RAship, TAship, or Grader Position. PhD students who are RAs, TAs, and Graders normally take 8 credit hours of coursework per semester in addition to their appointment. MA/MS students typically take 12 credit hours regardless of their appointment. (MA/MS Students are typically not eligible for TAships in the History Department, but they may find TAships in other departments.)

The History Department offers courses ranging from the 100-level to the 500-level. 100- and 200-level courses are designed for undergraduates and concern you only if you are teaching one of them. 400-level courses are typically lecture-based surveys for advanced undergraduate and sometimes graduate students.  The department discourages graduate students from taking too many 400-level courses. However, they may prove useful if you want to orient yourself to a new field or if you are in one of the smaller fields where graduate courses are not offered as often. 400 level courses outside the History department may also be excellent opportunities to learn interdisciplinary methodologies, particularly if they offer a graduate section in addition to the undergraduate section. Graduate students taking a 400-level course are often expected to complete extra work and sometimes meet separately with the professor teaching the course. Talk with the professor beforehand to get a sense of what will be required.  You can also sometimes, with the permission of the professor, take the 400-level course as a 500-level independent study.  500-level courses are generally restricted to graduate students. The geographic and chronological range of the courses offered by the History department is frequently limited. So, while you should make sure that you are taking enough courses to satisfy your requirements for the PhD portfolio, it can also be a very rewarding experience to take a course or two outside your typical area of study. With the exception of courses in historical methods, courses at this level are of two types: “problems courses” and “research seminars.” 

Problems Courses

Problems courses focus primarily on familiarizing graduate students with secondary sources related to a given topic. These classes will also help you develop your historiographical essay writing skills. They will be the most useful in preparing you for your preliminary exams. If you get the opportunity, consider taking a problems course with your intended preliminary examiners, since these courses give you a major insight into what the professor thinks are the most important issues in the field that the class is focused on. Students can also arrange to take a reading course, History 597, where you (and possibly a few other students) work with a professor to oversee your work in a given area. The workload of the course often depends on the standards of the specific professor who is running the course for you, so be sure to have a conversation with the professor about what the expectations for the course are early in the semester (if not before the beginning of the semester). Depending on the period or region you study, you may need to take more History 597 courses than some of your peers do. Additionally, if you are having trouble finding courses that focus specifically on your research interests, History 502: Problems in Comparative History courses often cover a wide range of regions and periods. Professors often take the interests of graduate students currently enrolled in the History Department into account when planning these courses.

Research Seminars

What the department defines as a “Research Seminar” is somewhat more ambiguous than what it defines as a “Problems Course.” While almost all problems courses are listed as such on the course catalogue, only some courses that can be counted as research seminars towards your degree requirements are listed as such. The three most common types of “Research Seminars” are as follows:

• A full seminar class devoted to learning research methodologies. These usually focus on the research methodologies needed for a specific field or region. One example of a seminar like this that has been offered in the past is “Hist 521: Research Seminar - China”
• History 596: Independent Research Project. Similar to History 597, the coursework of the History 596 course is often dependent on the standards of the professor you are working with. Similarly, you should have a conversation with the professor running the course prior to the first meeting of the class itself.
• Writing a research paper for a “Problems Course.” Sometimes, professors teaching problems courses will give their students the option to choose between doing a historiographical essay or a research paper for the final project. If you choose to do a research paper, the department will likely allow you to count that “Problems Course” as a research seminar.

Technology Services

Utilizing your e-mail account is essential to registration and campus communication.  You are assigned a network ID and password when you are admitted to the university.  If you have any questions about your account, contact the Tech Services.   Additional information on this site includes free or discounted software for students, information on connecting to the wireless network, and really everything technology for the university.

There can be many sources of stress and insecurity that arise at various points in your graduate studies, sometimes unrelated to your academic work.  Here are a few helpful resources:

Graduate Student Emergency Grants from the Graduate College for unforeseen expenses, up to $500

For international students:  International Student & Scholar Services emergency loans for educational expenses

A current list of local food banks and allied forms of assistance for students facing food insecurity

A list of temporary job postings, especially useful for the summer and available to international students, as well. The Graduate College also has a job board.

In addition, please, if you find yourself in a tight spot, don't hesitate to reach out to the DGS, Chair, office staff, or any faculty member with whom you feel comfortable.  Even if the department can't offer immediate material assistance, they may be able to help in other ways.

Passing grades for graduate students are “A’s” and “B’s.” Anything less indicates unsatisfactory work. Although you do not want to receive a “B+,” you can receive 1 or 2 while you are in the program. A “B-” suggests a greater problem that needs to be addressed. The pluses and minuses affect your GPA, which may be considered when the department makes funding decisions. The department does not include foreign language courses in its GPA equation. History 599, Thesis Research, is not graded until the dissertation is completed.

Incompletes

If you are unable to complete work in a particular course during the semester, you can usually ask the professor to give you an incomplete, an “I.”  Many of us take one or two incompletes at some point during our coursework, but be wary of them. You still need to complete the coursework, and you will be equally pressed for time, if not more pressed, in the semester following the semester in which you took an incomplete.  A best practice is to finish the work during the semester break, before the next term begins. You must also have finished all incompletes before you take your prelims. In addition to the time disadvantages, incompletes may affect your departmental funding. Consult the graduate program portion of the website for more information, and be sure to communicate well with your advisor and the professor of the incomplete course.

Auditing

One way to gain knowledge without writing papers or taking exams is to audit classes. It is a good idea to audit 400-level lecture classes in your fields that you cannot actually take. This helps you determine what different professors think is important for their fields. You should ask professors for their permission before auditing classes. 500-level courses can also be audited, although this is not as common.

Gregory Hall at 810 South Wright Street in Urbana houses the Department of History on the third and fourth floors. It is on the corner of S Wright St and Armory Ave, nestled between Lincoln Hall and the Main Library. The accessible entrance to Gregory Hall can be found on the North side of the building next to the parking lot. The first floor of Gregory is the Communications Library, a small library with printing needs, the New York Times Crossword, and is a nearby pick-up location for books ordered from the campus library. The Main Library, which is right next door, includes the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library (HPNL). There is a bus stop right outside of Gregory Hall, and the YMCA across the street houses “Y-Thai,” which serves Thai-fusion food during lunch hours. All this makes Greg Hall a convenient campus location.

Room 309

309 Greg Hall is the main department office housing the Chair's Office, Business Office, the Graduate Secretary, and the department lounge. In the lounge are hot water, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate for a nominal price.  If you are a TA, the printer and copier and office supplies can also be found in the main department office. The friendly office staff is very helpful!

Hall 300-306 Mailboxes

Just across the hall from the main office you will find the mailboxes for all Faculty as well mailboxes for all registered graduate students in town. This hallway is open during business hours Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm. Coordinate with the Graduate Program Coordinator to gain 24 hour access to this hallway after hours with your student ID.

Rooms 435-439 and the Graduate Lounge

Most of the TA offices are in 435-439 Greg Hall, which is a good place to go if you are seeking advice from other graduate students on a particular issue. This space also has a computer lab. 436-439 can be accessed via 435. The lounge, located next to Room 435, is accessible any time the TA office is open, with a numerical code. The lounge has a fridge and a microwave for lunch.  It is a very comfortable place to read, eat, and talk with other graduate students.

Visa

• Give yourself between 5-3 months before leaving for research to find out about travel visa requirements;
• Requirements could include:
  • The need for a long-stay tourist visa
  • Is there a ‘research visa’ that you can apply for, in affiliation with the archive you need, to allow you to stay in the country
  • The need for a tourist visa to enter the country, before receiving a long-stay visa
  • Registering with the authorities upon arrival
• Determine under what conditions you can get a visa, if you need it
  • For example, you may need an address before you can get the visa in the first place or other such conditions;
• Ask another student/professor in the department who has gone to the same country/archives for tips

Some helpful websites

• US Department of State (DoS) Travel Website. Contains links for information regarding passports and visas, specific countries, travel tips, emergency information and more
• The DoS Traveller’s Checklist Website: This website provides more concise information regarding preparing to travel overseas.

Cash

• Research ATM and credit card conditions
• Most countries outside of North America operate more on a cash basis, than a credit card basis
• ATMs could be difficult or dangerous to access, and may charge your account foreign transactions fees and exchange rate charges. Cyber security could be low and credit cards may not be accepted in many places, so you may have to figure out if you need cash before you go and to exchange it here/there, and keep it safe while away
• Make sure you have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees
• Having a separate debit card and a separate credit card are important, should one get blocked, stolen or lost.
• Call your bank with your travel dates, so that your cards are not blocked and keep the bank updated with your local phone number (whether you have an unlocked phone with a local SIM card, or an international plan on your phone)

Making connections

One of the best ways to find out about visa requirements, archival culture, academic culture and living/cultural information is by making contacts before leaving on research or during your pre-diss research.

•  Affiliation with a local university, through contact with a scholar or department is one way to do this. They can help with gathering information about archives, visas, travel and even living arrangements (i.e. university dorms, knowledge of where to look for an apartment, etc.).
• Find a research center/research institute
  • This is a great way to make connections to help you with several travel issues.
  • Some may be affiliated with universities, other may be totally independent
  • American scholars have research centers all around the world, and coming from an American university you have access to these centers.
  • Often you also have access to British/Canadian or other Centers/Institutes as well that are located in your place of research, as a student-scholar affiliated with an American university
  • Many of these centers/institutes have dorms or apartments you can rent, have libraries if they are thematically linked to your research, hold events with other scholars and universities/institutes in the region and can generally help you to navigate around the city/place and archives, etc.
• Archives: Contact the archives you intend to research in
  • For some, you may need specific documents in order to work there and to pay a fee
    • For example: you may need a letter from the department or your advisor. The letter may need to be in the local language. You may need a research visa or note from some official body.
    • The graduate program coordinator can provide you with a research letter to bring with you. Take one regardless of whether you end up needing it as proof of university affiliation
• Consider language requirements in your early years of the PhD; take your language skills seriously because many places outside of the English-speaking world will not be able to accommodate you.
• Take language classes at UIUC, or even consider taking private lessons/classes in country during pre-diss/diss research
• Consider research periods and holidays (which can be more abundant abroad) in other countries, find out when archives are closed for the summer, the winter, religious holidays, state holidays, certain days of the week, general hours of operations, and if any current political situation affects accessibility – strikes, etc.
• Find out from Grad College if you need an IRB for Oral Interviews as requirements have recently changed

Research year in absentia registration

If you intend not to return to Urbana-Champaign and make use of McKinley, local Student Health Insurance, Dental or the workout facilities (and whatever other fees are attached to that), you may fill out an In Absentia form that will relieve you of most of these fees. You will still have access to the library website and through it JSTOR and other catalogues from abroad.

• To register while on fellowship, use the HIST 599 CRN connected to your advisor, the Graduate Program Coordinator can email that to you and provide you with registration information
• For healthcare while travelling, you must register for the package offered by the Study Abroad office, both because it is a university requirement and this insurance covers all fees abroad and emergency evacuations.
• In Absentia forms must be filled out each semester you are away.
• Some storage (cheap) units used and trusted by students include Park150 on University Avenue in Urbana and Urbana Secure Self Storage, on S. Philo Rd., Urbana
• As well as several others. Check if the units are climate controlled so your furniture/books do not mold.
• Secure a storage unit at least 2 months in advance as they fill up very quickly, particularly near May.

Registering with the Study Abroad department

• The Safety Abroad office is an office at the University that is solely responsible for UIUC students who are travelling abroad (regardless if you are an American citizen or an international student)
• Whether for pre-dissertation research or for dissertation research, if you are going abroad, it is university policy to buy the travel insurance provided through this office, which will automatically enroll you with the Study Abroad office, who tracks events in regions abroad containing Illinois students.
• Should anything happen in the region that you are living in at the time, they will check in on you and be able to help with any problems.
• If you experience a health crisis, or an emergency and need to be evacuated from the country, through contact with them and the use of their health insurance, they will arrange everything you need to be removed from the country
• For every address change, update the office with your new address, should you be travelling to different places, and have not informed them through the purchase of travel insurance
• Contact their staff with questions. 

Health Insurance Abroad

• Even you intend to return to Urbana-Champaign during your research year and use the facilities here, for UnitedHealth Student Insurance, all out of country medical use is considered out of network and the premiums alone would cover the travel insurance, therefore it is university policy to purchase travel insurance.
• Travel insurance provided through the Safety Abroad office
  • The travel insurance is provided by Arthur J. Gallagher, the International Insurance provider, also has a website specifically for Illinois users.
  • You get a card to print out and keep with you as well as forms for re-imbursement and information regarding any documents you would need for re-imbursement

Coverage

• The International Insurance and Safety Fee covers enrollment in International Insurance, as well as the services provided through International Safety and Security, including 24/7 response team in the event of overseas emergencies, pre-departure training and orientation, international travel registry, and other services.
• Fees are determined by the number of days spent abroad, also referred to as travel or program dates. Students should verify that their travel or program dates are the same as the insurance coverage dates, as listed in the Verification Letter you receive in the e-mail from the International Insurance provider.
• Personal travel before, or after, your program is not eligible for coverage by International Insurance.

In the event of an Emergency

• Safety Abroad website
• In the event of an emergency, please contact the University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) using the emergency number below. UIPD will link travelers abroad with the Study Abroad staff. (+1-217-333-1216 (from a cellphone); From a land line: 001-217-333-1216)
• Be prepared to provide: (Study Abroad provides cards to carry in your wallet with this info)
  • Caller name and contact information
  • Traveler name and contact information (if you are not the one calling)
  • Traveler location (City and Country)
  • Program or reason for travel
  • Nature of the emergency and what assistance is needed
• We suggest keeping a small card with all this info on it in your wallet, just in case
• Register with the US state department for alerts through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
  • Even if you are going to a low-risk country, this registration also provides information such as the occurrence of country-wide strikes or events that could impact travel, such as extreme weather and so on
• The website also determines if you are travelling to a ‘high risk’ country. If it is a very high-risk country you may need to fill out a permission and waiver form in order to go and still be able to receive the travel insurance. All of this is found on the Study Abroad website.
• Also check to make sure what vaccines you may need for the country you are travelling to, a great resource for that is McKinley.

General Health & Wellness Tips:

• Cellphones: having an unlocked phone is helpful abroad as SIM cards and data plans are very cheap
• If you do not have an unlocked phone, check roaming charges and international plans
• Think about and develop some strategies about how you will do research in the archives
  • Do you want to take pictures, do you want to read the documents on site, do you want to take notes? What is actually possible to achieve? What is the cost of entry and document copies?
• Consider cultural differences
  • The first months are most difficult trying to figure out daily life and the archives and a routine, so take some time to orient yourself and become comfortable with your surroundings
  • Do some research about daily-life costs in the region you intend to go to. How expensive is food, rent, public transit? What is the exchange rate, etc.
• Consider roommates
  • Renting a room from a research institute, or a dorm from a university, is a great way to have contact with people (many of these scholars also on research)
  • Another possibility is that of roommates, which can be a risk, but can also greatly help with feelings of isolation, especially if the academic community/language in the area is unknown or inaccessible to you
  • Airbnb is one option to search for living accommodations.
  • For Europe, a better option for rooms/apartments, etc. is booking.com
• Talk to somebody who has gone to the country that you want to go to, such as previous grad students in our department or your advisor/professor
• Do something extra instead of just going to the archives
  • Yoga, dancing, meditation classes, counselling (covered by healthcare), language classes and TRAVEL!
• Something to think about at the end: consider the culture shock of the return, and returning to the rigors of the department and the requirements of the program;
  • Some resources to help cope are counselling offered at McKinley or at the Counselling center located in the Turner Student Services building
• For some other general tips from the university see the safety abroad website.

This page is designed to orient you to the graduate experience of progressing through the program, but may not reflect the latest departmental policies. Please see this page, PhD in History, for the most up-to-date information.

The graduate program at UIUC consists of three stages.  In a rough estimation, students typically spend 2-3 years taking courses, then 1 year completing preliminary examinations, and, finally, 2-4 years researching and writing the dissertation.  You should take the time that you need to do well in your coursework, examinations, research, and writing.  For many PhD candidates, however, the longer that they are here, the more difficult the program is to complete.

You may hear about expectations of completing the PhD in 5 to 7 years.  We urge you to keep in mind the following points, if you choose to adopt that timeline.  First, although timely progress through the program is important, you will want to prioritize your mental health. You may need to find a balance between studying, working, and socializing that is different from the balance you struck as an undergraduate, a full-time employee, or other life stages. Second, graduate school serves as a forum for reading and really absorbing the fields that you will need to know for success on the job market. Gaining knowledge of a field is an enormous task for which you will not have time after you find employment. Finally, this should be a time when you make connections with your colleagues, in order to have a scholarly community within the department and the university, and with scholars at other institutions by attending conferences, workshops, etc. 

It is important to keep in mind the paperwork involved in maintaining registration, funding, and financial aid if your studies go to 7 or 8 years and beyond. Departmental guidelines are flexible to an extent. Nonetheless, be sure to acquire written approval for any variation in the program to avoid confusion and delays. You will certainly want to file all paperwork pertaining to this process in a safe place.

Stage 1: Coursework

You must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in all semesters. Generally, a B+ or lower in a graduate course indicates some problem such as miscommunication between the student and professor, too many time commitments on the part of the student, substandard work, etc. In “Problems Courses,” (e.g. Problems in Comparative History) you will generally be expected to read one monograph paired with several required articles per week and to produce a historiography paper. In “Research Seminars,” you will also produce an original research paper similar to a publishable-quality article. There is more information about courses below.

You will also have to fulfill foreign language requirements; these courses do not count towards credits for the degree. If you are an Americanist, a student of U.S. history, you must demonstrate language proficiency in one foreign language. For everyone else, you must demonstrate language proficiency in two foreign languages. Some fields require an additional foreign language or languages that are not regularly offered through courses.  “Language proficiency” usually means achieving an adequate reading knowledge of a language relevant to your field of study. Although UIUC offers a great array of languages, you can sometimes do more intensive language study during the summer at other universities, which may have funding sources. Consult with your advisor or experienced students in your field for advice on the best way to meet the department’s requirements and actually gain the necessary expertise to conduct research in a foreign language.

No graduate history courses are offered during the summer. It is possible, however, to arrange a reading course, designated as History 597, with a willing professor during the summer months. Teaching Assistantships are particularly difficult to come by in the summer because there are few TA positions, therefore some people take summer jobs.

You should also be aware of the university pay schedule: you will get your first check in mid-September and your last paycheck in mid-May. If you are not planning on another source of income, you will probably need to save throughout the year.  Moreover, many summer jobs at the university do not begin payment until mid-June, which means you may not receive a paycheck for a month.

If you decide that continuing in the PhD program is not for you, it is possible to leave UIUC with at least an MA. If you make the decision to leave, the department is generally supportive, but you should talk to the DGS as soon as possible.

Stage 2: Prelims

Most of the coursework that you will take in your first 2 or 3 years of the program should prepare you to demonstrate, in both written and oral examinations, your knowledge of three fields and should prepare you to conduct dissertation research in your major field. 

After you have completed the course requirements, you will begin taking prelims. Preliminary examinations are written tests of your competence – for teaching, interviewing for jobs, and attending conferences – in each of your three fields. Keep this in mind when choosing your courses, even in the early stages of coursework. As you select your examiners, the professors who will write and assess your prelims, in consultation with your major advisor, you want to be sure to take classes with them. You have to have at least 5 different examiners for the 3 written exams. Your advisor must be one of the examiners for your major field. Remember that fields are generally broad, so you will not want to cluster all of your coursework around one geographic, thematic, or chronological area. See the page “Preliminary Field Examinations” for more departmental information about prelims.

As you begin to prepare for prelims, talk to the professors you want to write your exams. A variety of factors can prevent you from getting your first choice, e.g. a professor going on leave. It is also a good idea to talk with students who have recently taken prelims and understand recent trends in each field. Your colleagues are also excellent sources for tracking down reading lists for some fields, as is this departmental archive of reading lists. You will want to organize ideas and themes in your own mind and establish the approach you, as an individual, will take to mastering them.

If you fail in your first attempt at a prelim, you can petition the DGS to retake the prelim. People have been known to fail an exam the first time around and retake it successfully. In the fall, HGSA typically hosts a panel of graduate students who have passed their prelim exams.

Dissertation Proposal

While preparing for your prelims, you should also be developing a dissertation proposal. In one of your prelim semesters, you will also participate in the dissertation proposal writing workshop, which is usually held each semester. The workshop meets once a week under the direction of a professor and provides a valuable opportunity to get feedback from students and faculty on your research proposal. It is helpful because it forces you to write the dissertation proposal, which will be important for grant applications, departmental funding, the oral prelim, etc. Some students in the past have benefited from multiple sessions of the workshop.

Oral Examination and Proposal Defense

The oral examination is, by the designation of the Graduate College, the official preliminary examination. The major and minor field prelims of the History Department do not fulfill the requirements of the Grad College. Oral prelims in the History Department are usually less strenuous than the written prelims, although they should not be taken lightly. You must have at least one faculty member from each of your fields on your oral preliminary examination committee, plus a fourth faculty member who may be one of your written prelim examiners or who may come from outside the department. The oral prelim must occur during the semester in which you take your final departmental prelim. Clearance of this date from the Grad College can take 2 to 3 weeks, so do not wait until the end of the semester to schedule your oral or you may run out of time. You must distribute a dissertation proposal to your four examiners one week prior to the oral prelim. After completing coursework, prelims, and the oral prelim, you are considered ABD, or All But Dissertation. As always, policies are subject to change, so consult the DGS for the most current departmental and university requirements.

Stage 3: The Dissertation

This stage consists of researching, writing, and defending your dissertation. You must establish your Doctoral Examination Committee within 1 year after reaching the ABD status. You will develop this committee in consultation with your advisor. It can be the same as your oral preliminary examination committee, but many students choose different committees at this stage to reflect the changing needs of research and writing. While writing, you may wish to participate in the dissertation writing workshop, in informal writing groups, in grad college writing workshops, and in departmental reading groups (which often read and discuss chapters). Before your final dissertation defense there will be a "pre-defense," in which your committee members will review and discuss a draft.

See a list of History Department Groups here. 

Other groups of interest

The Humanities Research Institute hosts many events of interest to History students, including a Graduate Student Mixer and various reading and writing groups.

Members of the History Department often organize reading groups for faculty and graduate students, such as the Premodern World and History of Science reading groups. There are also opportunities to engage with interdisciplinary groups through area studies centers.

The Graduate College

The Grad College serves the needs of prospective and current graduate students.  The college offers numerous workshops about professional development, including managing the graduate school experience, CV critiques, dissertation writing seminars, and thesis depositing workshop.   Check the campus calendar for more details.

Employment:  To qualify for a tuition and service fee waiver, graduate employees must have at least a 25% appointment.  A 25% appointment is equated to 10 hours of work each week; a 50% appointment equals 20 hours/week.  Employees are entitled to “all-campus” holidays, like Labor Day and Martin Luther King Day, etc.  For many assistantships, this means that you are responsible for hours during Spring Break and between Fall and Spring Semesters.  Most appointments are for 9 months, and summer appointments are for 2 months.  Hence, possibly only 11 months are covered (no one gets paid in August), and the university is not required to grant vacation days.  Payday is the 16th of every month, or the Friday before the 16th, if it falls on a weekend.  Your first paycheck, whether as an employee or fellow, does not come until September 16th.  Financial Aid offers “emergency loans” of up to $800 for grads to cover expenses until that first paycheck arrives.  You will also want to keep in mind that unless otherwise noted in your funding package, you are only being offered 9 months of funding by the department.  For more information on our employment contract, please consult the GEO website.

The Graduate Employees Organization

The GEO offices are located at the McKinley Foundation and its website is www.uigeo.org.  The GEO is a democratic member-run union for all graduate employees.  Through the GEO, TAs and GAs can negotiate with the university over healthcare, wages, and other working conditions.  Graduate employees at UIUC have been working through the GEO since the early 1990s to increase stipends, to improve benefits, and make other changes.  The GEO has made significant improvements in graduate employee working conditions, including our first contract and fully subsidized vision and dental care, and strives for more.  The GEO also handles grievances for all members of the bargaining unit.  In order to run the union, every graduate employee covered by the contract is required to pay a “fair share fee” or “representation fee” to the union.  While membership is optional, the dues are mandatory, yet everyone benefits from the union.  If you would like more information or want to join, the GEO would love to hear from you.

The Michael L. Jeffries Sr. Center for Access and Academic Success

The Jeffries Center provides guidance and counseling support and services to minority students in all areas relevant to their success on the campus, including financial aid, academic issues, race relations, etc.  The office serves both undergraduate and graduate students on campus.

Graduate College’s Educational Equity Programs Office (333-0038) works closely with the Jeffries Center as well as the Counseling Center, the Black Graduate Student Association, La Casa Cultural Latina, the Afro-American Studies and Research Program, and the African American Cultural Program.  The mission of that office is to address questions of access to and participation in graduate education by individuals from groups that are currently underrepresented at UIUC.

International Student and Scholar Services

Formerly known as the Office of International Student Affairs, the ISSS provides advice and information on immigration, income taxes, employment, healthcare, and financial aid.  The ISSS is an advocate for international education and seeks to facilitate cross-cultural adjustment when international students arrive on campus.  If you are a new international student at UIUC, you will receive information from ISSS and will be required to check-in with the staff upon arriving in Champaign-Urbana.  Do not hesitate to contact ISSS at isss@illinois.edu if you have any questions or concerns; they would love to hear from you.

Gender & Sexuality Resource Center

The Gender & Sexuality Resource Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  This office is a resource for anyone who is interested in learning about LGBT people, issues, and concerns.  For the LGBT community, the office provides services and support for full inclusion for all within the university.  The campus environment mirrors homophobic and/or heterosexist attitudes of our larger society, therefore this office seeks to address homophobia on campus.  It provides confidential forums and advocates for queer academic resources.  It also serves as a resource for various internal and affiliated groups on campus, including the Ally Network, Q-Connect, the Campus Union for Trans Equality and Support, and more.  Please visit their site for more information.

The Gender & Women’s Studies Program 

Trains students to identify where and how inequalities are produced and reproduced.  The program offers a graduate minor in gender and women’s studies, a graduate minor in queer studies, and some funding opportunities.
 

The Women’s Resource Center 

Provides programs and services addressing the unique needs of women students.  Issues addressed include dating abuse, sexual assault, women returning to college, body image, harassment, and campus safety.  Some scholarships are available through this office.

Safety

In times of emergency or crisis, always seek assistance!  Besides the Women’s Resource Center, there are several other services to call if you are the victim of harassment, abuse, or assault.  Gather good advice, but you can always refuse further assistance if it is not right for you.  The Emergency Dean (333-0050) provides information to students in an emergency situation and is a resource for where to turn for help.  The Rape Crisis Services 384-4444 is the crisis hotline for central Illinois.  The Counseling Center (333-3704) 610 E. John St., provides individual counseling, couples counseling, therapeutic services, and self-help groups, and the services are fully paid for through student fees.  The Counseling Center also deals with rape counseling as well as alcohol and drug assessment and counseling, eating disorder counseling, study skills development, and more.

For safe evening transportation, call MTD SafeRides (265-7433).  This service provides free rides for students in need of secure campus transportation. Hours vary depending on seasons. SafeWalks (333-1216) is a courtesy service provided to students, faculty and staff, so we don't have to walk alone on campus. Hours are Sun-Thurs 9 pm -2 am and Fri and Sat 9 pm - 3 am.

The UIUC Division of Public Safety (333-1216) offers courses in R.A.D., or Rape Aggression Defense.  The R.A.D. system is for women only and teaches realistic, self-defense tactics and techniques.

UIUC and officials of both Champaign and Urbana are working to improve pedestrian safety on campus following bus-pedestrian accidents.  As pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers, please be safety conscious!

Other Phone Numbers and Links

• Child Care:  Child Care Resource Service: 333-3252; 244-9666 (TTY) 905 S. Goodwin Ave., 314 Bevier Hall, Urbana
• ID Center: (244-0135) 214 Technology Plaza, 616 E. Green St., Champaign
• Illini Union: 1401 West Green St., Urbana
• Info Desk: 333-0691
• Lost and Found Information, Illini Union 333-0691
• Office of Admissions and Records: 333-0302
• Records Service (Registrar): 333-0210
• Registration Assistance: 333-6565
• Office of Diversity, Equity and Access: 100 Swanlund Admin Bldg, 601 East John Street, 333-0885; 244-9850 (TTY)
• Office of Student Financial Aid: 333-0100 Student Services, 620 E. John St.
• Student Health Insurance: 333-0165 506 S. Wright St., Room 100A
• Student Legal Service: 333-9053, 324 Illini Union, 1401 W. Green St.
• Non-emergency: 333-1216; 244-7209 (TTY)
• Emergency: 9-911 (on campus); 911 (off  campus)

Illini Union Bookstore at 809 S. Wright St.

Barnes & Noble is located in northern Champaign. The Literary is a bookstore, cafe, and bar located in downtown Champaign.

For more on used books, check out the following stores: Jane Addams Book Shop at 208 N. Neil in Champaign with three floors of used books; and Priceless Books at 108 W. Main in Urbana with an online search capacity. Another great used bookstore is Orphans Treasure Box at 826 Pioneer St, Champaign. It is a non-profit that supports those in need locally and internationally.

Champaign-Urbana, like any good college town, has several coffee houses-many popular places for students to work and almost all have free Wi-Fi.  

Espresso Royale is found all over Champaign-Urbana. The two campus locations are near the Illini Union Bookstore (604 E. Daniel) and Krannert Performing Arts Center (1117 W. Oregon Street). If you are meeting someone at Espresso Royale, be sure to designate which one.

There are several Starbucks locations across campus, including one inside the Illini Union Bookstore, one inside the Illini Union, and one in the Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building.

Café Paradiso at 801 S. Lincoln in Urbana makes their coffees with espresso from Intelligentsia in Chicago. They also serve sandwiches and soups.  This café is pleasantly offbeat.

In downtown Urbana, Elm City Coffee (which is in a shared space with See You CD and Vinyl) is also a great coffee shop with plenty of space for meeting and working.

In downtown Champaign, Mad Goat Coffee is a popular place to work and meet. There is also Avionics - Flying Machine Coffee just on the edge of downtown Champaign and campustown (202 1st St.), as well as The Literary, a bookstore and cafe in the heart of downtown Champaign.

Along Green Street in Campustown is a rotating selection of coffee places; some of the more stable coffee houses are Brew Lab and Caffe Bene.

A little farther from campus are Pekara Bakery and Bistro, a good spot for coffee as well as breakfast, sandwiches, salads; Hopscotch Bakery, a local bakery and coffee shop; Art Mart, a gift shop and reasonably priced gourmet coffee/pastry place; and Parlor Donuts.

For the most complete listing of area restaurants, visit Experience Chambana

Also see https://www.chambanamoms.com/favorite-foods-around-champaign-urbana/

Pizza

Champaign-Urbana is home to delicious pizza places, no matter what style you prefer. Try hometown favorites, like Papa del's, widely known for their stuffed pizza; Vinny's for New York-style pizza; Pizzeria Antica for Neapolitan pizzas; Manolo's for creative pizzas and empanadas; and Jupiter's Pizzeria and Billiards. Champaign-Urbana also boasts quite a few local, regional, and national pizza chains, including Mia Za’s, Monical's, Jet’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Papa John's, Papa Murphy's Take n Bake and Little Caesars.

Campus and Campustown

Campustown continues to grow and change, so here are some excellent standbys.  There are many more restaurants to discover on your own!  The Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant at 1209 W. Oregon is underground and offers exclusively vegetarian cuisine.  This co-op makes incredible soups, entrees, sandwiches, salads, and baked treats for lunch.  The Herring boasts a cheerful staff, but gets crowded during its limited hours.  The Bread Company at 706 S. Broadway features homemade soups and fresh breads for lunch, with a nice selection of baked goods for dessert.  At night, the lights dim and the tablecloths come out.  The Jerusalem Restaurant at 601 S. Wright offers all your Middle Eastern favorites like hummus, falafel, couscous, dolmeh, and tabouli.  A popular lunch spot is the Y Eatery in the University YMCA on Wright St.  It is open daily for lunch and serves a limited selection of Thai food with daily specials.  It’s warm, filling, and cheap and provides great seats for group discussions.  Mia Za’s Italian Cafe at 629 E. Green delivers inexpensive but good paninis, pastas, and pizzas.  They can usually accommodate their large lunch crowds. There is Maize at the Union (in the Illini Union) and Maize at the Station. We also have a Chipotle Mexican Grill at 528 E. Green. At 710 S. Goodwin, Timpone’s is an Italian restaurant in campus town, and is generally deemed well superior to campus town standards. It is a local tradition and they offer nightly specials and have a long wine and dessert list. 

For Chinese cuisine near campus, there is Midsummer Lounge, Cravings, Northern Cuisine, and Dim Sum House. Golden Harbor is just off campus and offers an extensive menu of authentic Chinese food.

Urbana

The Courier Café at 111 N. Race in downtown Urbana is one of the few restaurants in town that seems to please everyone! This local favorite opens every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Their breakfasts, burgers, salad bar, and amazing shakes are very popular.  Up the street lies the much more expensive Silvercreek 402 N. Race.  The setting can be romantic, and the food seems to be worth the price.  Siam Terrace presents traditional Thai dishes and features several weekly specials.  The staff is attentive, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the food is superb. While there are several good restaurants that serve Tex-Mex and Mexican fare, Toro Loco at 1601 N. Cunningham Ave. continues to be popular for its good service and reasonable prices.

Rick’s Bakery is liked for their tamales and baked goods. Our correspondents claim Huaraches Moroleon as the most authentic Mexican food in Urbana. 

Champaign

Downtown Champaign has a wonderful mix of eclectic and American restaurants including Big Grove Tavern for elevated midwestern cuisine, Seven Saints for sliders, and Black Dog Smoke & Ale House for barbeque. Himalayan Chimney and Kohinoor Indian Restaurant are both perfectly acceptable Indian cuisine for this side of the hemisphere. Neil St Blues has great soul food. 

 Manzella's Italian Patio, just 2 blocks east of downtown at 115 S. First Street offers Italian-Americana at its finest with generous servings and pours, and just across the street from them is Fiesta Cafe at 216 S. First. Fiesta is well-loved by locals for its Mexican fare and margaritas.

Merry-Ann’s Diner, a local favorite, is an informal, traditional diner at 1510 S Neil St, Champaign, IL 61820. It is one of the few places in town open 24 hours. Sam’s Cafe is a cash-only brunch/dinner in Downtown Champaign, we highly recommend their french toast!  

Tenkyu in downtown Champaign has a nice date night aesthetic and pretty good ramen. Sakanaya on Green Street is probably the best American-style sushi in town. Thara Thai and Lanxang Thai Restaurants are also known for their Thai food. 

Champaign also has a number of standard chain restaurants along the North Prospect strip. 

Movies

The commercial movie theaters include the Carmike Cinema 13 (383-0002) at 910 Meijer Drive in northwest Champaign and the Phoenix Theatres Savoy 16 (530-4671) at 232 Burwash Avenue in Savoy, just south of Champaign. Both offer student discounts and stadium seating. Savoy 16 also has an IMAX.

The Illini Union hosts movie screenings on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the semester. These screenings are typically free, and often feature recently released films. 

For a drive-in theater in the spring and summer, travel to Gibson City, approximately 45 minutes northwest of Champaign, for the Harvest Moon Drive-In Theater (784-8770).    

The UIUC Undergrad Library, the Champaign Library, and the Urbana Free Library all have DVDs and VHS for rent. There are also numerous RedBox locations around town.

Museums

There are two museums on campus: the Spurlock Museum (333-2360) at 600 S. Gregory St. in Urbana and the Krannert Art Museum (333-1861) at 500 E. Peabody Dr. in Champaign. The Champaign County History Museum (356-1010) is located in downtown Champaign at 102 E. University Ave. Just outside of Monticello, approximately 30 minutes southwest of Champaign, is the Robert Allerton Park and Retreat Center (333-3287). The estate includes 1500 acres of formal gardens, nature areas, and a manor house and is used as a conservation area for education, research, and recreation. The park is open and hosts events all year. In the summer, they host concerts and youth camps.

Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, of course, are close enough to visit for museum outings. Some of Chicago’s amazing museums include the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Field Museum; the Museum of Science and Industry; and the Shedd Aquarium. Sights in St. Louis include the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site; the Gateway Arch; and the “Dred Scott” Old Courthouse. In Indianapolis, check out the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art; the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum; the Children's Museum; and the NCAA Hall of Champions.

Theater

For an evening of dance, drama, or music, look no further than the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on UIUC’s campus in Urbana. Tickets may be purchased online, in person, or by calling 333-6280. The building houses several state-of-the-art performance halls. Students can purchase discounted tickets for over 300 performances each year.

Off campus in Urbana’s old train station, the Station Theater (384-4000) at 223 N. Broadway offers local productions of dramas, comedies, and musicals in an intimate setting. In Champaign, the larger Virginia Theater (356-9063) at 203 W. Park shows films and plays, features musicians and bands, and hosts the annual Roger Ebert Film Festival. Roger’s wife, Chaz, hosts   “Ebertfest” - the 5 day Film Festival - at the Virginia every spring. Buy tickets early as events sell out. The university also has a wide variety of student-run theater groups, including Illini Student Musicals, which stages a musical every semester.

Live Music

The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts hosts jazz performances, symphony concerts, live theater, and student performances. The State Farm Center on campus also hosts concerts, as well as being home to the UIUC’s varsity basketball teams.

The Rose Bowl Tavern at 106 N. Race in Urbana regularly hosts live country music and features line dancing, along with an eclectic range of other genres of live music. On campus at 708 S. Goodwin in Urbana, The Canopy Club features DJs and live music. Rigg’s in Urbana also hosts live music and other events. The Channing-Murray Foundation, a nonprofit religious art and social justice center, at 1209 W. Oregon in Urbana holds programs, concerts, and receptions.

Sports

For sports fans, the University of Illinois is home to some of the greatest Big 16 athletes and fans. Visit Fightingillini.com for varsity team schedules including basketball, football, baseball, softball, tennis, gymnastics, golf, track, and wrestling.

For professional sporting events, Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis are only hours away. You can cheer on the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals baseball; Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, and St. Louis Rams Football; and St. Louis Blues, Indianapolis Ice, and Chicago Blackhawks hockey

There are 10 public golf courses within half an hour of Urbana-Champaign. This guide includes an overview. There are also 3 private country club courses in town: Champaign Country Club, Lincolnshire Country Club, and Urbana Country Club.

The area is home to many running and cycling clubs, including the UIUC's Illini Cycling Club. Others include Kickapoo Mountain Bike Club, Wild Card Cycling, and Prairie Cycle Club. The Bike Project also hosts classes and weekly rides. Running clubs include Second Wind Running Club and the Illini Run Club. Every April, Champaign-Urbana hosts the Illinois Marathon.

The Champaign Ski and Adventure Club organizes trips to places like Telluride, Lake Tahoe, Wisconsin, and Mexico, as well as many local events and activities.

Outdoor Activities

Central Illinois is home to great county and state parks where you can hike, bike, rent paddle boats or canoes, and have picnics. Kickapoo State Park has options for hiking, running, canoeing, fishing, camping, hunting, and scuba diving. The Kickapoo Rail Trail will eventually connect Urbana to Kickapoo State Park with a 24.5 mile trail for pedestrians and cyclists. In addition to hiking and biking paths, Lake of the Woods in Mahomet also has the Museum of the Grand Prairie and the Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden. Allerton Park has hiking trails and formal gardens. Other parks in the area include: Middle Fork River (Illinois’ first International Dark Sky park); Walnut Point State Park; Kennekuk County Park; Homer Lake; and Clinton Lake State Recreation Area. 

There are also smaller city parks across Champaign-Urbana. Both Park Districts host a range of activities, programs, and camps. 

Farms and orchards in the area also provide opportunities for outdoor activities. Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery at 4410 N. Lincoln Ave in Champaign is a working goat milk farm. They demonstrate how goat cheese and goat milk gelato are made and have organic fruits and farm-to-table meals. You can also sign up for a CSA through Prairie Farm to get fresh bread and cheese each week. Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch at 3902 S. Duncan Road in Champaign is a pick-your-own-apples orchard. They also have a country store, cafe, party venue, and other outdoor activities. 

Bars and Wineries

There are a range of local bars across Champaign-Urbana. In downtown Champaign, Jupiter’s has pizza and billiards; Esquire Lounge has a patio and pool tables, and screens sporting events; Guido’s and Seven Saints have extensive food and drink menus; Cowboy Monkey occasionally has live music; Anthem has DJs and dancing; and Hound’s Rest and Hound’s Court have great collections of beer. 

In Campustown, Murphy’s Pub has been on campus since 1969 and Legends has good food as well as drinks. 

In downtown Urbana, Encanto Restaurant & Bar has regional and international beers and a substantial menu. Other bars and breweries in Urbana include the Rose Bowl Tavern; Bunny’s Tavern; and 25 O’Clock Brewing Company. Analog Wine Library has a curated selection of wines available for tastings or by the glass. 

There are also two vineyards nearby:  Alto Winery at 4210 N. Duncan Rd in Champaign and Sleepy Creek Vineyards, just 40 minutes east in Fairmount, IL. Alto Winery is a tasting room for the popular Alto Vineyard based in Southern Illinois. Sleepy Creek is home to a vineyard, winery, tasting room, and performance venue.

Champaign-Urbana is well served with chain grocery stores. There are Schnucks in Urbana at 200 N. Vine and Champaign at 109 N. Mattis. County Market is in Champaign at 331 E. Stoughton St. There are Aldis located at 3102 E. University Ave in Urbana and at 801 W. Interstate Drive in Champaign.

There are a range of other grocery stores around town. Harvest Market in Champaign has more local produce, a restaurant, and a hot bar in addition to standard grocery store offerings. Common Ground Co-op in Urbana has natural foods, fresh baked goods, deli items, and locally-grown produce. There are student discounts on Sundays and they host cooking classes. World Harvest Internal & Gourmet Foods in Champaign has a variety of international grocery supplies, along with a cafe. Annapoora and Bombay Market in Champaign are Indian grocery stores; Ashar African Market in Urbana has African groceries; and Green Onion in Champaign and H Mart in Urbana are Asian grocery stores. 

The Market at the Square and Winter Farmers Market are in the Common Ground Co-op parking lot and Lincoln Square Mall, respectively. You can find produce from produce, meat, and dairy products from local farms, along with prepared foods, plants, and other locally-made goods. Finally, you can also receive local produce, meat, dairy products, and baked goods through CSA boxes available through Sola Gratia Farm, Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery, and the UIUC Sustainable Student Farm, among others. 

McKinley Health Center

McKinley serves the students and graduate spouses at UIUC.  Though there is a health service fee for McKinley, the GEO-negotiated contract states that the university waives this fee.   McKinley coverage includes appointments with doctors, nurses and counselors; diagnostic tests done on-campus such as lab work and x-rays; and medications prescribed by McKinley health providers and filled at their pharmacy.  The fee does not cover immunizations, or any costs incurred from off-campus services.  In other words, if you have a problem McKinley cannot handle and they refer you to a local doctor or hospital, the health service fee will not cover those costs. Most prescription medications are offered for very low prices at the pharmacy. They also have diagnostic, mental health and wellness programs.

Carle Foundation Hospital

Carle is a local hospital that provides services in the Urbana-Champaign area. It has a financial assistance program that can cover up to 100 percent of medical expenses. Eligibility is based on income as reported in your Federal Tax Return, but even if you are a first-year international student with no tax return records, you can apply. Their applications are retroactive. If you incur any medical expenses at the hospital for an appointment or emergency, you can ask them to put your debt on hold until your application is approved. Once approved, your coverage includes appointments with doctors, diagnostic tests, and physical therapy, among other services.

Major & Ongoing Health Issues

If you believe that you may have to miss large periods of classes or teaching due to an ongoing medical issue (e.g. a major surgery, a medical emergency, or a serious ongoing condition) be sure to notify your primary advisor and the DGS about this as soon as you possibly can. They will be able to work with you to develop solutions to ensure that you are still able to complete your degree despite any medical issue you may be dealing with. Additionally, if your medical issue is related to a disability, you may also be able to find accommodations from Disability Resources and Educational Services.

Off Campus Community Living

Off Campus Community Living helps students who have problems with their landlords, who are looking for housing, and who have questions about renting in Champaign County.  All services and materials are free because they are paid for by the Student Organization Resource Fee (SORF).  Contact Off Campus-Community Living to check landlords’ complaint histories, to have your lease reviewed before you sign it, to get help with rental housing problems, and to file a complaint against your landlord. The office’s staff will give great tips on apartment hunting in Champaign-Urbana.  If you are looking for quieter areas, consider those farther from campus.  First St. to Sixth St. and Green St. to University Ave. contain lots of apartments, but most are filled by undergraduate students.  This area struggles with some safety concerns, especially at night.

There are multiple different options for University Apartments, including: Orchard Downs, Ashton Woods, and Goodwin-Green. University Housing also includes two traditional residence hall options, Daniels and Sherman Halls, for graduate students. For more information on university housing for graduate students visit the Graduate College Website. 

Main Library

Contact the Information Desk (333-2290) in the main library for information about hours and circulation.   Materials are housed in the central book stacks of the Main Library, as well as more than 30 departmental libraries.  As collections have expanded, many items have been moved to the Oak Street Storage Facility and take a few extra days to acquire.  You can make on-line requests to have books sent to a single location or to your on-campus mailbox.

The History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library (217-333-1509) is currently located in Room 246 of the Main Library and is a quiet, comfortable, and convenient on-campus workplace. It contains the current and back issues of history journals, important history monographs, and critical databank resources. This departmental library serves as the site for reserve materials needed for history course readings.

The subject librarian for history is Celestina Savonius-Wroth (cswroth@illinois.edu) here is a list of other subject librarians. 

Urbana Free Library

Champaign Public Library

To obtain a library card, present in person a photo ID and proof of residency in either city, e.g. mail with printed address in Champaign and postmarked mail in Urbana, at the above locations.  The public libraries are members of the Lincoln Trail Libraries System and house collections of best sellers, books on tape, children’s books, videos and DVDs, CDs, and magazines.  

Campus Recreation Center East (CRCE)

Graduate students are assessed a Student Service Fee, which automatically enrolls grads as Campus Recreation members, who may enter any Campus Rec facility with an i-Card or student ID.  You must provide a towel for cardio and weight areas, but digital lockers are available in some facilities.  Ask about the facilities’ schedules and other information at the front desk.  You may also be interested in the group fitness program.  CRCE (pronounced sir-see) has been recently renovated to house an aquatic center with leisure pool, waterslide, and spa.  It has upgraded its locker facilities and houses 3 basketball courts, 3 racquetball courts, multipurpose rooms, cardio and free weight equipment, and a 3-lane indoor track.

Activites and Recreation Center (ARC)

The ARC is one of the country's largest on-campus recreation centers. Amenities include: 35-foot climbing wall, 1/5-mile indoor track, two 50-meter swimming pools, 35-person sauna, twelve racquetball courts, hundreds of machines and weights, four gymnasiums, nine multi-purpose areas, instructional kitchen, 150-seat auditorium, three meeting rooms, Courtside Café, UI Wellness Center, Professional Massage at the ARC, and Athletic Training at the ARC.

Outdoor Center Fields 

Corner of First Street and Stadium Drive, Champaign 265-0779

Used for Intramurals, Club Sports and Open Rec. 4 lighted Football fields; 2 lighted Soccer fields; 3 lighted Sand Volleyball courts; 6 lighted Basketball courts; 6 lighted Tennis courts and an outdoor center facility with exterior drinking fountains, restrooms and a meeting room. Open for seasonal use August through November.

The Rec Room 

lower level of The Illini Union has Bowling and Billiards. Check in with them for leagues and specials. 333-2415

Complex Fields 

Corner of Florida Avenue and Lincoln Avenue, Urbana 265-0779

Amenities include: 4 lighted Softball diamonds; 4 lighted Football fields; 3 Soccer fields; 2 Lacrosse fields; 2 Rugby fields; Ultimate Disc option and a service building with two drinking fountains and port-a-potties.

Ice Arena 

Amenities and Programs include: Public skating; Skating lessons; Freestyle skating; clubs; Hockey programs; Illini Hockey Team; Center Ice Cafe and Pro Shop and Party Packages.

Off Campus Sports and Recreation

While the U of I provides multiple recreation facilities, the broader Urbana-Champaign area also has a lot of activities including (but not limited to) boxing, fencing, and crossfit.

Fencing

Point Fencing Club

The Point Fencing Club is the only fencing club in the Urbana-Champaign area. If you want to try the sport or have experience, The Point welcomes fencers of all backgrounds and experience levels.

Boxing

There are a variety of boxing clubs in the Urbana-Champaign area. The two that are closest to campus are Luyando’s boxing gym and CU Women’s Boxing. 

Crossfit

The Urbana-Champaign area has a couple of crossfit gyms. The one closest to campus is called University Ave crossfit.

For more information about other off campus athletic activities, please see the Experience CU website. 

Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District 

The Mass Transit District (MTD) is Champaign-Urbana’s public transportation.  The MTD buses are quite convenient, and since every student pays a fee to support the MTD, you are entitled to unlimited access to all routes and services at all times.  Simply show your student ID, or iCard, to the operator.  All MTD regular routes are served by buses that are equipped with wheelchair lifts.  In general, buses run about every 20 to 30 minutes, and almost all lines go to campus.  On many routes, bus drivers will pick you up and drop you off on any corner along the route. You can find information on routes and detours at mtd.org, and you can pick up maps onboard most buses and at the terminal. 

Amtrak is located at the Illinois Terminal at 1101 E. University, which also contains the central MTD offices. Passenger trains run daily from Illinois Terminal to Chicago’s Union Station, leaving Champaign in the early morning and returning to Champaign in the evening.

Greyhound is also located at the Illinois Terminal and runs to Chicago.

Peoria Charter picks up in a few locations around town and runs to locations in the Chicagoland area, including the airport.

Willard Airport
11 Airport Rd., Savoy

Willard Airport, located about 3 miles south of Champaign on Route 45, which is the extension of Neil St., is a regional airport operated by the University of Illinois, accommodating both private and commercial aircraft.  American Airlines and United Airlines are currently the only airlines the fly to Champaign. Parking costs $5 per day, and the MTD has a bus route from campus and the Illinois Terminal to the airport that operates 7 days a week. It is also easy to get there taxi, Uber, or Lyft.

Nearby International airports include: O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) in Chicago, Indianapolis International Airport (IND), and Lambert (STL) in St. Louis. There is also a great regional airport (with free parking) just 45 minutes away in Bloomington-Normal - Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI ).

A great place to start would be looking at the registered Student Organizations through one.illinois.edu (if there is one you are looking for, there is a high likelihood that it exists on the campus). Members of the student organizations will probably be able to help you find what you are looking for. 

Of course, you can also ask fellow students or check out your surroundings as there are houses of worship throughout the Urbana-Champaign area.