As we reflect on National Cancer Survivors Day, observed June 7, we’re amplifying the incredible team at UI Health. Part of the University of Illinois System’s urban health enterprise, UI Health serves patients across Chicago — including colorectal cancer patient Donald Barge.

You're invited to attend our presidential search town halls next week at our three universities! These sessions are an opportunity to share your perspective and help inform the search for the next president of the U of I System: https://www.uillinois.edu/about/presidential_search

A University of Illinois Springfield epidemiologist and her students are distributing free radon test kits, hosting health education workshops, and connecting Sangamon County residents with lung cancer screenings — because only 1 in 5 at-risk Americans gets screened: https://ow.ly/UB9P50Z9qHi

This May, your engaged voices reached Springfield, global partnerships took flight, and the joy of commencement season spread across our campuses. Read more about it in Stay Connected, and subscribe below! 🎓 May edition: https://ow.ly/Jr8A50Z7Jkn 📩 Subscribe here: https://ow.ly/ZF8g50Z7Jkm

The Morrow Plots will have a fresh look at the young age of 150, after this summer's makeover is completed. ✨🌽 By the beginning of the fall semester, North America's oldest experimental agricultural field will be easier to see for passers-by on the Urbana-Champaign campus.

We're proud to have relaunched the David Dodds Henry Lecture Series: The Future of Higher Education. The Chicago gathering brought together higher ed leaders and changemakers to explore how to navigate unprecedented times, and featured a keynote from U of Washington President Robert J. Jones.

As data centers expand, so does their need for energy. Right now, nearly 30% of their energy usage is connected to cooling. But a MechSE at Illinois team created a 3D-printed plate—with structures thinner than human hair—that could slash that ratio to a mere 1.1%. ⚡

University of Illinois Chicago researchers tracked 1,300+ kids in Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for four years and found real results: less violence, less substance use, stronger mental health. Mentoring works: https://ow.ly/NSQy50Z4ujF

This #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, system researchers are studying PTSD treatments, music therapy, and veteran support. Here are three making a difference: Urbana-Champaign: https://ow.ly/lMTi50Z4ign Chicago: https://ow.ly/p0ky50Z4igm University of Illinois Springfield: https://ow.ly/Az7f50Z4igl

Our Board of Trustees today approved a strategic expansion of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, establishing four new departments that will sharpen its focus on specific areas of medicine and enhance the college’s interdisciplinary collaboration. https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/7815/1729030854

Happy World Bee Day! At Chicago, University of Illinois Springfield, and Urbana-Champaign, our system maintains programs that help local bee populations flourish. 🐝 Because without pollinators, much of the food we rely on every day simply wouldn't exist.

The University of Illinois Board of Trustees will meet Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. in Champaign. 🕗 You can livestream the proceedings then by using this link: https://uis.edu/uislive 🎦

Biomanufacturing. Economic development. Job creation. Sustainability. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s iFAB Tech Hub is doing it all — a prime example of the University of Illinois System building Illinois’ future through innovation and partnerships: https://ifabtechhub.org/

Today at noon CDT, join U of I System President Tim Killeen for a virtual conversation on our system's role in shaping the future of Illinois. An audience-powered Q-&-A session will follow his presentation. Register for the town hall and submit your questions here: https://ow.ly/WQ1650YVcxc

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but wellbeing matters all year long. Across the University of Illinois System, find mental health support for students, faculty, and staff. 💚 Explore resources: https://ow.ly/EOCl50YYlRV And for anytime crisis support, call or text 988. 📱

Happy International Nursing Day! Across our system, nursing students balance rigorous coursework with hands-on patient care — and when it's over, they mark the end of their undergraduate journey with a pool jump. 🎓🌊 This tradition that began at Chicago has now spread to Urbana and Springfield.

Last week in Rome, U of I System President Tim Killeen joined global leaders, youth innovators, and the CCOs of Ferrari and Aston Martin at the European Innovation for Sustainability Summit. The takeaway: embrace new technology, move from planning to action, and inspire the next generation.

Today, we celebrate the mothers who balance more than most people see. The ones who show up fully — for their work, their students, their research, their colleagues — and then go home and show up again. Read more: 🌺https://ow.ly/Vp9i50YWEog 🌼https://ow.ly/agJE50YWEoa 🌷https://ow.ly/1Asn50YWEo6

It's not a plotline from an episode of "Doogie Howser, M.D." 🥼 Booker T. Washington STEM Academy students received white coats after graduating from the Future Health Innovators Academy Mini Medical School Program, a Carle Illinois College of Medicine and @unit4schools.bsky.social collaboration.

Patient data collection and measurement has been a greater focus for UI Health in recent years, as accuracy matters for everything from wellness visits to emergency care. Their efforts have now been rewarded — a first-ever "A" safety grade from national healthcare quality watchdog group Leapfrog.

On Friday, May 15 at noon CDT, join U of I System President Tim Killeen for a virtual town hall that will highlight state priorities, updates on critical legislation, and key opportunities that will fuel our progress, followed by a Q-&-A session. Secure your virtual seat: https://ow.ly/aHtt50YVcx9

An advocacy-packed April saw our system making impacts both in Washington, D.C. and across the state of Illinois. Catch up on the news with Stay Connected, and subscribe to get it in your inbox every month! 💮 April edition: https://ow.ly/9SWg50YUHy0 📩 Subscribe here: https://ow.ly/gN0250YUHy1

In case you missed it: IBM will launch its FutureNow Chicago center at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, creating 750 new jobs in high-growth technology sectors and anchoring the IQMP’s Quantum Works building. Learn more: https://ow.ly/zcWj50YTsfI

@uofilsystem.bsky.social President Tim Killeen presented Dick Durbin with the 2026 Paul H. Douglas Award yesterday in Washington, D.C. Durbin is recognized for bipartisan leadership on immigration, criminal justice, health care, and infrastructure.

The University of Illinois System doesn’t wait for discoveries to happen. It creates them — in labs, clinics, communities, and classrooms across Illinois. 👩‍🔬💡 Discovery doesn’t slow down here. It never has: https://ow.ly/SuxF50YStmb

The Grand Challenges program at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park brings together researchers and industry partners to collaborate on quantum solutions. Two of this year’s five Grand Challenges awards are led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty: https://ow.ly/jvEw50YRc5p

The Illinois Mexican & Mexican-American Students Initiative (I-MMÁS) will host an online webinar on May 20 focused on the growing field of nutritional neuroscience, and evidence linking cognitive health and good nutrition. 🍎🧠 See the full agenda and register for free: https://ow.ly/s12X50YQKnl

Earth Day’s theme this year is Our Power, Our Planet. See just a sampling of the work across the University of Illinois System that powers progress — from clean energy to sustainable materials. 🌎

Each year, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Graduate College showcases the creativity and intellectual diversity of their students with its Image of Research competition. 🏆 2026 winners: https://ow.ly/qr8Z50YNxhr 📷 Full gallery: https://ow.ly/m74O50YNxhp

Last week, the U of I System sent a delegation to Washington, D.C. to meet with our federal legislators and advocate for our education, research, health, and economic development missions. 🏛️ We're grateful for their time, attention, and continued support of the system's initiatives.

Not all generations learned the importance of exercise. It’s a big part of this recent University of Illinois Springfield graduate’s life. Jadyn Zafirri uses her degree to help patients get healthier doing cardiac rehabilitation and stay active after their sessions end: https://ow.ly/J0OQ50YLbvr

Nutrition sciences major Brianna Guerrier came to the University of Illinois Chicago as a transfer student — and found more than she was looking for. Read more about how UIC makes it possible for Brianna to combine her passions for advocacy, volunteerism, and nutrition: https://ow.ly/YVml50YJWhQ

The U of I System doesn’t just study public health — we practice it. From applying millions of dollars toward health research, opening access to healthcare for more residents, and investing in improving the entire food chain, our commitment to health and well-being has never been stronger.

This week, UIC is proud to host the SEJ — Society of Environmental Journalists' 35th anniversary conference — exploring how climate, water, energy, food, and health intersect. #SEJ2026 is open to the public, so check out the schedule and register to join the conversations: https://www.sej2026.org/

Recently, University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen discussed with @usnews.com the ways that our system is preparing students to lead, innovate, and contribute to the state of Illinois and the world beyond: ow.ly/avhu50YH9qY

74% of U of I System graduates stay in-state to build their lives, careers, and communities. When talent stays, communities grow, economies compound, and the state’s future gets built by the very people trained to build it. Read more in our 2025 Annual Report: https://ow.ly/JjeR50YEG2V

As spring brings greener views to Illinois, a new study shows that the benefits of living in greener neighborhoods aren't limited to aesthetic value. 🌳🌲 The UIC study found that women living in greener neighborhoods gave birth to babies with higher birth weights: https://ow.ly/9kIv50YF9jY

Right now, University of Illinois Extension educators bring University of Illinois System research into communities — translating discoveries into programs that address workforce readiness, food security, and environmental resilience — reaching 800,000+ people annually in every corner of Illinois.

Urbana-Champaign chemistry researchers have devised a method that significantly lowers the amount of carbon emissions from a vital process used throughout the textile, plastic, and chemical industries. Even better: their new method uses solar power to do it. ☀️ Learn more: https://ow.ly/6gXx50YCorW

From advocating at our state Capitol to building early education capacity for teachers, the U of I System had a busy March. Read all about it and subscribe to Stay Connected, our monthly newsletter! 🏛️ March's edition: https://ow.ly/gbbp50YBoGs 📩 Subscribe here: https://ow.ly/Wbfv50YBoGu

Nominate a humanitarian changemaker for the Shin Award. The honoree directs $50,000 to University of Illinois System work they believe in. ❓ When is the deadline? April 13 ❓ Can you nominate yourself? Yes ❓ What makes a strong nomination? Answers in our FAQ 🌐 Shin Award FAQ: ow.ly/9WHR50YAQK3

What does $1.2B in research impact look like? It looks like women across science, humanities, and healthcare asking harder questions, challenging assumptions, and driving real change. Across all three of our universities, right now. Read more about women making an impact: https://ow.ly/7anR50YzKYJ

It’s National Agriculture Day. Here, agriculture isn’t just where food begins. It’s where discovery, care, and community take root. 🌾 From soil to science to student support at all three of our universities, the University of Illinois System connects agricultural discovery with community wellbeing.

University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen recently spoke with @forbes.com about current perceptions of higher education, and gave his five-point roadmap for leaders to restore confidence in their institutions — reinforcing that higher education is a vital force for the public good.

At today's Board of Trustees meeting, President Tim Killeen shared this video that celebrates the dedication of the over 23,000 employees of the U of I System. They are the people who power the system that powers the state of Illinois. 💪 For a full recap of today's happenings: ow.ly/Ke9A50Ywv8s

Nestled near the southern end of the Urbana-Champaign Main Quad, the Morrow Plots are the longest continuously-running agricultural experiment in all of North America. 🌽🌾 The College of ACES is celebrating 150 years of this living laboratory throughout the year: https://ow.ly/OFzc50YtwaX

Our new pilot program helps address Illinois’ urgent need for early childhood educators — offering flexible pathways for working teachers to advance their careers. Take classes through our Chicago and Urbana-Champaign universities to match your schedule and your life: https://ow.ly/hxZ550Yso35

Nominating a changemaker for the Shin Humanitarian Award accomplishes two powerful things at once. The honoree receives recognition and gifts $50,000 to University of Illinois System work they believe in. Nominate a humanitarian today. The deadline is April 13: go.uillinois.edu/2026ShinExcellence

Plastic shopping bags can take hundreds of years to decompose, and many cities now implement per-bag usage charges. A UIC College of Engineering team may have a solution for both of these issues: a plant-based bioplastic that uses lignin. ♻️ Learn more: ow.ly/tVEu50YqoAS

Even our shortest month was filled with impactful news and inspiring stories from all three of our universities. Keep up with all U of I System happenings every month by subscribing below! ⛅ February's edition: https://ow.ly/1Wek50YpaXG 📩 Subscribe here: https://ow.ly/4g9950YpaXE