The University of Illinois System

Photosynthesis: a billions-old process that's actually kinda inefficient. @mikegrunwald.bsky.social discusses researchers at @uofilsystem.bsky.social's efforts to improve the process with AI, potentially increasing crop yields up to 50% in 20 years and how it could save our farming future.

A family of three stands in a farm field, overlooking a sunset, with title text reading Farm Economic Stress Resources with Illinois Extension and a University of Illinois orange I-Block logos.

As farmers face mounting economic pressures, Extension provides resources ranging from mental health vouchers and crisis support lines to comprehensive financial planning tools. 

🔗 https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/illinois-extension-offers-support-farmers-experiencing-economic-stress

Collective Strength, Public Good Annual Report Fiscal Year 2025 University of Illinois System

From @uisedu.bsky.social's Prairie Promise to Chicago's Aspire grant to Urbana-Champaign's Illinois Commitment, the University of Illinois System is dedicated to making a world-class education more affordable and accessible.

Learn more in our 2025 Annual Report: ow.ly/Ap0n50YcrnF

an aerial view of rural Stark County, Illinois

A new study from the Urban Transportation Center at
@uiccuppa.bsky.social shows that investing in rural transit in Illinois pays big dividends. 🚐💰

For every $1 put in, nearly $4 in value is gained through improved health outcomes, increased workforce participation, and more: ow.ly/A0kU50YbWgu

The 2026 UIS Star Party poster will be premiered on February 11!
Here is a retrospective of the previous 16 years of Star Party posters.

U of I College of Education providing mental health service to the community CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The benefits of therapy have been proven, but resources and a lack of therapists can get in the way of people receiving much needed help. But — the College of E…

At Education at Illinois's new Healing, Training, and Research Clinic in Champaign, graduate student clinicians broaden their experiences by providing free counseling services to community members—a win-win situation for all. 🤝

Center for Student Involvement presents Black History Month "Stories of Our Resistance and Resilience" Celebrating Stories of Black Achievement Details: go.uic.edu/BHM

This Black History Month, the University of Illinois Chicago is celebrating the achievements of Africans and African Americans in our country with the theme "Stories of Our Resistance and Resilience."

Bookmark the 2026 campus-wide schedule of events here: go.uic.edu/BHM

Stay Connected January 2026 University of Illinois System

Despite the bitter cold, our campuses warmed back to action this month. Catch up with our biggest stories below, and subscribe for future months!

🌬️ January's edition: https://ow.ly/b9hB50Y6uNS
📩 Subscribe here: https://ow.ly/Xoab50Y6uNT

Dr. Robert A. Barish

Dr. Robert A. Barish, vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago, writes in Crain's Chicago Business that "when academic medicine and public service intersect, the result is not just broader access to care. It is better care for everyone."

👉 https://ow.ly/pUBa50Y4nKe

the United States Capitol building

Reminder: our annual Federal Priorities Town Hall starts tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. CST! U of I System President Killeen will reflect on last year's engagement, preview our 2026 goals, and conclude with a Q-and-A session with the audience.

Register for free here: https://ow.ly/TBHy50XY2r1

Tax forms with a calculator, pen, and keyboard

This tax season, the University of Illinois Springfield's College of Business & Management will provide area residents with professional tax preparations at no cost. 💰

For more details and eligibility: https://ow.ly/EVCY50Y1UQx

iiN | Illinois Innovation Network

The Illinois Innovation Network's Social Innovation and Impact Seed Grant program awarded over $160,000 to two new projects. 🌱

💡 personalizing learning for neurodivergent students
👴 enhancing social support for older adults in Illinois

Learn more: https://ow.ly/3Aes50Y1iM2

Collective Strength, Public Good Annual Report Fiscal Year 2025 University of Illinois System

Our 2025 annual report highlights our economic impact, with new data showing the breadth of our reach across Illinois. It reflects the essence of our mission: expanding access, driving discovery, and delivering impact.

📖 Spend time with "Collective Strength, Public Good": https://ow.ly/uvEl50Y0UXM

At our recent Board of Trustees meeting, U of I System President Tim Killeen chose to highlight seven of our more than 7,000 excellent faculty members. Along with their colleagues, we're proud of how often they go far above and beyond the tradition role of faculty. 👩🏽‍🏫👨🏻‍🔬

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. University of Illinois System

On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, one truth stands out: progress multiplies when we work together. At this weekend’s MLK Dinner, we gathered with others dedicated to serving the public and reflected on the responsibility we share to strengthen our communities.

Dr. King’s legacy calls us forward.

the United States Capitol building

Join U of I System President Tim Killeen on January 27 for our annual Federal Priorities Town Hall! President Killeen will reflect on last year's engagement, preview our 2026 goals, and conclude with a Q-and-A session with the audience.

Register for free here: https://ow.ly/iW9F50XY2r2

Modest tuition increases approved for incoming freshmen at U of I System universities After freezing resident undergraduate tuition rates in seven of the previous 11 years, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois today approved a 2% tuition increase for Illinois resident undergraduate students admitted to the fall 2026 academic year.

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

the seal of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

The University of Illinois Board of Trustees will meet in Chicago this morning, starting at 8:00 a.m.

Follow along live: http://uis.edu/uislive

University of Illinois System One System, Statewide Impact $24.9B in economic impact Supports 1 in 37 Illinois jobs. 500,000 Alumni in Illinois

We power progress across Illinois. 💪

With our $24.9B annual impact, we fuel jobs and opportunity while providing significant return on investment for residents, partners, and students. 📈

Drill down into the myriad ways our system boosts the state economy: https://economicimpact25.uillinois.edu

The front door of the UIC Isadore and Sadie Dorin Forum on a summer day in 2024. Photo: Jenny Fontaine/UIC

The University of Illinois Board of Trustees will meet this Thursday at 8:00 a.m. in Chicago. 🕗

To watch live, please use this stream: https://uis.edu/uislive 🎦

Dr. Robert Cohen (left) and Leonard Go are director and assistant director of the MinER Center. The two men are reviewing chest X-ray images displayed on dual monitors in a medical office setting. (Photos: Martin Hernandez/UIC)

With active coal mines operating in Illinois and Indiana, Midwesterners are no strangers to mining-related lung diseases typically associated with Appalachia. UIC's Black Lung Clinic providing screening clinics, benefit counseling, and outreach services for coal miners. 👨🏾‍⚕️👷🏻‍♂️: https://ow.ly/h9iC50XVIQk

“Getting Your Foot in the Door”: Challenges and opportunities facing artists and arts graduates in non-arts jobs. New Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership Report. Image of a woman on a stage. Logos of Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership

Read the latest report from the Illinois Creative Workforce Partnership (ICWP)’s Branching Out Series: ws.engr.illinois.edu/sitemanager/...

Photo by Hulki Okan Tabak on Unsplash

“These grants and the research they will support really are the power of international partnership in action, bringing together researchers who are doing groundbreaking work that will impact food production, health care and much more,” U of I System President Tim Killeen said.

"By combining the strengths of UAAT and the University of Illinois System, this collaboration builds a forward-looking global partnership that fosters innovation, advances societal goals and strengthens institutional ties through impactful projects in key academic fields," said Wen-Chang Chen, president of National Taiwan University and convener of UAAT.

The University of Illinois System and University Academic Alliance in Taiwan jointly launched five new interdisciplinary research teams that will drive innovations and advance collaboration between the universities. 🤝🏻

Learn more: https://ow.ly/clfo50XU8iu

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

Highlights from his tenure: https://ow.ly/JfPh50XTwgG

UI offers popular courses to Rantoul, LeRoy high-schoolers Come February, both Rantoul and Le Roy high school students can take select college courses at the UI — at no dime for students or the district.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's new Dual-Credit Learning Accelerator is expanding university-level education to high schools across the state—for free. The DCLA currently offers five 100-level courses. https://ow.ly/m6Mh50XS7eW

U of I System sets fall enrollment record of more than 101,000 The University of Illinois System entered uncharted territory with record fall enrollments of more than 101,000 students on its campuses in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield, reflecting the ongoing demand for the system’s world-class education.

We topped 100,000 students for the first time with a record 101,081 enrolled. 🎉🎆

President Tim Killeen emphasized the impact: “Our students are the next generation of professionals, engaged citizens, and leaders, here in Illinois and around the world.” #SystemStories2025 https://ow.ly/1CPx50XL3Ce

U of I System delivers $24.9B impact on state economy, study reports The University of Illinois System generates $24.9 billion a year for the state’s economy and supports more than 225,000 jobs, one of every 37 jobs in the state, according to the findings of a system-commissioned study announced today.

Students. Taxpayers. Communities. Society. We all benefit from the U of I System’s $24.9 billion annual impact across the state and the world. 🌆🚜🌎

Explore “Powering Progress Across Illinois.” #SystemStories2025 https://news.uillinois.edu/view/7815/623395244

Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress sparks action and inspiration in Chicago blog posts Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress sparks action and inspiration in Chicago Jul 9, 2025 4:00 pm Share on Facebook Tweet Email Images What happens when researchers, changemakers, and sustainability enthusiasts gather? More insightful discussions, actionable solutions, and next…

In June, we proudly hosted SRI2025, featuring:

🗣️ 450 speakers
💡 120+ sessions
🌆 10 Chicago-based excursions
🌍 Countries represented from South Africa to Morocco to Wales

📺 Recap video: https://youtu.be/PJGg1EIhYsA
📖 Dive deeper: http://ow.ly/VSVM50Wo3tE

#SystemStories2025

In 2025, University of Illinois Springfield added counties to a pilot that allows students from Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri to benefit from lower-cost in-state tuition at the close-knit campus ranked #1 public regional university in the state. 🌟 #SystemStories2025 https://ow.ly/3HuN50XL29c

IVSA Illinois Virtual Schools & Academy Powered by University of Illinois System

In March, the U of I System and Illinois Virtual Schools & Academy launched a statewide initiative to bring high-quality virtual education to school districts. 🤝🏼

IVSA gives real-time support, live instruction, and applied learning options daily: https://ow.ly/K0AF50Vjgb7 #SystemStories2025