| Center for Smart Agriculture College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and College of Engineering The Center for Smart Agriculture, a collaboration between the College of ACES and College of Engineering, will strengthen research, industrial outreach, and community education in agricultural sciences. The center plans to create a new professional Master’s degree in CS+CS (Computer Science and Crop Sciences), partake in large-scale interdisciplinary research initiatives, and expand the strong ties to Illinois agricultural industry. Ultimately, the center will serve to increase agricultural productivity and sustainability needs as a world leader in agriculture. |
| Metropolitan Food and Environmental Systems (MetroFESt) Major College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences A new major in Metropolitan Food and Environmental Systems (MetroFESt) will help undergraduate students tackle topics in feeding the world’s future population in a way that promotes environmental and human health. Students will learn the science and practice of food production, processing, and security across urban contexts. The College of ACES will draw from its strengths of training students across engineering and the physical, earth, life, social and behavioral sciences to address multi-sectored and multi-layered topics. Ultimately, this new program will ensure students are well equipped to help tackle the world’s most pressing food issues. |
| Expansion of Master of Accountancy Science Program Gies College of Business For the first time, the Master of Accountancy Science (MAS) degree will be open to students pursuing an accounting degree outside of the top-ranked Illinois Department of Accountancy. Currently, the program is open only to Illinois students majoring in Accountancy in the Gies College of Business. The expansion will open the program to external applicants, providing an opportunity to extend its reach to markets beyond the current degree programs. This will further enhance the department as the top provider of superior accountancy education both domestically and globally. |
| Master of Science in Management (MSM) Program Gies College of Business The Gies College of Business will launch a new, one-year Master of Science in Management (MSM) degree in June 2018. The mission of this program is to provide high-quality business education to recent undergraduates seeking management skills and knowledge to pursue a career in business, government, or education. The new MSM program leverages the experience and success of the already-offered Master of Science in Technology Management (MSTM) degree, and expands the opportunity of a one-year business degree to students in humanities, arts, and education. While a typical graduate business program reflects the diversity of both STEM and non-STEM majors, the uniqueness of the Illinois MSM program rests in designing a program specifically for non-STEM backgrounds. |
| Illinois Secondary Teacher Education and Computer Science (I-STECS) Initiative College of Education Funding for the Illinois Secondary Teacher Education and Computer Science (I-STECS) Initiative will develop curriculum and implementation for two programs: an undergraduate program in computer science education leading to licensure (certification) as a secondary teacher of computer science; and an online or hybrid program leading to endorsement in computer science education for licensed, in-service secondary teachers. These programs are designed to provide future educators with the resources and certifications to develop, implement, and articulate well-integrated computer science education programs in schools throughout Illinois. |
| Blended Learning Bachelor’s Degrees College of Engineering The creation of a blended learning option for undergraduate degree programs within the College of Engineering aims to provide an enhanced learning experience while reducing the cost per student to deliver each program. Students will be able to participate in off-campus career-building experiences such as internships and co-ops while making progress towards their degree. By using technology to deliver quality classes at a distance for the portion of students who choose the off-campus blended learning, the College of Engineering will be able to admit more students while sustaining the costs needed to support them. |
| City Scholars Program Expansion College of Engineering The College of Engineering plans to expand the existing Engineering City Scholars Program — a program that exposes undergraduate students to the vibrant tech scene in Chicago and matches students with Chicago-based internships while continuing to progress towards earning their degree — to include additional undergraduate participation and the development of Masters-level programs. While the initial cohort included students from computer science and the electrical and computer engineering, the Engineering City Scholars Program plans to expand the program to other majors within the College of Engineering. The timeline for this effort involves increasing the number of students participating, with the goal of reaching more than 200 students within ten semesters. |
| Illinois Center for Autonomy College of Engineering The Center for Autonomy aims to provide a clear vision for the future of Illinois research in autonomous technology by advancing efforts in artificial intelligence, digital hardware, communication networks and information systems. Through technological scholarship and leadership, the center plans to establish an interdisciplinary faculty advisory board while providing a shared facility for students and faculty to interact in a collaborative and creative environment. Ultimately, the Center for Autonomy will spearhead innovations in the systems that are set to transform our society and enable the University to strengthen the State of Illinois in it endeavor to become a more significant participant in the tech economy. |
| New Programs in Environmental Design and Health College of Fine and Applied Arts and College of Applied Health Sciences The College of Fine and Applied Arts and the College of Applied Health Sciences will add a concentration in Health and Well-being within the Master of Science in Architectural Studies program, a concentration in Built Environment and Public Health within the Master of Public Health program, and a certificate program for students in both colleges in Environmental Design and Health. These additional programs will attract students in design and health behavior with the opportunity to specialize in professional interests. These three additions support a long-term aspiration to form a new, self-supporting master’s program in Environmental Design and Health Behavior jointly administered by both colleges. |
| Illinois Neuro/Behavioral Assessment Laboratory College of Liberal Arts and Sciences The Illinois Neuro/Behavioral Assessment Laboratory (IN/BAL) will support cutting-edge science while enhancing the existing foundation for world-class research at Illinois in social and behavioral science, medicine, neuroscience, and genomics. The laboratory plans to conduct cross-disciplinary, cutting-edge research on neurobehavioral functioning; create a measurement core for the scientific community at the University of Illinois and the public; and enhance the training needs for students. It plans to provide training opportunities that will benefit students from a wide variety of programs, including Psychology, Education, Business, Advertising, Labor and Employment Relations, Social Work, Communication and Human Development and Family Studies. |
| School of Integrative Biology Study Abroad Pipeline for International Students College of Liberal Arts and Sciences An expansion of the Study Abroad Pipeline in the School of Integrative Biology will increase opportunities for international and domestic students. This project consists of recruiting students over two cohorts per year distributing students across labs, and developing an integrated program of study for Chinese students that includes adapting introductory online classes. Ultimately, this program will provide a pathway to allow both domestic and international students to obtain a non-thesis Master’s degree in Integrative Biology. |
| Supporting and Promoting the Practical Value of a Humanities Education in the 21st Century College of Liberal Arts and Sciences By creating a Humanities Professional Resources Center (HPRC), the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences aims to provide a unique opportunity for employers and corporate partners seeking students with skill sets fostered by a humanities education at Illinois. This program will build on the curricular and career exploration work of the existing LAS Life + Career Design Lab and will provide students with an outlet for specific career advice related to their educational background. The new Humanities Professional Resources Center plans to foster expanded internship opportunities, educational guidance, alumni mentoring, career coaching and employer outreach to help humanities students succeed post-graduation. |
| Advancing Translational Research and Collaboration through Surgical Training and Innovation College of Veterinary Medicine Interdisciplinary expertise across campus will work together to provide a hub that develops and evaluates animal surgical models, non-animal simulations, online surgical training courses and a translational research hub for the advancement of research and education. This project is in in collaboration with the College of Engineering, the Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, the Design Group @ Vet Med and the Health Care Engineering Systems Center. With goals of advancing the future of surgical training in medical education, disciplines across campus will work together to improve implementation science, the science of health care delivery and advanced curriculum. |
| Promoting Ecosystem and Wildlife Health Literacy College of Veterinary Medicine The Illinois Program to Promote Ecosystem and Wildlife Health (EWH) Literacy will cultivate, guide and host a collaborative approach between the College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences in the College of ACES and the Prairie Research Institute. The online education program will include a Master’s degree in Applied Ecosystem and Wildlife Health; educational certificates and topic specific courses in Ecological Concepts, Ecosystem Health, Wildlife Diseases and tools for wildlife health investigation. Experts will deliver high quality, flexible learning opportunities to ensure an educated workforce of professionals and that members of the public are engaged in the well-being of our natural systems. |