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�ڰ������� has spent much of the summer preparing to safely reopen campus for a limited number of in-person classes. On Monday, the 2020-21 academic year will officially begin with most students and employees studying and working remotely.

This week, �ڰ������� lost one of its great champions, Dr. Angelina Pedroso. Read about Dr. Pedroso’s life and contributions to �ڰ������� and more in this week’s edition of Noteworthy at �ڰ�������.

This weekend, �ڰ������� will host its first series of virtual Commencement ceremonies!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) has awarded �ڰ������� a $275,000 grant to support its agriculture science engagement at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI). �ڰ������� is one of 26 institutions in the United States—and the only institution in Illinois—to receive this grant. It is �ڰ�������’s fourth USDA-NIFA grant and its fifth USDA grant overall.

�ڰ������� has received a grant to digitize the archives of alumnus and former Illinois Congressman Luis Gutiérrez. The University also received a grant for students from the Consulate General of Mexico.

The Golden Gala and Alumni Awards Ceremony is virtual this year. Find out how to join the Alumni Association in honoring five alumni for their contributions to their communities and place bids in an online auction!

The Consulate General of Mexico has awarded a $9,000 IME Becas grant to �ڰ�������. This is the fifth year �ڰ������� has received the grant. 

�ڰ������� Associate Professor of Psychology Lisa Hollis-Sawyer has published her sixth book, a workbook titled “Black Belt Statistics: A Competency-Based Approach (Plus SPSS and R).”

�ڰ������� honored celebrated poet, essayist, activist, novelist and scholar Ana Castillo with the Distinguished Alumnus Award during the annual Golden Gala and Alumni Awards. This year’s ceremony, emceed by 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award winner and retired WGN anchor Robert Jordan, took place Oct. 17.

The Student Center for Science Engagement (SCSE) had to change the way it usually facilitates research because of the pandemic. Yet, even while research was done remotely, the SCSE was able to conduct 18 projects from eight departments and will host a virtual symposium later this month to showcase the results.