The following is a Tentative Agenda. See below for a sampling of opportunities.
All times are in Central Time and most events will be held at the College of Education building, 1310 S. 6th Street, Champaign, IL 61820

This agenda serves as a facilitator to accomplishing the gathering’s mission. It includes a combination of informal and formal learning, progression, networking, and social opportunities.
- Thursday Focus: Individual progress; peer, faculty, and campus and community connections
- Friday Focus: Combination of formal and informal programming; peer, faculty, and campus connections
- Saturday Focus: Peer and alumni-led formal and informal programming; peer and campus connections
You can find the Education Building (Building 160) on the Campus Maps weblink, along with other useful maps of campus.
Individual Planning Suggestions
The following options are available mostly between 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM and require students to schedule their own appointments and/or register.
Advising and Career Development
- Individual or Group Advising Sessions with your faculty advisor, co-advisor, the Online Program Advisor, or the Assistant Director of Online Programs
- Meet with your examiners or doctoral committee members
- Meet with other faculty members
- Informal discussions with peers and LDL advisor in the O’Leary Lounge
Research and Writing
- Visit a UIUC Library
- Research elevator pitch (describe your research in less than 3 minutes)
- Participate in the Writing Retreat (2, 4, or 6 hour sessions) (registration required)
- Poster Exhibit Hall (open house style without presenters)
Other
- Obtain an icard with your picture on it (you must be actively registered during the current semester)
- Take a free digital headshot picture at the The Professional Portrait Lab located in the Illini Union
- Visit the Krannert Art Museum (500 E Peabody Dr, Champaign, IL 61820) across the street from the CoE
- Hang out in the LDL Connects Lounge (in the O’Leary Learning Center; basement of the Education building)
Recap of Previous LDL Connects
This gathering involved both structured and unstructured programming, allowing for flexibility on when to arrive and how attendees used their time. We encouraged students and alumni to build an agenda for themselves on Thursday based on what they needed. We also encouraged collaboration with peers in establishing their schedule.
The agenda was fluid based on those who registered and ultimately those who attended. The following are examples from previous years
- Keynote presentation from the College of Education Dean, Dr. Chrystalla Mouza
- Doctoral hooding ceremony
- Student poster presentations
- Faculty remarks
- Q&A by the EPOL Department Head, Dr. Yoon Pak
- Presentations by visiting partners from Japan
- Writer’s Workshop: Maintaining Momentum
- Career development sessions
- Graduate College Workshop: Values-based decision-making
- Tour of the Siebel Center for Design
- Advising sessions
- Writing retreat
- Campus tours
- Open Lounge, individual and collaborative working sessions
- Networking opportunities
- EPOL department potluck
- Social opportunities (Illini volleyball game and concluding dinner)