University of Illinois at Chicago

Overview

History, Affiliations and Rankings

The University of Illinois, Chicago was founded in 1982 by the combination of the Medical Center campus and the Chicago Circle campus. Popularly known as UIC, the public research university has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is affiliated to the Universities Research Association and Great Cities’ Universities. It has a total of 16 colleges, set up to provide the highest levels of academic excellence. According to the US News and World Report’s Ranking of 2021, UIC is ranked 112th among the best national universities and 52nd among the best national public universities. In the 2018 Washington Monthly ranking of universities in the country, the university was ranked 26th among top national universiteis in the US.

Infrastructure, Campus & Courses

The campus of UIC is spread over an area of 244 acres. The East Campus is on the Near West Side, right on the corner of Halsted and Harrison streets. In the West, students have access to the Illinois Medical District, the Library of the Health Sciences, housing and the Student Center West. UIC has over 33,000 students, 6 regional campuses for medicine and nursing and around 3,000 faculty members. The university offers 86 Bachelor’s, 111 Master’s, 66 Doctoral and 66 certificate programs in the fields of sciences, technology, arts, humanities, business, public, urban planning and public administration and healthcare.

Accomplishments & Alumni

The University of Illinois, Chicago prides itself on its exhaustive list of notable alumni. From architecture and design to sports, UIC grads have achieved recognition across the world for their valuable work. The Alumni Association at Illinois’ ‘Best Value’ University, brings together over 309,000 alumni who have transformed and empowered communities all around the world. The extraordinary alumni including Anne Allison, Nancy Cartwright, George J, Efstathiou, Mark Aguhar, Anuradha Acharya, etc. have evolved into ambitious global citizens and successfully made an impact in their respective fields. 

Student Diversity & Visiting Companies

According to the US News & World Report, UIC is Chicago’s most diverse university. It believes in collective interdependence of markets and human resources at the global level. UIC has seven Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change that further make the university an inclusive place for its students. The Office of Career Services at the university plays an active role in conducting virtual mock interviews and training students to create professional resumes. UIC’s colleges also host career fairs, workshops and have expert guides who connect students with jobs and internships.

COVID-19 Response

As UIC continues to be affected by the global pandemic, it has deployed a mix of online and in-person instruction for both undergraduate and graduate students. It has adopted a phased approach complying with the public health guidelines in order to combat the outbreak of COVID-19. Measures, as taken by the universities for both incoming and current students are mentioned below: 

• The university is offering Covid-19 vaccine on campus. In order to register for the same, one should visit the UI Health website.

• Regular on-campus saliva testing is done  students and employees who are back to campus.

• Spring semester 2021 will include both on-campus or hybrid classes. Since February 8, 2021, on-campus or hybrid classes are being conducted only if social distancing and other public health guidelines are followed by all.

• Instructors will record live classes for students who would not be able to attend classes in person.

• Dining services and residence halls are open for students who are still on campus. They may either opt to dine in or take out.

• Career Services staff at the university will remain available for online appointments who would be able to assist students with the short-term, long-term and fall job opportunities at hand.

• For students from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa or India, entry into the U.S. has been suspended as on June 1, 2021.

• If required, new UIC students, including international students, will be able to commence their programs entirely in online mode. They will have to contact their academic department in order to avail appropriate online classes.

• New international students arriving in the US on an initial I-20 or DS-2019 must be registered in SEVIS no more than 30 days beyond the start date of their program.