Things to know, places to go
Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin/UIC Photo Services
There’s a lot going on at UIC. If you’re new to campus, here are some resources to know:
Academic Computing and Communications Center
consult@uic.edu
ACCC offers a wide range of services, including campus wi-fi networks, computer labs, software sales and help by phone, email and walk-in. Some services include:
• Instructional Technology Lab, Daley Library, Goldberg Research Center: equipment check-out, support for Blackboard, Google Apps and more
• Instruction in popular software programs and web-related topics through Lynda.com, webinars and short workshops.
Belonging
• Are you a joiner? There’s a long list of student organizations, some for community service or social issues, others organized around common interests like frisbee, anime or Italian.
• Want to volunteer at a community nonprofit? Student Leadership Development and Volunteer Services, 312-996-4500
Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change
• Disability Resource Center: activities, services and resources for students with disabilities and guidance for faculty on accessible teaching. 1190 Student Services Building. 312-413-2183 voice, 773-649-4535 video phone
• Latino Cultural Center: educational, cultural and social programs. Annual film festival, weekly Thursday night events that range from poetry to dancing. Lecture Center B2. 312-996-3095,
• African American Cultural Center: cultural research, art exhibits, programming and community outreach. 209 Addams Hall. 312-996-9549
• Asian American Resource and Cultural Center: social, cultural and educational programs, peer mentoring, dragon boat racing team. 101 Taft Hall. 312-413-9569,
• Gender and Sexuality Center: education, research and outreach on issues of gender identity and sexual orientation. Consultation to students and employees, events and workshops. 1180 Behavioral Sciences Building. 312-413-8619
• Women’s Leadership and Resource Center: consultation on topics such as sexual harassment and gender issues; a place for women to host small meetings. Annual women’s leadership program, production of “The Vagina Monologues.” 802 University Hall. 312-413-1025
Child care
UIC Children’s Center, 312-413-5326
Fully accredited, full-time early childhood education for children of faculty, staff and students ages two years, nine months, to six years.
Commuter Student Resource Center
7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. 312-413-7440
The commuter center — in 240-248 Student Center East, inside the Wellness Center behind the Inner Circle food court — offers students a place to gather between classes and learn more about campus services.
The center has quiet study space, social lounge, public computers and printers, kitchen and lockers. Its staff can provide information on transportation, off-campus housing and other resources.
Culture
• Gallery 400: free gallery showcases art, design and architecture. First floor Art and Design Hall, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. 312-996-6114,
• UIC Theatre: student actors, professional quality. All students can audition. 312-996-2939,
• Music: string orchestra, concert band, jazz ensemble and choruses are open to all students, faculty and staff. 312-996-2977
• Tuesdays at One concert series brings professional musicians to campus for free, 50-minute performances open to all. 312-996-2977
• Jane Addams Hull-House Museum: exhibits related to the pioneering social reformer, plus programs on social issues and Re-Thinking Soup, free lunch and thought-provoking discussions. 312-413-5353,
Need coffee and donuts? Ice cream and burritos? Dining Services has cafés, cafeterias and fast-food restaurants, including Burrito Bravo, Café Descartes, Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin-Robbins, Frank & Fries, Port Center Café, Sbarro, Subway, Tropical Smoothie and Wendy’s.
Offerings include:
• all-you-care-to-eat dining rooms: Student Center East, Student Center West and James Stukel Towers
• coffee stands: Daley Library, University Hall, Behavioral Sciences Building, Student Center East, Douglas Hall, Student Services Building and Clinical Sciences North.
Health & wellness
• CampusCare: student health plan, paid by student fees, includes services at the Family Medicine Center clinics, 722 W. Maxwell St. and 1801 W. Taylor St.
• Immediate Care Clinic, a walk-in clinic open evenings and weekends, 722 W. Maxwell St., 312-996-2901
• Counseling Center: counseling, therapy and workshops. 2010 Student Services Building. 312-996-3490
• Wellness Center: programs and accurate information on health and wellness; free condoms. 238 Student Center East, 312-413-2120,
UIC has 10 residence halls, including options for special interest areas, graduate students, families and temporary guest housing. An online listing of off-campus housing is also available.
312-413-5940, 1790 Student Services Building; satellite center, 241 Student Center West
Distributes i-cards for students, faculty and staff, and CTA U-Passes for students; administers the Dragon Dollars meal plan payment program.
All students and new employees must visit the ID Center to get their i-card — the official UIC identification card.
Dragon Dollars lets students use their i-card as a debit card at campus dining halls, convenience stores and fast-food restaurants. Students can pick up their U-Pass, good for unlimited rides on CTA buses and trains, at the ID Center. All full-time students are assessed a $109 CTA U-Pass fee for fall semester.
Job services
• Student Employment Office helps students find part-time jobs on and off campus. 2100 Student Services Building, 312-996-3130
• Office of Career Services helps students prepare for careers and find jobs. 3050 Student Services Building, 312-996-2300
UIC has two main libraries: the Daley Library on the east campus and Health Sciences Library at the Medical Center. All kinds of information and databases are accessible online. Get help from real, live librarians face-to-face or through live chat.
IDEA Commons
A popular learning and collaboration space on the first floor of the library, the IDEA Commons has casual meeting spaces, a performance area, moveable furniture and more than 100 computers. It houses the Academic Computing and Communications Center’s Instructional Technology Lab/Student Media Lab. Open continuously from 7:30 a.m. Monday through 7 p.m. Friday; hours change to 1 p.m. Sunday through 7 p.m. Friday starting Sept. 9.
UIC has about 40 oases — informal spots where students can hang out, study or work with friends.
The Office of Campus Learning Environments creates the oases with new, comfortable furniture and the latest high-tech multimedia technologies. Oases in the second- and third-floor hallways in Lincoln Hall have TeamSpot, which lets students wirelessly collaborate on a single document or project while they each use their own computers.
UIC has recreation facilities on the east and west sides of campus that offer everything from Zumba and intramural sports to swimming, massage therapy, climbing wall and personal training, as well as an outdoor field complex and outdoor recreation courts for tennis, sand volleyball, basketball and jogging.
• Student Recreation Center, 312-413-5150
• Sport and Fitness Center, 312-413-5260
• Bowling and Billiards Center with video and pinball games, Student Center East, 312-413-5170.
Safety
• UIC Police Department: works with Chicago Police and other area security agencies to keep the UIC campus and neighborhood safe. Services include bike registration, after-hours escort and crime prevention programs. 312-355-5555 emergency, 312-996-2830 nonemergency, 312-413-9323 TDD.
• Red Car Service: transportation service for employees and students within designated area, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. seven days a week including holidays. UIC i-card required. 312-996-6800
• Emergency notification: UIC’s emergency system includes 140 audible alerts, the UIC website, official campus email, UIC and UIC News Facebook pages, UIC News Twitter feed, UIC Hotline (312-413-9696) and the SMS text messaging system.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to register for emergency text messages. Registration is free and subscribers can sign up for several phones, so students can register their parents’ phones to receive the alerts.
Social media
You can find many UIC offices and organizations on popular social media sites. A good place to start:
• UIC and UIC News on Facebook
312-413-1911
Follow the Flames! UIC has NCAA Division 1 teams in a long list of men’s and women’s sports, including basketball, soccer, baseball, golf, tennis, gymnastics, swimming and softball, plus two fan groups: the Fury and Ring of Fire.
• Academic Center for Excellence, 2900 Student Services Building, 312-413-0031
• African American Academic Network, 2800 Student Services Building, 312-996-5040
• Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services Program, 2640 Student Services Building, 312-996-3356
• Native American Support Program, 2700 Student Services Building, 312-996-4515, nasp@uic.edu
• Student Veterans Affairs, 3030 Student Services Building, 312-996-4857, awright@uic.edu
• Student Legal Services, 3030 Student Services Building, 312-996-9214
• Student Ombudsperson, 3030 Student Services Building, 312-996-4857
• TRIO Academic Support Program, 2720 Student Services Building, 312-996-5046
• Women in Science and Engineering Program, 312-355-1490, wiseuic@uic.edu
Student government
• Health Profession Student Council
• Undergraduate Student Government
• Student representative, U of I Board of Trustees. This year’s student trustee is Danielle Leibowitz, dleibo2@uic.edu
— Seena Mathew contributed to this story.
