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Register for the Fall 2023 Information Accessibility Design and Policy (IADP) online certificate program | 9.18.2023
The Information Accessibility Design and Policy (IADP) online certificate program is offered through the Department of Speech & Hearing Science in the College of Applied Health Sciences (AHS) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The Fall 2023 cohort begins on Oct. 23, and registration is open through Oct. 20.

Through this award-winning program, website developers, programmers, designers, information technology specialists, compliance officers, educators, and disability service providers will learn about the following:
- Principles of accessible information architecture and universal design information technologies used in educational, healthcare, corporate, and employment settings
- Federal and state legal mandates governing information technology accessibility and their relationship to the civil rights of people with disabilities
- Information technology accessibility standards, design practices that enable adherence to those standards, and tools that support validation and evidence of compliance to those standards
Why enroll?

There has been a rapid increase in the use of multimedia sources for information dissemination in education, healthcare, business, government, and other settings. Concurrently, there has been an increase in the prevalence and participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society including students, employees, and consumers of commercial goods and public services.

In response to the escalating accessibility needs of this population, many states are passing legislation—for example, the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act—to establish policy parameters for digital accessibility. There are also several national mandates that address information technology accessibility, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

A barrier of achieving the goal of functional information accessibility is that many software developers, programmers, and information designers lack the necessary accessibility knowledge, skills, and tools they need to effectively perform their jobs. In addition, service providers and administrators often lack an understanding of how the various legislative acts and polices of information accessibility apply to their setting.

AHS continues its pioneering efforts on behalf of the full inclusion of people with disabilities by developing one of the very first university-based professional certificates in information accessibility design and policy. At the completion of this certificate program, graduates will have relevant knowledge of policies governing information technology accessibility, along with the skills and tools to meet Website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and create and/or convert digital information into accessible formats.

The program is approved by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) for CAEC Professional Development Credits.

The Information Accessibility Design and Policy (IADP) online certificate program starts on Oct. 23, 2023. Register by Oct. 20.

For more information about the program, including course content and learning outcomes, contact Dr. Marc Thompson at thompso1@illinois.edu.

For information about registration, tuition, technology, and other logistics, contact Erika Albin at ealbin@illinois.edu.
Read More.
Teach Access chief credits Illinois' IADP program with helping to round out her accessibility knowledge and skills | 9.18.2023

As the executive director of Teach Access, Kate Sonka works to address the digital accessibility gap by providing educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to make learning accessible to all.

Before stepping into that role, Sonka was looking to beef up her knowledge and skills in the technical aspects of accessibility.

She credits the Information Accessibility Design and Policy (IADP) online certificate program at the University of Illinois for helping her do that.

Prior to enrolling in the program, “my work at that point had mostly been very high-level approaches to helping faculty make accessible materials,” she said.

At that time, Sonka was Assistant Director of Inclusion and Academic Technology at the College of Arts & Letters at Michigan State University. She also started the Accessible Learning Conference at MSU, “a small event that brought together people from the area to talk and learn about accessibility.”

Sonka learned about the IADP program when Marc Thompson, the program director and one of the instructors, spoke about it at an EDUCAUSE conference. Thompson is also Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning Experiences at the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning and heads up CITL’s new Universal Design for Learning team at Illinois’s Urbana-Champaign campus.

“I became interested in it because it was a focused program that would help me round out some of the accessibility skills and knowledge where I lacked experience,” she said.

While she was excited to learn about the technical aspects of accessibility, she admits she also was a tad nervous.

“My background is actually in Linguistics and Language Acquisition, so I had never spent time learning how to code or program software,” she said.

But Thompson and the other IADP instructors put her at ease, Sonka recalled.

“They were always available for extra help or feedback, which I definitely took advantage of during the technical moments!” she said. “Beyond that, the online nature of the course made it possible to fit into my schedule as I was working full-time. I thought the pacing of the courses where we took one at a time over an academic year also made it manageable to keep up with the content.”

Sonka completed the program in 2018, and she stepped into her current position at Teach Access the following year.

Teach Access is a nonprofit organization that supports educators in teaching about accessibility to their students. The organization collaborates with a number of academic, industry, and disability advocacy organizations to create programs and resources that support this mission.

“Our goal is that students are able to learn at least a little about disability and accessibility and go out into the world to build accessible products and services from the beginning,” Sonka said.

Sonka credits the program for preparing her for her current role.

Prior to enrolling, she said she sometimes wondered where she best fit “in the big field of accessibility.

“I knew the technical aspects were not my strength (e.g. coding, programming, testing, etc.) but that I was still excited to be a part of it,” she said. “Going through the IADP certification helped me understand that in order to achieve a more accessible and inclusive world, we need people working in many spaces. This includes education, nonprofits, policy, industry, and more. It helped me find my niche and understand the ways I can best contribute to the great work that has been done and all the work ahead of us.”

Sonka said she “absolutely” would recommend the program to others.

“The program provides you with a graduate-level certificate in just one academic year. The courses cover a wide range of topics that are useful for anyone, no matter what their background in accessibility is.

“Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility,” Sonka continued. “From top to bottom and side to side, if we really truly care about equity and access, we need people across the entire organization to center disability and accessibility. People will need to know different things and have varied skills based on their roles, but it is important that everyone has some information or experience with accessibility so that needed changes can not only be made but be sustainable.”
The Information Accessibility Design and Policy (IADP) online certificate program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign starts on Oct. 23, 2023. Register by Oct. 20.

Read the story about the Fall 2023 IADP program.

For more information about the program, including course content and learning outcomes, contact Dr. Marc Thompson at thompso1@illinois.edu.

For information about registration, tuition, technology, and other logistics, contact Erika Albin at ealbin@illinois.edu.

Read More.
UIUC offers Introduction to Cannabis course | 9.7.2023
The fully online, asynchronous course is the first in the new certificate program designed to prepare students for the cannabis industry.

Following the legalization of recreational cannabis in Illinois in January 2020, there has been tremendous growth in the state’s cannabis industry.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is leading the way in educating the industry’s rapidly expanding workforce.

Crop Sciences, in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), now offers Introduction to Cannabis, the first course in its new Cannabis Mini Certificate Program. The course is available online via an asynchronous format, allowing participants to work independently. And like the certificate program, it’s open to undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree-seeking students.

In the introductory course, students will develop a foundation of cannabis production skills from classification to biology/physiology to production management. The modules are designed to provide students with an understanding of the cannabis classification system, including subspecies and varieties, cannabis biology, and life cycle phases.

The program is designed for professionals who:
- Desire knowledge and insights on Cannabis production and management practices
- Want to develop skills that can be readily applied on the job to solve real-world challenges and contribute effectively to this dynamic field
- Aspire to be experts in the growing Hemp industry, such as agronomists, cultivators, growers, field technicians, etc.
Students can look forward to a sneak-peek of upcoming courses in this Mini Certificate Series, including:
- Pest & Disease Management
- Nutrient Management
- Light, HVAC, & Water
- …and more!
Enroll in the Introduction to Cannabis course today.

According to D.K. Lee – Crop Sciences professor and Director of Online Programs, who developed the certificate program – understanding cannabis biology and taxonomic classification is critical for proper management practices for the production of essential oils, psychoactive compounds, fiber, and seed oil and protein, and applications of those products. Discrepancies between scientific and vernacular names of cannabis and the inconsistency of vernacular names are misleading to producers and consumers.

Crop Sciences, in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), also offers an Online Cannabis Production and Management Certificate based on academic credits. The 11-credit-hour Cannabis Production and Management Certificate Program will equip students with the knowledge for cannabis indoor, outdoor, and large-scale field production, classification of subspecies and varieties, biology, propagation, planting, pest management, and harvesting of target compounds and products.

The courses include:
- HORT 100: Introduction to Horticulture (online asynchronous in Spring)
- Hort 106: The Sustainable Home Garden (online asynchronous in Fall)
- CPSC 180: Medical Plants and Herbology (In-person in Spring/online asynchronous in Spring &Fall)
- CPSC 480: Cannabis Classification and Management (In-person in Spring/online synchronous in Fall and required for all students)
- CPSC 499: Cannabis Phytochemistry (online synchronous in Fall)
- CPSC 499: Cannabis Flower Production (online synchronous in Spring)
Students need to complete four courses, including CPSC480 from the list, and all course credits from the certificate program are transferable academic credits.

Learn more about the Cannabis Certificate Program and be on the frontier of this fast-paced, emerging opportunity!
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COE’s Human Resource Development marks online milestone | 8.10.2023

This fall, the College of Education’s Human Resource Development (HRD) program will celebrate a remarkable achievement: 25 years of providing online programming to students across the globe.

You can read about this milestone, HRD’s impact on students, and plans for continued growth in this College of Education story.

HRD’s online offerings currently include a Master of Education (EdM), a Doctor of Education (EdD), and four graduate certificates, including the innovative Instructional Design MasterTrack Certificate, offered in partnership with Coursera.

The online EdM in HRD prepares students to effectively design, deliver, implement, and evaluate a range of HRD programs in education, using scholarly research and established best practices to inform their practices. Graduates typically go on to serve as senior program designers, evaluators, and managers of human resources programs across a wide range of organizational settings, both nationally and internationally.

The program contributed to COE’s online Master’s in Education programs being ranked #3 in the nation in 2023 for excellence and affordability by U.S. News & World Report for the third year in a row.

Learn more about COE’s HRD online programs and other Education at Illinois online programs.

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Events

Date	Event
11.18.2023	Fall Break Begins (?)
11.27.2023	Instruction Resumes (?)
12.6.2023	Instruction Ends (?)
12.7.2023	Reading Day (?)
12.8.2023	Final Examinations Begin (?)
12.15.2023	Final Examinations End (?)

Online Illinois Calendar

Blogs

Study Playlist for Fall 2023 | 9.18.2023

By Selena Adetunji, CITL Marketing Intern

Midterms are slowly approaching and finals season will be following soon after. If you need a study playlist to drone out the noise during those times or one to listen to casually, check out these recommendations.

Chilled Cat Music (Spotify and YouTube): Chilled Cat Music has a variety of playlists to accompany you while you study such as Halloween themed, fall vibes, and chill lofi. They also have a Youtube channel as well with even more playlists.

Lofi Girl (Spotify and YouTube): Lofi Girl is a well known lofi music community provider since 2015. You can follow their Spotify account, but their YouTube channel goes live everyday with a constant stream of lofi music that consists of lofi hiphop (beats to relax/study to), synthwave radio, and more lofi hiphop (beats to chill/relax to).

Relaxing Jazz Piano (Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music): If you are looking for more of a coffee shop feel or something more jazz oriented, then Relaxing Jazz Piano will have the playlist for you. Their YouTube channel features autumn themes and piano centered music.

HALIDONMUSIC (Spotify and YouTube): HalidonMusic is an Italian record label and their music catalog ranges from classical and instrumental to jazz, pop and world music. They have playlists with hours worth of Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, and more. Check out their YouTube channel here.

4K Video Nature - Focus Music (Spotify, YouTube, Soundcloud). This channel has music for relaxation, studying, reading and more. You can play music at a low volume and focus on your work. Their YouTube channel has lives going on almost every day, so the options are endless.

White noise has been known to help with better focus and productivity. Ocean sounds or a fireplace crackling could be your thing as well, the options are endless. If any of these recommendations help you get into the zone and promote productivity, then great!

For more study playlists, check out this blog post on Illinois Online!

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Growing like a weed | 9.7.2023

What you can do with UIUC’s Cannabis course and certificate

By Will Kanter, Marketing Associate

Since the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (Illinois House Bill 1438) legalized the consumption, production, and sale of cannabis in January 2020, the cannabis industry in Illinois has blossomed. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Cannabis Certificate Programs is blazing a trail in providing the industry’s aspiring workforce with a foundation of production skills ranging from classification to physiology to production management. Here are just a few of the careers in the legal cannabis industry to which this program provides access.

1. Budtender

Budtenders are dispensary employees who advise customers on which cannabis products best match their individual needs, like a sommelier recommending which wine to pair with a meal. Medical patients may need certain products based on the symptoms they seek to relieve, while recreational customers have their own preferences, so extensive familiarity with cannabis subspecies and their effects is essential for budtenders.

2. Master Grower

Master growers oversee the daily operations of cannabis production facilities and ensure they comply with state and local regulations. Master growers lead their teams through the process of planting, treating, and harvesting cannabis plants. Therefore, experience with cannabis production and business management is advantageous to any budding master grower.

3. Assistant Grower

Assistant growers work with master growers to guarantee a smoothly run production facility. They help hire and train new employees, monitor the condition of the plants, minimize waste, and maximize quality. As is the case with master growers, a background in cannabis production and team supervision is beneficial in the pursuit of assistant grower jobs. In turn, working as an assistant grower could lead to a career as a master grower.

4. Master Extractor

Extraction is the process used to isolate various chemical compounds in cannabis plants and amplify them to improve the overall product. Master extractors oversee extraction operations at growth facilities and guide extraction technicians through the chemical procedure. A degree in biochemistry, chemical engineering, horticulture, or a similar field is a useful asset to any aspiring master extractor.

5. Extraction Technician

Extraction technicians assist master extractors with processing and packaging cannabis plants for sale. This includes recording data related to the condition of the plants and following the operating instructions outlined by the master extractor. Much like the path from assistant grower to master grower, spending time as an extraction technician can make it that much easier to move up to master extractor.

The University of Illinois offers two options for the cannabis certificate, “Introduction to Cannabis Mini Certificate” and “Cannabis Production and Management Certificate." Courses for cannabis certificates are available in an online through Crop Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES). It is open to undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree seeking students.

Learn more about the course and the University of Illinois’ Online Certificate Programs and read the news story.

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Advice for remote internships | 7.14.2023

By Selena Adetunji, CITL Marketing Intern

As of June 2023, 66% of U.S. employees work remotely, part time. With the rise and incorporation of remote work, a lot of jobs and internships have become accessible right from the comfort of your home. Juggling a remote internship may seem easier said than done, but with these tips, we hope the transition is made seamless.

Set goals for yourself before you start your internship

Creating a list of goals you want to accomplish before the end of your internship is key to making the most of your time there. Whether it be learning a new skill or having a coffee chat with a coworker, having a list of what you want to achieve will allow you to stay on track.

Stay Organized

Keeping a planner, adding all of your deadlines and meetings into google calendar, or setting up a Notion are many ways you can stay organized during your remote internship. Create a to do list for each day. Don’t forget to pencil in time for a break!

Set up “office hours” for yourself

Most remote internships are project based and with that in mind, a lot of work time could be put off until the last minute, but this leads to added stress, last minute scrambling, and a lack of resources especially if everyone is out of the office. Creating a time frame for work would allow you to have access to the resources you need and get work done efficiently. Setting up “office hours” could look like you going to the library from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm and dedicating yourself to your work duties.

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback

Maybe you feel like you need more guidance on a project or feel like you did a good job and don’t understand where you may have gone wrong. Asking for feedback is a great way to learn more about something and better prepare yourself for future projects.

Set up one on one chats to get to know people

Working from home may make it harder to build those connections with your peers the way you would have if you were in the office. Reach out to fellow interns, those who work in the same department or someone who is doing work you are interested in. Set up a Zoom meeting or if they are local, a coffee chat. Making connections is another great way to make the most of your remote internship.

Document your achievements

Lastly, record all of your achievements during your time with the company. These achievements would look great on your resume or portfolio and it would be easier to access if job recruiters were to ask about your achievements from your job experiences. It’ll also give you something to compare to that list of goals you wanted to achieve by the end of your internship.

If you are taking a summer course while working this summer, check out this Illinois Online blog post, “How to Balance Work and a Graduate Program,” for tips on how to succeed in both areas.

LN

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How to Handle Test Anxiety | 5.1.2023
By Will Kanter, Marketing Associate

It is final exam day, but what is this? You overslept and showed up late, you completely forgot to study, and you are still in your pajamas. If you have ever had a nightmare like this, then you are familiar with test anxiety. Odds are most of your peers have experienced it as well, each in their own way. Naturally, academic stressors like big projects and looming deadlines are a contributing factor to test anxiety, but non-academic stressors like money and work can play a role as well.

Here are some strategies to help you minimize test anxiety as you prepare for finals:
Before the Test
Set up a quiet, well-lit study environment where you can work undistracted. Consider putting your phone on silent so you are not tempted to check it.
When preparing for multiple tests, make sure you are setting aside time for each subject. Study a little at a time instead of cramming the night before the test(s).
Take stock of what you have learned in class. Which areas of the material are you comfortable with and which ones do you need to review?
Try creating a study guide based on what the test might look like. Pay close attention to names, dates, lists, and other potentially relevant information.
Take a break when you need one. Go for a walk, eat a snack, or practice deep breathing. Get a good night’s sleep before the day of the test.
During the Test
Accept that you have done what you can to prepare. Focus on what you do know instead of worrying about what you do not know. Try to arrive a little early.
If the test format allows it, consider answering the questions you feel confident about first. This might help you gain insight into the ones you are less sure of.
Make sure you do not spend too much time on any one question. If you find yourself truly stuck, it can be better to write the wrong answer than nothing at all.
Remember to take deep breaths throughout the test. If you find yourself tensing up, take a moment to relax your tension-holding muscles.
Once you have answered every question to the best of your ability, go through the test and double-check your answers if you have time. Turn in your test and be done with it.
After the Test
Take a moment to congratulate yourself on a job well done. Regardless of your final grade, taking a test that you studied hard for is something to be proud of.
Reflect on the efficiency of your study habits. What worked well for you? What might you do differently for your next test?
Give yourself a reward – watch your favorite comfort show or order food from your favorite restaurant.
Even if you did not do as well as you would have liked, remember that one test is unlikely to ruin your academic career.
Take heart in knowing you are that much better prepared for the next test.
Finals are almost here! For more test-preparation techniques, check out this post from UIUC’s Admissions Blog: Best Study Tips for College.
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Inclusion: Information Accessibility Design & Policy Certificate

INNOVATION: Introduction to Cannabis

Impact: COE's Human Resources Development Program

Impact: HCOM Certificate Programs

Integration: Strategic Brand Communication

Impact: College of Education Certificate Program

Inclusion: Free online learning opportunities

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