Welcome to the first day of class. Did you have a good break? Are you excited about the upcoming semester? Are you ready for this semester?

Here are some resources that you may want to check out during this first week of class:

Textbook Buying Guide

2010 Spring Course Catalog

How to Find Your Classroom

UIUC General Calendar

And what better way to start the semester than with an Illini Men’s Basketball game! Tonight at 8PM at Assembly Hall. The Illini will take on Purdue, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Illinois vs. Purdue // Jan. 19 // 8pm

• Live Audio | GameTracker | TV: ESPN
• BUY TICKETS TO THIS GAME | Fan Guide

Go Illini!

It’s finally Friday, and the beginning of Dad’s Weekend 2009!

Check out the calendar of events to see what’s going on this weekend for you and your father to enjoy. Here are a few of the big events:

Friday

Dads Association Annual Reception & Banquet
Nov. 13, 2009 | 5 p.m. Reception and Banquet at 5:30 p.m.
Reservations required. Keynote Speaker: Tony Clements, comedian and retired director of Campus Recreation
Illini Union South Lounge and Illini Rooms A, B & C

UIUC Habitat for Humanity – Benefit Comedy Show
Nov. 13, 2009 | 8 p.m.
Featuring Potted Meat and Spicy Clamato
Natural History Building, Room 228
Tickets $3 in advance (at Illini Union) or $5 at the door.
All proceeds will go to help support Habitat for Humanity.

Illini Hockey
Nov. 13, 2009 | 7:30 p.m.
Ice Arena, General admission $6 for students, $8 non-student/adult

Men’s Basketball vs SIU-Edwardsville
Nov. 13, 2009 | 7 p.m.
Assembly Hall
Check the Fighting Illini Sports Schedule for prices

Saturday

Men’s Football vs. Northwestern
Nov. 14, 2009 | TBA
Memorial Stadium

The Illini Union Board presents Fall Musical “Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella ”
Nov. 14, 2008 | 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Ticket Information available through the Illini Union Board
Foellinger Auditorium

Welcome Dad’s!

What’s going on tonight?

Tonight is the annual Campus Rec Block Party:

The Campus Recreation Block Party will be Saturday, August 22 from 7-11pm at the ARC. To prepare for this annual event the ARC will close at 3pm (CRCE will be open). All new and returning students are invited to join in the fun at the Block Party. Bring your swim suits to enjoy the Dive-In Movie Yes, Man at 9pm. Prizes (free room and board), games, and Free pizza (while it lasts) are all on tap.

The Illini Union also has some special events going on as part of their Welcome Week festivities. Find the complete calendar of events here.

As always, check out the complete Illinois Campus Calendar for the latest happenings.

Here are the instructions to add the Illinois calendar (or any Illinois.edu calendar) to your Google Calendars.

1. Navigate to the Illinois Campus calendar page. (For example, the Campus General Calendar).
2. Right-click on “Download of iCal” and click “Copy Shortcut” or “Copy Link Location”.
3. Go to your Google Calendar. In the bottom-left corner click the “Add” button, then “Add by URL”
4. Paste the link into the box and click “Add”. This calendar will now be selectable in your Google Calendars.

This works for any of the 1173 Illinois Webtools calendars.

I’ve found that the best location of the official Illinois school schedule is “from the horse’s mouth” as it were – that is, the UIUC Senate.

The schedule is located on this obscure page.

Instruction Begins – Monday, August 25
Labor Day – Monday, September 1 (no classes)

Thanksgiving Vacation Begins – Saturday, November 22, 1 p.m.
Instruction Resumes – Monday, December 1, 7 a.m.

Instruction Ends – Wednesday, December 10
Reading Day – Thursday, December 11
Final Examinations Begin – Friday, December 12
Final Examinations End – Friday, December 19

ExCEL Scholarships – Due Wednesday, February 13

Friday, February 29 – Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day – News-Gazette: Officials gearing up for Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day

March 7 and 8 – Engineering Open House

Illinois T-Shirt Design Contest – Due Thursday, March 13