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The community site will be the central hub for registration, announcements, session updates, presentation materials, and networking before, during, and after Connect.

Below is the current schedule to help you plan your week. Individual session descriptions, presenters, and locations will continue to be updated in CGScholar.

Connect 2026

October 5–10, 2026

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Monday, October 5

8:00 AM – Café of the Day (Espresso Royale)

9:00 AM – Opening Session & Welcome

10:30 AM – Workshop on Academic Writing

12:00 PM – Community Lunch

1:00 PM – Chapters of the Dissertation Workshop

2:45 PM – Dissertation Mapping Lab

4:00 PM – Free Time / Dinner with Friends

6:00 PM – Evening Social Event

Tuesday, October 6

8:00 AM – Café of the Day (BrewLab)

9:00 AM – Panel Discussion: AI in Education

10:30 AM – Skill-Sharing Sessions

12:00 PM – Networking Lunch

1:00 PM – Research Tools & AI Skill Labs

2:45 PM – Future of Scholarship Roundtable

4:00 PM – Open Collaboration Time

6:00 PM – Evening Social Event

Wednesday, October 7

9:00 AM – Recent Graduate Presentations

10:30 AM – LDL Student Research Presentations

12:00 PM – Community Lunch

1:00 PM – Chapter Workshops

2:45 PM – Library Tour & Librarian Introductions

4:00 PM – Graduate College Formatting Workshop: Depositing the Dissertation

6:00 PM – Research Rounds

Thursday, October 8

8:00 AM – Café of the Day (Cafe Paradiso)

9:00 AM – Writing for Publication (with Bill)

10:30 AM – Professional Development Workshops

12:00 PM – Faculty Networking Lunch

1:00 PM – Skill-Sharing Sessions

2:45 PM – Japan House & Arboretum Walk

4:00 PM – Faculty Networking / Open Collaboration

6:00 PM – Research Rounds

Friday, October 9

9:00 AM – Methods Writing Sprint

10:45 AM – Reflection & Accountability Planning

12:00 PM – Lunch with Closing Speaker

1:00 PM – Bill’s Campus Tour

4:30 PM – Dinner at the Prairie Glass House

Saturday, October 10

8:00 AM – Café of the Day (The Literary)

9:00 AM – Community Writing Session

10:30 AM – Closing Coffee & Accountability Groups

We hope you’ll join us for as much of the week as your schedule allows. Whether you’re attending to write, present, learn a new skill, reconnect with colleagues, or simply spend time with our community, Connect 2026 is designed to provide opportunities for meaningful scholarship and lasting relationships.

We look forward to seeing you in Champaign this October!

Connect 2026 Schedule at a Glance