We Listen
We learn from community priorities and build relationships grounded in trust and mutual respect.
Office of Public Engagement
Building stronger communities through partnership.
The Office of Public Engagement connects the University of Illinois with communities to advance shared priorities through teaching, research, public service, and reciprocal partnerships.
What We Do
We Connect
We bring together community knowledge, university expertise, and shared goals.
We Support
We provide resources, guidance, and coordination to help partnerships thrive and create lasting impact.
As part of our founding mission, Illinois has a responsibility to deliver real, measurable impact for the public good.
Charles L. Isbell, Jr., Chancellor
Engage with Illinois
Community
- Connect with university experts
- Explore partnership opportunities
- Access campus resources
Faculty & Staff
- Identify community partners
- Develop engaged research and teaching
- Access engagement resources
Students
- Volunteer in the local community
- Explore civic leadership
- Participate in community-based research projects
Engagement Stories
Engagement Across Illinois
2026 Grant Awards
Building Beyond Barriers Grant Winners
The newest Building Beyond Barriers grant recipients are advancing campus-community projects that address local priorities, strengthen partnerships, and create lasting impact.
Read the Story
June 11, 2026
A Hub for Connection and Learning
Recognized with a Public Engagement Award, the Hub for Connection and Learning creates meaningful partnerships that expand educational opportunities and connect university expertise with community needs.
Read the Story
June 16, 2026
Building French Connections
Supported through the Building Beyond Barriers program, this partnership strengthens connections through language, culture, collaborative learning, and public engagement.
Read the StoryUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Land Acknowledgement
As a land-grant institution, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a responsibility to acknowledge the historical context in which it exists. We are currently on the lands of the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Piankashaw, Wea, Miami, Mascoutin, Odawa, Sauk, Mesquaki, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Chickasaw Nations. It is necessary for us to acknowledge these Native Nations and to work with them as we move forward as an institution. Over the next 150 years, we will be a vibrant community inclusive of all our differences, with Native peoples at the core of our efforts.
More about the University Land Acknowledgement →504 Swanlund Administration Building
601 E. John St., MC-304
Champaign, Illinois 61820
(217) 333-3378