U&I Care Week
Care Week
Get Ready for U & I Care Week: Bloom into Wellness!
Hosted by the Dean of Students Office, U & I Care Week, running from March 30th to April 3rd, is your chance to prioritize your wellness and thrive in every aspect of your life. This week-long event embraces a holistic approach to well-being, addressing your physical, emotional, financial, mental, and basic needs.
It’s time to go beyond just surviving and truly fuel yourself for success! Throughout the week, we’ve curated a series of engaging events designed to nourish your body, mind, and soul. From enhancing your physical health to supporting emotional well-being, providing financial tips, and focusing on mental health, U & I Care Week gives you the resources to thrive during your college journey.
Take this opportunity to invest in yourself and join us for a week dedicated to your well-being. You don’t want to miss it!
Care Week 2026 - March 30 - April 3
The U & I Care Program, an initiative led by the Office of the Dean of Students, works in collaboration with key partners such as The Department of Recreation and Wellbeing, The Counseling Center, and the Laugh Factory. Together, we are committed to identifying resources and providing support to students facing personal challenges, ensuring they are connected with the care that best addresses their individual needs.
As part of the upcoming Care Week, themed “Bloom into Wellness,” our primary focus will be to raise awareness and highlight the importance of supporting students’ basic needs. Our goal is to provide students with the encouragement and resources they need, particularly those experiencing basic needs insecurity.
Throughout the week, we will showcase resources not only from the Office of the Dean of Students, but also from our esteemed campus partners. This collaborative effort emphasizes the work of various campus offices and serves as a reminder of the comprehensive support available to students at UIC.
Join us from March 30th to April 3rd for a week dedicated to fostering physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being. This is an invaluable opportunity to explore the resources at your disposal and equip yourself with the tools to thrive during your time at UIC.
U&I Care Week Kickoff: Seeds of Support: Bloom Into Wellness
📍 Location: SCE Concourse NW
🕔 Time: 12-2:30PM
Students will be invited to stop by, select a seed, create their own starter planting kit, and leave with a wellness affirmation.
The concept is simple yet meaningful: growth requires intention, nourishment, and support. Just like a seed, students need the right conditions to thrive. This initiative allows us to thoughtfully connect gardening, food access, and overall wellness in a way that feels engaging and uplifting rather than heavy.
Student Assistance Pop Up
📍 Location: College of Education (2nd floor)
🕔 Time: 10am-12pm
ALL ATTENDEES WILL GET A SELF CARE GOODY BAG!
Stop by our Student Assistance Pop-Up to connect directly with a member of the Student Assistance Team and learn more about the wide range of resources available to support your success and well-being. Whether you need guidance on navigating campus support services, help completing a U&I Care Emergency Fund or Meal Fund application, or simply want a quick 1:1 check-in, our team is here to help!
This is a great opportunity to ask questions, access immediate assistance, and get connected with the tools and support you need to thrive. No appointment needed—just drop in and let us support you!
Highlights:
Learn about Student Assistance resources and services
Get help applying for the U&I Care Emergency or Meal Fund
Receive individualized support during quick 1:1 sessions
Ask questions and get connected to campus partners
USG Mental Health Town Hall
📍 Location: SCE Cardinal Room
🕔 Time: 1-3pm
Laugh Factory - Fresh New Faces
📍 Location: 3175 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
🕔 Time: 7:30PM
Free tickets to ANY SHOW with promo – UICLAUGHS (Not just during U&I Care Week!)
Join us on March 31st at 7:30 PM for an unforgettable night of comedy at Laugh Factory Chicago, in collaboration with UIC! As part of the week-long theme, “Bloom into Wellness,” this event is all about recharging your spirit through laughter. Come out, unwind, and let the hilarious performances fuel your soul. Students, it’s time to laugh, relax, and reconnect—because nothing fuels you quite like a good laugh!
Supporting Students Facing Basic Needs Insecurity: Trauma-Informed and Practical Approaches for Faculty & Staff
📍 Location: Zoom
🕔 Time: 1:00-2:00 PM
College students navigating food insecurity, housing instability, transportation barriers, or financial crisis often struggle in silence—and their challenges may show up as absenteeism, disengagement, changes in academic performance, or behavior changes. This training equips UIC faculty and staff with the awareness, tools, and response strategies needed to better identify and support students experiencing unmet basic needs.
Participants will explore how basic needs insecurity impacts mental health, academic outcomes, identity-based inequities, and help-seeking behaviors. The training emphasizes trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches and outlines campus and community resources, referral pathways, and communication strategies that reduce stigma and increase trust. Whether you teach, advise, supervise, or support students in another role, this session helps you respond with empathy and effectiveness.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
Recognize Indicators and Understand their Impact
Identify common signs of food insecurity, housing instability, transportation barriers, and financial distress as they appear in academic, behavioral, or interpersonal contexts. Briefly explore the history of marginalized communities with access to basic needs and learn how to respond with empathy and trauma-informed language. Explain how unmet basic needs affect student mental health, learning capacity, attendance, persistence, and sense of belonging—especially among first-generation, low-income, and system-impacted students.
Use Trauma-Informed Language
Engage students using respectful, non-shaming, and choice-centered language that considers cultural and socioeconomic contexts.
Know the Resources and Make Effective Referrals
Confidently connect students to on-campus and community resources (e.g., food pantries, emergency funds, housing support, legal services, counseling, case management).
Collaborate Without Overstepping
Clarify the appropriate role of faculty/staff in supporting students’ basic needs without acting as case managers or requiring personal disclosure. Understand the importance of choice-centered language.
Reduce Stigma and Foster a Trusting and Supportive Environment
Use strategies that create inclusive classroom and office environments where students feel safe asking for support.
De-Stress Fest - Hosted by Recreation and wellbeing
📍 Location: Sport & Fitness Center – 828 S Wolcott Ave
🕔 Time: 4-6pm
Take a Break at De-Stress Fest!
Feeling the pressure of classes and deadlines? We have you covered! Join us at De-Stress Fest at the Sport & Fitness Center—an afternoon dedicated to helping you unwind, recharge, and find your calm.
What’s in store?
- Free Chair Massages: Say goodbye to muscle tension and hello to relaxation.
- Guided Meditation: Quiet your mind, refocus, and breathe your stress away.
- Zumba: Dance it out —boost those endorphins while having fun!
- Tai Chi: Flow through gentle movements that calm your mind and body.
- Candlelight Yoga: Stretch, breathe, and relax in a warm, peaceful glow.
De-Stress Fest is your perfect escape from the chaos and stress of the semester. Prioritize YOU—your mind, your body, your wellbeing.
Take a moment for yourself. You deserve it.
Laugh Factory - Chicago's Best Stand Up
📍 Location: 3175 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
🕔 Time: 8pm
Free tickets to ANY SHOW with promo – UICLAUGHS (Not just during U&I Care Week!)
Join us on April 1st at 8 PM for an unforgettable night of comedy at Laugh Factory Chicago, in collaboration with UIC! As part of the week-long theme, “Bloom into Wellness,” this event is all about recharging your spirit through laughter. Come out, unwind, and let the hilarious performances fuel your soul. Students, it’s time to laugh, relax, and reconnect—because nothing fuels you quite like a good laugh!
Vibes & Vibrations: A 2016 Sensory Reset
📍 Location: Commuter Student Resource Center
🕔 Time: 12-2PM
Before the chaos, there were face masks, affirmation boards, and vibey lighting. “Vibes & Vibrations: A 2016 Sensory Reset” is a 2016-inspired wellness event designed to help you regulate, reset, and root yourself in the present moment using your five senses.
Through immersive sensory stations, you’ll explore:
• 🎧 Throwback playlists + mindful listening
• 🌸 Aromatherapy
• 🎨 Kinetic sand, fidget toys, and more
• 🍓 Intentional tasting experiences with tea and various snacks
• 💡 Visual affirmations and guided “5-4-3-2-1” grounding practice
Because self-care isn’t a trend — it’s a practice. 💫
Laugh Factory – Whose Lie Is It Anyway?
📍 Location: 3175 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
🕔 Time: 7PM
Free tickets to ANY SHOW with promo – UICLAUGHS (Not just during U&I Care Week!)
Join us on April 2nd at 7 PM for an unforgettable night of comedy at Laugh Factory Chicago, in collaboration with UIC! As part of the week-long theme, “Bloom into Wellness,” this event is all about recharging your spirit through laughter. Come out, unwind, and let the hilarious performances fuel your soul. Students, it’s time to laugh, relax, and reconnect—because nothing fuels you quite like a good laugh!
Making My Financial Literacy A Priority
📍 Location: SCE 611
🕔 Time: 1-3pm
Your college years are a key time to invest in yourself holistically, and this includes picking up smart money habits. Financial choices made today could affect one’s life for decades. Let’s begin the journey together in this informal and safe workshop. Some discussion points based on the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey and how to apply them as you utilize and maximize UIC resources.
RSVP HERE UIC Connection Events
Year-Long Resources & Support at UIC
You asked for it, we searched for it! Many of you have inquired about additional basic needs support such as nutrition support, financial support, and more. Here are a few resources we would like to highlight during U&ICare Week, but are available at any time! We encourage you to explore the on-campus resources below.