University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Events

Do you need to learn the basics of reimbursable meals? Are you more experienced and looking for new ideas for your program? We can help!

Our regional in-person workshops make it easier to network with nearby schools and cut down on travel time. We also offer virtual events so you can participate in live training without leaving town.

All trainings count toward the USDA Professional Standards. Explore upcoming events below!

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July 24, 2025  |  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Summer Learning Institute - Lawrenceville

Location: Parkside Elementary School (1900 Cedar St, Lawrenceville, IL 62439)

Earn 6 hours of USDA Professional Standards for school nutrition staff at no charge! Individual pre-registration is required as space is limited. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. Tentative topics: Incorporating Cultural Foods in the School Lunchroom; ISBE Update; Staff Recruitment and Training; Healthy Lunchrooms
July 29, 2025  |  9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Summer Learning Institute - Chicago/Cook County

Location: Dan Ryan Woods Event Pavilion ( S Western Ave & W 87th St, Chicago, IL 60620)

Earn four (4) hours of USDA Professional Standards for school nutrition team members from the ABCs of School Nutrition. ABCs of School Nutrition is provided by University of Illinois Extension and funded by the Illinois State Board of Education. There is no charge for the training, but individual pre-registration is required as space is limited. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. Agenda: 9 – 9:30 am: Welcome & Orientation. 9:30 – 10:30 am: Incorporating Cultural Foods in the Lunchroom. 10:30 – 11:30 am: Reducing Sugar at Meals. 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Lunch. 12:30 -1:30 pm: Reducing School Food Waste. 1:30 – 2:30 pm: Taste Tests. Registration will close on 7/22/25 or when location meets capacity. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact James McCombs at jmccomb2@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
July 29, 2025  |  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Summer Learning Institute - Jacksonville

Location: Morgan County Extension Office (104 N Westgate Ave, Jacksonville, IL 62650)

Earn four (4) hours of USDA Professional Standards for school nutrition team members. There is no charge for the training, but individual pre-registration is required as space is limited. Lunch will be provided. Topics: Recruiting and Training New Staff, Incorporating Cultural Foods in the Lunchroom, Rethink the Sweet, HACCP and Food Safety Plans. Registration will close on 7/22/25 or when location meets capacity. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Karina Moore at kmoors02s@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
July 30, 2025  |  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Summer Learning Institute - Edwardsville

Location: Madison County Extension Office (900 Hillsboro Ave, Edwardsville, IL 62025)

Earn five (5) hours of USDA Professional Standards for school nutrition team members from the ABCs of School Nutrition. ABCs of School Nutrition is provided by University of Illinois Extension and funded by the Illinois State Board of Education. There is no charge for the training, but individual pre-registration is required as space is limited. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. Topics: Healthy Lunchrooms; Incorporating Cultural Foods in the Lunchroom; Staff Recruitment and Training; Taste Tests; Fifth topic to be announced. Registration will close on 7/23/25 or when location meets capacity. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Hannah Fee at hcgravot@illinois.edu . Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
July 30, 2025  |  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Summer Learning Institute - Mattoon

Location: Lake Land College Foundation and Alumni Center (5001 Lake Land Blvd, Mattoon, IL 61938)

Earn 6 hours of USDA Professional Standards for school nutrition staff at no charge! Individual pre-registration is required as space is limited. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Meredith Probst at maepley@illinois.edu . Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
July 30, 2025  |  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Summer Learning Institute - Decatur

Location: National Sequestration Education Center at Richland Community College (3451 N Pres Howard Brown Blvd, Decatur, IL 62521)

Earn five (5) hours of USDA Professional Standards for school nutrition team members from the ABCs of School Nutrition. ABCs of School Nutrition is provided by University of Illinois Extension and funded by the Illinois State Board of Education. There is no charge for the training, but individual pre-registration is required as space is limited. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. Agenda: 8:30-9 a.m. Welcome & Check In. 9-10 a.m. Culinary Math - Part 1. 10-10:30 a.m. Communicating with Families. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Incorporating Cultural Foods. 11:45-12:15 p.m. Lunch. 12:15-2:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions. 2:30-3 p.m. Taste Tests. Registration will close on 7/23/25 or when location meets capacity. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Caitlin Mellendorf at chuth2@illinois.edu or 217-300-9226. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
August 05, 2025  |  8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Summer Learning Institute - Rockford

Location: NIU-Rockford Conference Center (8500 E State St, Rockford, IL 61107)

This training will provide six hours of USDA Professional Standards credits. There is no charge for this training; however, pre-registration is required. Registration is from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. The training will start promptly at 8:00 a.m. and last until 3:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!
August 06, 2025  |  9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Summer Learning Institute - Champaign

Location: I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center (1900 S 1st St, Champaign, IL 61820)

Earn six (6) hours of USDA Professional Standards for school nutrition team members from the ABCs of School Nutrition. ABCs of School Nutrition is provided by the University of Illinois Extension and funded by the Illinois State Board of Education. There is no charge for the training, but individual pre-registration is required as space is limited. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. Tentative Schedule: 9-10 am: Vegetarian Options in the Lunchroom. 10-11 am: Incorporating Cultural Foods in the School Lunchroom. 11-12 pm: Farm to School. 12-1 pm: Lunch. 1-2 pm: ISBE presentation (Topic TBD). 2-4 pm: Bridges Toward Better Cultural Humility. Registration will close on 7/30/25 or when the location meets capacity. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Tracy Bowden at tbowden@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
August 06, 2025  |  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Summer Learning Institute - Centralia

Location: Centralia High School Annex (2100 E Calumet St, Centralia, IL 62801)

Earn 6 hours of USDA Professional Standards for school nutrition staff at no charge! Individual pre-registration is required as space is limited. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Kara Boozer at karacox2@illinois.edu or 618-242-0780. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
August 06, 2025  |  8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Summer Learning Institute - Oglesby

Location: Illinois Valley Community College (815 N Orlando Smith Road, CTC 124/125, Oglesby, IL 61348)

Earn four (4) hours of USDA Professional Standards for school nutrition team members from the ABCs of School Nutrition. ABCs of School Nutrition is provided by University of Illinois Extension and funded by the Illinois State Board of Education. There is no charge for the training, but individual pre-registration is required as space is limited. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. Agenda: 8:30 a.m. Welcome. 9 – 10 a.m. Breakout Session 1: Incorporating Cultural foods in the School Lunchroom. 10 – 11 a.m. Breakout Session 2: Vegetarian Options in the Lunchroom. 11 a.m. – noon: ISBE Speaker. Noon – 1 p.m.: Lunch. 1 – 2 p.m.: Rethink the Sweet. Registration will close on 7/22/25 or when location meets capacity. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Susan Glassman at susang@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.