2025-26 Union Leadership Institute - Fall Semester Registration Form

ELEVATE your leadership Skills!

For over twenty-five years, the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) has offered its Union Leadership Institute (ULI) to provide experienced and emerging union leaders with the skills and strategies needed to engage their members and build stronger unions. With the stakes being higher than ever for educational freedom, social justice, and working families, this is your invitation to step up and advocate for your local members and your community.

NEW SCHEDULE designed to meet your needs!

Our new Fall and Spring semester schedule allows us to offer two distinct training sessions during the 2025-26 school year.

Flexible Learning: Choose the session that best fits your schedule.
Accelerate Growth: Complete a full leadership course within one semester.
Double Your Impact: Motivated leaders can complete two courses within the 2025-2026 school year

3 ULI COURSES are offered each semester

These leadership training courses have been developed to meet the needs of new and veteran leaders in all IFT constituencies:

Boot Camp for Union Leaders

Effective Grievance Administration

Introduction to Collective Bargaining

NOTE: Grievance training will be offered in Spring 2026

REGISTRATION FEES are $400.00 per course

NEW LODGING for ULI at the Marriott Oak Brook Hotel is available for $175.00 per night for single accommodations or $87.50 per night for double accommodations.

2-night stays will be for Friday and Saturday, and 1-night stays will be for Saturday.
Roommates must be registered ULI participants for the double room rate.

The registration deadline for the Fall Semester is August 29, 2025

Enrollment is limited for each course, and registration applications will be processed in the order they are received. Classes will only be held with a minimum enrollment of 8 participants per class.

Participants will receive a registration confirmation, agendas for each weekend, and other course materials via the email address provided on the enrollment form.

CANCELLATION requests should be submitted to btwillie@ift-aft.org before 5 p.m. on September 8th. Participants who cancel after this date or who are "no-shows" will be responsible for the full registration fee.

Registration for IFT's ULI courses is open exclusively to IFT members.

Contact Benita Twillie @btwillie@ift-aft.org with questions.

Name*

First NameLast Name

Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Email*

Registration confirmation will e-mailed to this address

Phone Number*

Enter a valid area code and phone number.

LOCAL NAME*

IFT LOCAL NUMBER*

COUNCIL NAME (if applicable)

FALL 2025 COURSE SELECTION*

Class sizes are limited, and IFT will process enrollment requests in the order received

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS - Fall | September 13-14, 2025*

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS - Fall | October 11-12, 2025*

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS - Fall | November 8-9, 2025*

ROOMMATE (list roommate if you have requested a DOUBLE room hotel accommodation)

Roommate MUST be a registered ULI participant

DIETARY RESTRICTIONS*

Please specify other allergies or restrictions below

OTHER FOOD ALLERGY/RESTRICTION

I identify my gender as

My preferred pronouns are:

I identify my race as (select any or all that apply)

Please let us know about any physical or learning accommodations that will facilitate your participation in this training:

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: IFT will make every effort to ensure that accommodations are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Participants who anticipate a special need ensuing from a disability should contact Benita Twillie at btwillie@ift-aft.org. Early notice is necessary since some accommodations may require significant advance notice.

2025 Union Leadership Institute Fall Semester Registration Form

Fall Semester | Sep. 13-14, Oct. 11-12 and Nov. 8-9, 2025

Spring Semester | Feb. 7-8, Mar. 7-8, and Apr. 10-11, 2025

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS - Marriott Oak Brook Hotel

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF