The Illini Center brings the presence of the Urbana-Champaign campus to Chicago by offering the amenities of the University in the convenience of downtown Chicago. The Center provides the Urbana-Champaign campus with a central location that increases visibility in Chicago, while also providing staff members in Chicago the opportunity to work together.

The Illini Center allows numerous University departments the ability to consolidate their programs, services and classes to better serve our prospective students, current students and alumni. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions, College of Business, 4-H/Extension, ACES, Principal's Scholars Program, Athletics and Advancement/Campus Development have offices in the Center. The Center also houses the Alumni Career Center, which serves the Urbana, Chicago and Springfield campuses.

Among the Center's many functions, it allows prospective students to see counselors or pick up admissions literature, provides distance learning between campus and Chicago, as well as offers classes in the Chicagoland area, and offers alumni opportunities to search for jobs, hold meetings, attend social functions or even arrange for tickets to sporting events.