West Hartford, CT artist Kasey Ramirez will have her solo exhibition, “Remnants,” on display through Feb. 18, at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery. Born in New Brunswick, NJ, Ramirez received an MFA in printmaking from Indiana University, and a BFA in illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design. She is now an assistant professor and head of printmaking at the Hartford Art School. Her work has been exhibited at the International Print Center New York, The Morgan Conservatory in Cleveland, OH, 21C Museum Hotel in Bentonville, AR, Rosewood Arts Centre Gallery in Kettering,... Read More

As generations of students graduate from Western Illinois University, they develop not only a love for the purple and gold of their alma mater, but some leave having found something more romantic. Each love story that has beginnings at Western is part of the University’s rich tradition and storied past. While WIU students come to campus with a goal of earning an academic degree, three generations of one family of alumni have found the loves of their lives while on campus. The Crain family began attending WIU in the 1920s, when the late Francis “Pete” Crain, met his wife, the late... Read More

Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, Western Illinois University Vice President of Quad Cities Campus Operations Kristi Mindrup, Lindsay Meeker of the WIU College of Education and Human Services, and Ron Clewer of Gorman & Associates have opened up a new partnership that will expand childcare options in an effort to return more people to the workforce and fill long-vacant commercial space in downtown Moline. WIU-QC will establish the Spanish Bilingual Early Learning and Family Empowerment Lab in the first-floor commercial space of the Enterprise Lofts building. Bolstering childcare options in Moline... Read More

Western Illinois University alumna and Macomb Park District Executive Director Rachel Lenz has been named the 2022 recipient of the Jim Berousek Distinguished Alumnus Award through the University’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA). The award is given in honor of Berousek, who is a 1974 WIU graduate, with a degree in Park and Recreation Administration. He worked in the Wood Dale Park District and dedicated his career to making the small district into a larger, more effective and impactful agency, focused on serving the community. Berousek passed away suddenly... Read More

The Western Illinois University School of Music will present the Faculty Chamber Music Series Concert III, featuring mixed chamber repertoire, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10 in the College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Recital Hall. This performance was originally scheduled for Feb. 2, but rescheduled due to the weather/WIU closure. This performance is open free for limited general audience seating, but due to the restrictions currently in place, patrons are being asked to scan a QR code and enter contact information upon arrival in the lobby (for contact tracing purposes) and maintain... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — Western Illinois University has been recognized once again by the U.S.News & World Report for offering some of the best online degree programs. Western is ranked 111th out of 384 regionally accredited institutions in the 2022 “Best Online Programs: Bachelor’s” category. Western also received a “Best for Vets” designation, ranking 63rd. WIU offers 463 online classes (320 undergraduate; 143 graduate) and 16 undergraduate and 10 graduate degree programs online, including the longstanding Bachelor of General Studies (BGS), which offers students... Read More

For more than 20 years, Western Illinois University students have gone across the United States during spring break all in the name of helping others as part of WIU’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program. ASB, which is within Volunteer Programs in the WIU Office of Student Engagement (OSE), will once again hit the road this spring, to Memphis, TN. Nine WIU students will immerse themselves in the city by giving back to the community by working with JustCity CourtWatch and Clare’s House Women’s Shelter, from March 14-18. The students will also tour the Civil Rights Museum and... Read More

Because of crowd size limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 51st annual Western Illinois University Ag Mech Farm Expo, scheduled for March 5-6, has been canceled. The annual show, acknowledged as the largest, student-run agriculture show in the country, attracts more than 150 vendors, and provides networking opportunities for students. “We are disappointed to cancel the WIU Ag Mech Farm Expo for the second year in a row; however, due to the WIU COVID protocols, we are unable to host an event of this size for the public,” said Ag Mech Club Co-Advisor Jana Knupp. “We appreciate... Read More

From the African American Literary Society to the Zoology Club, and all sports clubs, honor and academic societies, fraternity and sorority life and all other clubs in-between, with more than 200 student organizations at Western Illinois University, there truly is something for everyone. WIU-Macomb students can check out registered student organizations at Western at the Office of Student Engagement’s (OSE) Spring 2022 Student Organization Fair, which is set from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 in the University Union Grand Ballroom. In addition to the organization fair, a volunteer fair will... Read More

It was a day of celebration at the downtown Enterprise Lofts, where Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati and other officials celebrated the announcement of Western Illinois University-Quad Cities decision to open its new Spanish Bilingual Early Learning and Family Empowerment Lab. This exciting project launched the same day Moline began accepting applications for its new ARPA-funded childcare workforce infrastructure loan program. The City remains committed to working with multiple partners – including Renew Moline, Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, United Way Quad Cities – to expand childcare... Read More