As part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Macomb Beautiful Association (MBA) a 66-foot mural will be painted on the north wall of Gelsosomo’s Pizza, with an unveiling planned for June 2022. The artwork, which will be 12 feet tall, will be painted by WIU Art Professor William “Bill” Howard, who, along with other current and former art faculty and students, completed a mural on the north side of The Old Dairy in June 2019 to portray the community’s history. “The response to the mural at the Old Dairy was so positive, it seemed natural to create another,”... Read More

An excellent resource for students in the classrooms of Western Illinois University is the opportunity to learn from those who have gone before them. This week, students in WIU’s Department of Biological Sciences had the opportunity to learn from an alumnus who was part of developing the COVID-19 vaccine for the Pfizer company. Ben Boda, who received his bachelor’s degree in biology in 2006 and his master’s degree in biology in 2012, works in Pfizer’s research and development division in Chesterfield, MO. While there are aspects of his participation in the vaccine development... Read More

WQPT presents a variety of outreach activities in conjunction with the new Ken Burns documentary Hemingway. Directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, Hemingway examines the visionary work and turbulent life of Ernest Hemingway, one of the most influential writers America has ever produced. Interweaving his eventful biography with excerpts from his writing, we will see beyond the façade of the public image, becoming intimately familiar with this brilliant, ambitious, charismatic, and egocentric man. You can log on to https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/hemingway/events/ and join Conversations on Hemingway:... Read More

Western Illinois University IT Manager/Director of Web Services Jeremy Merritt has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb Civil Service Employee of the Month for March. Merritt began working at WIU in May 2001, as a microcomputer support specialist I in University Housing and Dining (UHDS), then was reclassified by audit to microcomputer support specialist II in May 2002. In July 2014, Merritt became the webmaster for UHDS and in February 2009, he accepted a position as instructional technology systems manager in uTech. He was promoted to assistant director of uTech’s Computer Center in May... Read More

Beginning Monday, March 15, Western Illinois University will begin offering to Macomb faculty, staff and students the SHIELD Illinois fast-turnaround saliva-based COVID-19 tests created by the University of Illinois. “While we have had great success with our nasal and saliva based tests that we’ve used since the Fall 2020 semester, we’re proud to collaborate with the University of Illinois to provide a new test option to faculty, staff and students that was created by one of our Illinois public higher education partners,” said Joe Roselieb, executive director of auxiliary... Read More

With the retirement of Western Illinois University Professor Emeritus of Theatre Jeannie Woods, and the recent dissolution of The Starry Night Repertory Theatre she created, two important donations have been made to the WIU Department of Theatre and Dance and the Performing Arts Society (PAS). Woods has donated her theatre equipment to the PAS, and has established The Starry Night Repertory Theatre Award in Directing, a $300 prize to be presented to a junior or senior actively directing in studio, or on mainstage. The first directing award was presented to senior theatre major Audrey Gniech, of... Read More

Several Western Illinois University students were honored during the Illinois Residence Hall Association (IRHA) Virtual Leadership Conference Feb. 20-21, hosted by Northern Illinois University. The conference is made up of Illinois schools, and the weekend is dedicated to showing school spirit, attending and presenting programs and showcasing and learning what other schools around the state are doing. WIU students who attended include junior nursing major Brooke Barnes, of Plainfield; freshman University advising major Jon’a Levi, of Bettendorf, IA; freshman art major Rivers Ashton, of Lincolnton,... Read More

Thursday, March 11, COVID-19 surveillance testing is underway at Western Illinois University and will continue as the semester progresses. Additional open appointment times may be added periodically for those who would like to be tested,but have not been selected as part of the surveillance test population. In addition, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has added select dates for free test clinics on the WIU-Macomb campus, the next being March 11. Each week, approximately 700 students, faculty and staff* will receive an email encouraging them to get a free COVID test provided by Beu... Read More

MOLINE, IL – – Western Illinois University School of Engineering Director William Pratt has been selected to receive the Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award. The prestigious award was presented to Pratt Thursday, Feb. 25 at the 59th annual National Engineers Week QCESC STEM virtual celebration. “Dr. Pratt’s leadership as founding director of the WIU School of Engineering balances the priorities of strategic partnership development and innovation with teaching and individualized mentorship of WIU students. He inspires K-12 students... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Statistics show that first-year college students who take advantage of tutoring and other academic success resources have a higher GPA than those who didn’t seek assistance, and are more than likely to finish college in a more timely fashion. At Western Illinois University, the offices throughout the University are continually putting more resources into place so WIU students have the tools to succeed during their time at Western. According to Justin Schuch, executive director of retention initiatives at WIU, involvement in success programs makes a difference, and not... Read More