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

BREAKING NEWS: Moline Mayor Stephanie Acri wants to break up with Western Illinois University, but the public riverfront campus wants more time to work things out. Last month, new WIU president Guiyou Huang wrote to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker  about ongoing discussions regarding a potential transfer of the WIU Quad-Cities campus to another state institution. Huang became president Jan. 1, 2021. At that point, Western has not been included in the discussion, he noted, copying Mayor Acri and Quad Cities Chamber president/CEO Paul Rumler. She responded that she’s had concerns about the impact of... Read More

Western Illinois University’s (WIU) Initiative for Social Justice Pedagogies (ISJP) will host a virtual spring book study in March for Bettina L. Love’s book, “We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom.” This book study is open to anyone in the WIU community who is interested in educational reform and civic engagement: current and future educators, staff, administration and community members. This book study will meet a total of four times: March 10, 17, 24, 31, from noon-1 p.m. Love is an award-winning author and a professor... Read More

For faculty at Western Illinois University, watching their students excel in and out of the classroom is gratifying. When that academic work crosses over into the University’s core values, and includes unique and ground breaking research, that pride is elevated. As Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA) graduate student Taylor Brooks, of Chicago, finishes her degree, she is doing research on the exploring how Black residents’ leisure choices and involvement are impacted by living in a rural part of the country. Her research helped her win the poster presentation division... Read More

A Western Illinois University dance instructor has been invited to dance “Spanish Dance,” in celebration of the life of internationally-known dancer Daniel Nagrin. WIU Dance Instructor Donald Laney was the last dancer Nagrin taught “Spanish Dance” to prior to his death. The performance will be part of “The Daniel Nagrin Celebration: A Concert of Solos by the Rebel of Modern Dance,” April 30 and May 1 in the Dogtown Dance Theatre in Richmond, VA. Nagrin’s interesting career history ranged from gigs at summer resorts and clubs to Broadway musical, acting... Read More

For Western Illinois University art professor Bruce Walters of Davenport, a 37-year career teaching in higher education has been accentuated by the personal artwork he’s created, in a wide variety of media. As he prepares to retire from teaching in May, an exhibit of part of his inspired work — titled “What the Hand Dare Seize the Fire?” — is on display at the University Art Gallery in Macomb through April 2. The title of the current exhibit is taken from a 227-year-old poem, “The Tyger,” by William Blake. “The first drawings in this exhibition are drawn from... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — 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 (see below). Each week, approximately 700 students, faculty and staff* will receive an email encouraging them to get a free COVID test provided by Beu Health... Read More

The Western Illinois University Office of Student Engagement (OSE), in conjunction with numerous other campus offices, will host “Spring Into a Fun Semester” during week seven and eight of the Spring 2021 semester, March 1-13. The goal of the events is to help engage students and help them make meaningful connections. The week seven and eight schedule includes: • Tuesday, March 2 – 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Tuesday on the Terrace with the Women’s Center, from the Multicultural Center, located on the Union Terrace • Wednesday, March 3 – 4-5 p.m. – FSL Human Bingo, virtual –... 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. Beginning this week you can log on to https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/hemingway/events/ and join Conversations... 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