MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Giving Tuesday is a worldwide fundraising movement held the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and Western Illinois University has taken part since 2014. The 2020 event, which was held Dec. 1, is the most successful in WIU’s six-year Giving Tuesday history, raising over $35,000, and a matching gift challenge of $5,000 for the WIU Student Emergency Fund set by WIU alumna Jody McCamey, in memory of her late husband Bill, a 30-year WIU law enforcement and justice administration professor, was also met during the 24-hour giving event. This year’s goal was to raise at... Read More

For the most pawsitively terrific holiday gift, head over to the Western Illinois University Bookstore (in person or online!) and pick up the 2021 Western Illinois University Col. Rock IV (aka Ray) calendar. The 2021 calendar, designed by University Relations Graphic Designer Mark Austin, features photos — taken by WIU Visual Production Center photographers and by Rocky’s “people” Joe and Ketra Roselieb — of Western’s much-loved mascot Ray, along with a few photos of retired mascot Rocky, along with important WIU dates, such as Founders’ Day, Homecoming... Read More

Each year, the Western Illinois University Foundation reaches out to the WIU Department of Art to select a student to design the Foundation’s holiday greeting card. The opportunity not only gives a student the chance to showcase their skills, while building their portfolio, it provides to Western’s alumni and friends a glimpse of the talented students attending WIU. Senior graphic design (studio art) major Aeliana Campbell of Wiggins, MS, was selected by her instructors to paint a winter-themed picture for the annual WIU Foundation holiday card. The finished product is an original lithograph... Read More

The Western Illinois University School of Global Education and Outreach has transitioned to become the Center for Global Studies. The Bachelor of General Studies degree program has moved from within the department under the umbrella of University Libraries. “We plan to bring some exotic and exciting culture, some charisma, and some energy to the campus by broadening our outreach to become truly global,” said Center Executive Director Randy Glean. The office provides services to international students, as well as hosts unique cultural activities and educational learning experiences.... Read More

Western Illinois University IT Technical Associate Jacob Buhs has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb Civil Service Employee of the Month for December. Buhs started at WIU in October 2010 as a microcomputer support specialist II in Web Services. In November 2017, he accepted a position in Academic Personnel as a research and instruction consultant for uTech and in February 2019, he transitioned to his current Civil Service position. According to his nominator, Buhs “always goes above and beyond his assigned duties and is constantly busy.” “While he may be designated to work... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Justin Schuch, interim executive director of retention initiatives at Western Illinois University, has been named to the permanent position following an internal search. Schuch was named interim executive director of retention initiatives in January 2020. He began his career at Western in 2015 as the assistant director of residence life for leadership and development in University Housing and Dining Services. He was named the director of the Office of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Retention Initiatives in February 2019, and served as the director of Student Judicial... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Two Western Illinois University graduate students in College Student Personnel (CSP) are advancing through the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), one of the professional organizations designed to help them excel in their future careers and in leadership. Ian Clark, of Macomb, and Austin Quarles, of Glen Allen, VA, are both students in the CSP student affairs track at WIU. Clark received his bachelor’s degree in communication from WIU and is one of the participants in NASPA’s Graduate Assistant Program (GAP), which is made up of graduate... Read More

A visual archive is essential to preserving a university’s history, and the photographers at the Western Illinois University Visual Production Center (VPC) make it a priority each day to capture the essence of life at WIU. From athletics to academics to student activities and more, Sarah Ritter, George Hartmann and Rachael Keating look through their lenses for the best way to represent WIU through photographs. Ritter, VPC manager, was recently recognized by University Photographers’ Association of America (UPAA) in the organization’s monthly image competition. In the October competition,... Read More

A chance for local school children to learn more about music of the Big Band-era will premiere in the coming weeks as part of Western Illinois University’s Youth Performing Arts Series (YPAS), despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A 25-minute video, featuring WIU’s Jazz Studio Orchestra (JSO) and singers from WIU’s jazz studies program, performing live songs from the 1930s and 40s, will be played in the music programs of local schools. The video is narrated by radio disc jockey Eddie Dupree, also known as WIU Professor of Music John Cooper, and was created... Read More

For the third time in three years, a team of Western Illinois University students have finished high in the CME Group Trading Challenge, a four-week, international electronic trading competition. This year’s team was made up of Cooper Bounds, a master of business administration (MBA) graduate student from Taneytown, MD; Amy Johnson, a senior agriculture major from Cambridge, IL; Matthew Swanson, a senior agriculture major from LaHarpe, IL; and Arthur Wasilowksi, a master of business administration (MBA) graduate student from Des Plaines, IL. The team finished in the top 8 percent of the competition,... Read More