Interim Western Illinois University Campus Recreation Center Director Brian Thomas has been named the permanent director, effective May 1. Thomas has served as interim director of Campus Recreation since June 2022. He was hired as the center’s assistant director in January 2018, and was promoted to associate director in January 2021. He has also previously served as a fitness coordinator and head personal trainer at the McDonough County YMCA, and was an adjunct instructor in WIU’s Kinesiology department in 2022. Thomas received his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and his... Read More

MOLINE, IL – – Western Illinois University’s Environmental Science: Large River Ecosystems program is working with the city of Moline to study the concentration of phosphorus in the Rock River. “This is a proactive effort to determine how pending regulatory changes might affect the South Slope Sewage Treatment Plant,” said WIU Environmental Science Director Roger Viadero. The project will consist of student-led groups testing water for basic quality parameters, in addition to nutrients and chlorophyll, which can be an indicator of elevated phosphorus in water. This... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Thirty-two Western Illinois University students were inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society during the chapter’s 51st induction ceremony Thursday, April 6. Admission to Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation only, and invitations are extended to the top 7.5 percent of juniors, the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students who have a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Phi Kappa Phi is open to all students and is the oldest and largest honor society that inducts people from every academic field. It’s motto is “let the love of learning rule humanity.” The... Read More

A peace rally to remember those injured and lost in the March 25 incident in Macomb will begin at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, May 4 in the brick courtyard behind the Western Illinois University Union. The event is being held prior to the 5:30 p.m. Prayer Walk the same day, which begins at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Newman Center. In case of rain, both events will be held Friday, May 5. The peace rally is being supported by the WIU Student Government Association, the WIU Office of Public Safety, the WIU Multicultural Center, the University Counseling Center, the WIU Veterans Resource Center, WIU... Read More

The Western Illinois University School of Music will present the 57th annual Wind Ensemble President’s Concert at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 6 in the College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Recital Hall. The WIU Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Professor of Music and Director of Bands Mike Fansler, will perform several world premiere performances by: WIU alumnus Dennis Eveland; WIU alumnus Robin Butler; an arrangement by WIU Assistant Professor of Composition Hong-Da Chin, featuring C. T. Vivian Diversity Teaching Scholar in Vocal Performance Ru Huang, soprano and Chin, dizi; and James... Read More

In anticipation of Western Illinois University’s commencement in May, the Multicultural Center (MCC) will host a joint graduation celebration to recognize the accomplishments and achievements of graduating members of the LGBT*QA, Latinx and African/African American/Afro-Caribbean communities at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 29, in the University Union Heritage Room. In prior years, the MCC had hosted separate graduations for the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center (GBCC graduation), the LGBT*QA Resource Center (Lavender Graduation) and the Casa Latina Cultural Center (Latinx Graduation). However, in... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – – Initiate change on campus and enter to win a WIU parking pass for next year. The Western Illinois University Anti-Racism Task Force (ARTF) is conducting a campus climate survey to measure the attitudes, opinions and work environment from the faculty/staff/student points of view, with the goal of using the results to identify and address issues to further improve the University. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete, and participation in the survey is voluntary and confidential. Neither the researchers nor the source providing the data will be... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University will host the annual Employee Memorial Tree Planting Ceremony at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at Memorial Tree Grove on the Macomb campus. Each year WIU honors employees who passed away the year prior in a memorial planting ceremony. This year, the ceremony will honor Yvonne Zaborac, who passed away in 2022. The Memorial Tree Grove, located on the southeast section of campus by University Village, near the West Pierce Street entrance, was established in Fall 2003, following a recommendation by members of Western’s American Federation of State,... Read More

Western Illinois University graduate student Karston Cole is only one month away from the Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony. Cole will graduate with a Master of Science in Psychology and Clinical/Community Mental Health. Cole is completing an internship at the Illinois Department of Human Services Treatment and Detention Facility in Rushville, IL, where he is gaining experience as a behavioral specialist and will remain in this role post graduation. “I am fortunate and grateful to begin my career with the wealth of theoretical knowledge and practical experience provided to me at WIU, especially... Read More

Two candidates will interview to become the new director of the Western Illinois University Institutional Research and Planning office Monday, April 17 and Tuesday, April 25. Candidates include Associate Director of Information Management for the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) David Smalley (April 17) and Executive Director of Institutional Research for West Virginia State University Archit Agarwal (April 25). Smalley has served as the associate director of Information Management for the IBHE since 2016. Previously, he was a division administrator data analyst for the IBHE (2014-16),... Read More