Western Illinois University Agriculture (Ag) Office Manager and Account Technician Barbara Woolam has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb Civil Service Employee of the Year for 2023. Woolam started at WIU in May 2000 as a Facilities Management, Building Services secretary. Over the years, she demonstrated exceptional dedication and work ethic, leading to a series of promotions. She transitioned to a secretarial role in Continuing Education before becoming the office support specialist for the Educational Leadership program in 2003. After several promotions, she was named the office manager for... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – In anticipation of forecasted snow and high winds, Western Illinois University’s Macomb and Quad Cities campuses are under a winter weather advisory Tuesday-Wednesday, Jan.9-10. During a weather advisory, the University will generally remain open, ensuring that campus buildings are accessible. However, it is the personal responsibility of faculty, staff and students to use their judgment regarding attendance and travel conditions. Supervisors are urged to plan for continued operations, recognizing that University offices may be short-staffed or closed during the advisory. The... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – – The Western Illinois University Libraries have introduced the Resident and Visiting Fellows Program in collaboration with the WIU Center for Undergraduate Research (CUR). This program invites both WIU faculty members and scholars from other universities to establish a formal partnership with WIU Libraries for a semester or summer, engaging in focused research. Fellows will also contribute to the development of WIU Libraries’ collections. In addition, scholars will lead workshops on research methods to guide undergraduate students in scholarly research. This... Read More

The Western Illinois University Office of Justice, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (JIDE) is proud to host the inaugural National Day of Racial Healing Tuesday, Jan. 16 following Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Aligned with the national observance, this day aims to foster a collective commitment to racial equity, justice and understanding. Multiple events will be held in line with the observance. The National Day of Racial Healing serves as a catalyst for activities promoting racial healing in homes, schools, businesses and communities nationwide. At WIU, the focus is on creating a more just and equitable... Read More

MACOMB — Eager to hit the ground running, Western Illinois football coach Joe Davis unveiled his first signing class on Wednesday with five new student-athletes signing their letters of intent to become Leathernecks. All five signees will be part of the Freshmen 2024 class in the fall. Among the first batch of new Leathernecks are three players on the offensive side of the ball as well as a pair of defensive players. The class features student-athletes who prepped in Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee. The new class does not lack credentials with multiple All-Conference, All-District, and... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Going back to its roots as a normal, or teaching, school, Western Illinois University has established the Arlington & Arlene Seymour Center for Rural Education, Advocacy, Policy and Research – the first center of its kind in Illinois and one of a few in the United States – to honor the commitment and dedication of two lifelong educators. In November 2020, the Illinois Board of Higher Education approved WIU as the site for the state’s rural education center. The center, housed within the School of Education in the College of Education and Human Services, is made... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – – Western Illinois University has named Cassandra Standberry executive director of Human Resources and Title IX coordinator, effective Dec. 23. Standberry has served as the interim executive director of Human Resources and Title IX coordinator since August 2023. In her permanent position at WIU, she will also oversee the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (EOA). “Cassandra brings a wealth of experience, talent and knowledge to this position. I am excited about working with her in this role,” Vice President for Finance and Administration Paul Edwards... Read More

MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University School of Engineering students assisted in 3-D printing this year’s pickle ornaments for the third annual downtown Davenport Pickle Ornament Hunt. Downtown Davenport Partnership and TBK Bank sponsored this year’s event with the goal of bringing locals into downtown businesses and creating holiday fun in the process. “This project provided engineering students with a chance to grasp a manufacturing process through real-world experience,” said WIU Engineering Laboratory Professional Justin Scott. This project combined experiential... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — An esteemed ceremony acknowledging the academic and personal triumphs of Western Illinois University students and alumni is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 in Macomb. This special event will honor graduates at all levels, representing both the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses. The number of students eligible to participate in the Fall 2023 Commencement ceremony is 646, which includes 381 undergraduate students, of which 60 are in the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree program; 262 are master’s-level graduate students; and four students are earning their... Read More

The Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Interdisciplinary English and Arts Society (IDEAS) will host a holiday potluck at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, in the Building C Atrium. IDEAS extends an invitation to the WIU community to wrap up an amazing semester with a holiday potluck, ornament decorating and a holiday movie. Students are welcome to bring their favorite side dish to share or just attend for fun and relaxation. “IDEAS welcomes all students, staff, faculty and Grinches to join us for a holiday get together,” IDEAS Treasurer Audrey Lamb said. “Yule be sorry if you... Read More