MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – – Western Illinois University’s Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student chapters on the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses both received a 2020-21 Superior Merit Award designation from the national chapter of SHRM for providing excellent growth and development opportunities to student chapter members. The SHRM student chapter merit award program encourages the development of more effective student chapters and distinguishes outstanding activities and projects. Chapters are recognized based on chapter operations, chapter programming and professional... Read More

MACOMB, IL – Students from Western Illinois University’s broadcast news station, NEWS3, won awards and earned honorable mentions at the annual National Academy of Arts and Sciences Mid-America College Awards in July. Former NEWS3 executive producer Devin Brooks, a 2021 broadcasting graduate from St. Louis, MO, won for News Report – Serious News. Brooks also won for Talent – News, as well as earned an honorable mention for Multimedia Journalist. Kennedy Williams, a junior from Glendale Heights, IL, earned an honorable mention for a Non-Fiction – Short Form she completed... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – A total of 217 undergraduate students enrolled at Western Illinois University were named to the 2021 Summer Dean’s List. The total includes 27 students at the WIU-Quad Cities Campus. To receive this award, an undergraduate student must earn at least a 3.6 grade point average on a scale of 4.0, which equals an A in a minimum of 6 credit hours of graded courses; pass-fail hours are not counted (e.g., student teaching, internships). Students earning Dean’s List honors are listed by Illinois counties, cities and towns, as well as other states/towns and other nations. The... Read More

Western Illinois University’s Agricultural Education academic program was recently awarded the Region 4 “Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program” by the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE). Additionally, WIU alumnus Trent Taber ’15 was honored for having the “Outstanding Middle/Secondary Agriculture Program” at Cambridge High School in Cambridge, IL. Riley Hintzsche ’14 was in the running for the “Outstanding Early Career Teacher” award for his work at Streator High School, but was not selected. He was the Illinois state... Read More

Western Illinois University Sports Equipment Supervisor Parampal Singh has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb Civil Service Employee of the Month for July. Singh came to WIU in 2017, starting in his current position. According to his nominator, Singh is “one of the kindest and most giving people” they know. “He has one mood – a good one,” said the nominator. “He is invested in his job, and the dedication he exhibits makes education a great experience for the students, faculty and staff of the kinesiology department.” Singh’s nominators also gave several... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – The new academic year at Western Illinois University will kick off with a virtual University Assembly beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20. To adhere to social distancing protocols, the event will be livestreamed on WIU’s YouTube Channel. Invitations will be sent to select campus constituency group representatives to attend in person (masks are required, and social distancing measures will be in place). All members of the Macomb and the Quad Cities campuses are encouraged to watch the livestream. During the event, WIU President Guiyou Huang will discuss plans and priorities... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — As Western Illinois University plans to resume the traditional in-person experience this fall, to help ensure the health and safety of the members of University community and beyond, WIU’s Protect the ‘Necks Plan II has been updated to include the latest policies and procedures set for Fall 2021. Protect the ‘Necks Plan II is in place to keep the University community safe by mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The original plan went into effect in Fall 2020. As procedures and guidelines are updated, the information will be shared with the University community... Read More

Western Illinois University Anthropology Associate Professor Patricia Anderson passed away Monday, July 26 in Macomb. “The Western Illinois University community mourns Dr. Anderson’s passing. We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and colleagues,” said Western Illinois University President Guiyou Huang. After receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from WIU, and receiving her doctorate from the University of Chicago, Anderson began teaching at WIU in 1999. She taught anthropology and archeology courses, in addition to unique anthrozoology courses... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — Kirk Hare, Western Illinois University Facilities Management supervisor, has been named the deputy director of maintenance and operations. Hare has served as a supervisor for WIU Facilities Maintenance moving crew since August 2011. He joined the Facilities Maintenance staff as a building service worker in December 2008, serving in that role until his promotion to supervisor in 2011. Hare also owned and operated Pro-Clean in Macomb from 2004-2013. Before joining WIU, he worked as a salesperson for Western Distributing Company in Macomb from 1996-2008, and as the building... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — COVID-19 has created challenges for many college students and their families across the nation, and Western Illinois University is working to ease the financial stress that is affecting its students as a result of the pandemic. According to WIU Financial Aid Director Bobbi Smith, the WIU Office of Financial Aid has in place the financial circumstance appeal to generate a new review of financial aid eligibility using projected 2021 income versus earned 2019 income. “If students and their families have been financially impacted by the pandemic, we encourage our students... Read More