Western Illinois University and The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) entered into a formal partnership on June 17 by signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, the signing was held virtually and broadcast online in the Barbados. Under the agreement, Caribbean students seeking to take advantage of degree programs at WIU will benefit from the matching of coursework requirements at WIU against the CXC syllabus, which will allow for a seamless transition, said WIU Director of Global Studies Randy Glean. “We are delighted to partner with CXC. We... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – More than 33,700 individuals considered Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) reside in Illinois, according to the Migration Policy Institute. To help these childhood arrivals to the United States achieve their dreams, one Western Illinois University professor has created a scholarship for DREAMers (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors). Political Science Professor Julia Albarracin-Green has established the WIU DREAMer Scholarship Fund to provide the opportunity for a few undocumented students to attend Western. According to Albarracin, each year, nearly... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University-Macomb COVID-19 summer test clinics will be held from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, through Thursday, Aug. 12, in the University Union Sandburg Lounge. Fall 2021 test clinic times and days will be announced prior to the start of the fall semester, which is set to begin Monday, Aug. 23. WIU-Macomb faculty, staff and students will have the SHIELD Illinois fast-turnaround saliva-based COVID-19 tests created by the University of Illinois available. The SHIELD test requires individuals to deposit a small amount of saliva in a vial,... Read More

Western Illinois University students, faculty and staff on the WIU-Macomb campus in need of an official University ID will now be able to get their identification card at the University Union Service Center. Previously, the ID services were available in Seal Hall. The Union Service Center, located on the first floor across from the food court, is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday during the summer months. When school is in session, the hours are: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, during the fall and spring semesters; and from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays, during the fall and spring semesters. WIU-QC... Read More

Western Illinois University Fraternity and Sorority Life Coordinator Taylor Zeigler is one of 13 higher education professionals nationwide awarded a scholarship to attend the 2021 Hazing Prevention Institute. The award, from the Harrison Kowiak Scholarship Fund and HazingPrevention.org, brings together representatives from across the country to talk about the dangers of hazing and to provide hazing prevention strategies. “Taylor is deserving of the Harrison Kowiak Scholarship due to her hard work and dedication toward hazing prevention within her own sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, and at Western... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University College of Business and Technology (CBT) Adviser Ember Keithley has been named the Outstanding Academic Advisor of the Year by the WIU Council of Academic Advisors. Keithley has served as an advisor in the CBT since 2000. In this role, she advises all students in the School of Agriculture, as well as online business majors in management, human resources management and supply chain management. “I have cherished my time at WIU and have learned leaps and bounds greater than I expected. This is all thanks to the expert advising that Ms. Keithley... Read More

Western Illinois University’s Office of Study Abroad and Outreach is offering virtual and face-to-face youth programs for Summer 2021. This year’s class list includes: Wednesday, July 7, TechVenturing Virtual Workshop This one day workshop is available only for students in grades 9-12. Program times are 10 a.m. – noon and 1 – 3 p.m. Instructor: Rafael Obregon, interim chair of the WIU Department of Engineering Technology July 12-16, WIU’s STEM Virtual Camp Class is available for students in grades 7-12. Program cost is $100. Instructors: Physics Professor Esteban... Read More

MOLINE, IL – After three years of steady growth, the Quad Cities Yoga Foundation, founded by alumni from Western Illinois University’s School of Education, is seeking to grow their professional development and yoga in classrooms services in the Quad Cities for those who would benefit from yoga, and have the need for the services — such as those exiting jails, drug rehabilitation centers, and those who cannot afford to pay for yoga classes. The QC Yoga Foundation was founded to bring life skills and yoga to underserved QC citizens of all ages, and believes in the power of yoga to transform... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — Shannon Sutton, director of the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) at Western Illinois University, has been named the interim vice president for finance and administration (VPFA) at Western Illinois University, effective July 1. Teresa Smith, who has served as the interim associate vice president for budget and finance since September 2020, stepped down June 30. Sutton has served as the director of Sponsored Projects since July 2012. She also served as WIU’s acting associate vice president for budget and finance from Aug. 1-Sept. 30, 2020. In addition, Sutton has... Read More

Although cannabis testing is an everlasting topic in the curriculum of the Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry program in the Western Illinois University Department of Chemistry, it was recently revitalized by a $160,181 grant, awarded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and a Certification of Registration (COR), presented by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In the Federal Controlled Substance Act (CAS) of 1970, cannabis was classified as a “Schedule 1” substance, which made cultivation and use of cannabis illegal. Since then, cannabis has become the most widely... Read More