WIU in the News

Colleges/Departments

Upcoming Alumni & Friends Events

Popular Links

In this Issue

Fall Semester in Gear | Record Year in Fundraising | Western Ranked in Top Tier | Rec Center Expansion Almost Complete | RockeNews Celebrates One Year

WIU's 2008 Fall Semester in Gear

More than 3,500 students moved into Western Illinois University's residence halls Aug. 22-23, bringing the total of on-campus residents to more than 4,400 for Fall 2008 semester, which began on Monday, Aug. 25.

On Saturday, August 24, the New Student Convocation for students and families served as a formal welcome and also underscored the academic expectations and challenges students will encounter at Western.

All incoming freshmen are part of Western’s noted First Year Experience (FYE) program, which is designed to help students transition from high school to college through individualized attention from faculty and peer mentors in FYE classes; introduction to campus resources and effective study skills; and social group activities. Western's FYE program received a Best Practice Initiative by the Illinois Board of Higher Education in 2006.

Click here to read more on the opening of the fall semester as well as to see photos from the first week of school.

President Goldfarb's Fall 2008 Welcome Letter to Campus

Download Print-Quality Image of the above photo

WIU Foundation Announces Record Year in Fundraising

The Western Illinois University Foundation has reported a record high in fundraising for Fiscal Year 2008, with donors contributing more than $8.4 million, according to WIU President Al Goldfarb.

"We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to everyone who has made a contribution to Western Illinois University," Goldfarb said. "The commitment of our alumni and friends provides our students and faculty with the resources necessary to succeed."

The previous fundraising record occurred in FY04 with a total of $6.2 million, noted Vice President for Advancement and Public Services Dan Hendricks. Subsequent years have raised an average of $5.6 million annually.

"We are extremely pleased and impressed that our donors have demonstrated such remarkable generosity," Hendricks said. "Despite the uncertain economic climate, sliding stock market and rising prices, support for Western is at an all-time high and is truly exceptional."

Click here to read more on the record year.

Download Print-Quality Image of the above graph

Western Continues High Marks in College Rankings

Western Illinois University continues to be ranked in the top tier of Midwest Universities Master's granting institutions, according to U.S. News and World Report's Annual College Rankings 2009 edition. Western has also been re-named a Best Midwestern College by the Princeton Review.

As a top tier Midwestern University in U.S. News and World Report ratings, Western has established an outstanding record for quality, access to education and affordability, according to Joe Rives, vice president for Quad Cities, planning and technology. Western is among 18 public universities included in the Midwest top tier of 67 masters institutions.

In addition to the U.S. News and Princeton Review acknowledgments, Western was selected as one of only two Illinois public universities for the Center for Student Opportunity's (CSO) "College Access and Opportunity Guide" for its retention of first-generation and low-income students. Western also received a "Best Practice" recognition from the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity as one of only 13 institutions nationally for the retention of first-generation and low-income students.

Click here to read more.

Spencer Recreation Center Reaching End of Expansion Project

Western Illinois University's Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center (SRC) has fitness options for most everyone--especially now that its $6.2 million expansion project is almost complete.

Over the last year, the 11-year-old facility has been undergoing a significant expansion project that will add 21,000-square-feet of space. The larger, improved facility will provide users with additional state-of-the-art exercise equipment and more space in which to work out, according to Milly MacDonell MS '00, Campus Recreation director.

Approved by the WIU Board of Trustees in January 2006, the expansion project's construction began in Fall 2007. Although the work is a bit behind due to weather- and material-related delays, noted MacDonell, many of the SRC's improvements are currently available.

Click here to read more on the expansion of the Spencer Recreation Center.

Download Print-Quality Image of the above photo

RockeNews Celebrates One Year

Happy Birthday RockeNews!

One year ago today, Western alumni and friends received their first issue of RockeNews. Throughout the last twelve months, the WIU Alumni Association, along with a number of other campus departments and colleges, has worked to keep you up to date on everything that is Purple and Gold. We hope you have enjoyed receiving your monthly Western Illinois University eNews and we look forward to keeping you informed about the campus community for many more years to come. Go WIU!

Download Print-Quality Image of the above photo

**Congratulations to the September winner--Angela Veith. She found Rocky on the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts Degree webpage. Watch for your chance to win in October!

Congratulations to the August winner--Paula Pile-Brinley '75. She found Rocky on the College of Education and Human Services webpage.

You are receiving this newsletter because you are an alumnus or friend of Western Illinois University. Click here to unsubscribe.

Back to top