From the President

President Al GoldfarbA new academic year has begun, and as always, I hope to see you on campus next month for Western’s annual Homecoming celebration. While there is always much enthusiasm at the start of a new school year, this year is especially exciting.

Our new engineering program debuted this semester at the WIU-Quad Cities campus, and the four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree also began this fall at both campuses. A new undergraduate program in anthropology is available at the Macomb campus, and Western’s agriculture department has been renamed the School of Agriculture to better reflect the broad range of programs offered.

During the summer months, our Multicultural Center, which houses Casa Latina, Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, the International Friendship Club and the Women’s Center, was completed; it is the first “green” building on our campus. Please join us Homecoming weekend as we host the official grand opening and ceremonial ribbon-cutting at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. Work also continues on the Memorial Hall renovation.

What is perhaps the most exciting news regarding new construction on Western’s campuses is the capital budget recently approved by the governor. The capital bill includes $67.8 million for Western’s Performing Arts Center in Macomb and $15.8 million for the renovation and construction of Building One and $42 million for Phase II (Building Two) at the WIU-Quad Cities Riverfront Campus. We are hopeful that construction might begin as soon as Summer 2010 on the Performing Arts Center, and that renovation work on Building One on our Riverfront Campus in Moline will start in the near future.

I am also pleased that Western continues to be recognized by The Princeton Review and
U.S. News and World Report as a leader in public higher education. 
As Elaine and I enter our eighth year at Western, I cannot stress enough our appreciation for the continuous support we receive from the campus community, alumni and friends. I look forward to seeing you at The Right Place Oct. 17.

All my best wishes,

Al Goldfarb signature
Al Goldfarb