University Milestones:

Late 1950s

• Gov. William Stratton signs legislation approving change of Western Illinois State College to Western Illinois University.
• Accounting and business administration degrees first offered.
Western Illinios University 1957 • WWKS-FM, educational radio station, on the air.
• School of Education established.
• Leathernecks basketball comes in second at the IIAC Championship
• Enrollment: 2,871.

1960s

• Corbin Hall opens—800 female students move in (1962).
• On-campus enrollment jumps to 4,477.
• Slang in the 60s: “Laker;” “Drag;” “Gleep.”
• WIU has Illinois' largest Veterans' Club.
• First group of international students arrive.
• 10 new buildings dedicated: Health Center, Union, Memorial Library, Applied Sciences, Physical Plant, a greenhouse and four residence halls.
• Alice L. Kibbe Life Sciences Station acquired.
• First classes begin in the Quad Cities.
• Women's intercollegiate athletics reintroduced with formation of WRA Extramural Club.

1970s

• More residence halls constructed.
• Stipes, Brophy and Currens open.
• Nine-hole golf course constructed on Tower Road.
• Western Courier ordered off campus.
• Grote Hall and Lab School close.
• Black Student Center dedicated to Illinois Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks.
• Western Organization for Women (WOW) formed.
• Enrollment tops at 14,285 in 1975.
• University Library (now Malpass Library) opens.
• WESL Institute established.

1980s

• Women's Center established.
• Women's athletic teams named the Westerwinds.
• Advising Center created.
• Enrollment drops to 11,750 in 1984.
• Fraternity/sorority members comprise 12 percent of student body.
• Honors Program established.
• ROTC program is second largest program in Midwest.
• Western Courier returns to campus.

1990s

• Grote Hall razed; Bennett and Hursh halls close; Hursh demolished in 1998.
• Western wins Mid-Continent Conference Commissioner's Cup twice.
• Westerwinds basketball wins first Mid-Continent Conference title; Westerwinds softball wins conference championship.
• Enrollment tops 13,377 in 1992 (12,610 in 1998).
• WIU Board of Trustees established by Gov. Jim Edgar.
• “Dealing With Difference” summer institute created.
• Student Recreation Center opens.
• Western's innovative Cost Guarantee established.
• WIU-Quad Cities campus moves into its own building.
• Western celebrates its Centennial (1999-2000).

Western Illinois University 20072000s

• Higher Values in Higher Education Strategic Plan created.
• College of Fine Arts and Communication Recital Hall opens in Simpkins Hall.
• Former Hy-Vee facility on University Drive purchased; now houses Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, Headstart Preschool Center and WIUM/WIUW.
• Renovation of Hanson Field and expansion of Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center begins.
• Planning begins for new Multicultural Center housing Brooks Center, Women's Center and Casa Latina.
• Fall 2006 enrollment tops at 13,602.

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