Graduate Catalog
Table of Contents

University Services and Special Programs - 2007/2008


Alumni Association

All Western Illinois University students automatically become members of the Alumni Association the day they graduate. As non-dues paying members, they are
entitled to the following benefits and services provided by the Alumni Association: the new online social network exclusively for WIU alumni; free quarterly issues of the alumni newsletter, Western News; networking opportunities with other alumni at more than 50 events hosted by the Alumni Association around the world each year; alumni membership to the Student Recreation Center; alumni student loan consolidation program; use of Western’s Leslie F. Malpass Library; access to WIU’s Office of Career Services; the WIU affinity credit card; comprehensive shortand long-term medical plan, disability, dental, home, and auto insurance opportunities; Alumni Travel Abroad program; alumni class ring, diploma frame and WIU Illinois license plate programs;
and access to the online directory exclusively for WIU alumni.

The Alumni Association continues with pride the lifelong relationship with graduates of the University and plays a crucial role in continuing the partnership between WIU and its 100,000 alumni. For information about these services, visit www.wiu.edu/alumni or feel free to contact the Alumni Association at 309/298-1914 or
a-association@wiu.edu.


Athletics

Western Illinois University provides opportunities for more than 500 studentathletes
in a 20-sport National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I program. Both the men and women compete in the Mid-Continent Conference in all sports except football. Football competes in the Gateway Football Conference. Western Illinois is a charter member of the Mid-Con and the Gateway Football Conferences.

WIU sponsors the following intercollegiate athletic competition:

For men: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field.

For women: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball.

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics offers graduate assistantships in coaching, promotions and marketing, athletic training, and sports information. Possibilities exist to assist in the administrative areas of finance and compliance.


Campus Recreation

Campus Recreation provides undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to
pursue a healthy lifestyle and explore recreational interests through a variety of programs, facilities, and services. More than 50 intramural sport events are offered early with leagues, tournaments, and one-day events in men’s, women’s, and co-recreational divisions at competitive, intermediate, and fun levels of play. The sport clubs within Campus Recreation provide opportunities for regional and national competition just below the intercollegiate level. The Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center offers four multipurpose gym courts, a group fitness studio, an elevated running track, a weight room, a cardio theatre, five raquetball courts, and the Aquatics Center free to feepaying WIU students. Group fitness and water aerobic classes are offered throughout the week and informational programs and personal trainers are available to help students learn how to use the fitness equipment properly. SRC North is a weight room/cardio facility located in Wetzel Hall. Numerous outdoor facilities are located on campus for basketball, flag football, lacrosse, sand volleyball, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, and ultimate. The Sipolt Memorial Disc Golf Course, east of Lincoln/Washington Halls, is designed for the serious disc golfer who likes an ambitious game. The scenic and challenging 18-hole Harry Mussatto Golf Course is a hampionship facility located north of the Macomb campus and offers reduced rates to students. It features beautiful vistas, spectacular elevation changes, four sets of tees, undulating greens, and bentgrass tees and greens. Green fees for students are $10 for 18 holes. In addition, the course provides a driving range, putting green, golf instruction, a nine-hole pitch and putt course, and a pro shop that carries a full line of quality golf equipment, logo apparel, and accessories. More information about the golf course and daily fee rates can be found at www.golf.wiu.edu.

Information about these and many more programs, facilities, and services can be
found by visiting www.campusrec.wiu.edu or by stopping at the Campus Recreation Office in the Spencer Student Recreation Center to pick up a program guide.


Career Services

The Career Services Office offers centralized services to all constituents of the University. An interactive computerized registration system and online employer search
capability are among the features of the office. Students and alumni of the University who choose to register from the convenience of their homes or offices may do so utilizing the Internet access capabilities to the Career Services Office. This service places the credentials of the registrant online and provides prospective employers with access to the student/ alumni academic and workplace accomplishments.

The Career Services Office provides assistance in career development and
occupational planning appropriate to the individual’s needs. The office’s resource
library offers computerized job searching resources, as well as directories, business and government guides, and other professional publications. Career Service professionals are readily available to work with individuals or groups in developing resume and vita construction, along with professional communications letters. On-site mock interviews are conducted by appointment in addition to seminars providing professional employment preparation and self-marketing skills.

Career Services Office personnel teach the University 390 course, “Pre-Employment Preparation.” The class is an excellent opportunity to learn job search skills, resume preparation, and on-the-job survival techniques and skills. Annual career/job fairs are sponsored at the Macomb campus each year by the Career Services Office, in addition to online virtual career fairs. The fairs provide students and alumni the opportunity to meet employers and participate in on-site interviews.

Candidates for all degrees are encouraged to register with the Career Services Office throughout their college years.

A complete listing of all services is available on their comprehensive website at www.careers.wiu.edu.


Counseling Center

The University Counseling Center (UCC) provides free personal, academic, and
career counseling services to all WIU undergraduate and graduate students. Individual, couple, and group counseling is available, and all counseling sessions are confidential. The UCC provides complete vocational, psychological, and learning problems assessment. Throughout the academic year, the UCC offers the WIU community a wide array of educational lifeenhancement programs on topics such as study skills, sexual assault prevention, alcohol/substance abuse, career information, interpersonal communications, self-esteem, and other issues.

A Career, Self-help, and Resource Center is available and equipped with computers,
books, videos, CDs, and many other materials. The center aids in the exploration of academic majors and career opportunities, study skill techniques, and personal concerns such as assertiveness, speech/math/test anxiety, sexual orientation, depression, adult children of dysfunctional families, and many others. The University Counseling Center is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS). The counselors hold master’s or doctoral degrees and are certified or licensed in the areas of counseling, psychology, or social work. Office hours are 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; and 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Friday. For more information, call 309/298-2453 or visit www.ucc.wiu.edu.


Cultural Programs

Outstanding concerts, lectures, dramatic presentations, films, and dance events by
nationally known performers are presented on campus by the Bureau of Cultural Affairs and the University Union Board. All students are admitted free or at a reasonable charge to scheduled programs upon presentation of their student identification cards. Students also may participate in musical, dramatic, and debate productions for stage, radio, and closedcircuit television by joining one of several University groups. The Gwendolyn Brooks and Casa Latina cultural centers offer programs and activities focusing on African American and Hispanic cultures. Opportunities to view local, national, and international art exhibits are available to students at the University Art Gallery and the University Union. Exhibits are changed monthly, and admission to the galleries is free.


Disability Support Services

Disability Support Services (DSS), located in Seal Hall 117, 309/298-2512 (voice),
309/298-1856 (TT), in accordance with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, provides reasonable accommodations to ensure programs and activities are accessible for WIU students with disabilities (orthopedic, visual, hearing, learning, chronic health, psychological). Students desiring accommodations in the area of auxiliary aids should contact DSS well in advance of intended enrollment. Western Illinois University publications will be available in alternative format upon request.


Go West Transit Services

Go West Transit provides students with safe, convenient transportation from their
nearby residences to campus and with service to local merchants. Carrying more than 1 million riders per year, Go West provides students with a reliable, low-cost public transportation system. For more information, call 309/298-3353 or visit www.gowest.wiu.edu/.


International Education

The Center for International Studies administers and coordinates activities and
programs designed to encourage international and cross-cultural understanding; and to prepare graduates to effectively live and work in an interdependent, global community. The Center oversees admission and academic advisement of English as a Second
Language (ESL) students as well as undergraduate and graduate international students; immigration advisement for international students and faculty; study abroad programs; personal counseling for international students; comprehensive orientation for new international students; recruitment; educational programs; special activity programming; and ongoing support for the specific needs of international students.

The University participates in formal exchange programs—for both faculty and
students—with distinguished colleges and universities overseas. An ongoing program of intensive courses in English as a Second Language is offered by Western’s English as
a Second Language (WESL) Institute for non-native speakers of English.

The Center for International Studies sponsors many programs which promote cross-cultural understanding. Examples are Conversation Partners program for international students and American partners; International Neighbors program in which American families offer friendship and hospitality to international students; World Café Coffee Hours in which global issues are discussed in a social setting and Cultural Café where international students share cuisine and information of their home countries.


Medical Services

Beu Health Center, located on campus, provides medical services (consultation and
treatment) for students and their spouses.

The health center has its own pharmacy, laboratory, and x-ray facility. There is a user fee for x-ray procedures, prescription products, lab testing, and office visits.

Clinical services include diagnosis and treatment of acute illness/injury; diagnosis of chronic illness with appropriate referral; assistance in the management of chronic illness; immunizations; allergy injections; TB testing; diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and gynecological services.

Students taking on-campus classes pay a health center fee based on the number of
registered hours. Spouses may also use the health center and can cover costs by paying
with cash or credit card. Public aid is also accepted.


Multicultural Services

The Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center and the Casa Latina Cultural Center provide
special facilities and programs to serve the unique needs of students of color. Programming efforts include recruiting activities, academic support activities, cultural and fine arts events, social and recreational activities, speakers, financial assistance counseling, job placement opportunities, and fundraising events for minority student groups. Several performing groups in the areas of dance, theatre, and music are sponsored by the centers. The centers are committed to helping the campus community develop a multicultural and multiracial society that promotes equal opportunity not based on race, creed, sex, economic status, or position in life.


Parking Services

The Office of Parking Services provides services to the community related to vehicle
usage and control on campus. The office issues parking permits; regulates parking lot use; enforces parking rules and regulations; plans, maintains, and paves parking lots; controls the placement and maintenance of traffic signs; and provides emergency motorist assistance including battery assists, unlocking cars, emergency gasoline refuelings, and inflating tires. All vehicles using campus facilities must have either a permanent or temporary parking permit displayed on the vehicle during specified times except when the vehicle is parked at a parking meter. The office is located in Mowbray Hall, 309/298-1921, and may be called after normal business hours at 309/298-1949.


Public Safety

The Office of Public Safety is a multifaceted organization providing police, safety, and
parking services to the community. These services include criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, medical transport and care, fire and crime prevention, safety programs, escort services, key control, motorist assistance, and other miscellaneous activities related to the safety and wellbeing of University faculty, staff, students, and visitors. The office is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round. All police officers are fully commissioned law enforcement officers in the State of Illinois and have full jurisdiction at the University and in the surrounding county. The office provides student emergency medical services to the community with qualified emergency medical technicians on staff. The office also provides safety escorts for the community from dusk to dawn, year round from one campus location to another. The office is located in Mowbray Hall, 309/298-1949, emergency 911.


Registration

Students may register for classes using the Student/Alumni Records System (STARS)
available at www.wiu.edu/stars. For more information, contact the Registrar’s Office, Sherman Hall 110, 309/298-1891 or www.wiu.edu/registrar.


Student Judicial Programs

Student Judicial Programs promotes responsible individual and group behavior at Western Illinois University. This office informs students and organizations of their rights and responsibilities through publication of the Code of Student Conduct. Student Judicial Programs staff coordinate the disciplinary review process in response to allegations of misconduct and offer mediation services to students in conflict. For more information, call 309/298-2436.


Student Legal Services

A licensed practicing attorney represents students charged with traffic and misdemeanor offenses in McDonough County Court. In addition, the attorney provides legal advice and counseling for a variety of issues, including landlord/tenant conflicts, consumer problems, small claims court, and rental lease questions. No fees are charged for these services. For more information, call 309/298-1003.


University Computer Support Services

University Computer Support Services (UCSS) administers computing resources
used by students and faculty for research and instruction. Microcomputers in most instructional, administrative, and residential buildings on the Macomb campus are connected to a campus network (LAN) in order to access hosts, software resources, laser printing, and the Internet.

Major computing labs for students, staffed by trained student personnel, are located in Horrabin, Stipes, and Morgan halls with unstaffed computing resource centers (CRCs) located in other classroom buildings. Residence hall students may use student-staffed labs in each hall complex, including two 24-hour labs, while students who live off campus have late night access available in the Lincoln-Washington, Grote Hall complex. Western Illinois University-Quad Cities also houses a full-service lab. Internet access is available in all residence halls, including graduate and family housing, while 56K modem access is available to off-campus users.

Each registered student is provided an e-mail account, space to create a personal
home page on the World Wide Web, 300MB of network attached data storage, and access to the Internet via the campus network (LAN). Students also have access to some UNIX-based systems and IBM mainframe services. With these systems students can use e-mail, the World Wide Web, and other tools to communicate electronically over the Internet world-wide networks. They can also use many programming languages, the CICS programming environment, and several statistics and symbolic math applications.

All UCSS labs and resource centers house networked IBM/PC compatible and Macintosh computers, laser printers, and scanners. Storage options include USB portable storage drives, DVD/CDRW, floppy, zip and server. Students have access to a variety of discipline-specific microcomputer software in versions for Macintosh and Windows. These include popular programming languages, word processors, spreadsheets, databases, graphic applications, multimedia, desktop publishing programs, and statistical packages.

UCSS staff members have offices in Stipes Hall 126 and Morgan Hall 107. The UCSS
Information Center provides computing documentation, disk file recovery, one-on-one assistance, general information, optical scanning of answer sheets for test scoring and questionnaire analysis, and handles problems with student accounts.

Discounts for students, faculty, and staff for personal purchases of computers and
computer-related products are available through the UCSS online “PC and Apple Store” at www.wiu.edu/UCSS. Demonstration computers are available on campus in Morgan Hall, Room 107 or you may call 309/298-1127.

For more information, contact University Computer Support Services at 309/298-1177,
the UCSS Help Desk at 309/298-2704, e-mail UCSS@wiu.edu, or visit www.wiu.edu/UCSS.


University Foundation and Development

The Western Illinois University Foundation is a not-for-profit organization through
which WIU alumni and friends can channel gifts to the University. The Foundation’s resources are directed into student scholarships, faculty development, research, instructional equipment, and special projects not funded by state appropriations or student fees.

The WIU Foundation and Development Office coordinates a number of giving programs that encourage regular yearly contributions from alumni and friends. Contacts are made personally, through mail solicitations, and an annual phonathon. Specially tailored funding proposals are presented to specific corporations, private foundations, and individuals. The WIU Foundation accepts many different types of gifts: gifts in the form of cash or pledges that can be paid over a period of time; gifts of stock, real estate, instructional and research equipment; and various forms of planned gifts including gift annuities and life income trusts.

For information about making a contribution; establishing a scholarship; bequests; or other forms of planned giving, contact the WIU Foundation and Development Office, Sherman Hall 303, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455-1390, 309/298-1861, fax 309/298-1761, WIUFoundation@wiu.edu, or visit www.wiu.edu/foundation.


Western's English as a Second Language Institute

Western’s English as a Second Language (WESL) Institute is part of the Center for
International Studies and provides an intensive program in academic English for international students who are preparing to enter an American college or university. WESL Institute is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA). The WESL curriculum is designed and taught by a professional faculty to prepare students academically, socially, and culturally for success as university students.

The English as a Second Language Program is offered during the spring, summer, and
fall semesters. It consists of three levels of instruction: Foundation, Intermediate, and University Preparation. Upon arrival, students take the WESL Placement Test and are thereby placed in the appropriate level. Students who place at the highest level and who meet WIU admission requirements may be admitted to the Dual level, in which they are enrolled part-time at WESL Institute and part-time at the University. (This program is not available in the summer).

Full-time students attend classes five hours a day, four days a week. The curriculum
integrates academic content with skillbuilding in English, combining textbook lessons and teacher-written materials. WESL has a multimedia computer lab and a wide range of interactive software. Students study at each level for a semester. The WESL program consists of two 16-week semesters and an eight-week summer session all of which follow the WIU academic calendar. Students at the WESL Institute have access to all University events and facilities. Services of the Center for International Studies are available to WESL students, including assistance with immigration matters.

To qualify for admission as a full-time university student, an applicant must demonstrate English proficiency. Most students do so by submitting TOEFL scores. Minimal TOEFL scores accepted by the University are 550 (paper), 213 (computer), and 80 (iBT). Some departments require higher scores. Students may also demonstrate their English proficiency by enrolling in and completing Western’s English as a Senond Language program, WESL.


Writing Center

The University Writing Center (and its satellite center at WIU-Quad Cities) provides a wide range of across-the-curriculum writing assistance services to students, faculty, and staff. The Writing Center is staffed by highly qualified graduate students and faculty from Western’s Department of English and Journalism. Tutorial services are available for drafting correspondence, essay writing, research writing, grammar, and punctuation. For more information, contact 309/298-2815 or visit 341 Simpkins Hall or www.wiu.edu/uwc.