Office of the President

From the Office of WIU President Guiyou Huang

Dear University and Community Members,

As the second year of my presidency is underway, I am pleased to share that we are working toward an even more vibrant future for Western Illinois University. We are here for all of our students, faculty, and staff, and we are working hard to ensure that Western is a safe and welcoming institution for everyone to live, learn, and work.

While we have experienced trials and tribulations, we have made some positive strides. Our fall enrollment remained stable, and we saw an influx of new international students – something WIU hasn't experienced since 1987. It has been such a joy to see our campus come back to life as we strived to return to a relatively normal academic experience in Fall 2021. We achieved reaccreditation; we are working toward a stronger strategic plan, including a new diversity, equity, and inclusion plan; we have established an Anti-Racism Task Force and are on the way to a new Office of Justice, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (JIDE); we've implemented plans for recruitment, retention, and institutional distinctiveness; and we implemented salary increases for all eligible, non-negotiated employees.

As I promised when I joined the Leatherneck family in January 2021, I pledge to continue to commit time, energy, and persistence to existing and new initiatives, including recruitment and retention, financial sustainability, diversity and racial and social justice, institutional distinctiveness, and strengthening the relationships with our communities. Thank you to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends for your input, feedback, and honest discussions as we work together to make Western Illinois University even better.

I remain dedicated to student success, growth, excellence, innovation, and transformation, and I'm honored to serve as your president.

Wishing you the best,

Guiyou Huang, Ph.D.
President

Guiyou Huang, President

Dr. Guiyou Huang, President

Sherman Hall 209
Telephone: (309) 298-1824
E-mail: President-g@wiu.edu
Facebook: WIUPresHuang
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