University News

OAS Celebrating 50th Anniversary

September 30, 2019

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MACOMB, IL – The Office of Academic Services (OAS) at Western Illinois University will host a 50th anniversary celebration during Homecoming, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 4-5.

There will be an open house to celebrate the anniversary from 2-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 in Memorial Hall, room 024.

OAS opened in November 1969, as the Reach-Out Services Center, to meet a 1960s movement of addressing educational opportunities for culturally and socially disadvantaged students in higher education. The WIU center was first directed by Dale R. Jackson.

The center was changed to the Office of Academic Services in May 1971 to expand its mission of increasing individual and personalized instruction.

Rudolph Womack became the office's director in 1972, and he served for 17 years. Under his leadership, the program evolved from minority recruitment to include multicultural recruitment. Womack was also a faculty member in WIU's African American Studies program.

Richard Thomas served as associate director and acting director of the office from 1988-90 and Marsha Kozlowski was acting director from 1990-91. Elizabeth Doane took over as director in 1991, serving until 1994, when Candace McLaughlin began leading the office. McLaughlin was the longest serving director of the office, spending 18 years in leadership.

Current office director Michelle Yager took over in 2012.

In October, the office will be renamed The Reach Program.

For additional information, call (309) 298-1871, or visit wiu.edu/advising/academic_services/index.php.

Posted By: Jodi Pospeschil (JK-Pospeschil@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing