Illinois Wesleyan University

Encyclopedia : I : IL : ILL : Illinois Wesleyan University

Ames Library, located on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

Illinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois.

Contents

1 History and academics
2 Athletics
3 Academic programs
4 Administration

4.1 Officers of the Board of Trustees
4.2 List of Presidents of the University

5 Notable Alumni
6 See also

6.1 External links

History and academics

Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) is an independent, residential, liberal arts university. Illinois Wesleyan is a private co-educational university with an enrollment of 2,100 and a student/faculty ratio of 12 to 1.

IWU was founded in 1850 by 30 civic and Methodist Church leaders with the goal of establishing "an Institution of learning of Collegiate grade". The central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854, with the first building constructed in the same year. The University taught solely preparatory classes from 1850 until 1919; college classes started the following year. IWU is categorized by the Carnegie Commission as one of America's 162 liberal arts colleges.

Illinois Wesleyan was originally founded as a Methodist institution, but has gradually shed its religious affiliation and is currently completely secular in instruction and graduation requirements. Nevertheless, there are many vocal religious organizations, groups, and clubs operating on campus.

The University consists of the College of Liberal Arts, with 17 academic departments; the College of Fine Arts, comprising professional Schools of Art, Music, and Theatre Arts; and the School of Nursing. Illinois Wesleyan’s campus occupies more than 70 acres in the heart of Bloomington in central Illinois.

Athletics

Illinois Wesleyan University participates in the NCAA's Division III and is a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). The IWU men's basketball team won CCIW championships in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons. In 2006 the team reached the Division III Final Four, losing in the semifinals to Virginia Wesleyan, but then winning the 3rd place game against Amherst. Other recent CCIW championship teams have included women's and men's golf and baseball.

Academic programs

Bachelor's degree programs are offered in three Colleges:

College of Liberal Arts (17 departments and 7 interdisciplinary programs, organized in 1906)
College of Fine Arts (schools of art, music, and theater arts organized in 1929, 1946, 1947 respectively)
School of Nursing (established in 1959)

Administration

Officers of the Board of Trustees

George A. Vinyard (President)
Gilbert L. Dorsey (First Vice President)
Herbert A. Getz (Second Vice President)
Susan D. Waring (Secretary)
Robert E. Field II (Treasurer)
Richard F. Wilson (President of University)

List of Presidents of the University

Clinton W. Sears (1855-1857)
Oliver Spencer Munsell (1857-1873)
Samuel J. Fallows (1873-1875)
William H. H. Adams (1875-1888)
William H. Wilder (1888-1898)
Edgar M. Smith (1898-1905)
Francis G. Barnes (1905-1908)
Theodore Kemp (1908-1922)
William J. Davidson (1922-1932)
Harry W. McPherson (1932-1937)
Wiley G. Brooks (1937-1939)
William E. Shaw (1939-1947)
Merrill J. Holmes (1947-1958)
Lloyd M. Bertholf (1958-1968)
Robert S. Eckley (1968-1986)
Wayne Anderson (1986-1988)
Minor Myers, jr. (1989-2003)
Richard F. Wilson (2004-)

Notable Alumni

U.S. Senator Scott Lucas of Illinois
Governor H. Clarence Baldridge of Idaho
Governor Lester Hunt of Wyoming
7 Time NBA All-Star Jack Sikma
Author and biologist Sandra Steingraber
Grammy Award-winning soprano Dawn Upshaw
Andy Dick - attended but did not graduate
Frankie Faison - American Actor. Noted for his appearance in all four Hannibal Lecter films.
Richard Jenkins - noted American character actor, known best for his work as the deceased father, Nathaniel Fisher, in Six Feet Under.
Wayne Messmer - longtime announcer with the Chicago Cubs and famed singer of the national anthem.
Amanda Dehnert - theatre director, musician, writer. Currently Acting Artistic Director for Trinity Rep in Providence, RI
Christina Moore - American actress
Christina Filiaggi traffic reporter and full-time talk show host on “The Roe Conn Show” on WLS 890 AM http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=152536&spid=6789