Western Illinois University
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Western Illinois University, founded 1899 as Western Illinois State Teachers College, is a university located in Macomb, Illinois. WIU also has a campus located in the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois, which is referred to as Western Illinois University - Quad Cities.
Profile
Founded as a teaching university, Western Illinois University currently offers 71 undergraduate majors offered over 51 degree programs and 13 pre-professional degrees at the undergraduate level. 42 Graduate Degree and Certificate programs are offered as well at the masters level. A Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) is the only doctorate offered through the University. WIU currently has four academic colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business & Technology, Education & Human Services, and Fine Arts & Communication.
Western Illinois University's Four-Year Tuition Guarantee model (one of the first of its kind in the nation) was used as the blueprint by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to institute similar measures at all State-Funded Illinois Campuses in 2004. All costs at Western Illinois University are guaranteed to remain fixed for four years including tuition, fees, room and board. Graduation in 4 years is guaranteed through the GradTrac program, though not all majors qualify for GradTrac.
History
Western Illinois's colors are purple and gold and their nickname is The Fighting Leathernecks. The school's mascot is an English Bulldog named Colonel Rock, or Rocky for short, named after Ray "Rock" Hanson, WIU athletic director and ex-Marine. WIU is the only public school in the U.S. that has permission through the Department of the Navy to use the United States Marine Corps official seal and mascot (the bulldog) along with the nickname, The Fighting Leathernecks (female athletic teams use the nickname Westerwinds).
The school was built on the site of an old brickyard. Macomb's Freemasons (Illinois Lodge #17) donated the land to the state in a successful effort to persuade its legislature to choose Macomb over Quincy and other candidates as the site for its “western” university. The university’s administrators uncovered evidence of the Freemason's efforts on Macomb's behalf when they opened Sherman Hall’s (the administration building) cornerstone during their centennial celebrations.
Athletics
Western Illinois sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (I-AA for football) in the Mid-Continent Conference (Gateway Football Conference for football).Student Newspapers
- The Western Courier
Computer security
On June 5, 2006, WIU experienced a breach of computer security that may have compromised student's personal data. On June 19, 2006, WIU sent a letter to students advising them to take precautions to protect themselves from identity theft.[link]Notable Alumni
- Michael Boatman, actor
- Lee Calhoun, Olympic gold medal winner
- Bryan Cox, National Football League
- Rodney Harrison, National Football League
- Edgerton Hartwell, National Football League
- Gene Lamont, Major League Baseball
- John Mahoney, actor
- Amanda Jo Meadows, Miss Illinois 1998
- Robert Nardelli, President and CEO of Home Depot
- Mike Scifres, National Football League
External links and references
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