University Services and Special Programs (excerpted from 2015-2016 Graduate Catalog)

PDF version of Graduate Catalog

 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: free monthly issues of the alumni e-newsletter, RockeNews; free quarterly issues of the alumni newspaper, Western News; networking opportunities with other alumni at more than 50 events hosted by the Alumni Association around the world each year; the option to purchase an alumni membership to the Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center; use of Western’s Leslie F. Malpass Library; access to WIU’s Career Development Center; comprehensive short- and long-term medical plans, disability, dental, travel, and Liberty Mutual home and auto insurance opportunities; Alumni Travel Abroad programs; alumni class ring, diploma frame, and WIU Illinois license plate programs; the WIU affinity credit card; access to the Quad City International Airport’s “WIU Easier Card;” 21 scholarships awarded each year to children and grandchildren of alumni; and access to the online directory exclusively for WIU alumni.

Follow the Alumni Association on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Foursquare, and Pinterest (wiu.edu/alumni/social_networking.php).

The Western Illinois University Alumni Association strives to develop and sustain lifelong relationships with students, alumni, and friends in order to advance the mission of the University.

For information about these services, visit  wiu.edu/alumni or contact the Alumni Association at (309) 298-1914 or A-Association@wiu.edu.

 Athletics

Western Illinois University provides opportunities for more than 430 student-athletes in a 20-sport National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I program. Both the men and women compete in the Summit League in all sports except football. Football competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Western Illinois University is a charter member of the Summit League and the Missouri Valley Football conference.

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 athletic communications. Possibilities exist to assist in the administrative areas of finance, compliance, and the Leatherneck Club.

 Campus Recreation

Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center
(309) 298-1228
wiu.edu/student_success/campus_recreation/ 

Campus Recreation provides undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to pursue a healthy lifestyle and explore recreational interests through a variety of programs, facilities, and services. The Spencer Student Recreation Center features five multipurpose courts, two group fitness studios, a 1/8-mile elevated track, three strength training rooms, three cardio areas, four racquetball/wallyball courts, and the Aquatics Center. Group fitness classes, informational programs, and personal training options present multiple ways for students to accomplish and maintain their personal fitness goals. Some sport clubs provide opportunities for regional and national competition just below the intercollegiate level, while others focus on skill development and educational goals. Intramural sports are offered yearly with leagues, tournaments, and one-day events in men’s, women’s, and co-recreational divisions at competitive, intermediate, and fun levels of play. Rec events hosted by Campus Recreation include everything from the Rocky 5K Run and Big Pink Volleyball to Rock N Roller Skate, Battleship, and Goalball. The Aquatics Center, with a 25-yard, six-lane pool, an aqua climbing wall, a hot tub and sauna, offers open/lap swim, aqua-cardio classes, swim lessons, and incentive programs to challenge beginning and advanced swimmers. Students also have access to the Sipolt Memorial Disc Golf Course; Vince Grady Field for flag football, soccer, softball, lacrosse, and Ultimate (Frisbee); and several outdoor courts for basketball, volleyball (sand and grass), and tennis.

Harry Mussatto Golf Course
1215 Tower Road, Macomb
(309) 298-3676
wiu.edu/golf

The scenic and challenging 18-hole Harry Mussatto Golf Course, a championship facility located north of campus, offers reduced rates for students. Visit wiu.edu/golf for the course layout, green fees, and special offers. To book a tee time, call (309) 298-3676.

 Career Services

The Career Development Center provides assistance in career development and planning appropriate to an individual’s needs. Career professionals are available to work with individuals on effective short and long term career planning, developing resume and vita construction, cover letters, on-site mock interviews, professional dress and using LinkedIn as a job search technique.

Leatherneck Link is available for job and internship searching. Students and alumni may register from the convenience of their homes or offices via the Internet. This service provides prospective employers with access to the student/alumni academic and workplace accomplishments.

Annual career fairs are sponsored at the Macomb campus each year. The fairs provide students and alumni the opportunity to meet employers and participate in on-site interviews.

A complete listing of all services is available at wiu.edu/cdc.

 Center for International Studies

The Center for International Studies administers and coordinates activities and programs designed to encourage international and cross-cultural understanding, as well as 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 ESL is offered by Western's English as a Second Language (WESL) Institute for non-native English speakers.

The Center sponsors many programs that promote cross-cultural understanding, such as the Conversation Partners program for international students and American partners; International Neighbors program, in which American families offer friendship and hospitality to international students; Coffee, Culture and Conversation, in which global issues are discussed in a social setting; and Cultural Cafés, where international students share cuisine and information from their home countries.

Counseling Center

The University Counseling Center (UCC) on the Macomb campus provides personal counseling, study skills assistance, and career counseling services to students. Some students seek assistance for common life problems (i.e. relationships, stress, etc.), while others seek treatment for a mental health condition (i.e. depression, anxiety, etc.). Personal counseling services include individual counseling, couples counseling, and group counseling. Sessions are confidential and free of charge to currently enrolled WIU students. In addition, a number of educational programs are offered throughout the year and an education resource library is available. A relaxation room, which includes a massage chair and a stress-reducing computer program, is accessible for student use. Vocational, psychological, and learning assessments are available, as well as consultation services for students, family, faculty, and staff members.

The UCC is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services. All staff counselors hold master or doctoral level degrees and are certified and/or licensed in their respective disciplines. For more information, call (309) 298-2453 or visit wiu.edu/student_success/ucc/.

 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 upon presenting their student identification cards. Students may also participate in musical, dramatic, and debate productions for stage, radio, and closed-circuit television by joining one of several University groups. Opportunities to view local, national, and international art exhibits are available at the University Art Gallery and the University Union. These exhibits are changed monthly and admission to the galleries is free.  Also see Multicultural Services.

The Multicultural Center houses the Casa Latina Cultural Center, the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, and the Women’s Center. Four themed lounges are featured, representing the diversity of the cultural centers and the international community. This is the first building on campus constructed to LEED 2.2 Silver criteria, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The building’s design is complete with a grass roof, energy-efficient lighting, geothermal heating and cooling, and recyclable materials like bamboo flooring.

 Disability Resource Center

Western Illinois University is committed to equity, social justice, and diversity. To that end, the Disability Resource Center (DRC) collaborates with faculty and staff to facilitate student inclusion and ensure accessibility to University programs for students with disabilities. Students experiencing issues with access or who are interested in accommodations, such as alternative testing accommodations, sign language interpreters, text conversion services (i.e. Braille, electronic, enlarged), and note-taking assistance, should contact the DRC at (309) 298-2512 or disability@wiu.edu. For more information visit wiu.edu/drc.

 Go West Transit

Go West Transit provides students with safe, convenient transportation from their nearby residences to campus and with service to the entire Macomb community. Carrying almost 2 million riders per year, Go West provides students with a reliable, low-cost, fare-free public transportation system. For more information, call (309) 575-3333 or visit wiu.edu/student_success/go_west/.

 Medical Services

Beu Health Center, located on campus, provides medical services (consultation and treatment) for students and their spouses or domestic partners. The Health Center has its own pharmacy, laboratory, and x-ray facility.

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. The Health Center also provides limited psychiatric services.

Fees are charged for office visits and some services such as medications, x-rays, allergy shots, immunizations, laboratory tests, and certain office procedures. Payment is expected at the time of service. Services can be charged to a student account or paid for with cash, check, or MasterCard/VISA. Students who carry WIU Student Health Insurance will have their claims automatically filed for reimbursement. Charges will be applied to the student’s University account at the time of services and then reimbursed to the student account if covered. Students will be responsible for any charges remaining after reimbursement. Beu Health Center does not file claims to third party insurance carriers. However, they will provide students with access to the necessary documentation needed for filing claims with outside insurance providers.

 Multicultural Services

Located in the Multicultural Center building are the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, Casa Latina Cultural Center, and the Women’s Center. The centers provide a variety of multicultural services, including special facilities and programs to serve the unique needs of African American, Hispanic American, and international students. In addition, the Women’s Center promotes gender equity through education, support, and advocacy to respond to issues affecting female students, faculty, and staff, as well as the community and society.

Among the variety of diverse multicultural services provided at the centers are recruiting activities; academic support services; cultural and fine arts events; social and recreational activities; speakers; financial assistance counseling; job placement opportunities; and fundraising events for minority student groups. Also, several performing groups in dance, theatre, and music are sponsored by the centers throughout the year. The centers are committed to helping the campus community develop a multicultural and multiracial society that promotes gender equity and equal opportunities that are not based on race, creed, sex, economic status, or position in life. Also see Cultural Programs.

 Parking Services

The Office of Parking Services provides services 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 refueling, 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.

 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 well-being 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 sworn law enforcement officers in the State of Illinois and have full jurisdiction at the University and in the surrounding county. The office provides students emergency medical services with qualified emergency medical technicians on staff. The office also provides safety escorts from one campus location to another, from dusk to dawn, year round. 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 wiu.edu/stars. For more information, contact the Registrar’s Office, Sherman Hall 110, (309) 298-1891 or wiu.edu/registrar.

 Student Judicial Programs

Student Judicial Programs promotes responsible individual and group behavior. 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. This office maintains student disciplinary records and completes law school, transfer applications, and other background clearance forms. 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 Circuit Court and is available to help guide students with court matters outside the county. In addition, the attorney provides legal advice and counseling for a variety of issues, including city ordinance violations, landlord/tenant conflicts, consumer problems, small claims court, and rental lease questions. No fees are charged for these services. For more information, or for directions to the office, call (309) 298-1003.

 University Technology

University Technology (uTech) administers computer resources used by students and faculty for research and instruction. Computers connected to the campus network are available in most instructional and residential buildings on both the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses. Wireless access is available in all academic buildings and in residence halls.

WIU provides more than 1,800 computers for use in 42 labs, 43 teaching facilities, and 20 computer resource centers throughout campus. The University also provides access to numerous software packages, the Internet, e-mail, campus information systems, and other resources. Students have access to Macintosh and Windows-compatible computers, scanners, laser printers, CD/DVD readers/writers, and Storage Area Network (SAN) accessible data storage. Thumb drives or jump drives may also be used in many labs and computer resource centers.               

Major computer labs are staffed by trained student personnel and are available for student use in Stipes, Horrabin, Memorial, and Morgan halls and at the Quad Cities Riverfront building. Residence hall students in Macomb may use student-staffed labs in each hall complex, including two 24-hour labs, while late-night access is available for off-campus students in the Lincoln-Washington-Grote Hall complex. Internet access is available in all residence hall rooms, including graduate and family housing.

Each student is provided a WIU e-mail account, space to create a personal homepage, network attached data storage, and access to mainframe services. The uTech Support Center in Stipes Hall 126 provides computing documentation, one-on-one assistance, general information, optical scanning of answer sheets for test scoring and questionnaire analysis, and solves problems with student accounts.

Personal computer and software products are discounted and available for students, faculty, and staff for demo and purchase through the uTech Computer Store, located in the University Union Concourse on the Macomb campus. The uTech Computer Store can be contacted at (309) 298-1127.

For technical assistance, contact the uTech Support Center at (309) 298-2704, SupportCenter@wiu.edu, or visit Western’s Knowledgebase at wiu.edu/kb.

 Western Illinois University Foundation

The mission of the WIU Foundation is to maximize private support for Western Illinois University to assist in advancing its core values of academic excellence, educational opportunity, personal growth, and social responsibility. Private support enables Western Illinois University to enhance educational opportunities for its students and advance its mission of empowering students, faculty and staff to lead dynamic and diverse communities.

Private support from alumni, faculty and staff, businesses, foundations, and friends has become a necessary part of University operations. Currently, the State of Illinois supplies less than half of Western’s appropriated/general revenue budget. Over the past five years, the WIU Foundation has been able to provide some $30 million in gifts, grants, and endowment-generated earnings in support of the University.

The effect of these gifts is clearly visible in every aspect of university life, every day, on both campuses. The WIU Foundation’s fundraising efforts are focused on Western’s commitment to providing accessible, high quality educational programs and financial support for our students.

For more information, or to make a gift, visit wiu.edu/giving.

 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 placed in the appropriate level.

Full-time students attend classes a minimum of 20 hours per week. The curriculum integrates academic content with real-life skill building in English, combining textbook lessons and teacher-written materials with opportunities for integrated language practice. WESL has a multimedia computer lab and a wide range of interactive software. Successful 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 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.

Specific English-language requirements for prospective students can be found under the “Admission of International Students” section.

 Writing Center

The University Writing Center provides a wide range of across-the-curriculum writing assistance services to students, faculty, and staff at no cost. The Writing Center is staffed by highly qualified graduate and undergraduate students. Consulting services are available for career and academic writing at all stages of the writing process. For more information, contact (309) 298-2815 or visit wiu.edu/uwc.