Western Illinois University Western Illinois University ( WIU ) is a public university located in Macomb , Illinois , United States . It was founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School . Like many similar institutions of the time , Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students . As the normal school grew , it became Western Illinois State Teachers College . Today , Western Illinois University is composed of two campuses that provide a wide range of academic programs . While the main campus is in Macomb , Western Illinois University - Quad Cities is in Moline , Illinois . Profile . Western Illinois University is composed of four academic colleges : Arts & Sciences , Business & Technology , Education & Human Services , and Fine Arts & Communication , in addition to an Honors College the School of Extended Studies , which includes nontraditional programs . Ranked 413 among the best public and private colleges and universities , from the student ' s point of view in Forbes . The University also offers a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership ( Ed . D . ) , which was established in 2005 . The University offers 71 undergraduate majors over 51 degree programs and 13 pre - professional degrees at the undergraduate level . At the graduate level , 42 degree and certificate programs are offered . 95 % of all courses are taught by full - time faculty . Western ’ s Cost Guarantee Plan is a four - year fixed rate for tuition , fees , room and board that remains in place as long as students are continuously enrolled . Western was one of the first institutions in America , and the first state university in Illinois , to offer the guarantee . WIU ' s program served as a model for all other Illinois state universities through the state ' s " Truth in Tuition " program ; however , Western is the only public university in Illinois that includes fees , room and board in its Cost Guarantee . Western Illinois also offers the Cost Guarantee for graduate students enrolled in a degree program , as well as to transfer students earning an associate ' s degree . Those students who transfer to WIU the following semester upon completing their associate ' s degree will receive the previous year ' s cost guarantee rates . WIU also provides the FYE ( First Year Experience ) Program for all incoming freshmen . This program is designed to ease the transition from high school to college , and fosters the participation of FYE students in co - curricular events such as concerts , art exhibits , and guest lectures . In addition to their FYE program , WIU also provides a TYE ( Transfer Year Experience ) program to interested students . This program is aimed at introducing transfer students to the services and resources on campus within a residential setting . Illinois Centennial Honors College . Western Illinois University is home to the Illinois Centennial Honors College , which was founded in 1983 in order to attract more adept students as freshman , as well as an avenue by which the most talented students at Western Illinois could distinguish themselves from other students at the university . Accordingly , the GPA admissions standard for the Illinois Centennial Honors College is nearly a full grade point higher ( 0 . 9 ) than the minimum GPA of any other college at the university , the second being the College of Business and Technology . Honors students complete a series of courses and projects unavailable to average students studying at Western Illinois , and are also eligible for a host of exclusive foundation scholarships . Due to the intense nature of honors coursework , students vying for a spot in the Illinois Centennial Honors College should be prepared to dedicate additional time and effort to their schoolwork . Honors can be completed in many of the majors at Western Illinois , but there has not been a curriculum fashioned for every discipline . Consistent with its mission , the Macomb Honors Program provides a curriculum consisting of special tutorials , seminars , guided studies , and research projects , as well as opportunities to develop leadership and professional skills and participate in community and social services . A unique curriculum , honors faculty , and opportunities for leadership and service are integral to the honors experience . These are critical reasons to participate in the Honors Program for students seeking to maximize their collegiate years . The prestige associated with the Illinois Centennial Honors College has led many to believe that graduates from the Honors Program receive preferential job placement , and applications to graduate schools are viewed more favorably than those of typical Western Illinois students . Library system . Five libraries make up the WIU Libraries system . The current Dean of Libraries is Phyllis C . Self . Completed in November 1975 , Memorial Library ( renamed and rededicated The Leslie F . Malpass Library in 2001 ) is the main branch of the library system . Designed by Gyo Obata , Malpass Library stands at six levels high and 222 , 000 square feet . Other WIU libraries include the Music Library , Physical Sciences Library , Curriculum Library , and the WIU - Quad Cities Library ( Moline , Illinois ) that was opened in the late 1990s to support WIU ' s growing presence in the Quad Cities . Western Illinois University Libraries house several archives and special collections that aid in documenting the history of the west - central Illinois region . The libraries are the home for the Center for Hancock County History , the Center for Icarian Studies , the Civil War Collection ( documenting the western Illinois experience in the war ) , the Decker Press Collection and the Mormon Collection . The library ' s one millionth volume , " Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith , the Prophet , and His Progenitors for Many Generations " , by Lucy Mack Smith , was added in 2002 . History . Western Illinois University was founded in 1899 . The land for the University was donated to the State of Illinois by Macomb ' s Freemasons ( Illinois Lodge # 17 ) . Macomb was in direct competition with Quincy , Illinois and other candidates as the site for a " western " university . The Illinois legislature selected Macomb as the location . University 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 . Sherman Hall served as the University ' s primary facility for many years , but as the University and its programs expanded , a need surfaced for further expansion . Today , the Macomb campus consists of 53 buildings over . Sherman Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Western ' s presence in the Quad Cities spans more than 40 years . In Fall 1960 , the University offered its first undergraduate course in the Quad Cities . Folklore . Simpkins Hall , home of the English and Journalism departments , has long been believed to be haunted by the ghost of an adolescent child , in a large part due to its former use as a training school . Simpkins is also said to be haunted by “ Harold , ” a former janitor or graduate assistant who lurks among the classrooms on the third floor and in the Writing Center . Students have reported hearing the disembodied sound of keys jingling , doors opening and closing , or a typewriter clicking , rattle the nerves of even the most seasoned educator . Another story circulating the hall is that of a woman who can be heard crying in the first floor restroom . Bayliss , Tanner , Thompson , and Washington residents halls have their own ghost stories , all of which are based on unsubstantiated student deaths ranging from suicides to accidents . In Washington Hall , for instance , a girl supposedly ended her life after a fight with her boyfriend . According to the storytellers , the phone in her former room rings even though no one is on the line . National Acclaim . Currently , " US News & World Report " ranks Western Illinois University as 49th among regional universities . Western Illinois University has been repeatedly recognized as one of the “ Best in the Midwest Colleges ” by The Princeton Review . Athletics . Inspired by the surrounding “ vast golden prairie strewn with purple coneflowers , ” Western Illinois University adopted purple and gold as its official colors in 1902 . WIU is the only non - military institution in the nation with permission from the Department of the Navy to use the United States Marine Corps Official seal and mascot , the Bulldog . Colonel Rock , or Rocky , is the University mascot representing “ The Fighting Leathernecks ” for all male sports teams . Rocky was named after Ray " Rock " Hanson , a former WIU athletic director and former Marine . Beginning in the Fall of 2009 the men ' s and women ' s teams will be unified under the Leathernecks name . Previously , the women ' s teams and athletes at the school were known as Westerwinds . Western Illinois sports teams participate in the NCAA Division I Summit League . Leatherneck football competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision in the Missouri Valley Football Conference . Western Illinois University was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1914 - 1970 . School of Music . The School of Music is a full member of the National Association of Schools of Music and a member of the Association of Illinois Music Schools . It offers a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance , Music Education , Composition , Music Business , Jazz Studies , and Music Therapy , and a Master of Music degree in Performance , Instrumental and Choral Conducting , Music Composition , Music Education , Piano Pedagogy , Music History and Jazz Studies . Certification as a music therapist is available through the Certification Board for Music Therapists ( CBMT ) . Western Illinois University , dedicated to diversity and the fine arts , has designated four complete scholarships ( tuition , room , and board ) to attract international string students . These four string players ( two violinists , one violist , and one cellist ) form the WIU Presidential String Quartet . The School of Music performance opportunities and ensembles are Symphony Orchestra , Chamber Orchestra , Symphonic Wind Ensemble , Concert Band , University Band , Marching Leathernecks Band , basketball and volleyball pep bands , Jazz Studio Orchestra , Jazz Band and Jazz Combo . There are also a number of choirs such as University Singers , Madrigal Singers , Vocal Jazz Ensemble , Opera - On - Wheels and Opera Theater . Some of the smaller ensembles are Brass Ensemble , Percussion Ensemble , Steel Band and many chamber groups . Faculty ensembles are Hopper Faculty Jazztet , Camerata Woodwind Quintet , LaMoine Brass Quintet and Julstrom String Quartet . The School of Music hosts many festivals such as 41st International Horn Symposium , Festival of Choirs , Jazz Rhythm Section Festival , New Music Festival , Showcase of Bands , Brassfest and Jazz Festival among others . The ratio of music majors to full - time music faculty in the Western Illinois University School of Music is 6 : 1 . The music faculty are artist - teachers of the highest quality with specialties in all instruments , voice , choral , band , orchestra , jazz , music education , history , theory and composition , music business , and music therapy . Student newspapers . The Western Courier is a collegiate newspaper that serves more than 14 , 000 students , faculty and staff at Western Illinois University , publishing each Monday , Wednesday and Friday during the academic year , excluding holidays and breaks . Summer publication is on Wednesdays only . The Western Courier is the only officially recognized student newspaper on campus and is distributed free at 80 locations throughout the campus ( including residence halls ) and throughout the Macomb , Illinois business community .