Illinois Wesleyan University Illinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate liberal arts college located in Bloomington , Illinois . Founded in 1850 , the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856 . It comprises 17 academic departments offering 50 majors and 476 courses . The University ' s mission is to foster the traditional liberal arts of creativity , character , and knowledge . Its motto - Scientia et Sapientia , or " Knowledge and Wisdom " - was coined by famed explorer and Wesleyan Professor John Wesley Powell . History . Illinois Wesleyan University was founded in 1850 by a diverse group of 30 civic and religious leaders who came together to establish " an Institution of learning of Collegiate grade . " When a sponsor was needed , the founders gained support from the United Methodist Church , which is how " Wesleyan " was added to the original name , " Illinois University . " While maintaining its Methodist affiliation , Illinois Wesleyan continues to be a diverse and inclusive community , independent in its governance . Illinois Wesleyan ’ s tradition of engaging its students inside and outside the classroom dates back to its earliest days when explorer - geologist John Wesley Powell , a founder of the National Geographic Society , joined the faculty in 1865 . A pioneer of using field work in teaching science , Powell in 1867 took Illinois Wesleyan students to Colorado ' s mountains — one of the first expeditions of its kind in U . S . higher education . The liberal arts and sciences have been at the foundation of Illinois Wesleyan ' s curriculum since its inception , and the fine arts were taught from its earliest years in the 19th century . In 2005 , the Undergraduate Economic Review was formed . The first of its kind , the journal is a peer - managed , open access Economics publication that features original content from undergraduate students both in the U . S . and at least 15 other countries . Published papers cover a variety of Economics - related topics , ranging from labor and monetary policy issues , to game theory frameworks . On May 15 , 2009 , the University announced the beginning of its " Transforming Lives " fundraising campaign . The campaign aims to raise $ 125 , 000 , 000 to create endowed faculty positions , increase the number of grants and scholarships to students , create an expanded Theatre Arts Complex , a new Center for Instruction , and new student housing . Academics . Illinois Wesleyan is an independent , residential , liberal arts university with an enrollment of 2 , 020 . It offers 50 majors and 476 courses . The university maintains a low student / faculty ratio of 11 to 1 , and while it offers 476 courses , only 9 of them have more than 40 students . Also , 9 in 10 IWU students receive a scholarship or need - based assistance . Illinois Wesleyan is ranked as one of the " best values " in the nation . Illinois Wesleyan is also a member of the Annapolis Group and its strong foundations in the liberal arts have earned it chapters in the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies . The University consists of the College of Liberal Arts , with 17 academic departments ; the College of Fine Arts , comprising the professional School of Art , School of Music , and School of Theatre Arts . Illinois Wesleyan ’ s campus occupies more than in the heart of Bloomington in central Illinois . IWU ' s School of Nursing was established in 1959 . Applicants apply directly to the School of Nursing and typically graduate in 4 years with a BSN . The course work emphasizes clinical placement and individualized education and experience . Bachelor ' s degree programs are offered in three Colleges : Ames Library . Wesleyan ' s Ames Library was completed in 2002 . It contains over 368 , 000 volumes spread over five floors . The Ames Library also houses 8 sets of stained glass panels originally from Pembroke College at Oxford University . Among the special collections are the papers of former U . S . Congressman Leslie C . Arends ; the Gernon collection of first editions of detective fiction and mysteries ; and the Schultz collection of 18th and 19th Century British Drama , including The Beggar ' s Opera . Construction cost $ 25 . 7 million ; Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbot were the principle architects . May Term . Illinois Wesleyan offers a May Term course option . The University refers to it as a 4 - 4 - 1 system . This allows any student who has completed a full course - load in either the Spring or Fall Semesters of that academic year to enroll in a May Term class . May Term classes last approximately three weeks during the month of May . Students take several hours of instruction in the same course each day for five days each week . This allows the students to immerse themselves in that one topic . At the end of the May Term a student completes the equivalent of a single course during one semester . May Term emphasizes curricular experimentation , and also offers an opportunity for service projects , study - abroad , and internships . May Term is also sometimes referred to as " Play Term " by the students of Illinois Wesleyan . This applies to very few students as most of the May Term classes meet three hours every day and the workload is that of an entire semester . " Play " simply refers to the fact that there is more time to lounge on the quad , get off campus , and spend time with friends . Classes may also be more participatory or have lighter topics than those offered during the traditional semesters . Study abroad . Illinois Wesleyan offers a number of study abroad opportunities , and ranks in the top 40 schools in the nation for students studying abroad . IWU ' s International Office provides support for over 300 Global Study Abroad Options in 70 countries through various institutes such as IES and SIT Study Abroad . Domestically , IWU offers a UN semester , a Washington Semester , and the Chicago Center . Internationally it offers programs in London and Barcelona . It also maintains a very strong relationship with Pembroke College , Oxford , and traditionally a few juniors can spend a year there as exchange students . Research . The University publishes 4 different undergraduate research journals in the fields of Political Science , Economics , History , and English . Perhaps the most notable , the Undergraduate Economic Review is a student - managed , open access journal that has published original undergraduate content from students in the U . S . and 15 other countries . It ' s ' internal twin ' , the Park Place Economist publishes original work of Economics seniors graduating Illinois Wesleyan University . Articles range from basic topical explorations to focused senior research . All published volumes are available online . The John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference was established in 1990 to provide opportunities for students to present research projects and findings in a public and interactive manner . The Action Research Center ( ARC ) was established in 2007 to partner student research and service projects with the wider Illinois community . thumbnail Athletics . Illinois Wesleyan University participates in the NCAA ' s Division III and is a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin ( CCIW ) . Since 1946 , Wesleyan has won 101 CCIW Titles and 6 Division III National Championships since 1997 . Wesleyan also ranks in the Top 10 nationally with 113 Academic All - Americans , tied with UCLA . The Women ' s Basketball Team won the 2012 National Championships in Division III , beating George Fox by a score of 57 - 48 . Illinois Wesleyan University ' s Division III athletic teams , known as the " Titans , " helped found the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin ( CCIW ) . Illinois Wesleyan was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1910 - 1937 . Shirk Center . Shirk Center is the University ' s Athletic Complex . The two - story complex was constructed in 1994 . It provides a multi - use facility for squash , tennis , basketball , and other indoor sports . It also houses Fort Natorium , the University ' s swimming center , as well as classrooms and a 200 - meter track . The Shirk Center also hosted the 2010 & 2011 NCAA Division III Women ' s National Basketball Championships . The " Shirk " is also the championship venue for the annual State Farm Holiday Classic , one of the largest , coed high school holiday basketball tournaments in the nation . Campus Life . The University and Student Senate regularly bring speakers and comedians to campus . There are regularly organized ( and some rather spontaneous ) social events both on and off - campus . Faculty colloquia regularly provide opportunities for intellectual discussion and encouragement . The campus itself is an arboretum , home to over 1 , 000 trees from 90 different species . Residential living and community . While all Freshmen are required to live on campus unless they are excused by the Office of Residential Life , 80 % of students elect to remain on campus their entire time at Wesleyan . All halls are co - ed , all residence hall rooms have cable television , internet , and phone , and the vast majority of rooms are two / three - person units . Dodds Hall offers eight - person suites and Harriett Fuller Rust House offers four - person and six - person suites as well as two eight - person two - story townhouse style suites . Traditional style living is offered in Magill Hall , Pfeiffer Hall , and Martin Hall . First - year students live in first - year halls - Dolan Hall , Gulick Hall , Munsell Hall , and Ferguson Hall . Illinois Wesleyan also offers three themed housing communities : Kemp Hall ( the International House ) , Blackstock Hall ( the Arts House ) , and Adams Hall ( the Health House ) . Campus activities and organizations . There are 170 student organizations at Wesleyan , ranging from the rock - climbing club , the Anime club , to Pi Kappa Lambda ( the music honors society ) . Lectures and speakers . Illinois Wesleyan co - hosts the annual Stevenson Lecture Series , initiated in 1965 as a memorial to former Governor and IWU Alumnus Adlai Stevenson . IWU co - hosts the Lecture Series with Illinois State University . Wesleyan was also privileged to have Martin Luther King , Jr . speak at the University twice , in 1961 and 1966 . In 1966 he came to the University while he as trying to organize in Chicago . There , he said , And I still have faith in America because I love America and I believe that we will continue to build a coalition of conscience that one day will solve this problem . We sing a little song in our movement and it has been our guiding faith . Sometimes we ’ ve been facing hooded perpetrators of violence ; sometimes we face jeering mobs . Sometimes we face dogs and the gushing waters from fire hoses . Sometimes in crowded jail cells we join hands to sing it . And sometimes in just open mass meetings . But we could sing it as a hymn of faith . We shall overcome , we shall overcome , deep in my heart I do believe we shall overcome . Media . Wesleyan has its own radio station , WESN 88 . 1 FM . Its slogan is " Radio to the Far Left . " It plays a mix of Indie , Rock , Classic , Electronic , and Folk music . Wesleyan also has its own Television station : Titan TV . Titan TV broadcasts exclusively to IWU ' s dorms . It broadcasts a collection of movies and campus announcements . The campus newspaper is called " The Argus " . Sustainability . IWU ' s new Welcome Center , the Minor Myers , Jr . Welcome Center , includes a geothermal heating / cooling system . It has been awarded Silver Certification as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED ) building . The university ' s " Think Green " behavioral change campaign encourages community members to conserve resources , and its spring 2008 global warming teach - in had 700 attendees .