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MACOMB, IL -- The following letter is from Western Illinois University president Al Goldfarb to the university community. The letter was released from WIU on Jan. 20, 2009

Spring 2009 Letter

Dear Campus Community,
 
I want to welcome back faculty, students, and staff as we begin the Spring 2009 semester. While we continue facing difficult budgetary challenges from reduced state resources, I remain optimistic about our continued progress toward many of our strategic plan goals and the numerous successes we have achieved.

During the Fall 2008 semester we had several remarkable accomplishments, including awarding our first doctoral degree to nine students at the December 20 commencement.

In October, the Illinois Board of Higher Education approved two new degrees: a four-year nursing degree and a four-year engineering program, both of which we hope will begin in Fall 2009. Western continues to be ranked in the top tier of Midwest Universities Master's granting institutions by  U.S. News and World Report, as well as being chosen a Best Midwestern University by the Princeton Review. Western was selected as one of only two Illinois public universities for the Center for Student Opportunity's (CSO) "College Access and Opportunity Guide."

We are also making progress on facilities projects. The Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center expansion was recently completed, and we expect to open the new Multicultural Center in the near future.  We also opened bids on the Memorial Hall renovation in November. We will continue to work with our community and legislative leaders to obtain construction funding for Macomb's Performing Arts Center and for the Quad Cities Riverfront Campus.

I encourage all campus and local community members to attend our University's diverse cultural and educational events. The University will host a variety of activities in February for Black History Month and in March for Women's History Month. The 36th annual International Bazaar will be held March 6-7, and the sixth annual Environmental Summit is scheduled for April 8. In addition, the University will sponsor numerous theatrical performances, concerts, art exhibitions, speakers and athletic events.
 
I look forward to working with University students, faculty and staff, as well as our host communities, in 2009. Thank you for your continued support.
 
Sincerely,
Al Goldfarb