Monday, August 13, 2012

Hosted by your

Illinois State University Facts

Illinois State University, established in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University, was the first public university in Illinois.

OUR MISSION“We at Illinois State University work as a

diverse community of scholars with a commitment to fostering a small-college

atmosphere with large-university opportunities. . . .

We promote the highest academic standards in our teaching, our

scholarship and the connections we build between them….

We devote all of our resources and energies to creating the most supportive and productive community possible to

serve the citizens of Illinois and beyond.”

ISU Faces in the Crowd

17th PresidentIllinois State University

Dr. Al Bowman

Dr. Sheri Noren Everts

Vice President and Provost Illinois State University

ISU Faces in the Crowd

Dean Jeffrey WoodCollege of Applied Science & Technology

ISU Faces in the Crowd

Dean Gregory B. SimpsonCollege of Arts and Sciences

ISU Faces in the Crowd

Dean Scott JohnsonCollege of Business

Dean Perry SchoonCollege of Education

Dean James MajorCollege of Fine Arts

ISU Faces in the Crowd

Dean Janet KrejciMennonite College of Nursing

Acting Dean Dane Ward University Libraries

Illinois State University Facts

Illinois State University was first called Illinois State Normal University because of its designation as an institution for teachers. The name was changed in 1964 to reflect the comprehensive nature of the institution.

The former site of Old Main is now a flower bed with a series of four bronze plaques, each representing an elevation of the building, mounted on concrete blocks. 

Old MainAround Campus

Milner Library

Named for Ange V. Milner, the university’s first librarian, the library is “the academic heart of

the university.” It is a six-level facility with over 3 million holdings.

Around Campus

Illinois State University Facts

We are a mid-sized, public, suburban, residential, PhD-granting University.

Ninety-nine percent of our students are from Illinois.

Our total enrollment is generally between 20,000 and 21,000, with around 18,000 undergraduates.

Hovey Hall is named after Charles Hovey, the first head of Illinois State Normal University. (His title was “Principal.”) It is the campus Administration Building.

Hovey HallAround Campus

Edwards Hall, built in 1906, was named for Richard Edwards, the second president of Illinois State Normal University (1862-1876). Currently, Edwards Hall is home to the Mennonite College of Nursing.

Edwards Hall

Around Campus

Cook Hall was named for John Williston Cook, fourth president of Illinois State Normal University (1890-1899). Originally called “the Gymnasium,” it is now home to the School of Music. 

Around Campus

Cook Hall

An Illinois State University “First”

Female students celebrated in 1968. That was the first year women’s hours in the residence halls were eliminated. No more curfews and bed checks!

Fell Hall, opened in 1918, was named for Jesse Fell, one of the founders of the University. It now houses the School of Communication, Financial Aid, International Studies, and Disability Concerns.

Fell HallAround Campus

Felmley Hall is named for David Felmley, the sixth President of ISU. Since its construction, Felmley Hall has served the Biological Sciences Department, as well as the Health Sciences, Geology and Geography Departments.

Felmley Hall

Around Campus

An Illinois State University “First”

The first student demonstration was in 1895. The threatened closing of

the University High School

caused the unrest.

Named for Arthur Williams, the first head of Business Education, Williams Hall originally housed the University Library. Some believe it is still home to the spirit of Ange V. Milner, the first school librarian, who roams the site of the former “stacks” at night, keeping watch over the books . . . and rearranging them!

Williams HallAround Campus

ISU Lab Schools

University High School Metcalf Elementary School

The laboratory schools provide observation and clinical experience sites for pre-service teachers. As home to approximately 1,000 Pre-K through 12 students, they also provide opportunities for research and applied practice aimed at improving teaching across the state.

Around Campus

An Illinois State University “First”

The first commencement ceremonies were held in 1860, with a graduating class of 10 students.

Opened in 1956, this building was originally the Student Union. Replaced by the Bone Student Center in 1973, the building was eventually designated “Old Union.” The School of Information Technology and ISU’s National Public Radio station, WGLT, are currently housed here. Tune in for “news, blues, and all that jazz”!

Old Union

Around Campus

Redbird Arena

Around Campus

Since 1989, Redbird Arena has been the home of Illinois State University basketball and volleyball. Because it seats 10,500—more than any other facility on campus—most of the University’s colleges hold graduation ceremonies in the Arena twice each year.

An Illinois State University Fact

ISU is the home of the Gamma Phi Circus, the oldest collegiate circus in the U.S. Founded in 1929, it is one of two collegiate circuses remaining in the country. Performances are held on campus each spring, and some acts perform at other sites around the state and the world throughout the year.

Most of Illinois State’s 1,103 faculty members hold the highest degrees in their fields.

An Illinois State University Fact

Around Campus

Schroeder Hall is the home of the Departments of History, Political Science, Sociology/Anthropology, Criminal Justice, and the Schroeder Hall Academic Computing Unit. It is named for Herman Henry Schroeder, a faculty member in Educational Psychology from 1913-1943.

Schroeder Hall

Mascot: Reggie Redbird   

ISU’s Athletic Facts

* Illinois State competes in the Missouri Valley Conference for all of its 19 sports.

   * The Redbirds’ 18 annual all-sports championships are the most by any Valley Conference member since 1981.

   * The Redbirds have won 142 team conference championships since 1981.    * Redbird Student-Athletes volunteer more than 2,000 hours of community service each year.

   * Redbird Student-Athletes have broken all departmental records for semester and cumulative GPA over the past three years.

   * Biggest rivals: Bradley (just 39 miles from Illinois State, in Peoria) and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.         

Around Campus

DeGarmo Hall

DeGarmo Hall is the home of the College of Education and the Psychology Department. It was named for Charles DeGarmo, Principal of the Grammar School from 1886-1890, who brought to the University a firm belief in the importance of “practice schools” in advancing and improving teaching.

Around Campus

Center for the Performing Arts

In 1999, construction began on the Center for the Performing Arts, a complex adjacent to the theatre building in the southeast corner of the Quad. It now houses a state-of-the-art 450-seat theatre and an 800-seat concert hall. Today, more than 20,000 people annually see performances produced by the Schools of Music and Theatre.

The Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology (CTLT)

Located in the Instructional Technology and Development Center, 301 S. Main, the CTLT offers a wide range of free programs and services designed to help faculty enhance and develop their teaching.

Around Campus

An Illinois State University “First”Abraham Lincoln, a friend of Jesse Fell, drew up the legal documents that established Illinois State Normal University.

An Illinois State University Fact

If you stand on the top floor of Illinois State University’s tallest residence hall, Watterson Towers, you are at the highest point in Illinois between Chicago and St. Louis.

The Planetarium

The Planetarium, a part of Felmley Hall, offers public shows, exciting featured presentations, and year-round educational programs.

Around Campus

Horton Field

House

Around Campus

Horton Field House was named for long-time teacher and Athletic Director, Dr. Clifford “Pop” Horton. Dr. Horton was largely responsible for changing the University’s nickname from the “Teachers” to the “Redbirds.” The fieldhouse was the first major building on the West campus and, until recently, was the home of the School of Kinesiology and Recreation.

The Center for the Visual Arts houses the School of Art and the University Galleries. The concrete and brick International-style building provides studio space, classrooms, offices, and gallery space for exhibiting student, faculty, and visiting collections. 

Center for the Visual Arts (CVA)

Around Campus

The Watterson Towers residential complex was completed in 1967. Comprised of twin, 28-story towers, it is home to more than 2,200 students and stands at 91m (298.5 ft). Watterson Towers was named after Arthur W. Watterson, a popular Professor of Geography from 1946-1966.

Watterson TowersAround Campus

An Illinois State University “First”

Sarah Hackett Stevenson, an 1863 graduate, later became the first woman member of the American Medical Association. In an 1875 article for The Ladies' Repository, she attacked “the poor science and medicine of an author who alleged that co-education had led to the death of a woman.”

Julian Hall

Julian Hall, named for the eminent African-American chemist Percy Lavon Julian, houses the departmental office for Chemistry as well as classrooms, faculty offices, and a computer lab.

Around Campus

Fairchild Hall

Fairchild Hall is home to the Eckelmann-Taylor Speech and Hearing Clinic, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the College of Arts and Sciences’ Publication Unit, and the Psychological Services Center. The building was named in honor of Raymond W. Fairchild, president of ISNU from 1933-1955.

Around Campus

Around Campus

Named for Adlai E. Stevenson, former governor of Illinois, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and two-time candidate for President of the United States, Stevenson Hall opened in 1968. It currently houses the Departments of English, Math, Economics, Philosophy, and Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.

Stevenson Hall

An Illinois State University “First”

He was 23 and had already taught school in nearby Kappa and Saybrook.

Enoch Gastman, Jr. of Hudson was the first student to enroll at Illinois State Normal University.

Science Lab Building

Dedicated in 1997, the Science Lab building received numerous awards for its design. The Department of Biological Sciences is located here as well as classrooms, laboratories, and research facilities.

Around Campus

An Illinois State University “First”

Charles Hovey was the first head of Illinois State Normal University in June of 1857. His official title was “Principal.” He served in that capacity until the fall of 1861, when he left to lead a regiment of students to serve in the Union Army during the Civil War. Known as “The Teachers’ Regiment,” the group sometimes corrected the spelling and grammar on its orders before carrying them out.

Bone Student Center

Appropriately named for Robert G. Bone, president of Illinois State University from 1956-1967, the Bone Student Center serves as a “Gateway to Campus.” The congenial Dr. Bone knew all of the University’s 268 faculty members and most of its seniors by name. The Bone Student Center now houses Braden Auditorium, the Brown Ballroom, the Dean of Students’ Office, McAllister’s Deli, the Barnes & Noble University Bookstore, and more!

Around Campus

The Vidette Building

Founded in 1888, The Vidette is ISU’s student newspaper. It is published five days a week.

Around Campus

“Old Main” was the first building of Illinois State Normal University.

An Illinois State University “First”

It was also the site of the first graduation in 1860. 

The Hudelson Building opened in 1955 and was named for Clyde Whittaker Hudelson, who served as chairman of Illinois State Normal University's Department of Agriculture from 1920-1957. Today, the building houses ISU’s English Language Institute (ELI).

Around Campus

Hudelson Building

Around Campus

Hancock StadiumNamed for Howard Hancock, Director of Athletics from 1931-1963, the stadium opened in 1963 with a total capacity of 15,000 seats. It is home to the ISU football team, currently looking to extend their streak to a fourth winning season under head coach Brock Spack.

NFO 2012 Steering Committee

Phyllis McCluskey-Titus, COE

Rose Marshack, CFA

Caroline Mallory, MCN

Elizabeth Zold, CTLT

Rick Valentin, CFA

Julie Derden, Milner Library

Claire Lamonica, CTLTK. Megan Hopper, CAS

Laura Erskine, COB

Rob Rhykerd, CAST Catherine Miller, MCN