Central to our history and tradition is the commitment to teaching, to the individual learner, and to active involvement in the teaching-learning process. Western Illinois University's highly qualified, diverse faculty promotes critical thinking, engaged learning, research, and creativity in a challenging, supportive learning community. We are committed to an academic environment that encourages lifelong development as learners, scholars, teachers, and mentors.

2012-13 Accomplishments

• Student-athletes exceeded the general student population grade point average for the 11th and 12th consecutive semesters.
• Leathernecks posted a 3.07 GPA in the spring, the third-highest semester in program history.
• A higher percentage of student-athletes had GPAs above 3.0, above 3.6 and at 4.0 than in the previous spring.
• The women's soccer team achieved a team GPA of 3.70 in both the fall and spring semesters.

2011-12 Accomplishments

• The Leathernecks exceeded a 3.0 grade point average in the spring semester, posting a 3.015 GPA.
• Student-athletes exceeded the general student population grade point average for the ninth and 10th consecutive semesters.
• Women's cross country set a program record with a stellar 3.711 GPA in the spring semester.
• Jenna Verity became Western Illinois' first ever Rhodes Scholar finalist and Laura Lins was named WIU's Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Award winner.

2010-11 Accomplishments

• For the fifth consecutive semester, Western Illinois University student-athletes exceeded the 3.0 GPA mark.
• Nearly 55 percent (204-of-372) of Western student-athletes achieved a 3.0 grade point average or above, 87 student-athletes earned University Honors at 3.60 GPA and 29 finished with a 4.0 GPA (12.8 percent).
• The Athletics Department's 3.046 GPA surpassed the University's GPA of 2.947.

2009-10 Accomplishments

• Western Illinois University student-athletes continued to excel in the classroom, recording a spring semester GPA of 3.19, the third-straight semester posting at least a 3.0 and the highest semester cumulative GPA in Athletics Department history.
• In addition to increasing the overall GPA from the previous all-time high of 3.15 GPA set in fall 2009, the Leathernecks also increased the number of perfect 4.0 averages from 53 in the fall to 64 (16.45 percent of student-athlete body) in the spring.
• Posting a GPA of 3.6 or better, 109 student athletes earned Semester Honors and 229, or more than half (58.87 percent of student-athlete body) of the student-athletes, earned a 3.0 or better.
• Matt Barr from the Football team was selected as the Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Award winner.