Illinois State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Illinois State Normal University (1857–1964) Illinois State University at Normal (1964–1967) |
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| Motto | Gladly We Learn and Teach |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 1857 |
| Founder | Jesse W. Fell |
| Accreditation | HLC |
| Endowment | $224.7 million (2024) |
| Budget | $561.3 million (2024) |
| President | Aondover Tarhule |
| Provost | Ani Yazedjian |
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Administrative staff
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3,612 |
| Students | 21,546 (fall 2024) |
| Undergraduates | 19,107 (2024) |
| Postgraduates | 2,439 (2024) |
| Location |
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United States
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| Campus | Urban campus, 1,180 acres (477.5 ha) |
| Other campuses | Springfield |
| Newspaper | The Vidette |
| Colors | Red and White |
| Nickname | Redbirds |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FCS MVFC — MVC |
| Mascot | Reggie Redbird |
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Illinois State University (ISU) is a public research university located in Normal, Illinois, United States. It was started in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University. It is the oldest public university in Illinois. The university is well-known for training teachers and is one of the top ten largest producers of teachers in the U.S.
The university's sports teams are called the "Redbirds." This name comes from the cardinal, which is the state bird of Illinois. The teams are part of the Missouri Valley Conference and the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Contents
History of Illinois State University
ISU was founded in 1857. This was the same year Illinois created its first Board of Education. Important people like David Davis and local businessman Jesse W. Fell supported its creation. Abraham Lincoln even helped with the legal documents to get the school funded.
Early Days and Name Changes
The university first opened as Illinois State Normal University. Its first classes were held in downtown Bloomington. In 1860, the school moved to its current campus. This area was then called North Bloomington. In 1865, the town was named "Normal" after the university.
The school was originally planned to be a large university with many different departments. However, it first focused mainly on training teachers. Over time, it grew to offer many other subjects.
On January 1, 1964, the school's name changed to Illinois State University at Normal. Then, in 1967, it became Illinois State University, which is its name today. The university's motto, "Gladly We Learn and Teach," comes from an older saying by Geoffrey Chaucer.
New Engineering College
In 2022, plans were approved for a new College of Engineering at ISU. This college will offer programs in general, electrical, and mechanical engineering. It is preparing to welcome its first students in 2025.
Exploring the ISU Campus
The main campus area is called The Quad. It was designed by William Saunders. The Quad is a popular outdoor space for students to relax, study, and play games. Many outdoor events, like concerts and showcases, happen here.
John W. Cook Hall, also known as Cook Hall, is a building on The Quad. It was built in 1898 and looks like a castle. It is named after the university's fourth president, John Williston Cook. Cook Hall has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986.
The Fell Arboretum
The ISU Quad is also home to the Fell Arboretum. This is a large area with over 154 different kinds of trees from Illinois. Trees from northern Illinois are on the north side of the quad. Trees from southern Illinois are on the south side. The Fell Arboretum is recognized as a "Tree Campus Higher Education Institution."
Student Housing
Illinois State University has six residence halls and one apartment complex. There are also special apartments for older and graduate students. University Housing Services manages all these living spaces.
Academics and Learning at ISU
Even though ISU started as a teachers' college, it now offers many different programs. Students can earn bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The university is officially recognized by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Its teacher training programs are also approved by national and state boards.
University Colleges
The university has seven main colleges:
- College of Applied Science and Technology
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Education
- College of Engineering
- Mennonite College of Nursing
- Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts
Laboratory Schools
ISU has two special schools called laboratory schools. These are University High School and Thomas Metcalf Laboratory School. These schools help train future teachers and test new teaching methods.
The Bloomington/Normal Japanese Saturday School also uses the Thomas Metcalf School. This school helps Japanese children living in the area learn about their culture and language on weekends.
Milner Library
Milner Library has a huge collection of over 1.63 million books. It also has many online materials that students and teachers can access. The library is known for its resources on education, teaching, and special education. It also has a special collection of circus materials and children's books. This includes books signed by author Lois Lenski.
The library also manages the Jo Ann Rayfield University Archives. This is where important university records, papers from professors, and items about student life are kept. The archives also have many university publications available online.
Milner Library is named after Angeline "Ange" Vernon Milner. She was the university's first full-time librarian from 1890 to 1927. She helped organize the library's first collection of over 40,000 items. The current library building opened in 1976.
University Rankings
| USNWR National University | 220 |
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| Washington Monthly National University | 128 |
| Forbes | 254 |
Illinois State University is recognized in several national rankings. U.S. News & World Report ranked ISU among the top national universities in the U.S. Washington Monthly ranked Illinois State based on its contributions to public good, like helping students succeed and supporting research. Forbes magazine also includes Illinois State in its list of top American colleges.
Student Life at ISU
As of September 2024, there are over 21,500 students at ISU. About 19,100 are undergraduate students and over 2,400 are graduate students. Many students are from minority groups, and there are also hundreds of international students. The average new student has good grades and test scores.
Student Media
The school newspaper, The Vidette, started in 1888. It used to be a printed newspaper but became fully online in 2021.
ISU also has a public radio station called WGLT. Its call letters stand for "Gladly-Learn-Teach," which is part of the university's motto. There is also a student radio station, WZND. TV-10, part of the School of Communication, produces local television news.
Student Organizations and Activities
ISU has more than 400 registered student organizations (RSOs). These groups cover many interests, from academic clubs to cultural groups. The Multicultural Center supports groups like the Asian Pacific American Coalition (APAC) and the Black Student Union (BSU).
RED ALERT is a large student spirit group with over 4,100 members. It was started in 2006 to encourage students to support university sports.
ISU is home to the Gamma Phi Circus, which started in 1929. It is the oldest college circus in the world! The ISU Forensics Individual Events team is also very successful. They have won national championships in public speaking and debate.
Greek Life
The Greek community at Illinois State University began in 1967. Many students are active members of fraternities and sororities.
Campus Folklore
There's a fun story about the ghost of Angeline Vernon Milner, the university's first librarian. People say her ghost haunts the old library building, which is now called Williams Hall.
ISU Athletics
The school's fight song is "Go, You Redbirds." It is played often at sporting events. The Alma Mater song, "Glory Hast Thou," is also played.
Besides the official Redbird teams, ISU also has a club ice hockey team. It is the oldest student organization on campus. The team plays at the Grossinger Motors Arena in downtown Bloomington.
Notable People from ISU
Many famous people have studied or worked at Illinois State University. You can find a list of them in the "List of Illinois State University people" article.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Estatal de Illinois para niños
