University Fact Page for Grant Proposals
Illinois State University
Illinois State University’s campus is located in the twin-city community of BloomingtonNormal, Illinois. ISU sits near the geographic center of the state - 137 miles southwest of
Chicago, Illinois and 164 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri.
A Brief History
Gov. William Bissell signed a bill on February 18, 1857, to create a normal school and establish
the Board of Education of the State of Illinois as its governing body. Abraham Lincoln, acting as
attorney for the board, drew up the bond guaranteeing that Bloomington citizens would fulfill
their commitment to the establishment of the University. Consequently, Illinois State Normal
University was founded as the first public institution of higher education in the state. Established
as a teacher education institution, Illinois State has developed into a multipurpose university with
degree programs at the bachelor's, masters and doctoral levels.
Institutional Profile
The University is one of 12 public universities in Illinois. Its academic departments offer more
than 160 major/minor options in the Colleges of Applied Science and Technology, Arts and
Sciences, Business, Education, Fine Arts, and Mennonite College of Nursing.
College of Applied Science and Technology
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Department of Agriculture
Department of Criminal Justice
Department of Family and Consumer
Sciences
Department of Health Sciences
School of Information Technology
School of Kinesiology and Recreation
Department of Military Science
Department of Technology
College of Arts and Sciences
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School of Biological Sciences
Department of Chemistry
School of Communication
Department of Communication Sciences
and Disorders
Department of Economics
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Department of English
Department of Geography-Geology
Department of History
Department of Languages, Literatures
and Cultures
Department of Mathematics
Department of Philosophy
Department of Physics
Department of Politics and Government
Department of Psychology
School of Social Work
Department of Sociology and
Anthropology
Department of Latin American and
Latino/a Studies
Department of Women’s & Gender
Studies
College of Business
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Department of Accounting
Department of Finance, Insurance and
Law
Department of Management &
Quantitative Methods
Department of Marketing
College of Education
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Department of Educational
Administration & Foundations
Department of Special Education
School of Teaching and Learning
College of Fine Arts
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School of Art
School of Music
School of Theatre and Dance
Mennonite College of Nursing
The Graduate School coordinates 41 masters, specialist, and doctoral programs. The University's
academic programs are supported by the services and collections of Milner Library, which
contains more than three million holdings and special collections.
Milner Library
Library History & Facts
The library at Illinois State Normal University opened in 1890, thirty-three years after the
opening of the university. Until that time, departments held their own collections. Over its
history, the library has resided in five buildings, and moved into the current facility in 1976. The
present building is named in honor of Angeline Vernon Milner, who was the first university
librarian from 1890-1928.
Library Staffing
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24 tenured, tenure track and non-tenure track library faculty
11 administrative professionals (3 with rank & tenure)
49 civil service staff
Library Resources
Milner Library is an active partner in the teaching, learning, research, and service activities of
Illinois State University. Milner librarians provide research assistance and library instruction
customized to meet the needs of students and faculty. Reference collections include general, as
well as subject-specific, print and electronic research tools including indexes, handbooks,
dictionaries, bibliographies, directories, and bibliographic and full text databases.
Milner’s collections include:
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1,622,355 print volumes
81,448 electronic serial titles
1,927 print journal titles
Separate items borrowed to support student and faculty research:
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97,453 Books
143,547 Milner owned material (laptops, iPads, dvds, etc. and books)
Recent contacts (FY13):
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670 Instructional sessions impacting 15,263 students
21,151 Patron-reference staff interactions
779 Individual student-librarian consultations
120 hours of operation per week
Additional Features
The University Archives is part of the library organization. It is the official repository of
University records. Part of its collection can be viewed in the ISU History digital collection.
Milner hosts the Teaching with Primary Sources (Midwest Region) program, the only academic
library to be affiliated with the Library of Congress program.
Milner Library is a governing member in the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in
Illinois (CARLI) and has been a member since 1980.
Faculty Research at Illinois State University: “A Bibliography of Historical and Current
Scholarly Works” is a database of publications by ISU faculty from 1857 to the present,
compiled by a research group of Milner Library faculty.
Milner Library is home to The Circus and Allied Arts Collection, one of the largest special
collections of its type in existence. With book holdings 8,000 volumes strong, the Collection has
been cataloged and appears in the Milner Online Catalog. Browse the A Passion for
Circus Digital Collection.
See more at: http://library.illinoisstate.edu/library-information/
Research and Sponsored Programs
The mission of Research and Sponsored Programs is to support and facilitate ISU faculty,
staff and the community in their instructional, creative, research, and public service efforts. This
support includes technical assistance, oversight of sponsored programs, guidance and assurance
of institutional compliance. Research and Sponsored Programs provides access to funding
databases to assist faculty in finding external grants to support research and programming
agendas.
The University’s commitment to the creation, dissemination, and preservation of knowledge
through scholarship, research, and creative expression is reflected in ISU’s Strategic Plan for
Research, Scholarship and Creative Expression. The Strategic Plan articulates the core values
presented above and proposes strategies to advance the recommendations made. These activities
fulfill a solemn and longstanding obligation to the community at large by: i) furthering our
understanding of the natural and physical worlds; ii) exploring human behavior and culture, past
and present; iii) developing the organizational practices and technological innovations that power
human and economic development; and iv) improving the quality of life through cultural
enrichment.
Read more at: http://rsp.illinoisstate.edu/documents/RSP_Strategic_Plan_4-18-2010.pdf
Total Awards, FY13 – summary:
By Funding Agency:
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Federal: $11,680,586
Foundation: $560,366
State: $2,088,264
Other: $3,593,482
By College:
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Applied Science and Technology: $2,949,930
Arts and Sciences: $5,364,205
Business: $2,000
Education: $7,684,753
Fine Arts: $109,606
Nursing: $737,229
Milner: $187,500
University and Administration: $886,475
Illinois State At a Glance
ISU enrolls students from throughout Illinois, 40 other states, the District of Columbia, and 66
other countries. Illinois State University fosters an inclusive environment characterized by
cultural understanding and social justice. Students are mentored by a faculty that includes
numerous teacher-scholars recognized at national and international levels. ISU faculty and staff
are dedicated to superior teaching, cutting-edge research and innovative community outreach and
engagement – providing wide-range opportunities for students, staff and faculty to participate in
a global society.
The total on-campus student enrollment at Illinois State University in Fall 2012 was 20,502.
The undergraduate student population was 18,207, while graduate students numbered 2,295.
Total student enrollment included 939 out-of-state students, along with 382 international students
representing 66 different countries. 55.6% of Illinois State’s students are female and 16.5%
represent various minority populations, including: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Black or
African American, Asian, Hispanic, Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
16,855 students received $233,925,710 in financial support in FY 2012.
Retention of beginning students (from Fall 2011 to Fall 2012) was very high, at 82.3%.
5,402 degrees were conferred in 2012.
Illinois State University is home to a diverse community of scholars dedicated to promoting the
highest academic standards in teaching, scholarship, and public service. Of total University
employees (n=3,067) approximately 12% represent minorities (African-American, Hispanic,
Asian, Native American and Pacific Islander.) There are 1,212 Departmental Faculty at ISU
(239 Professors; 242 Associate Professors; 218 Assistant Professors; 513 Other.) 97.3% of
Tenure/Tenure Track Faculty hold a terminal degree. Student to faculty ratio at ISU is 19:1.
Illinois State is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North
Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The teacher preparation programs are
accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and are certified by
the Illinois State Board of Education. In addition, 22 programs hold discipline-based
accreditation.
The above facts are provided by the Office of Planning, Research, and Policy Analysis
See more at: http://prpa.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/12-13_factbook/Book.pdf and the Office of
Equal Opportunity, Ethics and Access at http://equalopportunity.illinoisstate.edu/
The ISU University Campus
University Campus Today
Conveniently located in Central Illinois, the University is situated in a region of strong economic
growth. The area’s multidimensional profile allows Illinois State to respond to the varied needs
and interests of its constituents and to contribute to the development of its students as responsible
citizens.
Illinois State’s physical campus is comprised of 920 acres, 221 structures, 20 miles of sidewalks,
70 acres of parking lots, and more than 150 species of trees. The ISU Campus was the first in
Illinois to be recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. The Historic
Quad and adjacent areas consist of 350 acres. In 2002 the University Farm was relocated to 300
acres of land in Lexington, Illinois approximately 18 miles northeast of Normal. The ISU farm
supports teaching, research, and outreach activities of the Department of Agriculture.
The Master Plan 2010–2030: Looking to the Future presents a long-range blueprint for the
physical development of Illinois State University—its future size, form, function, character,
image, and environment. The plan provides a vision that promotes and supports the values
articulated in the University’s strategic plan, Educating Illinois 2008-2014 including pursuit of
learning and scholarship, individualized attention, public opportunity, diversity, and civic
engagement.
The recommended actions are designed to ensure the University’s facilities support and promote
excellence in the following areas: instruction, research, creative activities, and public service;
campus life; intercollegiate athletics and recreation; and efficiency in administrative operations.
Total space
Illinois State maintains 6.8 million square feet of facility space. The vast majority of this
is located on-campus, although there are off-campus facilities (e.g., the University Farm in
Lexington, graduate student studios in Bloomington, and Little Village classrooms in Chicago).
Nearly half of the University’s total space is supported with state funds. The remainder is
supported entirely by student fees, housing revenues, ticket sales, and other user revenues.
Space by type
The majority of on-campus space is used for residential facilities (24 percent), followed by office
space (16 percent). Office space supports administrative purposes, as well as instructional,
research, and public service activities. General use and special use categories have equal space
allocations (13 percent). General use includes recreational, food facilities, and assembly rooms.
Special use includes athletics, physical education, media production and the greenhouse.
Support areas (e.g., central storage, telecommunications/central computer facilities,
vehicle storage) represent 12 percent of on-campus space. Laboratories account for a smaller
portion of on-campus space (11 percent), while classrooms have the smallest footprint (4
percent). During the 2009-2010 academic year, the University maintained 164 classrooms.
Achievements
Since endorsement of the Master Plan 2000-2020, nearly 10 years ago, the University has
opened a number of new buildings and completed major renovations of academic facilities, as
well as residence halls and dining centers that were recommended in the plan. Among the
significant accomplishments:
New Buildings
 Alumni Center
 Center for Performing Arts
 Northwest Zone Chiller
 South Zone Chiller
 Southeast Zone Chiller
 State Farm Hall of Business
 Student Fitness Center and
McCormick Hall
Other Projects
 Baseball Stadium renovation
 New Tennis Courts and Recreation
Fields—Gregory Street property
 Redbird Arena–lower level
renovation
 Redbird Express—bus options
 University Farm relocation
 Walker and Dunn-Barton Residence
Halls—demolition
 Hancock Stadium renovation
 Fine Arts Training Complex
Major Remodeling
 East Campus Residence Halls—
Hewett, Manchester
 Felmley Hall
 Julian Hall
 Linkins Dining Center
 Moulton Hall
 Stevenson Hall
 Turner Hall
 Vrooman Center
 Watterson Commons Dining Center
 West Campus Residence Halls—Haynie, Wilkins, Wright
 Schroeder Hall
See more at: http://masterplan.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/Master%20Plan%202010-2030.pdf
Illinois State Athletics
The Illinois State University Athletics Department is committed to academic and athletic
excellence as it prepares today's student-athletes to become tomorrow's leaders. For over 100
years, the Illinois State Athletics Department has established a rich tradition of excellence,
sportsmanship and equality.
Nickname: Redbirds
School Colors: Red & White
Mascot: Reggie Redbird
Affiliation: NCAA/Division I
Conferences: Missouri Valley
A Look at Redbird Athletics
Athletics success at Illinois State is broad-based. With 19 intercollegiate sports, the Redbird
program constitutes one of the largest in the Midwest. With 149 league titles since 1982, it also
represents one of the most successful. Today, 17 of the 19 Redbird sports compete in the
Missouri Valley Conference, the oldest collegiate league west of the Mississippi River.
The Redbirds have recorded great success on the national level, as Illinois State has claimed one
team national championship and five individual national championships. ISU Redbirds include
166 formerly named All-Americans.
Ten different former Illinois State student-athletes have represented their countries and their
alma mater as participants in the Olympic Games. The Redbirds have been represented at the
Olympic Games a total of 11 times, with former track and field athlete Tidye Ann Picket-Phillips
being the first Redbird Olympian, when she competed in the low hurdles of the XI Olympiad in
Berlin in 1936.
See more at: http://www.goredbirds.com/