Forgottonia a New Approach
WIU a Path Foward
May 30, 2019
We do not have a Forgottonian Governor to dictate policy, but Western Illinois and Western Illinois University are very much forgotten. We need to think of ways to save ourselves because no one else really cares. If WIU wants to thrive again it must rethink its role. WIU started as a teachers’ college when Illinois was filled with one room school houses. All placed in township sections designed to make no student walk more than two miles to school. WIU must again seek a new role. WIU has become enmeshed in a cycle of lower enrollment and lower funding. The animosity of the past Illinois administration is not the fault of WIU administration, faculty, staff, alumni, or students, but the solutions to a revived educational institution definitely are the responsibility of all of us.
I was part of the Fall ’70 Freshman class. I believe the largest on campus undergraduate population ever. Many things have changed since that time. One is the school age population of the area surrounding Macomb. Over 60% of WIU students came from Chicago-Suburbia but a large percentage of the student body came from the downstate, Forgottonia region. Those regions are experiencing population declines, especially amongst the school age populations. School consolidations and mergers are the trend for much of the surrounding region. I believe this is a significant factor in WIU declining enrollment. WIU needs to offer programs unique enough to draw students to the isolation of Western Illinois. Doing the same old thing is unacceptable, innovation is required.
I barely have a relationship to the school. I am just a graduate; I do support Tri-states radio. My perspective may be removed from traditional university administration. I can offer ideas and a vision. First WIU needs to break free of what a liberal arts college usually is; we need not be a pale imitation of every other institution of higher learning. I am going to list some bullet points. It is unlikely I write with enough high-falutin style to keep your interest. I offer suggestions from someone steeped in Forgottonian fundamentals: start the job, work hard, when overwhelmed work harder, when the task is done and done right, bust your butt to go fish’n.
A few suggestions
Programs that are worth living among the corn fields
A] WIU should develop a premier program in network fundamentals and core Internet infrastructure.
- Leverage our emphasis on law enforcement curricula with network security and cyber investigation; offer expert designations for network security.
- Education curricula should also include network specialist degrees.
- Agriculture has become extremely dependent on computer technicians and data sever skills offering expert designation would benefit that program.
- If network infrastructure becomes a core curriculum it can innovate many programs and disciplines at WIU.
- Our modern world is in great need of a program part VPN and part AI to manage our social media and business interactions. Digital presence is far more dominant in our time and communication priorities than verbal human interactions. I envision someday Tanner Hall will be turned into a hive of nerds developing the new paradigm of information management – they would only be allowed outside of Tanner for eight hours a week.
B] Putting healthy food where it is needed is a global priority and one WIU is positioned to capitalize on.
- We need more urban farming and urban to rural market channels. WIU could be a leader in this field.
- Vertical Agriculture will need innovation, research, and training if the urban jungle will become a producer of abundance not blight. (OK I’m a little biased towards the Forgottonian lifestyle.)
- WIU could be a leader in market creation to tie our production potential in rural Illinois to fulfill market needs in our urban centers. More farm to table, and farm to market channels using new information tools for organization, distribution, and new purchase points.
- This is an opportunity for both our Agricultural and Business departments to help create a new generation of farmers and merchants.
- If those future Tanner Hall nerds would develop information tools, that could aid in the creation of new efficient channels to directly connect growers and consumers – Maybe never let them out, just keep them hunched peering and typing into their workstations.
A hydroponic garden in O'Hare Airport
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