WELCOME TO NEWSMAKERS
The QCBJ devotes Newsmakers series to looking back on some of the biggest and most noteworthy stories we covered in 2025 across the Quad Cities region. Each story also includes a small update on the topic or news event. The stories are not ranked, but rather, appear in chronological order.
The original story ran in March 2025
WIU-QC campus moving forward
Since this initial story appeared, the WIU-QC campus has been moving forward with its renewed focus on the workforce needs of the region by targeting programs in education, engineering, and counseling.
Core components of the WIU-Quad Cities campus allow the university to provide affordable, impactful degree programs and connect students to experiential learning opportunities and networking within schools, agencies, and industry, the university said.
“WIU is focused on the needs of the Quad Cities community and beyond through the WIU-Quad Cities Campus,” said WIU President Kristi Mindrup. “We collaborate with community partners to provide the future workforce for the region as well as contribute to the quality of life in the Quad Cities.”
Among them are WIU’s new Early Learning Center, a vision of the WIU Early Childhood Education faculty — that is providing bilingual early childhood education for students aged 15 months to 5 years in Moline.
“Western is an institution that focuses on the needs of our students, and also looks for ways to make a positive impact on our region,” Ms. Mindrup added. “The Early Learning Center provides early childhood education opportunities for the Quad Cities while allowing our students hands-on learning in their pursuit of a degree.”
In addition to education, the university’s engineering and counseling programs are cornerstones of the WIU-QC campus in Moline and have an important role in filling gaps in the employment needs for the Quad Cities community.
“With the industries present in the Quad Cities, the WIU engineering program continues to place qualified graduates into our local economy,” Ms. Mindrup added. “Communities across the country are facing a shortage of mental health professionals. WIU is proud of our record of providing local clinics and schools with the counselors to provide mental health services to our region.”
