On February 18, 1857, Governor William Bissell of Illinois signed a bill creating a normal school and establishing the Board of Education of
the State of Illinois as its governing body. The bill stipulated that the permanent location would be the place that offered the most favorable inducements. Abraham Lincoln, acting as attorney for the board, drew up the bond guaranteeing the Bloomington citiz
ens would fulfill their financial pledges. Illinois State Normal University was consequently 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, master’s, and doctoral levels. The University is one of 12 public universities in Illinois. Its 34 academic departments offer more than 188 fields of study in the Colleges of Applied Science and Technology, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, and Fine Arts, and the Mennonite College of Nursing. The Graduate School coordinates 39 master’s, two specialist, and nine doctoral programs. The University’s academic programs are supported by the services and collections of Milner Library,
which contains more than 3 million holdings and special collections. The University enrolls students from throughout Illinois, 49 states, and 67 countries. Students are mentored by faculty members dedicated to superior teaching, including numerous teacher-scholars recognized at national and international levels for their research and contributions to their field. Conveniently located in Central Illinois, the University is situated at the intersection of three major highways, as well as along the Chicago-St. Louis railroad corridor. Due to its easy access in a region of strong economic growth and its multidimensional profile, Illinois State is able to respond to the varied needs and interests of its constituents and to contribute to the development of its students as responsible citizens.
