WIU gets $1 mil for new engineering program

MOLINE -- Western Illinois University says it has gotten gifts totaling $1 million for its new engineering program that'll begin this fall.

The John Deere Foundation gave $500,000 and The Moline Foundation gave another $500,000. School officials said Wednesday that the money will help pay to lease space and buy equipment.

Officials say the university will invest an additional $2 million in the engineering program over the next four years. But after that, WIU will need more community help.

Students can earn the engineering degree at the WIU-Macomb and WIU-Quad Cities campuses. A search is under way for a director.