One on one: Understanding WIU’s restructuring of academic colleges

MACOMB (WGEM) - Starting this upcoming school year, Western Illinois University’s academic structure will look a little different.

Effective July 1, WIU will consolidate into a two-college model.

Right now, Western has four colleges: the College of Fine Arts and Communications, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and Human Services, and the College of Business and Technology.

This restructure will create the the College of Business, Health, and Community Programs (CBHCP) and the College of Humanities, Arts, Sciences, and Education (CHASE).

As first reported by WGEM News last year, Provost and Academic Vice President Mark Mossman made the restructure public knowledge at an assembly in front of the campus community in August.

At the time, he said the restructure was still in draft. Now, it’s a go.

In an interview this week, Mossman told WGEM News the restructure won’t impact the student experience.

“This is really an administrative, internal restructure,” Mossman said.

Mossman anticipates the restructure saving Western between $800,000 and $1.3 million.

“I think we’ll be on target in that range,” Mossman said.

Mossman said the move will better align academic programs and build on the school’s foundation for academic growth.

According to a release sent out by the university, Tara Feld will serve as the inaugural CBHCP dean. Kyle Mayborn will serve as the interim CHASE dean. Both have more than 20 years of work experience at WIU.

Feld and Mayborn will each be working with two associate deans to support the restructure.

“None of this led to any kind of layoff or anything like that at all,” Mossman said.

During the university assembly last August, when the restructure was introduced, administrators spoke frequently of Western’s evolution.

Mossman sees this move as part of that.

WIU’s evolution comes at a time when universities across the U.S. are navigating what they’re calling a demographic cliff. Put simply, there is a drop in traditional college-aged students enrolling as high school graduation numbers trickle down due to population loss.

In the last three school years, Western has seen fall enrollment drop by nearly 2,000 students. From a total headcount of 7,073 students in 2023 to 5,337 students in 2025, per WIU’s enrollment records.