Illinois State University is a public research university located in Normal, Illinois. Established in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University, it proudly holds the title of being the oldest public university in Illinois. The university places a strong emphasis on teaching and has gained recognition as one of the top ten largest producers of teachers in the US, as acknowledged by the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. It falls under the category of “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity”. Illinois State University’s athletic teams are proud members of the Missouri Valley Conference and the Missouri Valley Football Conference, affectionately known as the “Redbirds” in honour of the state bird, the cardinal. Illinois State University secured a commendable position in the 2024 rankings by U.S. News & World Report. It was ranked among the top universities in America, both in the combined list of private and public “national universities” and in the list of public “national universities.” This achievement reflects the university’s commitment to excellence in education. Illinois State University is ranked #245 out of 500 American colleges by Forbes magazine. Illinois State University boasts an impressive array of over 400 registered student organisations or “RSOs”. These organisations can vary widely, from intramural sports to branches of well-known student organisations. Every year, RSOs have the opportunity to showcase themselves to students during Festival ISU. RSOs can reserve a booth on the quad, where they can engage with passing students who are interested in joining an organisation. Illinois State University is proud to have one of the largest student spirit organisations in the United States, RED ALERT. This registered student organisation boasts an impressive membership of over 4,100, making up approximately one fourth of the student body. The group was established in 2006 with the aim of encouraging student engagement in university athletics, and it has experienced remarkable growth ever since.