Illinois State University (
ISU), founded in 1857, is the oldest
public university in
Illinois,
United States; it is located in the town of
Normal. ISU grants a variety of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees and emphasizes teaching. The university fosters faculty research and has active researchers, many of whom encourage the participation of students. ISU is also recognized as one of the top ten largest producers of teachers in the US according to the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. The ISU
athletic teams are members of the
Missouri Valley Conference and the
Missouri Valley Football Conference and are known as the "Redbirds," in reference to the state bird, the
cardinal.