Families

We understand that sending your student to college comes with a lot of questions and emotions, and you are looking for a way to balance supporting your student and providing them with the space they need to grow and learn.

Your student has access to a wealth of resources at WMU, and we want to provide you with the knowledge, resources and assistance needed to help you not only support your student academically but also help them thrive both physically and mentally. Thank you for being a part of Bronco Nation!

Staying connected to your student

The transition from high school to college is a major shift for both students and families as you all adjust to new schedules, expectations and responsibilities. We encourage you to learn a little more about the WMU administration to understand how these offices interact with your student on a daily basis. If you’d like to receive regular updates from WMU, you can sign up for the Family Connection newsletter or safety alerts and advisories from the WMU Department of Public Safety.

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a federal law designed to help protect the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. Should we have any serious concerns regarding your student’s academic progress or general well-being, we will contact you.

Should you have any concerns about your child's well-being, in any regard, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students at (269) 387-2150.

Authorized user access

Your student may want you to have access to certain academic and financial aid information. WMU students have the ability to grant access to third party individuals for specific purposes.

A student and her parents in a WMU residence hall room.

Academics and career development

We know that your student’s success is your first priority—it’s ours, too! From the moment they step on campus, your student will have access to a variety of academic and career-related resources to help shape and support whatever path they choose to take.

Academic advising

Every student’s successful college journey starts by connecting with their academic advisor. Regular advising ensures your student will stay on track to graduation and help them set a path that best supports their aptitudes, interests and career goals. 

Explore academic resources

A student working on a piece of machinery.

Beyond the classroom

In addition to their studies, your student will also want to plan for life beyond WMU. Your student may:

Take their first steps toward a successful career with help from our Career and Student Employment Services. Our dedicated team provides career assessments, job-search tools, networking events, resume help and much more.
Find a part-time, on-campus job. Your student will learn valuable workplace skills, like how to have a good relationship with a boss and co-workers, follow through on obligations and build character and responsibility.
Expand their horizons by studying abroad. Encourage your student to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to enrich and broaden their perspectives, preparing them to enter a global workforce.

Finances and paying for school

Paying for college is a major stress point for many families. At WMU, we offer a variety of resources to help you understand and navigate your options.

View resources

Info for incoming Bronco families

Congratulations to you and your student, and welcome to the Bronco family! We know the transition to college, whether new to college or transferring from another institution, brings a number of challenges and questions. With that in mind, we want to provide you with some resources that we hope you’ll find helpful.

The academic journey begins with orientation. Your student has been asked to register for an in-person orientation session with several options to choose from throughout the summer; orientation dates and sample daily schedules are available online. All incoming students, transfer or beginner, are required to attend orientation. Family participation, which is limited to two per student, is encouraged. There will be separate student and family programming during the event. Students will need to log into the New Student Hub to register for orientation.
Take a look at the online orientation modules. All students who have completed the pre-advising survey are automatically enrolled into these online modules. Checking out the online orientation modules is a great way to get to know a little more about WMU and features highlights from across campus, including important information on academics, social engagement and more. You can view the modules beginning May 6, 2024, and they should be finished by Sept. 13, 2024.