Lunch and Learn

Temporarily suspended: Bring your lunch and join us for a quarterly presentation by an APA member with expertise in a particular area. Suggestions for presenters welcome through the Contact Us form—see menu at left. 

Coffee and Connections

Temporarily suspended. 

Lunch Meet-up

Temporarily suspended: Bring your lunch and connect with other APA members at a Lunch Meet-up.

Active membership

 Active membership in the association

      • Join perpetually for $12 per year via payroll deduction
      • Join for one year at $15 via payroll deduction
      • Join for one year at $15 with a check

Join now

General membership meetings

APA general membership meetings are open to any WMU employee interested in attending; membership is limited to WMU salaried exempt employees.

  • Wednesday, May 13, 2020—Noon to 1 p.m., Bernhard Center Rooms 208/209

Recent meetings

  • Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020—Noon to 1 p.m., Bernhard Center Rooms 208/209
  • Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019—Noon to 1 p.m., Bernhard Center Rooms 208/209
  • Tuesday, May 14, 2019—the APA's most recent general meeting included the APA Annual Awards and a visit from President Montgomery to provide an update on University news and addressing APA concerns. VIDEO of the meeting presentations. Click on the button below to view APA/PSSO recommendations to WMU senior leadership based on the 2017 joint employee survey.  

     APA/PSSO recommendations

Executive board meetings

Board meetings are held monthly throughout the academic year. Attendance is limited to board members. Meeting minutes are posted for member review on the website as soon as possible after each meeting.

2020

  • Wednesday, Jan. 15
  • Wednesday, Feb. 12
  • Wednesday, March 11
  • Wednesday, April 8
  • Wednesday, May 6
  • Wednesday, June 10
  • Wednesday, July 8

ENGAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The APA executive board welcomes and encourages the active participation of all members. Indicate your interest in becoming more active in APA via the interest form below. 

Interest form

Past Lunch and Learn presentations

  • Oct. 10, 2019—Western CARES: Helping Students in Distress, Noon to 1 p.m., 2730 Sangren Hall. Presented by Bre Traynor, mental health outreach coordinator in Student Affairs. One in three Western Michigan students have been diagnosed or treated by a professional for a mental health condition. Bre will review common warning signs of distress, how to respond effectively to a student in distress, and how to identify when and how to share resources to a student in need. CARES is the campus suicide prevention program.
  • August 14, 2019—Staying Active in the Workplace, 12:10 to 12:55 p.m., Classroom 3012, Student Recreation Center. Presented by Beth Northuis, assistant director of fitness and wellness programs, who will share helpful workout tips on stretching, resistance training, and cardio at this Western Wellness presentation on incorporating wellness into your workday. Presentation slides.
  • JUNE 10, 2019—Student Assessment. Noon, Rooms 157-158, Bernhard Center. Presented by Ciji Heiser, director of assessment and effectiveness. This presentation will focus on an overview of the assessment cycle and will include exercises on how to write and measure learning outcomes. This session will also help audience members decide between multiple assessment tools to best meet their needs and measure their learning outcomes. Presentation video.

STAFF ENGAGEMENT SURVEY 

The executive boards of WMU’s Administrative Professional Association and Professional Support Staff Organization periodically solicit input from employees through a survey open to salaried and hourly exempt status employees. The last survey was conducted in 2017 and a preliminary report was published and disseminated to membership of both organizations and WMU senior leadership. Survey results are guiding the efforts of both organizations to advocate on behalf of their membership and other WMU employees.  Preliminary report (April 25, 2018) 

APA STATEMENT OF SUPPORT

The Administrative Professional Association acknowledges WMU's broad definition of diversity approved by the WMU Board of Trustees in 2006 in the Diversity and Multiculturalism Action Plan. APA stands in support of the Western Student Association and its Statement of Solidarity, believe in the leadership of our students, and greatly value the diversity of our community. APA stands in support of the WMU-AAUP Resolution in Solidarity with Western Michigan University Students issued by the WMU chapter of the Association of American University Professors. APA is committed to assuring that our community members feel included, accepted, respected, and empowered, (see DMAP, page 8) in an institution where diversity is practiced, celebrated, affirmed, and vigorously pursued, (DMAP, page 9).