Events | College of Arts and Sciences | Western Michigan University

The College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University strives to add value to the lives of its learners and continuously improve the quality of its programming to meet the needs and expectations of the communities it serves. Join us for events that are tailored to your academic interests and help prepare you for the future.

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Reserve a conference room in 2302 or 2307 Friedmann Hall.

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Upcoming events

Wednesday, October 24

Lyceum Lecture Series–"Food Access: Serving Communities in Need," Lee Honors College lounge, noon to 1 p.m.

Physics Colloquium–"Modeling the X-ray Emissions from Accreting Black Holes," presented by Dr. Javier Garcia, postdoctoral scholar in physics at Caltech, 1110 Rood Hal, 4 to 5 p.m.; light refreshments at 3:30 p.m. in 2202 Everett Tower.

Ethics lecture–"Invisible Salt and Urban Dead Seas: Who Is Responsible," presented by Dr. Carla Koretsky, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, co-sponsored with the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, 105-107 Bernhard Center, 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 25

Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies Open House–learn more about the programs offered in African American and African Studies and Anthropology, while checking out their newly renovated office space, 1071 Moore Hall, noon to 2 p.m.

Friday, October 26

Geography Colloquium–"Geography ad Community Planning/Connecting," presented by alumna Elise Crafts, 2119 Wood Hall, 2 p.m.

Biological Sciences Seminar Series–"Navigating the Tangled Bank: Environmental Impacts on Ecological Networks," presented by Dr. Tim Wootton of Purdue University, 1710 Wood Hall, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 27

Math prize competition–for all undergraduate students, 3309 Rood Hall, 9 a.m. to noon

Monday, October 29

Ethics book club–"Technology and the Virtues," written by Shannon Vallor, discussion led by TJ Broy, 2072 Moore Hall, 5 to 7 p.m.

Geological and Environmental Sciences Seminar Series–"Pre-Cambrian Carbon Cycle," presented by Dr. Juha Karhu of the University of Helsinki, 1118 Rood Hall, 4 to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, October 30

Ethics book club–"In the Shadows of the American Century," written by Alfred W. McCoy, discussion led by William Santiago-Valles, Water Street Coffee Joint- 3037 Oakland Dr, 4 to 6 p.m. Other dates for this book: Nov. 7 and 14.

Phi Beta Kappa CEO talk–"Free Expression on Campus: It's Complicated," presented by Frederick M. Lawrence, 10th secretary/CEO of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, 1028 Brown Hall, 5 p.m.; reception to follow

Wednesday, October 31

Global Studies Brown Bag Lunch–"A Fulbright Experience in Vietnam," presented by Dr. Jim Butterfield, 3120 Sangren Hall, noon to 1 p.m.

Lyceum Lecture Series–"Food Entrepreneurship in Our Community," Lee Honors College lounge, noon to 1 p.m.

Thursday, November 1

Women's Caucus lunch–"Women Also Know Stuff: Supporting and Promoting Women in the Academy," presented by Dr. Christina Wolbrecht of Notre Dame University; after a brief presentation on women in academia, Wolbrecht will lead a discussion of how women can advance their academic careers, location: TBA, 12:30 p.m.

Women's Caucus and IGP sponsored talk–"Women in Politics After 2016, " presented by Dr. Christina Wolbrecht of Notre Dame University; Wolbrecht will look at the gender gap in the 2016 election, women's activism, and women running for office since 2016, location: TBA, 3 p.m.

Friday, November 2

Biological Sciences Seminar Series–"Ornaments, Enemies and Sensory Filters in the Evolution of Communication Systems," presented by Dr. Ximena Bernal of Purdue University, 1710 Wood Hall, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 4

Daylight Saving Time ends

Monday, November 5

Employee photo session—For WMU faculty and staff, Walwood Hall's Heinig Emeriti Lounge, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ethics lecture–"Integrating Research Ethics into the High School Science Classroom," presented by Dr. Sue Stapleton, Dean of the Graduate College, and several other panelists, 1710 Sangren Hall, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, November 6

U.S. Election Day

Wednesday, November 7

Lyceum Lecture Series–"Growing a Stronger Kalamazoo with Community Gardening," Lee Honors College lounge, noon to 1 p.m.

Thursday, November 8

Anthropology Brown Bag Talks–"Social Justice Comedy in Stand-up: Factors Shaping Audience Receptivity," presented by Dr. Elise DeCamp, 1071 Moore Hall, noon to 1 p.m.; food and refreshments provided.

Friday, November 9

Graduate Advising Mixer: Recruitment Best Practices–presented by the College of Arts and Sciences, 3025 Brown Hall, 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Biological Sciences Seminar Series–"Identification of Genes Required for Germline Development Using Planarians in Undergraduate Coursework," presented by Dr. Labib Rouhana of Wright State University, 1710 Wood Hall, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Ethics lecture–"Plato's Dialogues of Definition: What Is Socrates Looking For?," presented by Dr. Justin C. Clark of Hamilton College, 157 Bernhard Center, 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Monday, November 12

Geological and Environmental Sciences Seminar Series–"Mineral-Microbe Interactions," presented by Dr. Jena Johnson of the University of Michigan, 1118 Rood Hall, 4 to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, November 14

AAAS Brown Bag Talks–"From the Blues to Black Lives Matter: Americana Music and Social Protest," presented by Dr. Larry Simon, 1101 Moore Hall, noon to 1 p.m.; food and refreshments provided.

Lyceum Lecture Series–"Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers Markets: Connections, Initiatives & Impacts," Lee Honors College lounge, noon to 1 p.m.

Ethics book club–"In the Shadows of the American Century," written by Alfred W. McCoy, discussion led by William Santiago-Valles, Water Street Coffee Joint- 3037 Oakland Dr, 4 to 6 p.m.

Geography Mapathon–Celebrate Geography Awareness Week by becoming a cartographer for a day, Sangren Hall-Classroom E, Swain Education Library, 5 to 10 p.m.

SPAA Public Service Engagement Series–"Emergency Management Law and the Public Servant," presented by Laurence Shaffer, City Manager of Portage, 1710 Sangren Hall, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; refreshments at 5 p.m.

Thursday, November 15

Global and international studies lecture–"Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgystan," presented by Dr. Charles Becker of Duke University, co-sponsored with the Department of Economics and the Department of World Languages and Literatures, 2028 Brown Hall, 4 p.m.

English Seminar Series–"The Rise of the African and Decolonial Hierarchies," presented by Dr. Mukoma wa Ngugi of Cornell University, University Center for the Humanities–2500 Knauss Hall, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Friday, November 16

Biological Sciences Seminar Series–"Deciphering the Language of Symbiotic Communication," presented by Dr. Paul Price of Eastern Michigan University, 1710 Wood Hall, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 21

Thanksgiving recess begins at noon—No classes. WMU offices open normal hours.

Thursday, November 22

Thanksgiving recess—No classes. Many WMU offices closed or on reduced hours.

U.S. Thanksgiving Day

Friday, November 23

Thanksgiving recess—No classes. Many WMU offices closed or on reduced hours.

Monday, November 26

Fall semester classes resume at 8 a.m.
Geological and Environmental Sciences Seminar Series–"Use of Biomakers in Sedimentary Geology," presented by Dr. Megan Rohrssen of Central Michigan University, 1118 Rood Hall, 4 to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, November 28

Lyceum Lecture Series–"WMU Permaculture Programming, Practices and Research," Lee Honors College lounge, noon to 1 p.m.

Research Briefs in Global Studies–"Globalisms and South Asian Literature," presented by Drs. Todd Kuchta and Nathan Tabor, University Center for the Humanities–2500 Knauss Hall, 4 to 5 p.m.

Friday, November 30

Biological Sciences Seminar Series–"Conservation Corridors for Nature and for People," presented by Dr. Nick Haddad of Kellogg Biological Station and Michigan State University, 1710 Wood Hall, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, December 3

Geological and Environmental Sciences Seminar Series–"Mid-Continent Rift of North America," presented by Dr. Carol Stein of the University of Illinois-Chicago, 1118 Rood Hall, 4 to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, December 5

Lyceum Lecture Series–"Nutrition Paradigms of Three World Cultures," Lee Honors College lounge, noon to 1 p.m.

Monday, December 10

Final examination week—through Dec. 13.

Tuesday, December 11

Final examination week—through Dec. 13.

Employee photo session—For WMU faculty and staff, Walwood Hall's Heinig Emeriti Lounge, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free; no appointment required.

Wednesday, December 12

Final examination week—through Dec. 13.

Thursday, December 13

Final examination week—through Dec. 13.

Saturday, December 15

Commencement—Miller Auditorium, times to be announced in November.

Fall semester ends

Tuesday, December 18

Fall semester grades due