News

Western Michigan University has just been authorized to add seven new degree and certificate programs in a range of disciplines to students studying at its Punta Gorda, Florida, regional location. Acting at its March 27 meeting, the Florida Department of Education Commission for Independent Education approved a WMU request to make the additional programs available to students at WMU-Punta Gorda, beginning in the fall semesters of 2018 and 2019.

As a result of Lori Brown's work with Microsoft HoloLens, WMU has become the first aviation program in the nation to use augmented reality in the classroom.

The freshwater science and sustainability program at Western Michigan University-Traverse City held a graduate recognition ceremony, Thursday, Dec. 14. While past graduates of the program had the opportunity to participate in graduation ceremonies in Kalamazoo, all graduates since 2016 and those who are expected to graduate in spring 2018 were invited to walk during this first ever ceremony at WMU-Traverse City.

The freshwater science and sustainability program at Western Michigan University-Traverse City was launched in partnership with Northwestern Michigan College in 2014. Since then, students are continually taken to the next level of environmental learning and policy change.

Western Michigan University student Tanja Frederick of Morley, Michigan, has been honored with the Crime Prevention Volunteer Award by the Crime Prevention Association of Michigan for her contributions to the city of Grand Rapids Hoarding Task Force.

Western Michigan University’s Grand Rapids public health and social work faculty recently developed curricula aimed at improving cultural competency for health professions students in collaboration with Native American partners in greater Grand Rapids.

More than 100,000 people visited Western Michigan University’s downtown Grand Rapids regional location during ArtPrize® Nine, WMU’s fifth consecutive year as an ArtPrize® Venue.

“Field education is an integral part of graduate students’ learning process, and is the signature pedagogy of social work education. Service hours in the field allow students to demonstrate the integration of knowledge, values and skills gained in the classroom, while also providing needed services to the West Michigan community,” said Vicki Poleni, WMU-Grand Rapids Master of Social Work Field Education Coordinator.

With just two days left until the Ninth Annual ArtPrize® Awards ceremony on Oct. 6, Western Michigan University’s downtown Grand Rapids regional location, curated by WMU instructor of art, Don Desmett, stands as a finalist for the Outstanding Venue Award and “Red Dirt Rug Monument,” which is displayed at WMU is doing well in the public and juried votes.

Occupational therapy students from WMU’s Grand Rapids regional location are holding a fundraising event in conjunction with Dr. Grin’s Comedy Club to support the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan’s teen suicide prevention program.

Construction has begun at Western Michigan University’s Grand Rapids regional location for a state-of the-art manufacturing laboratory. AMP Lab @WMU, an Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Laboratory, is being built in collaboration with West Michigan manufacturers and Grand Rapids Community College to address the shortage of skilled trades and engineering employees in the region.

Master of Social Work students participating in an intercultural course at Western Michigan University’s Grand Rapids and Southwest (Benton Harbor) regional locations recently participated in activities within Chicago’s diverse communities. Over the course of four days, students interacted with a variety of cultural Chicago neighborhoods.

Freshwater Science and Sustainability students from Western Michigan University-Traverse City assessed the quality of two local streams of interest to the Leelanau Conservancy using procedures employed by the MI-DEQ on Aug. 15.

Western Michigan University will begin offering master’s level courses at WMU Cooley Law School campuses in Auburn Hills, Lansing, and Tampa Bay, Florida. A partner in an affiliation agreement that led to the naming of the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2014, the University will begin full course offerings for programs on the law school’s campuses this fall.

The Youth Collaboration Award, sponsored by Western Michigan University, offers any school or eligible nonprofit educational organization serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade the opportunity to enter a collaborative piece into ArtPrize Nine and compete for a $5,000 cash prize, awarded by public vote.

Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation will highlight its aviation programs being offered in Florida and a virtual reality experience during the world’s largest aviation event, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture, July 24–30. The Oshkosh, Wisconsin, event attracts more than 500,000 people each year.

Kaila Graham has been named the recipient of a master’s level Thurgood Marshall Fellowship at Western Michigan University. Enrolled in WMU’s Master of Public Health program, Graham will begin her studies in September 2017.

Western Michigan University’s Grand Rapids regional location recently received grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research to develop curricula aimed at improving cultural competency for health professions students. The grant awards nearly $14,700 for the project, which focuses on addressing diabetes and tobacco use among Native Americans.

Scientists and scholars from around the globe are expected in Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 14 through June 16 to participate in the 2017 Water History Conference.

The Haworth College of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Western Michigan University have collaborated to develop an information security graduate certificate for information technology professionals launching fully online in fall 2017.

WMU's Director of Flight Operations Russ Kavalhuna took NBC2's Tim Wronka on a flight over Charlotte County, explaining that its warm climate is a great place to train new pilots.

The Higher Learning Commission has approved Western Michigan University’s request to offer programs at two locations in Florida.

WMU-Grand Rapids has partnered with Google Inc. to introduce 21 MBA students to the world of online advertising through the Google Online Marketing Challenge (GOMC). The challenge is a hands-on competition that provides participants with direct online advertising and marketing experience.

Newschannel 3 visited WMU occupational therapy students Lori Johnson and Corey Youngs at Clark on Keller Lake retirement community to see how their social experiment is going. Watch the video or read the transcript at wwmt.com.

WMU Extended University Programs (EUP) entered into an agreement with Forest Hills Public Schools to launch the first-of-its-kind “Collegiate Pathways” program. The dual enrollment program, set to launch in fall 2017 at Forest Hills Northern High School, allows students to earn the full Chinese language minor offered by WMU while still enrolled in high school.

Hands Across the Harbor is a half marathon and community event that encourages Charlotte County residents, regional residents, tourists, and businesses to live a healthy life style and make environmentally responsible decisions.

The Enterprise Charlotte Foundation has awarded nearly $18,000 to WMU for a study its scientists are doing aimed at improving the ability to forecast algae blooms along the Charlotte County, Florida, coastline and its northern and southern extensions.

On January 24, Western Michigan University officials will present details about WMU’s sustainability programs and research initiatives to the Charlotte County Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting. The programs are designed to positively impact the community’s sustainability through hands-on research regarding sustainable land use.