Resources and Training
Resources and Training
The following resources and training opportunities are available to Western Michigan University faculty and staff members free of charge.
HR Fall Training Series
Performance Management & PerformYard
Title: HR Training Series: Performance Management and PerformYard
Dates: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Time: 1:30–3:00 p.m.
Location: Student Center Room 3205
eLearning: Registration requirement
Capacity: 40
Description: This session is designed for employees, managers, and supervisors and will provide an overview of the 2026–27 performance management process, including setting objectives and competencies, coaching and tracking performance, writing assessments, and participating in feedback discussions. Participants will gain an understanding of the 2026–27 performance management process and learn how to navigate and use the new PerformYard system.
To reserve your spot for September 15th: https://experiencewmu.wmich.edu/event/12573781/
Performance Management & PerformYard
Title: HR Training Series: Performance Management and PerformYard
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Time: 8:30–10:00 a.m.
Location: Student Center Room 3205
eLearning: Registration requirement
Capacity: 40
Description: This session is designed for employees, managers, and supervisors and will provide an overview of the 2026–27 performance management process, including setting objectives and competencies, coaching and tracking performance, writing assessments, and participating in feedback discussions. Participants will gain an understanding of the 2026–27 performance management process and learn how to navigate and use the new PerformYard system.
To reserve your spot for September 23rd: https://experiencewmu.wmich.edu/event/12573861
Hiring Process & Online Applicant Tracking System
Title: HR Training Series: Hiring Process & Online Applicant Tracking System
Dates: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time: 8:30–10:00 a.m.
Location: Student Center Room 3205
eLearning: Registration requirement
Capacity: 40
Description: This Human Resources training session will focus on the hiring process and is designed for supervisors, managers, and those responsible for hiring within their departments. The training will cover position posting, use of the online applicant tracking system, interviewing best practices, selecting candidates, and the required information and steps for making a hire that involves the immigration process.
To reserve your spot for October 14th: https://experiencewmu.wmich.edu/event/12573880
Hiring Process & Online Applicant Tracking System
Title: HR Training Series: Hiring Process & Online Applicant Tracking System
Dates: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Time: 1:30–3:00 p.m.
Location: Student Center Room 3205
eLearning: Registration requirement
Capacity: 40
Description: This Human Resources training session will focus on the hiring process and is designed for supervisors, managers, and those responsible for hiring within their departments. The training will cover position posting, use of the online applicant tracking system, interviewing best practices, selecting candidates, and the required information and steps for making a hire that involves the immigration process.
To reserve your spot for October 20th: https://experiencewmu.wmich.edu/event/12573916
Leaves of Absence
Title: HR Training Series: Leaves of Absence
Dates: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Time: 1:30–3:00 p.m.
Location: Student Center Room 3205
eLearning: Registration requirement
Cap: 40
Description: This Human Resources training session will provide employees, supervisors, and managers with a broad overview of Leaves of Absence (LOA) and the various leave options available to employees, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Participants will gain a better understanding of the different types of leave, eligibility requirements, and key considerations when navigating the leave process. The session will also highlight important HR resources, including the HR website, Employee Handbook, Collective Bargaining Agreements for staff and faculty, and Leave of Absence forms. Participants will learn where to find information and resources to help them better understand and navigate leave-related processes. The training will conclude with an opportunity for questions and discussion.
To reserve your spot for November 10th: https://experiencewmu.wmich.edu/event/12573957
Leaves of Absence
Title: HR Training Series: Leaves of Absence
Dates: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Time: 8:30–10:00 a.m.
Location: Student Center Room 3205
eLearning: Registration requirement
Cap: 40
Description: This Human Resources training session will provide employees, supervisors, and managers with a broad overview of Leaves of Absence (LOA) and the various leave options available to employees, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Participants will gain a better understanding of the different types of leave, eligibility requirements, and key considerations when navigating the leave process. The session will also highlight important HR resources, including the HR website, Employee Handbook, Collective Bargaining Agreements for staff and faculty, and Leave of Absence forms. Participants will learn where to find information and resources to help them better understand and navigate leave-related processes. The training will conclude with an opportunity for questions and discussion.
To reserve your spot on November 18th: https://experiencewmu.wmich.edu/event/12573981
Campus Employee Dispute Resolution Services (CEDRS)
Target audience: all employees.
CEDRS is a confidential and private program that provides mediation and community conferencing services to assist faculty and staff of Western Michigan University with resolving interpersonal disputes.
Visit CEDRS for more information.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Target audience: all employees.
HelpNet Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers confidential assessment, brief counseling, and referral services to Western Michigan University employees and their household members who are concerned about marital and family issues, addictions, emotional problems, relationships, and other significant personal problems. This service is provided at no cost to WMU employees. The HelpNet Work Life Web gives WMU employees and their families access to information, articles, and resources on a variety of topics that include family and care giving, health and wellness, emotional well-being, and daily living. For more information about HelpNet EAP and the HelpNet Work Life Web, including login instructions, please visit Employee Assistance Program.
Employee Self Service Guides
Target audience: all employees.
Step-by-step guides for employees of Western Michigan University to utilize in accessing or making changes to personal information via the My Self Service Channel found in the GoWMU portal.
Environmental Health and Safety
Target audience: varies by department.
The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) offers a variety of training programs for employees and students of Western Michigan University that not only cover state and federal regulations, but also address safety concerns and issues that are not regulated.
Equity and Implicit Bias Training for Administrative Searches
Target audience: employees on search committees.
Information and training schedule available at https://wmich.edu/provost
Executive and Senior Officer Searches
Target audience: all employees.
The Hiring Guide provides guidance for WMU stakeholders with respect to facilitating successful executive searches involving key administrative and academic leadership positions. The Hiring Guide Checklist can be utilized once a vacant position has been identified in order to successfully complete the hiring process.
Hiring Temporary Employees
Target audience: supervisors and managers.
Temporary employees may be hired via a temporary employment agency on a short-term basis to help with work assignments. Western Michigan University partners with OnStaff USA to provide qualified temporary employees to the University community.
Hiring Toolbox
Target audience: supervisors and managers.
A comprehensive resource for hiring new employees at Western Michigan University.
Holiday Schedules for 2026-2027 & 2025-2026
Online Applicant Tracking System Resources
Western Michigan University utilizes an online applicant tracking system for internal and external job candidates. The online applicant tracking system can be found here. Resources for online applicant tracking system users include:
Online Faculty and Staff Prevention and Compliance Training
Target audience: all employees
It is strongly recommended all employees complete the following modules: 1)Diversity: Inclusion in the Modern Workplace; 2)Preventing Harassment and Discrimination: Clery act and Title IX; and 3)Clery Act Basics.
The online training system includes more than just the HR recommended training courses . The training platform (VectorSolutions) includes a library of offerings. If you are interested in reviewing the comprehensive listing of courses, access the training platform via GoWMU. In GoWMU, click "Apps", in the navigation bar, and scroll down to the "for faculty and staff" section. Click "Awareness and Prevention Training" to access the system. Once logged in, select "extra training" from the main menu on the left toolbar. Email hr-training@wmich.edu with questions.
Performance Management
Target audience: all Staff Compensation System (SCS) employees, supervisors and managers.
Each fiscal year, Western Michigan University staff compensation system employees work with their supervisors to determine personal job objectives and targeted competencies. This interactive process continues throughout the year and includes periodic feedback sessions and a written year-end review.
Policy and Procedures Manual
Target audience: all employees, supervisors and managers (collective bargaining employees, please refer to your collective bargaining agreements).
Western Michigan University's Human Resources policy and procedures manual.
Reasonable Assurance of Reemployment
Target audience: supervisors and managers.
The Michigan Employment Security Act, which governs unemployment compensation in Michigan, requires that employees be provided with written reasonable assurance of reemployment if the University intends to continue employment in the following semester or term and the University does not wish to be liable for unemployment compensation. Written reasonable assurance of reemployment renders staff and temporary faculty with less than 12-month appointments ineligible to receive unemployment benefits during the summer or other break periods.
Recognition Programs
Target audience: all employees.
Western Michigan University service recognition programs are designed to publicly recognize and honor University employees.
Student Employment Resources
Target audience: administrative personnel, supervisors and managers.
A comprehensive resource for hiring student employees at Western Michigan University.
Western Michigan University Policy Directory
Target audience: all employees.
An alphabetical index of all officially approved University-wide policies are displayed on this website. Any copies (print or online) of policies that are inconsistent with the official version hosted on this site should be disregarded. The most current version of a policy will be found on this site.
Western Wellness
Target audience: all employees.
Western Wellness is the consortium of services and resources provided at Western Michigan University for the health and wellness of employees.
Worker's Compensation
Target audience: all employees, supervisors and managers (collective bargaining employees, please refer to your collective bargaining agreements)
The Workers' Disability Compensation Act is a state law providing for medical payments and income when injuries and accidents, including disease, arise out of, and in the course of, employment. An employee who is injured on duty must report it promptly to his/her supervisor. Any delay in reporting a job-related accident, injury, or disease may make it difficult to validate a claim at a later date. For additional information and how to report an injury, please visit wmich.edu/hr/manual-safety.
Workers' compensation is administered by Human Resources and Environmental Health and Safety. They provide injured employees with resources and assistance, helping them to return to work as soon as possible. For additional information, please visit wmich.edu/ehs/wc.
If you have questions, be sure to contact your HR Business Partner in Human Resources at (269) 387-3620 or send an email to the HR Training email: @email.