Medieval Institute

Events

The Medieval Institute sponsors visiting lectures and social events throughout the year, as well as workshops on pedagogy and professional development for MA students. We work in collaboration with The Medieval Research Group and the Goliardic Society, which organize events open to all interested medievalists in a variety of venues. 

We also seek to foster fellowship and intellectual exchange among students and faculty at WMU and with members of the Kalamazoo community interested in Medieval Studies. If you have questions regarding any of the events listed, please contact us. 

Fall 2026 Events

All events are held in the Rawlinson Center Library unless otherwise noted. 

August 28

  • Graduate Student Orientation, 9:00am - 5:00pm
    • New Students: Morning, Lunch, Afternoon
    • Continuing TAs: Lunch, Early Afternoon (TAU, TA Training)
    • Alums, faculty, etc: Lunch

September 4

  • Fall Advising Meeting, 1:00 - 2:00pm
  • Professional Development: Seeking Grants: 2:00 - 2:30pm
  • Individual advising meetings afterwards

September 11

  • TA Training, 1:00 - 2:00pm
    • New TAs: Evaluating Student Work, MDVL 2000
    • Continuing TAs: Teaching Issues Roundtable
  • Welcome Reception, 5:00 - 7:00pm Connable Room and Lobby

September 18

  • TA Training: Evaluating Student Work, MDVL 1000, 1:00 - 2:00pm

October 9

  • TA Training, 1:00 - 2:00pm
    • New TAs: Designing Quizzes and Exams
    • Continuing TAs: Teaching Issues Roundtable 2

October 30

  • TA Training: Engaging with Students, 1:00 - 2:30pm

November 20

  • TA Training: Building Assignments, 1:00 - 2:30pm

These events are open to all Medieval Studies students, faculty, staff, and interested members of the WMU community. 

September 11
  • Welcome Reception, 5:00 - 7:00pm Connable Room and Lobby

The TA trainings are only required for TAs, while the advising sessions are required for all MA students. Both are held in the Richard Rawlinson Center.

August 28
  • Graduate Student Orientation, 9:00am - 5:00pm
    • New Students: morning, lunch, afternoon.
    • Continuing TAs: TAU and TA Training, lunch and early afternoon.
September 4
  • Fall Advising Meeting 1:00 - 2:00pm
September 11
  • TA Training, 1:00 - 2:00pm
    • New TAs: Evaluating Student Work, MDVL 2000
    • Continuing TAs: Teaching Issues Roundtable
September 18
  • TA Training: Evaluating Student Wrok, MDVL 1000, 1:00 - 2:00pm
October 9
  • TA Training, 1:00 - 2:00pm
    • New TAs: Designing Quizzes and Exams
    • Continuing TAs: Teaching Issues Roundtable 2
October 30
  • TA Training: Engaging with Students, 1:00 - 2:30pm
November 20
  • TA Training: Building Assignments, 1:00 - 2:30pm

Medieval Studies graduate students are encouraged to attend these workshops. Interested graduate students from affiliated programs may also attend. 

September 4
  • Professional Development: Seeking Grants, 2:00 - 2:30pm

Medieval Research Group is a joint initiative of the Medieval Institute and the Zhang Legacy Collections at Western Michigan University to create opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to carry out research, learn about university resources, share their work with others, and build community. For more information, visit the MRG page on our website.  

January 15
  • Spring Advising Meeting, 1:00 - 2:00pm
    • Followed by individual meetings
January 26
  • TA Training: Designing Sample Modules, Part I, 2:00 - 3:30pm
February 5
  • Professional Development: Applying for PhDs, 1:00 - 2:00pm
March 19
  • TA Training: Designing Sample Modules, Part II, 2:00 - 3:30pm
TBD 
  • Loew Lecture and Workshop