Event to help WMU employees and their families use tuition benefits

KALAMAZOO--A Western Michigan University Family Education Fair Tuesday, May 22, will help benefits-eligible WMU employees go back to school this year alongside the students they teach and serve.

The event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. in the second floor Bernhard Center ballroom and will offer benefits-eligible employees the opportunity to meet with academic department representatives and advisors as well as staff members from admissions, financial aid and human resources. Attendees will have their application fee waived if they apply for admission for the 2012-13 year.

The event is designed to help faculty and staff and their families take full advantage of one of the most significant parts of their employee benefits package--tuition remission. During the May 22 event, those attending will have a chance to get their questions answered about the process of applying for admission and taking classes--either to begin a degree program or meet their own professional development goals.

WMU President John M. Dunn will welcome attendees to the event with brief remarks. He is expected to encourage faculty and staff members to take full advantage the range of academic opportunities as well as the tuition remission provisions that are part of the compensation package for benefits-eligible employees and their dependents.

This is the second year for the event, which garnered enthusiastic campus response when it was first held in August 2011. The Office of Admissions opted to hold it earlier in the calendar year this time to give employees and families more time to explore and plan for the fall semester.

In addition to academic and financial aid information, the event will include features for employee dependents who may be graduating seniors still making their college choice. Those opportunities will include the chance to tour the campus and meet with representatives of Residence Life and First Year Experience.

In addition, a series of drawings will be held during the event to give away $25 WMU Bookstore gift certificates.