Atlanta-based Newell Rubbermaid plans to open a state-of-the art 40,000-square-foot facility at WMU's Business Technology and Research Park by early 2014, and expects to have a Kalamazoo employee base of up to 100.

A 5K run and walk and 1K fun run will take place starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, to raise funds for WMU honors students studying abroad or in locations around the United States.

A Nonprofit Celebration to be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 15, at the Fetzer Center. Reservations for the event are requested by Monday, April 8, to jasmine.e.maben@wmich.edu or (269) 387-8930.

WMU's Percussion Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall, closing out the 2012-13 season of the Bullock Performance Institute concert series.

At its Feb. 27 meeting, the WMU Board of Trustees approved the retirements of 11 faculty and 14 staff and also signed off on three faculty resignations as well as two faculty leaves.

Four participants in day programming and services offered by the Center for Disability Services will display their art through the end of April in the second floor art gallery of the College of Health and Human Services.

Jane Nichols, a retired finance clerk for the WMU Bookstore, died Tuesday, Jan. 8, at age 89. She joined the University in 1968 and retired in 1988 after 20 years of service.

Graduate students and faculty members, who have previously received a Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award will showcase their scholarly work on Friday, April 5, in the East Ballroom of the Bernhard Center.

Brooke Gladstone, host of the National Public Radio magazine "On the Media," will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, as part of the Kalamazoo Public Library's Reading Together initiative.

Windellin S. Ashbrook, a former assistant baker at Burnham Dining Services, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, at age 77. She retired in November 2000 after 10 years of service to the University.

Journalists Nada Alwadi from Bahrain and Delphine Hagland from France will speak Tuesday, March 26, thanks to film students Cassandra Stagner and Wil Granaderos.

Welcome home returning soldiers from the 1433rd Company of the 507th Engineering Battalion of the Michigan Army National Guard at a ceremony at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at University Arena.

Award-winning musical "American Idiot" is coming to Miller Auditorium for one performance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. Tickets available online, at (269) 387-2300, or at the box office.

Dr. James W. "Bill" Armstrong, associate professor emeritus of education and professional development, died Feb. 23 at age 85. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 22, in Portage, Mich.

Animal Planet's Peter Gros is coming to Miller Auditorium at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 24, for one show featuring storytelling, multimedia and working with wild animals.

Numerous summer camps, including writing, sports and college preparatory camps, are being offered on the campus of WMU for young people. Registration is under way for many of the camps.

Dr. Ruth M. Davis, professor emerita of health, physical education and recreation, died Dec. 16, 2012, at age 89. She retired in 1986 after 24 years of service to the University.

The session, "Higher Education for Veterans," will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23, in Battle Creek, Mich., at the Fort Custer Education Center Pentagon Building, Room A181C.

Voting during a special conference-call meeting March 20, the WMU Board of Trustees approved a new three-year contract with the Professional Instructors Organization, a union representing part-time faculty members.

Two WMU professors have been named American Council on Education fellows for the 2013-14 academic year. Fellows are nominated by their presidents and chancellors and selected following a rigorous application process.

The WMU Board of Trustees has scheduled a special conference call meeting for 2:30 p.m. today to consider approval of a new employee contract.

Area seniors are invited to join WMU students and employees for a night of music and dancing Thursday, March 28, during WMU's 25th annual Senior Prom. Activities will start at 5 p.m. and dancing runs from 7 to 10 p.m.

Carrie Cumming, has been named to position of registrar. She has held the position on an interim basis since late 2010, and has worked in the office since 1993.

Dr. Jerome G. Manis, professor emeritus of sociology, died Saturday, Feb. 23, at age 95. Private services have been held. Memorial gifts may be made to the Kokua Council.

Students can win up to a $1,200 first-place prize in the Business Pitch Competition, where potential investors and panels of judges will evaluate three-minute presentation of business ideas.

Area residents will honor César E. Chávez and some of their own during a dinner program at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23. Reservations will be accepted until Wednesday, March 20, but tickets will also be sold at the door.

Donate clothes to a good cause during the communitywide 5K "strip run" from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 23. An information and registration session is set for Thursday, March 21.

Students were recognized at the Michigan Clean Energy Venture Challenge, winning $10,000 in micro-grants for innovative ideas, including apps to encourage energy savings and track electronics for recycling.

Graduate students in humanities disciplines will present papers on a wide range of topics at the Graduate Humanities Conference, scheduled for Friday, March 22.

Christopher W. Tremblay, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment management at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, has been named WMU's associate provost for enrollment management.