July 2016 WMU News

Heritage Hall's renovation, completed in October 2015, transformed it into one of the most efficient and environmentally sophisticated buildings in Southwest Michigan.

The festival is in its 30th year and is set for Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 4-6. Admission is free before 4 p.m. each day.

Thomas J. Carr, former associate vice president for operations of the Office of Business and Finance, died July 15 at age 87. 

Timothy R. Terrentine Sr., who currently serves as executive vice president of Southwest Michigan First, will begin the new position effective Aug. 22.

The school anticipates gaining full accreditation status from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education in February 2018, prior to the graduation of its inaugural class.

The early registration deadline for booth space is Sunday, July 31, for the annual event that this year is set for 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, on the Sangren Pedestrian Mall.

The Fostering Success Coach Training program recently completed its first year of offering professional training to more than 200 new coach mentors working in nine states.

WMU's sales and business marketing program has once again been identified by the Sales Education Foundation as a top sales program among universities.

WMU passed the $1.6 million mark in externally funded awards in April and May, pushing the year-to-date total above $21 million since the start of the 2015-16 fiscal year.

Capt. Russell Kavalhuna, executive director of flight operations, is in Little Rock, Arkansas, to take part in the graduation of the 2016 Class of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program.

The acclaimed WMU supply chain program has again been ranked No. 9 on Gartner's 2016 Top U.S. Supply Chain Undergraduate University Programs.

Robert Campbell, a retired financial services specialist in the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, died June 11 at age 69.

WMU's Board of Trustees approved the tenure of 20 faculty members and promotions of 40 faculty members at its June 29 meeting.

Marcia L. Thompson, a retired human resources assistant, died April 20 at age 67. She joined the WMU staff in 1997 and retired in 2010 after 13 years of service to the University.

A U.S. passport acceptance facility for campus and local community members opened July 5 in WMU's Ellsworth Hall.

Dr. Leander C. Jones, emeritus professor of Africana Studies, died July 2 at age 81. Visitation and a Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity service is set for July 8, with a memorial service scheduled for noon July 9.

Buba, Cinnamon, Diva and seven other goats will be on campus for a week starting Sunday, July 10, to test their viability for controlling invasive plant species.

Florida's Commission for Independent Education has approved two provisional licenses, paving the way for WMU to offer aviation and several other academic programs in the state.

SEMINAR 2016, which runs from Sunday, July 10, through Saturday, July 23, will bring students from eight states, South America and China to Kalamazoo.

Tickets are on sale for the annual Kalamazoo Blues Festival, which will be held Thursday through Saturday, July 7-9.

The annual events from Monday through Sunday, July 11-17, and admission to many of the events is free of charge.

Onsi Fares, former language specialist in the Career English Language Center for International Studies, died April 29 at age 91.

Ronald E. Hall and Charles C. Warfield were instrumental in the founding of WMU's celebrated Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Norma Cook, a retired staff member in Dining Services, died June 22 at age 94. A visitation will be held Wednesday, July 6.