Industrial and entrepreneurial engineering students Sean Fitzsimons, Paul Geyer and Sam Olmstead have reached the top 10 in the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers’ 2019-2020 Outstanding Capstone Senior Design Projects Award competition.

The city of Kalamazoo has opened an office in room 105 of the Bernhard Center where students and residents can register to vote and cast their ballots. It will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m through Election Day, with extended hours on select days.

The five-year grant will look to recruit, retain and support future chemists and biochemists who transfer into WMU's program through structured and targeted interventions such as workshops, community service, research and internship opportunities. The project will also include faculty programming to foster inclusive mentoring practices, incorporate evidence-based instructional practices into courses and support diverse students.

Bronco fall alumni celebrations will highlight campus with a car parade through several spirit zones and virtual components, and a Virtual Bash will help students connect with campus organizations and departments.

Bella Hounakey, who survived being trafficked and enslaved by a family member as a child, received Nomi Network's 2020 Abolitionist Award for the work she's done to prevent and eradicate trafficking as an advocate for survivors.

A new self-help application available to WMU students, faculty and staff offers a number of tools and resources aimed at managing mental health. Supporting the University’s wellness mission, WellTrack allows users to track their mood over time, identify stressors, intentionally schedule self-care activities and learn about strategies to manage feelings of depression, anxiety and stress.

Launched by WMU's College of Arts and Sciences in collaboration with WMUx, the webinar series is funded through University research and innovation grants awarded to promote a range of fields of study surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting Gate business  accelerator is open to all WMU sophomore and older undergraduate and all graduate students through a competitive application process where students must demonstrate a promising idea for a product or service, which can be launched within a short period of time

Mountaintop Initiatives is a new $2 million investment to advance the University's charge toward racial justice. In addition, the newly formed Racial Justice Advisory Committee will lead efforts to address systemic racism and racial inequities on campus and identify actions to build a campuswide culture of change.

WeVote is ramping up its efforts as Election Day nears, raising visibility and opportunities for students to register to vote and learn about candidates and issues. This year's message: Bronco's vote early.

WMU was one of 90 institutions from around the nation named an annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity—HEED—honoree by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine and recognized for its efforts supporting diversity in higher education.

Applications for the fall 2020 WMU Student Sustainability Grant allocations cycle are due on Thursday, Nov. 19, by 11:59 p.m. Collaborators expect to award up to $32,500 this fall semester. Awards will be announced by mid-December 2020.

Western Michigan University—in collaboration with Iowa State University, Michigan Technological University and North Dakota State University—is hosting a virtual film and panel discussion to enhance awareness of gender bias and continued lack of diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, fields.

A series of virtual book clubs hosted by Western Michigan University's Center for the Study of Ethics in Society begins Wednesday, Sept. 30, and runs through November.

Enrollment proved to be one of the better-than-expected elements in this year's budget picture. Predicted in May to be down as much as 15% in some national higher education models and similarly in the University's own forecast, WMU's fall enrollment is 20,490, down by 4.6%, which is less than a third of the predicted decrease.

The WMU Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet in formal session at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, in the North Ballroom of the Bernhard Center on Main Campus. The meeting also will be livestreamed at wmich.edu/trustees.

When faced with funding challenges as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, members of Western Michigan University's precision flight team, the Sky Broncos, launched a campaign to collect and return bottles and cans for cash.

The show must go on! WMU Theatre will bring "Sunday in the Park with George" to life in Miller Fountain Plaza in front of the Richmond Center for Visual Arts. Opening night is Friday, Sept. 18, and the show runs through Sunday, Oct. 4.

The SRC is returning to action in phases, beginning with outdoor and virtual fitness programming. The facility will reopen Friday, Sept. 11. Current students, faculty and staff can participate in those classes free of charge through the month of September. Paid SRC membership will be required to utilize indoor facilities.

The We Talk  series includes five virtual, interactive presentations and a campus rea.

WMU's health center offers seasonal influenza immunizations to full- and part-time employees, students, retirees and other eligible individuals beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8. Precautions are in place to reduce risks associated with COVID-19. Drop-in clinics are not yet scheduled for the fall semester.

Employers have posted thousands of jobs to the online career site Handshake, and representatives from Career and Student Employment Services and the Zhang Career Center have had conversations with hundreds of employers about their hiring needs.

Dozens of children will enter the school year with an added layer of protection thanks to a partnership between Western Michigan University's Laboratory for Advances in Rehabilitation Sciences and Synergy Applied Medical and Research Inc. Dr. Alessander Danna-dos-Santos spearheaded the project.

From creating structure and boundaries to finding time to make time to connect as a family, there are a number of ways parents can help ease the transition to the virtual classroom.

Large-scale COVID-19 screening is underway as students return to Western Michigan University's campus for fall semester. The five-day testing event is being held at the Student Recreation Center on Main Campus through Tuesday, Sept. 1 (The event was originally scheduled to end Monday, but it was extended by an additional day due to demand). Those interested in participating should call Sindecuse Health Center at (269) 387-3287 to schedule an appointment.

Students can register Wednesday, Sept. 2, for the Campus Read.

With more than 300 RSOs on campus, there's a place for everyone to find community at WMU. From academic and service groups to entertainment, outdoor fun and Greek life, there are many opportunities to get involved on campus.

Sleeping Giant Capital, a private investment firm with ties to Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business, announced that it has launched a $50 million investment fund to generate economic, social and educational returns in West Michigan by acquiring small businesses.

Dr. Erika Friedl, the Edwin E. Meader professor emerita of anthropology at Western Michigan University, has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Iranian Studies. The highly distinguished award is presented to someone who has spent their life promoting and supporting the field of Iranian studies. Friedl was selected from among some of the top scholars, historians and linguists in the world.