2022 WMU News

Asylum Lake Stormwater Treatment System awarded $550,000 to effectively address phosphorus, road salt pollution from stormwater runoff

State Rep. Julie M. Rogers was instrumental in securing this critical funding allocated to the Asylum Lake Policy and Management Council, a body that helps manage the preserve in partnership with Western.

Historic walking tours show a new side to Kalamazoo neighborhoods

Get outdoors this summer and learn about the Kalamazoo community by attending a historic walking tour hosted by Lynn Houghton, regional history curator for Western Michigan University Libraries.

WMU MBA grows by 20% with introduction of new course format

Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business is seeing a growth of nearly 20% in the MBA program. WMU Haworth’s new HyFlex program has been a major factor that is encouraging more graduate students to pursue an MBA at WMU Haworth 

Inspired by alumni grandparents, future Bronco aims to take wing as pilot

Grand Rapids native Katherine Jendrasiak will attend Western this fall to pursue aviation flight science. She hopes to travel, join Greek life and campus activities.

Western student powers launch of new compostability testing center

Companies around the globe are evolving for a greener future, relying on the expertise and a new compostability testing facility at Western. Leading the installation and development of the lab, Ph.D. candidate Jason Wang is now one of the few North American experts in this area.

New General Counsel named at Western

Keith Hahn, who currently serves as assistant general counsel for metro Detroit’s Oakland University, will begin his tenure as a member of the campus community and President’s Cabinet on Aug. 1.

Western faculty earn tenure, promotions

Western Michigan University's Board of Trustees approved recommendations for tenure and promotions of dozens of faculty members during its meeting Thursday, June 23.

Bronco gymnast's resilience earns nomination for national award

A rising star with the gymnastics world at her fingertips, Payton Murphy's decorated collegiate gymnastics career nearly ended before it took off. The standout Western Michigan University student-athlete suffered a severe neck fracture just days after her first meet as a Bronco in January 2020. Her passion for the sport fueled a recovery that was nothing short of miraculous, catapulting her back onto the mat just a year later and earning her a spot as one of three finalists for the 2022 College Women's Sports Awards’ (CWSA) Honda Inspiration Award.

Need-based aid hike outpaces 2022-23 tuition increase under WMU board-approved plan

The WMU Board of Trustees approved a tuition increase of 3.85% as well as a rise in need-based financial aid by 4.27%—or $1 million. At the new rate, Western is expected to continue to be one of the most affordable of Michigan’s high-research institutions and fall in the middle of the state’s 15 public universities. 

Room and board for 2022-23 will rise by 2% and rental rates for Stadium Drive Apartments and Western View Apartments will wise 3.75%.

WMU board to consider 2022-23 tuition, room and board rates Thursday

The WMU Board of Trustees will consider tuition and fees and room and board rates for 2022-23 when it meets Thursday, June 23, at 11 a.m. in the Bernhard Center, rooms 157-159. The trustees will also consider the general fund budget, which includes compensation; academic tenure and promotion; and labor agreements with the POA and TAU, among other items. 

Occupational therapy grad focused on uplifting community

Luis Angel Morales has been working toward being an occupational therapist since he was little—he just didn't always have the words for his career path. Now set to graduate with a master's degree, Western's Department of Occupational Therapy helped him get the experience he needs to put his passion for helping others into practice.

Celebration of freedom, 'Black joy' planned for Western community to commemorate Juneteenth

The Black Graduate Student Organization is hosting a Juneteenth Gala to celebrate Black culture, heritage and freedom. The event, planned for Saturday, June 18, will feature soul food and desserts from local Black businesses, music and spoken-word poetry.

Bronco men's basketball shares court, skills with people with disabilities

On June 15, the Bronco players and coaches worked with the participants at several stations, with a variety of different drills. The groups rotated through stations focusing on shooting, ball handling, passing, rebounding and defensive skills.

Bronco basketball player gets down to business, scores food marketing career

You can't score if you don't take a shot. It's true both on the court and in life for Western Michigan University student-athlete Hannah Douglas, who will graduate on Saturday, June 25, with a bachelor's degree in food and consumer package goods marketing and a job waiting out west.

Western to confer more than 1,100 degrees during commencement ceremonies June 25

Graduates will participate in one of two programs beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) at Miller Auditorium.

WMU supply chain program named top program for 13th straight year

Western Michigan University's integrated supply management program recently ranked No. 14 on national researcher Gartner's list of Top 25 U.S. Supply Chain Undergraduate Programs. This is the 13th year that WMU has been recognized within the top tier of programs nationwide.

Interior design student helps plant shop owner grow new business

First-year interior design student Matt Collins is already putting his passion into practice, lending his artful eye to one of the newest businesses on the Kalamazoo Mall.

College of Arts and Sciences faculty earn coveted rotations with federal programs

Professors Dr. Mark Hurwitz and Dr. Manuel Bautista were selected by the National Science Foundation for programs related to the law and science as well as astrophysics.

WMU professor awarded Haenicke Institute’s 2021-22 Global Engagement Award

The Haenicke Institute for Global Education has awarded the 2021-22 Global Engagement Award to Dr. Gregory Veeck, professor in the Department of Geography, Environment and Tourism and affiliated faculty member in the global and international studies program.

Four faculty receive Fulbright Scholar awards, including one Distinguished Scholar Award

The 2022-23 cycle marks the largest number of Fulbright recipients from Western Michigan University since 2016-17. Western's scholars are Drs. D. Eric Archer, Sandra Borden, Shannon McMorrow and Chansheng He, who is the recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award.

Safe on Campus promotes LGBTQ allyship, inclusiveness at Western

The three-hour educational training is available each semester to all students, faculty and staff. It focuses on what it means to be an ally to LBGT students; strategies to support people who are coming out; the complexities of sex, gender and sexual orientation; and respectful language to use.

WMU advertising students take first place

For the first time in Western Michigan University’s history, a team of 30 Haworth College of Business advertising and promotion students has won first place in a district competition for the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition.

Advertising professor wins national teaching excellence award

Dr. Karen M. Lancendorfer, professor of marketing and director of the advertising and promotion major at Western Michigan University, was named the recipient of the 2022 Charles H. Sandage Award for Teaching Excellence by the American Academy of Advertising at their annual conference.

Garcia looks to deepen Western's connection with community in new leadership role

Lisa Garcia, director of Western Michigan University's Business Connection, will become the University's interim assistant vice president for community partnerships on June 28.

WMU students awarded national scholarship for women leaders in supply chain

Madison Dober and Alexandra Henson, both integrated supply management students, have been honored with a $5,000 scholarship from Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management and Education (AWESOME).

WMU team places in top 3 in national castings competition

A Western Michigan University team of undergraduate and graduate students was placed in the top three out of 41 universities participating in the 2022 Cast in Steel Challenge – Celtic Sword—held during the AFS Cast Expo and Congress in Columbus, Ohio. This follows another top three showing of this team at a regional casting competition in Wisconsin.

Sleeping Giant Capital closes $10 million in funding, enhancing partnership with WMU

Sleeping Giant Capital, a West Michigan-based investment and growth platform, is announcing it has closed a $10 million funding round to scale operations, with a focus on empowering women professionals in acquiring and growing businesses. The funding secured by Sleeping Giant Capital enhances the partnership with WMU Haworth, allowing more students to benefit from transformational experiences and showcasing the college as a leader in business education.

A catalyst for environmental justice

Deirdre Courtney shines a light on pollution's powerful effect on marginalized communities and how climate change is exacerbating the impacts.

Bronco Marching Band: An instrumental part of Western history

In 2021, the Bronco Band hit the century mark—100 seasons playing the alma mater and the fight song in its various iterations, including a version of the fight song popularly known in the 1920s as "Hail, Hail for Western Normal School." Over its long tenure, the band has helped athletes and fans alike celebrate victories with rousing renditions of popular songs, and it has brought Broncos together across generations.