Over the course of two days, nearly 1,200 Kalamazoo Public Schools first-year students will visit Western to engage with admissions staff and faculty, hear from registered student organizations and immerse themselves in the day-to-day life of a college student. It's part of a larger effort at WMU to help K-12 students learn about the steps needed to prepare for college and the opportunities available at Western.

Dr. Kimberly Carter, M.A.’02, superintendent of Battle Creek Public Schools, has been named the 2026 Michigan Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators.

Update: Due to weather conditions, the Student Recreation Center will remain closed on Sunday, Nov. 30.

Some WMU offices will close or operate during limited hours Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 27-30. Students, faculty, staff and the public are encouraged to call ahead to make sure that a particular office on campus is open.

Dr. Brett Geier published a new book, “The Changing Landscape of Religious Expression in U.S. Public Schools,” which analyzes the evolving dynamic between religion and public education, primarily focusing on the impact of the 2022 Supreme Court case Kennedy v. Bremerton School District.

Accountancy student Hosanna Ndikumana is taking big career strides at Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business. The sophomore from Portage, Michigan, is growing through student organizations and business externship opportunities.

Unless you receive an official notification through one of the channels listed below, you can assume that all campuses remain open and operations continue as scheduled.

The Michigan Pre-College & Youth Outreach Conference (MI PCC) is pleased to announce Kelly Schultz, Ph.D., director of the Academically Talented youth Program (ATYP) in the Office of Pre-College Programming at Western Michigan University (WMU), has been named the inaugural recipient of the Michigan Pre-College Youth Outreach Leadership and Program Excellence Award. This award recognizes a practitioner who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, initiative, and operational excellence, significantly contributing to the success of their program.

Western Outfitters, a cost-free boutique run by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, provides current students with a sustainable resource for obtaining professional business attire.

“What excites me the most about accounting is the varied job opportunities available in any industry you can dream about working in,” says senior Western Michigan University accountancy student Michael Andres from Kalamazoo, Michigan. “From working in tax, to audit and assurance, to forensic accounting and more, there are a vast number of choices to ensure an exciting and rewarding career.”

Western Michigan University has a new scholarship to support first-generation college students, thanks to a partnership between WMU’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors and President Russ Kavalhuna.

Karleigh Pleyer and Mitch Whitcomb have experienced parallel flight plans so far in their lives. 

• They both graduated from high school in 2014.
• They enrolled in the Western Michigan University College of Aviation that fall.
• Until recently, they both worked as certified fight instructors for Superior Aviation Gateway, which is based at the executive airport serving the Tampa, Fla., region.
• Having both finished their training as first officers, the newly appointed FOs will be heading to Republic Airways, a regional carrier headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind.

For students studying languages at Western Michigan University, studying abroad is more than just a change of scenery – it's a transformative experience that deepens language proficiency, enhances cultural understanding, and provides students with new global perspectives that last long after returning home.  

Tara Becker-Utess, B.S.’05, an assistant principal at Mason High School, has been named Michigan’s 2026 High School Assistant Principal of the Year for her exceptional leadership and commitment to instructional excellence.

In addition to placing first overall, the WMU College of Aviation’s 15-member Sky Broncos team placed first in ground events and second in flight events at the regional competition Oct. 19-25 at Kent State University.