Bells gathering of paper technology foundation

You are invited to the WMU Paper Gathering!

Join us for an exciting evening as we bring together WMU Paper Broncos—past and present students, faculty and industry partners—for a private event at Bell’s Brewery! April 20, 2026 | Doors open at 5:30 p.m. | Dinner at 6:15 p.m.

130

paper engineering students

$8 million

in scholarship support awarded

35

corporate partners

$88K

median starting salary

—2021-22 Career Outcomes Report
Scholarship Support

Scholarship Support

The PTF offers an unprecedented scholarship program to support students entering the most sustainable industry—the paper industry.

Student Engagement

Student Engagement

The Paper Technology Foundation and the TAPPI Ts'ai Lun organization facilitate engagement activities to foster your personal and professional development and to create a community for successful career outcomes.

Program Curriculum

Program Curriculum

Western Michigan University offers 1 of 4 ABET-accredited paper engineering programs in the United States, providing coursework in sustainable fiber-based products and technologies.

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Collaboration: Engineering, the Foundation and the Pilot Plant Unite

Academic Department

The Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering provides curriculum and research experience through coursework.

Paper Technology Foundation

The PTF supports the relationship between the academic department and corporate partners, manages the paper engineering scholarship program, and provides guidance to align the curriculum to industry needs.

WMU Paper Pilot Plant

The WMU Paper Pilot Plant provides workforce and facility solutions for research, product development, and education. They serve Western Michigan University, the public, and educational communities within the paper and allied industries.

The amount of support the Paper Technology Foundation has given me throughout my college career is like nothing I have ever seen before.

—Caleb Breining, paper engineering student