Office of the President

Through the years

Among a long list of transformational initiatives and accomplishments during President Edward Montgomery’s tenure:

Announced in June 2021, the $550 million Empowering Futures Gift is the largest single gift given to a university in American History. It commits $300 million to Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed), $200 million to Western Michigan University as a whole and $50 million to Bronco Athletics. The philanthropy has enabled WMU to establish the Navigator Network, new staff who provide one-on-one student assistance; improved access through scholarships; expanded mental health resources; broadened well-being opportunities; resourced inclusion and belonging efforts; and advanced experience-driven learning with 22 inaugural grants that encourage faculty to develop new learning opportunities.
The gift has secured a strong future for the WMed, which became fully accredited as it entered its second decade of existence. The school is increasing its focus on health disparities.
The impact of the gift also can be seen in the increased competitiveness and academic success of Western’s student-athletes. Bronco Athletics was recently recognized as the winningest program in the Mid-American Conference. It has fostered academic excellence that spans all sports, with the Broncos setting a record for average GPA for the spring term—3.43—and a record 3.40 cumulative GPA for the 2023-24 school year.

Western set institutional records for student success under Montgomery’s leadership, attaining the institution’s highest six-year graduation rate in 2023 and its highest retention rate in 2024. In October 2023, he challenged the University to become a top three institution in the state on both these dimensions by 2032.

The University increased enrollment in fall 2024 for the first time in a decade, competing for students in the second most competitive market in the nation. Out-of-state enrollment has grown markedly since 2017 when 15% of the student body was non-resident. The population has grown 37% and now comprises 26% of the student body.

A raft of initiatives supported by the Empowering Futures Gift have flourished in support of student success and persistence.
- The creation of the Navigator Network during the 2022-23 academic year helped fill a gap in providing individualized support to address students holistically. Navigation specialists providing more than 800 hours of direct contact since October of 2022 is impressive—and it's helping students succeed.
- Student Success Hub is a technology resource that has transformed the way undergraduate students find academic and support services and allows student support staff to offer wraparound services. It also supports Navigators and advisors and enables them to provide stronger one-on-one student support.
- The inaugural class of Bronco Promise scholars posted higher academic achievement compared to a model student cohort. In fall 2022, 53% of Bronco Promise scholars achieved a 3.0 grade point average or higher versus 39% of the comparison cohort (fall 2021 students meeting the scholarship requirements before the funding was established).
- Based on survey results, students in the first cohort of Bronco Connect Living Learning Community felt better acquainted with their neighbors compared to all other students living in residence halls. This is key because a sense of belonging and connectedness boosts retention. Bronco Connect was created to enhance engagement, belonging and retention.

The WMU research enterprise has grown vastly. Since fiscal year 2022, WMU increased external expenditures by 47%, with a FY 24 total of $42 million. The institution increased total research awards over the same period by a stunning 68%, with a FY 24 total of $59.6 million.

In addition to the Empowering Futures Gift, nearly 47,000 donors have invested $266 million in WMU since 2018. Approximately 1,800 corporate donors have invested nearly $27 million in the University. On average, the total number of donors per year has risen from 11,627 to 16,192, a 28% increase.

Since 2017, WMU has secured more than $210 million in state and federal funding to enhance student-centered learning facilities, advance research that serves Michiganders and defray pension costs. WMU led a coalition of seven universities to eliminate more than $590 million in MPSERS pension liabilities, defraying $130 million in costs for WMU over the next decade. State funding of $45 million for capital projects enabled the construction of the new Aviation Academic Center in Battle Creek and the renovation of Dunbar Hall on Main Campus. Additionally, the University secured more than $36 million for projects that enhance its research strength, bettering our community and society at large. This includes $21 million for the Michigan Geological Survey’s operations, research and infrastructure; $4 million to expand services provided at the Kalamazoo Autism Center; $3 million for the Resiliency Center; and $200,000 for the premier Cold Case Program, which has solved numerous cold cases and has been featured regularly in such national media as the Today Show and 48 Hours.

The campus has been transformed since 2017, adding new facilities that are attractive to students. They include Arcadia Flats Apartments, the Aviation Education Center, the WMU Student Center and Dining Facility, Dunbar Hall—the most utilized academic building on campus and coming in 2026, the first new residence hall at WMU since 2015.

A new multiuse arena will become the home of Bronco Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Hockey in downtown Kalamazoo in 2027.

New, green buildings have been complemented by razing those that were well past their planned life allowing us to reduce operating costs and our carbon footprint while adding to the beauty of campus.

In 2024, the University received its first shipment of its new fleet of 32 Cirrus Generation 7 training aircraft—the latest equipment available.

Intercollegiate Athletics and student-athletes had a historic, record-breaking year, securing 13 conference championships, six teams made NCAA appearances and the Broncos claimed the top spot in the 2023-24 Mid-American Conference Learfield Directors' Cup standings. Additionally, students broke individual and team GPA records and recorded more than 6,200 community service hours. These outstanding achievements are a testament to the excellence of our student-athletes, coaches and Intercollegiate Athletics’ leadership.

In 2020, the President established the Mountain Top Initiative designed to address inequities on campus. The Racial Justice Advisory Committee was also launched to remove barriers to success for historically marginalized populations.

Western was recognized in fall 2023 by TIME magazine as a top 100 best college for future leaders based on leadership positions of alumni—one of only three in Michigan.

In 2019, President Montgomery was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences with a class that included former First Lady Michelle Obama, former governors Mitch Daniels and Deval Patrick and some200 other distinguished individuals recognized by the academy for achievements in academia, the arts, business, government, public policy and public affairs. Founding fathers Benjamin Franklin and George Washington as well as poet Ralph Waldo Emerson and civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are among those who have also been elected to the academy over the centuries.