Empowering the Futures of Michigan students, families

Greetings campus community,

Today has been an exciting day! We’ve traveled to Detroit, over to Grand Rapids and back to Kalamazoo to announce the greatest expansion of financial and programmatic support for Broncos in our institution’s history and the first of many steps to be supported by the historic Empowering Futures Gift. 

The Empowering Futures Gift’s generous donors see Western as a University with a tradition of creating opportunity, dedicated to changing lives and communities, and they want to help accelerate and broaden our impact as we break down barriers for every student who seeks a college education and give them the ability to build a life and career they love. The donors share our vision to become THE social mobility university in the state. 

Giving access to a college education is important, but our goal of getting more diplomas in hands requires a comprehensive strategy. So we are investing the Empowering Futures Gift in an ecosystem of student support which reduces barriers on many fronts that include affordability as well as enhanced community, belonging and experiential learning. 

It is therefore my pleasure to share the first application of the Empowering Futures initiatives.

These are all exciting opportunities for future Broncos and demonstrate how we are building on the mission set forth by our founders: “So that all may learn.” 

We’re demonstrating Western Michigan University’s continuing commitment to success for all students by helping Michigan families who most need help giving their children access to a brighter future in the form of a college education; supporting the exploration, discovery and career development that 21st century students most need; and offering a holistic University experience built on a foundation of diversity, equity and inclusion.

 And we’re just getting started! In addition to what we’ve announced today, we’re already planning programmatic strategies that we’ll share early in 2022 for innovative, new support for students that will be funded by the Empowering Futures Gift and will enable them to pursue their purpose, live well and begin a meaningful career.

Sincerely,

Edward Montgomery

President