Updates in Academic Affairs: April 27, 2015

Inside Updates: The WMU Office of Military and Veterans Affairs meets the needs of student veterans, transitioning to the next University Strategic Plan and an invitation to celebrate.

'Serving those who have served'

The WMU Office of Military and Veterans Affairs was established in 2009 to help facilitate a smooth military service-to-University transition for student veterans and their families. Veterans are welcome to come to the office, located in 1275 Ellsworth Hall, for assistance with their college needs. The mission of the office—"Serving those who have served"—focuses on providing veterans, current service members and their family members with guidance and mentorship in a variety of areas.

Some of the resources the office can help with include assistance with financial aid, employment, housing and health care. They also assist with inquiries related to the Veterans Administration. And nearby the OMVA office, in room 1304 of Ellsworth Hall, is the student veteran lounge, a dedicated space for students to meet with peers, work on assignments and relax between classes.

Those who are not in the military are encouraged to stop by the office, as well. OVMB staff members are there to answer questions regarding student veterans as part of helping to build an environment of mutual respect and understanding with everyone on campus. Staff also are available to give full presentations to faculty, staff and students about the challenges student veterans may face in the classroom.

The Office of Military and Veterans Affairs often collaborates with other campus and community groups working to support veterans and active service members. Recent examples include partnering with the WMU football team to collect donations to send care packages to troops overseas, hosting a campuswide memorial event with Student Veterans of America to honor fallen Michigan Marines, participating with Broncos for Heroes in the Talons Out Honor Flight and supporting the WMU ROTC at the annual Wounded Warrior 5K run.

The office is currently planning an event to commemorate WMU service members who were killed in Vietnam and is also partnering with Operation Homefront to provide the children of veterans with school supplies.

Joyce Busch directs the office while Billy Clayton serves as the military outreach and recruitment coordinator. John Scott coordinates the unit's marketing and public relations efforts.

For more information about the office, visit wmich.edu/military. To schedule a visit to a class or to a Registered Student Organization, contact John Scott at (269) 387-4455 or @email.

Reports due ahead of University Strategic Plan's next generation

With the final year of the 2012-15 University Strategic Plan quickly coming to a close, all divisions are asked to file their end-of-year report by June 19.

Measures of strategic priorities and an evaluation of overall implementation strategies identified by divisions will help determine the challenges and opportunities for change moving into the next iteration of planning.

President John M. Dunn has recognized the importance of integrating the 2012-15 strategic plan with the next generation of University strategic planning that will guide WMU's progress through 2020.

Provost Timothy Greene has proposed a transition plan that will incorporate many of the same principles used in constructing the 2012-15 plan, namely that:

• revisions be made through an inclusive process involving representation from all campus stakeholders;
• the plan be evidence-based, incorporating an analysis of the current plan, implementation process and relevant University data;

• the revision timetable allow for efficient integration with other ongoing planning across campus;

• the focus on plan revision will be on continuous quality improvement;

• growth in the maturity of strategic planning will allow us to be responsive to opportunities that will advance the University in our stated mission and values; and

• our next focused strategic plan will address a set of specific items to be accomplished by 2020.

A planning committee will be formed to support the transition process, with the initial plan analysis occurring through the summer I session.

Join the fun at Tuesday with Friends

To mark the end of the academic year, all are invited to a special Tuesday with Friends celebration from 4 to 6 p.m. May 5, at the Fetzer Center.  A cash bar will be available. We hope you will join us for good company and conversation.