WMU Today
Join the Heart Walk! Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 25 and be part of the Kalamazoo Heart Walk presented by the American Heart Association. Bring friends and enjoy a morning of movement and fall fun at Homer Stryker Field. Highlights include:
👉 A 2-mile trail along the Kalamazoo River
👉 Hands-only CPR training – join the Nation of Lifesavers
👉 Parker-Hannifin Aerospace Kids Zone
👉 Pet friendly
WMU is proud to support the Heart Walk, and we’re forming teams to walk together. Registration is free, and donations are encouraged to support the American Heart Association. Let’s get Broncos to the top of the leaderboard! Sign up in the Heart Walk app or use this link: https://tinyurl.com/yxc2aman…
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan is hosting their annual Paint the Town Green initiative next week, and we’re inviting WMU faculty and staff to get involved as mentors. Through the Lunch with Littles program, volunteers meet with students over lunch—just 40 minutes, twice a month—to build meaningful, consistent relationships that help young people thrive. No special skills are required, just a commitment to show up and make a difference. Learn more or sign up at https://thinkbigtoday.org/lunch-with-littles/
Join us on Friday, Sept. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the W Club room at Seeyle Athletic Center to celebrate Kathi Cain-Babbitt, a Skilled Trades Helper in Maintenance Services and the previous AFSCME Chief Steward who has worked at WMU for the past 32 years. We want to extend best wishes to Kathi as she prepares for retirement and moves into her next chapter.
Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to make their mark on campus history by signing a structural panel that will be installed in the university’s new residence hall, Golden Oaks.
The signing event will take place outside the Valley Dining Center from 8 – 11 a.m. on September 16, offering everyone a chance to leave their name before the panel becomes a permanent part of the building.
“This is more than just a construction milestone—it’s a way for students and our community to be part of the story of this new hall,” said Janice Quakenbush, Director of Finance and Infrastructure. “Years from now, students will live and learn in a space that carries the signatures and spirit of those who helped bring it to life.”
…Sessions for formal headshots specifically for faculty and staff continue during fall semester:
Tuesday, Sept. 16, in Room 4550 of Sangren Hall, from 9 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 5 p.m.Thursday, Nov. 6, in Room 4550 of Sangren Hall, from 9 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 5 p.m.Photos are taken on a walk-in basis, and no appointments are needed.
The Haenicke Institute for Global Education revived the "You are Welcome Here" campaign this fall. An updated poster is available for download and distribution. Stickers and screen displays are also available. Visit the campaign's website or reach out to @email to get involved. WMU welcomed more than 200 new international students to campus this fall. Join us as we welcome them to Kalamazoo.
Our International Student and Scholar Services unit assists more than 2,500…
New and early-career faculty are invited to join the 2025–26 Early Career Faculty Seminar (ECFS), a yearlong program hosted by WMU’s Office of Faculty Development. Through monthly sessions, participants engage with University leaders, senior faculty, and campus partners to support professional growth, build networks, and promote early-career success.
Fall sessions meet in person October 6, November 3, and December 8. Spring sessions will be held virtually, with dates and times selected by participants in December. The deadline to sign up is September 22.
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Our team continues to work through the final stages of the Pedestrian Green Space project. As you navigate campus, please be aware of the following areas:
Zone 1 — Pedestrian connection to the Student Recreation Center is now open! Please stay on the walkways.Zone 2 — Parking lots 16, 19, 87 and 94, and S Hayes Dr, all located just west of University Arena are closed. These areas will not reopen and will become new green space.Zone 3 — Area south of Ellsworth Hall, just to the east of the old Bernhard Center site, is closed. The area will reopen on Aug. 27.Zone 4 — Ring Road North, from Lot 48 south to W Michigan Ave, up to the traffic light by Student Recreation Center and Kalamazoo College's athletic complex is closed. The closure also includes a section of…Under a change in reporting structure, the Office of Institutional Equity and the Office of the Ombuds are now organizationally housed within Legal Affairs, Risk and Compliance rather than the Office of the President. This shift in reporting lines does not change the missions, daily operations or staffing of the offices. Students, employees and other constituents can continue to expect the same exceptional services, resources and commitment to fairness that have long defined these offices. Guided by the established policies and best practices in their fields, staff will continue their important work with the professionalism and dedication that our community depends on.
The Haenicke Institute for Global Education recognizes and thanks the 47 dedicated faculty, staff and graduate student leaders who led study abroad programming during the ‘24–’25 academic year.
WMU Study Abroad supported 30 faculty-led programs last year, with travel to 22 different countries across six continents. A total of 411 students participated in faculty-led trips.
Explore the full article to see the complete list of faculty, staff and graduate student leaders and the impact of their work.