HPHE 6940
KALAMAZOO, MI
Est. 1903
One of the top-100 public universities in the United States,
Western Michigan University is committed to being learner
centered, discovery driven and globally engaged.
 Founded in 1903, what was once Western Michigan College
became Michigan's fourth public university in 1957. Since then,
WMU has undergone dramatic growth in size and stature.
 Today, the University offers more than 240 academic programs to
students pursuing degrees through the doctoral level. More than
20 percent of its 25,000 students are enrolled in graduate course
work, studying in disciplines ranging from atomic physics and
graph theory to medieval literature and blind rehabilitation. Of
101 graduate offerings available, 30 lead to a doctoral degree.
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The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has
classified WMU as one of only 139 public institutions it considers
research universities. In addition, U.S. News & World Report has
recognized it as one of the nation’s best universities for the past
21 years, and for the past 14 years, has listed it among the top-100
public universities in the United States.
 Home to a thriving undergraduate honors college, WMU is one of
four public universities in Michigan to be granted its own chapter
of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most widely recognized
academic honor society in the nation. Fewer than 100 public
universities in the country have been selected to shelter a chapter.
Also enriching the quality of campus life are nearly 300 registered
student organizations and a full array of NCAA Division I-A
intercollegiate athletic teams.
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The University has garnered such success by encouraging an
emphasis on both teaching and research. Many of WMU’s more
than 915 full-time faculty members are engaged in cutting-edge
research, helping to enhance the body of knowledge and, at the
same time, ensuring their students have access to the most
current information.
 Engagement with the communities it serves, innovation and
outreach to enhance economic development have become the
University’s hallmarks in recent years. WMU plays an integral part
in efforts to diversify the state’s economy and has partnered
locally with two world-class teaching hospitals to launch a new
medical school in 2014.
 In recent years, the University also has focused on access to
technology for both faculty and students, becoming one of the
first major universities in the nation to offer campuswide wireless
computing.
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Both the faculty and the student body reflect
WMU’s reputation in the world and its
commitment to diversity. The University attracts
students from across the nation and from some
90 other countries. Minority students comprise
nearly 18 percent of the student population,
while international students make up an
additional 5 percent. WMU’s faculty members
have been trained at some of the world’s finest
institutions, and they bring to the campus a
global perspective that enhances the learning
environment.
WMU’s campuses encompass more than 1,200 acres and
151 buildings, featuring some of the finest facilities in the
Midwest. The main campus, located near downtown Kalamazoo,
is able to house nearly 5,500 students. It includes a large, wellequipped student recreation center and state-of-the-art facilities
for business, chemistry, science research, health and human
services, and visual and performing arts.
 The University’s highly rated engineering college and thriving
Business Technology and Research Park are based three miles
away at the Parkview Campus, while its nationally recognized
aviation college is based at the W.K. Kellogg Airport in Battle
Creek, Mich. Both the aviation campus and BTR Park are
components of Michigan economic development SmartZones.
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WMU extends its reach well beyond its main
campuses in Kalamazoo. Extended University
Programs offers quality academic programs close to
home through its online and lifelong education units,
as well as sites around the state. Nearly three dozen
complete degree programs are offered to people in
30 communities through WMU regional locations in
Battle Creek, Benton Harbor-St. Joseph, Metro
Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon and
Traverse City. The University also sponsors study
abroad programs in China, France, Germany, Mexico,
Russia and Spain and has exchange agreements with
institutions around the globe.
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Established: 1903
Main campus: Kalamazoo
Enrollment: 24,600
Nickname: Broncos
Mascot: Buster Bronco
Colors: brown and gold
Campuses and facilities
Western Michigan University’s campuses encompass more than 1,200 acres and
151 buildings, and feature some of the finest facilities in the country.
1,200 acres of campuses
151 buildings
Campuses
Aviation Campus - W.K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek, home of the aviation
college
Main Campus - Kalamazoo, just west of downtown, divided into three adjoining
areas: East, Oakland Drive and West campuses; home to most of WMU's
academic programs, campus services, residence halls and other facilities.
Parkview Campus - Kalamazoo, three miles west of main campus, home of the
engineering college and Business Technology and Research Park
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The main campus is able to house nearly 5,500
students. It includes a large, well-equipped recreation
center, modern student apartment complex, and a
variety of new facilities for instruction, science and
other research and the visual and performing arts.
The University’s highly rated engineering college and
thriving Business Technology and Research Park are at
the Parkview Campus, while its nationally known
aviation college is based at the W.K. Kellogg Airport in
Battle Creek. Both the aviation campus and BTR Park
are components of Michigan economic development
SmartZones.
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Regional locations and online education
Extended University Programs offers WMU’s quality
academic programs close to home through online and
lifelong education, and through eight regional
locations in seven cities throughout Michigan.
WMU-Battle Creek (269) 965-5380
WMU-Grand Rapids Beltline (616) 771-9470
WMU-Grand Rapids Downtown (616) 771-4100
WMU-Lansing (517) 483-9728
WMU-Metro Detroit (248) 485-4500
WMU-Muskegon (231) 777-0500
WMU Southwest (Benton Harbor) (269) 934-1500
WMU Traverse City (231) 995-1846
Academic colleges
Arts and Sciences (269) 387-4350
Aviation (269) 964-6375
Haworth College of Business (269) 387-5050
Education and Human Development (269) 3872960
 Engineering and Applied Sciences (269) 2763253
 Fine Arts (269) 387-5810
 Graduate College (269) 387-8212
 Health and Human Services (269) 387-7367
 Lee Honors College (269) 387-3230
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Number of programs
WMU offers numerous degree programs at both
the undergraduate and graduate levels. It ranks
second among Michigan colleges and
universities in the number of bachelor’s
programs offered.
Bachelor’s - 140 degree programs
Master’s - 69
Specialist - 1
Doctoral - 29
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Degrees awarded
Bachelor’s degrees
2010-11 - 3,835
2009-10 - 3,820
2008-09 - 3,969
2007-08 - 4,046
2006-07 - 4,527
Since 1918 - 197,246
Master’s degrees
2010-11 - 1,293
2009-10 - 1,334
2008-09 - 1,338
2007-08 - 1,278
2006-07 - 1,281
Since 1918 - 61,492
Doctoral degrees
2010-11 - 128
2009-10 - 110
2008-09 - 103
2007-08 - 111
2006-07 - 95
Since 1918 - 2,473
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Enrollment (fall 2012)
WMU is Michigan’s fourth largest research university and
among the 100 largest in the country, attracting a diverse,
culturally rich student body from around the state,
country and globe.
Total students - 24,598 (100%)
Men - 11,857 (48%)
Women - 12,741 (52%)
Minorities - 4,638 (19%)
Michigan - 21,741 (88%)
Other states - 1,282 (5.2%)
Other countries - 1,575 (6.4%)
Undergraduate - 19,478 (79%)
Graduate - 5,120 (21%)
Entering freshman profile (fall 2011)
Middle 50 percent range ACT scores - 20-25
Average high school GPA - 3.32
Students in top 25 percent of high school class - 1,155 (35%)
Student costs
Tuition and fees are available at wmich.edu/tuition, including
information on differential tuition charged students in the
Haworth College of Business and College of Fine Arts. WMU ranks
10th in tuition and fees among the state’s 15 public universities
and is the least expensive of Michigan’s five top-tier research
universities.
 Financial aid and scholarships (2009-10)
 WMU awarded $270 million in financial assistance to more than
19,600 students. About $55 million of this total went to
3,200 graduate students.
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Worldwide information resources
With more than 4.9 million total items and nearly 2.6 million total
titles, Western Michigan University Libraries is the fourth largest
university library system in Michigan and among the top 100 in the
country. Library patrons are also connected with the holdings of
70,000 libraries worldwide.
University Libraries (2010-11)
4,949,154 total items, print and nonprint
2,579,526 total titles, print and nonprint
223,210 electronic books
50,229 electronic subscriptions
2,775 print subscriptions
388 online databases
29,958 audio-visual items (CDs, DVDs, etc.)
220,059 maps
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Graduate education
WMU offers nationally and internationally recognized graduate programs in a
wide range of disciplines, from physics and speech pathology and audiology to
creative writing and medieval studies.
More than 5,000 graduate students study and conduct research at the University.
They are welcomed into faculty labs and studios, and participate in
groundbreaking work being done in partnership with business, industry and
government across Michigan and around the world.
International education
WMU enrolls nearly 1,400 international students from about 90 countries. The
faculty includes hundreds of scholars with academic or research experience
outside of the United States, who are engaged in collaborative activities and
projects on six continents.
The University offers students study abroad programs in two dozen countries and
access to foreign study opportunities in almost every country in the world.
Major and minor offerings include rare interdisciplinary programs in global and
international studies as well as programs in comparative politics, international
business, selected regions of the world, and foreign language studies that include
Arabic, Chinese and Russian. The University hosts a fully accredited intensive
English language program for international students.
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Student life
Major components of student life include health and wellness, diversity and
inclusion, residence life and campus dining, career and leadership development,
student-led activities and organizations, and a host of programs designed to
support the academic mission of the University and help guide students toward
lives as responsible citizens and leaders.
Arts and entertainment
WMU offers a wide range of arts and entertainment including more than 1,200
plays, concerts, exhibitions and readings featuring the work of student, faculty
and guest artists. The Campus Activities Board and other student organizations
sponsor performances by popular comedians and musicians. WMU is home to
Miller Auditorium, the third largest theatre in Michigan, which features Broadway
hits and internationally acclaimed performances of ballet, opera, music and
dance.
Principal visual arts and performance venues
Dalton Center - dance studios, recital hall, multimedia room
Gilmore Theatre Complex - Shaw Theatre, Williams Theatre, York Arena Theatre
Little Theatre - films and readings
Miller Auditorium - 3,500-seat auditorium
Richmond Center for Visual Arts - galleries and presentation space
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Intercollegiate athletics
WMU is committed to gender equity and is an NCAA Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision)
member of the Mid-American Conference and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. WMU
supports 16 varsity sports—six for men and 10 for women. Visit wmubroncos.com for complete
information.
Men’s varsity sports
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Hockey
Soccer
Tennis
Women's varsity sports
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Gymnastics
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track and Field (indoor and outdoor)
Volleyball
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Alumni
WMU has 180,000 alumni worldwide, living in all 50 U.S. states
and more than 140 other countries. While the alumni population
has grown significantly over the past 20 years, the geographic
distribution has remained fairly constant.
96 percent of all WMU alumni live in the United States. Other
countries with the largest number of alumni are Malaysia, India,
Japan, China and Canada.
67 percent of all WMU alumni live in Michigan. Other states with
the largest number of WMU alumni are Illinois, Florida, California,
Indiana and Ohio.
60 percent of all WMU alumni live in the southern half of
Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
The largest concentrations of alumni are in the metro areas of
Kalamazoo, Detroit, Chicago and Grand Rapids.
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Major milestones in WMU history
May 27, 1903 - WMU established by act of the Michigan legislature
1904 - First classes offered with 117 students enrolled
1905 - Two-year teaching certificates awarded at first commencement
1909 - First regional location opens in Grand Rapids
1920 - First bachelor's degrees awarded
1939 - Nickname changed from Hilltoppers to Broncos
1953 - First master's degrees awarded
Feb. 26, 1957 - Western Michigan becomes the state's fourth public
university.
1968 - First doctoral degrees awarded
1997 - Phi Beta Kappa chapter established at WMU
2000 - WMU joins the University of Michigan, Michigan State and Wayne
State as Carnegie Foundation-classified doctoral-research universities.
2013 - WMU becomes a medical university
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Human resources (fall 2010)
Regular staff - 1,873
Full-time faculty - 866
Faculty chairs - 51
Part-time faculty - 524
Graduate assistants - 848
Total - 4,162
Research and sponsored programs
2010-11 - $35,715,764
2009-10 - $34,107,248
2008-09 - $32,290,781
2007-08 - $23,564,158
2006-07 - $33,515,217
2005-06 - $38,946,094
2004-05 - $31,663,397
2003-04 - $40,197,985
2002-03 - $32,920,856
 Private gifts
 2011-12 - $18,722,242*
2010-11 - $9,903,152
2009-10 - $10,856,003
2008-09 - $12,071,009
 *Does not include $20,627,020 for the WMU School of Medicine
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KALAMAZOO, MI
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Kalamazoo is one of the 25 best cities in the country for young college
graduates, according to a 2011 national study that looked at relative
affordability, housing and employment opportunities, and size of the age
22-24 population. That was one more acknowledgement of one of
WMU's greatest assets—Kalamazoo and West Michigan.
Even if you haven't been to Kalamazoo, you've probably heard a lot
about it.
It's the home of the Kalamazoo Promise that guarantees college tuition
to graduates of the Kalamazoo Public Schools—the largest program of
its kind anywhere.
Two of America's top professional athletes, Greg Jennings of the Green
Bay Packers and Derek Jeter of the N.Y. Yankees, are both graduates of
Kalamazoo Central High School. Jennings is also a proud WMU graduate.
In 2010, President Obama spoke in WMU's University Arena at the
commencement ceremony for Kalamazoo Central after he selected the
school from more than 1,000 entries as the winner in the first Race to the
Top Commencement Challenge.
Kalamazoo is famous for a lot of things. It's a major international
pharmaceutical and life sciences center; it's the original home of the Upjohn Co.,
Stryker Corp, Gibson Guitars, Checker Motors and Bell's Brewery, among many
others; the Kalamazoo Gazette is the second oldest newspaper in Michigan; and
a century ago, Kalamazoo was so famous for one crop, it was known throughout
the country as the Celery City.
 Abraham Lincoln spoke in the village of Kalamazoo in 1856, four years before he
was elected president, his only public address in Michigan.
 Kalamazoo is a center of higher education. In addition to WMU, it is home to
Kalamazoo College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The three
institutions collaborate on a variety of fronts and add significantly to the cultural
and educational opportunities and economic development of the region.
 With a population of more than 325,000, Kalamazoo is the sixth largest
metropolitan area in Michigan and among the 150 largest in the country. It's
large enough to support all the amenities and entertainment found in larger
cities; and yet, you can be in the heart of farm country in 20 minutes, and
Kalamazoo supports a thriving Farmers Market downtown May through
November.
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Kalamazoo is midway between Chicago and
Detroit on I-94 and offers commercial
transportation by train, bus and major airline at
the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International
Airport.
Day or weekend trips by train to Chicago, the
nation's third largest city, are popular and even
more convenient with the continuing
development of high-speed rail connecting the
two cities.
Recreation
Kalamazoo is a 40-minute drive from Lake Michigan
beaches at South Haven and slightly farther from beaches
at St. Joseph and Saugatuck.
 Michigan’s ski country, considered the best skiing in the
Midwest is three to four hours north, and excellent local
skiing is only 30 minutes away.
 Originally a railroad line connecting Kalamazoo and South
Haven, the 33-mile Kal-Haven Trail is popular for bicycle
riding, hiking and cross country skiing. In 2008, the eastern
end of the trail was extended into Kalamazoo as part of
the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. When completed, the
two trails will create a 70-mile bike path from South
Haven to Battle Creek.
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Kalamazoo arts and entertainment
Local festivals—featuring live music, arts and crafts, food and drinks—many of
which are held at Arcadia Creek Festival Place downtown—attract crowds in the
tens of thousands. The Kalamazoo Art Fair, held annually on the first weekend in
June, is the second oldest community art fair in America and attracts 60,000
visitors over two days.
WMU’s Miller Auditorium, the historic State Theater and a variety of local clubs
offer a complete array of concerts featuring every kind of music and popular
entertainment. Kalamazoo is a frequent stop for many of today's top comedians,
musicians and other entertainers.
Monthly screenings of art cinema are presented at WMU's Little Theatre by the
Kalamazoo Film Society and student-run Western Film Society.
A few of the many cultural opportunities
Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Kalamazoo Public Library
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Gilmore International Keyboard Festival.
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http://www.wmich.edu/about
http://www.wmich.edu/about/facts
http://www.wmich.edu/about/kalamazoo