About Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University (WMU) in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is a vibrant, nationally recognized student-centered research institution with an enrollment of nearly 20,000. WMU delivers high-quality undergraduate instruction, has a strong graduate College, and fosters significant research activities. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has placed WMU among the 76 public institutions in the nation designated as research universities with high research activities.

• INSIGHT into Diversity consistently honors WMU for its outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Military Times ranks WMU among the best institutions for veterans, and WMU is the only Michigan school to appear on all nine years of its annual Best for Vets list.
• U.S. Department of State data shows that WMU was No. 6 among producers of American Fulbright Scholars in 2016-17.
• WMU operates the nation’s largest and most comprehensive collegiate support program for former foster-care youth and is an international model for teaching, research, learning, and public service related to foster care and higher education.
• Washington Monthly ranked WMU first in the state of Michigan on its impact on alumni earnings 10 years after graduation.

The College of Arts and Sciences: The mission of the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University is to ignite and sustain a passion for learning and discovery in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, to help students, staff, and faculty succeed in life and contribute to the betterment of our communities, from local to global. Our vision is to achieve excellence in all aspects of learning and discovery across the humanities, social sciences, and sciences while fostering a climate of intellectual freedom. As articulated in the College of Arts and Sciences strategic plan, we are committed to fostering a community of diverse, inclusive, equitable, and globally-engaged scholars, learners, and leaders. With 25 departments and interdisciplinary schools and institutes, WMU’s largest college offers a broad range of learning opportunities and career paths for our students. CAS students are among the very top students in the country, having received awards including Goldwater Fellowships, Udall Scholarships, Boren Fellowships, and Fulbright awards, among others.

Kalamazoo is a cultural hub midway between Chicago and Detroit, and just 1 hour south of Grand Rapids. With 263,000 people in the greater Kalamazoo area, the community offers an array of cultural events, entertainment, and all-season recreation. The city supports a nationally recognized symphony and has earned a reputation for a vibrant community theatre and visual arts scene. Kalamazoo is in one of Michigan’s designated research corridors, maintaining a strong life sciences/biotech presence and supporting two leading medical centers, and has been designated a “National Historic Chemical Landmark” by the American Chemical Society for the significant contributions by the former Upjohn Company in Steroid Chemistry. The Kalamazoo community is committed to social justice, community development and the elimination of generational poverty through its Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo initiative, with structural budgetary support provided by the City of Kalamazoo’s Foundation for Excellence program. Kalamazoo also is the home of the Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship program offered to all Kalamazoo Public School students that covers up to 100% of tuition and mandatory fees to any Michigan public (and many private) institution of higher learning.