About WMU
- About WMU
- Profile
- Fast Facts
- Points of Pride
- Missions and Goals
- News and Events
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- Visiting WMU
Fast Facts
Top National University
Western Michigan University is a dynamic, globally engaged national research university that was founded in 1903 and stands out among America’s 4,000 colleges and universities.
- The Carnegie Foundation classifies WMU as one of the nation’s 199 research universities.
- U.S. News & World Report names WMU among the nation’s top-100 public institutions and the Midwest’s top 30.
- Phi Beta Kappa has chosen to grant chapters to WMU and just 96 other public institutions.
- Intel places WMU second on its list of America’s most wireless college campuses.
- The Fulbright Scholar Program in 2006-07 awarded grants to six WMU faculty members, more than any other Michigan college or university.
Major Facilities
WMU’s campuses encompass more than 1,200 acres and 150 buildings and feature some of the finest facilities in the Midwest. The main campus, located close to downtown Kalamazoo, is able to house some 5,700 students. It includes a large, well-equipped student recreation center and state-of-the-art facilities for business, chemistry, science research, health and human services, and the 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 known 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.”
Extended University Programs
Extended University Programs offers WMU’s quality academic programs close to home through its e-learning and lifelonglearning units and its eight branch campuses:
| Main line |
(269) 387-4160
|
| Academic Technology and Instructional Services (e-learning courses) |
(269) 387-4195
|
| Office of Lifelong Learning and Education |
(269) 387-4174
|
| WMU-Battle Creek |
(269) 965-5380
|
|
WMU-Grand Rapids
Graduate Center-Beltline
Graduate Center-Downtown
|
(616) 771-9470
(616) 771-4100
|
| WMU-Lansing |
(517) 327-1480
|
| WMU-Muskegon/Holland |
(231) 777-0500
|
| WMU-South Haven |
(269) 637-7506
|
| WMU-Southwest (headquartered in Benton Harbor) |
(269) 934-1500
|
| WMU-Traverse City |
(231) 995-1846
|
Colleges
| Arts and Sciences, College of |
(269) 387-4350
|
| Aviation, College of |
(269) 964-6375
|
| Business, Haworth College of |
(269) 387-5050
|
| Education, College of |
(269) 387-2966
|
| Engineering and Applied Sciences, College of |
(269) 276-3253
|
| Fine Arts, College of |
(269) 387-5810
|
| Graduate College, The |
(269) 387-8212
|
| Health and Human Services, College of |
(269) 387-7367
|
| Honors College, Lee |
(269) 387-3230
|
Programs
| Degrees | Degree programs 2007-08 | Degrees awarded FY 2006-07 | Degrees awarded since 1918 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s |
140
|
4,527
|
181,576
|
| Master’s |
67
|
1,281
|
56,249
|
| Specialist |
1
|
1
|
554
|
| Doctoral |
29
|
95
|
2,021
|
| Totals |
237
|
5,904
|
240,400
|
Enrollment
fall 2007
WMU is Michigan’s fourth largest higher education institution, attracting a diverse, culturally rich student body from around the state, country and globe.
|
Men
Women
|
11,715
12,718
|
48%
52%
|
| Minorities |
2,742
|
11%
|
|
Michigan
Other states
Other countries
|
22,214
1,252
967
|
91%
5%
4%
|
|
Undergraduate
Graduate
|
19,718
4,715
|
81%
19%
|
| Total students |
24,433
|
100%
|
Entering Freshman Profile
fall 2007
| Middle 50% range ACT scores |
20-25
|
| Average GPA |
3.26
|
| Students in top 25% of class |
861
|
Student Costs
fall 2007
Although one of the five Michigan universities to have received the Carnegie Foundation’s top research designation, WMU ranks 11th in tuition and fees among the state’s 15 public universities.
| Undergraduate | In-state tuition | Out-of-state tuition |
|---|---|---|
|
*Assessed for 1-11 credit hours and for in excess of 16 hours |
||
|
Freshman/sophomore
Per-credit-hour rate*
Flat rate per semester**
|
$219
$3,285
|
$537.22
$8,058
|
|
Junior/senior
Per-credit-hour rate*
Flat rate per semester**
|
$242.03
$3,630
|
$598.17
$8,973
|
| Graduate | In-state tuition | Out-of-state tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Per-credit-hour rate |
$344.75
|
$730.18
|
| Student fees per semester* | |
|---|---|
|
*One-time fees not included |
|
| Student activities |
$12
|
|
Enrollment
Part-time
Full-time
|
$169.25
$333
|
| Room and board (academic year)** |
$7,042
|
Financial Aid and Scholarships
2006-07
WMU awarded $192 million in financial assistance to 18,300 students. About $37 million of this total went to 3,000 graduate students.
Research and Sponsored Programs
| Fiscal year | Dollars awarded |
|---|---|
| 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 Support
| Distribution | 2006-07 | 10-year average |
|---|---|---|
| Paper Tech Foundation |
$160,858
|
$716,490
|
| Private grants |
$4,826,272
|
$3,234,498
|
| WMU Foundation |
$12,329,034
|
$16,029,188
|
| Totals |
$12,329,034
|
$16,029,188
|
Human Resources
fall 2007
| Regular staff |
1,812
|
| Full-time faculty |
860
|
| Faculty chairs |
53
|
| Part-time faculty |
441
|
| Graduate assistants |
879
|
| Total |
4,045
|
Worldwide Information Resources
Extensive computing facilities are available in classrooms, laboratories and residence halls across the campus. With more than 4.5 million items, University Libraries is the state’s fourth largest academic library system. It is capable of connecting patrons with 55,000 libraries worldwide.
Libraries
| Archives and Regional History Collections |
(269) 387-8490
|
| Education |
(269) 387-5223
|
| Music and Dance |
(269) 387-5237
|
| Visual Resources |
(269) 387-4111
|
| Waldo Library (main) |
(269) 387-5155
|
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.
Some 4,700 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
A globally engaged institution, the University enrolls 967 international students from 84 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.
WMU offers students study abroad programs in some two dozen countries, and access to foreign study opportunities in almost every country in the world through linkages with other universities and organizations.
On campus, 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 encompass various nontraditional yet critical languages. The University also hosts a fully accredited intensive English language program for international students.
Student Affairs
The Division of Student Affairs engages students in learning and personal growth in and out of the classroom and helps guide the development of students into responsible citizens and future leaders. It also supports and challenges students by sponsoring more than 300 student organizations, intramural and club sports, and recreation and fitness classes.
Intercollegiate Athletics
WMU is committed to gender equity and as an NCAA Division I-A member of the Mid-American Conference and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Bronco fans have 16 varsity sports to follow—six for men and 10 for women.
Arts and Culture
Each year, WMU offers scores of cultural events as well as more than 1,200 plays, concerts and exhibitions that feature the work of student, faculty and guest artists. In addition, the campus is home to Miller Auditorium, the third largest concert hall in Michigan. Miller features Broadway hits, comedy shows and internationally acclaimed performances of ballet, opera, music and dance.
Financial Operations
Fiscal year 2006-07
| General fund |
$261,678,108
|
| Auxiliary enterprises |
$86,199,138
|
| Insurance and other benefits |
$1,176,798
|
| Other activities |
$84,102,228
|
| Total current funds |
$433,156,272
|
Economic Impact
Figures represent 2001-02 data. |
|
| Jobs created |
7,214
|
| Student spending |
$259,865,583
|
| Visitor spending |
$30,910,543
|
| University spending |
$323,758,490
|
| Total spending impact |
$614,534,616
|
Key Telephone Numbers
| Main |
(269) 387-1000
|
| Welcome Center |
(269) 387-3530
|
| Admissions |
(269) 387-2000
|
| Alumni relations |
(269) 387-8777
|
| Conference and seminar services |
(269) 387-4174
|
| E-learning courses (ATIS) |
(269) 387-4195
|
| Extended University Programs |
(269) 387-4160
|
| Financial aid and scholarships |
(269) 387-6000
|
| Institutional facts (SAIR) |
(269) 387-4422
|
| Intercollegiate athletics |
(269) 387-3120
|
| International programs and services |
(269) 387-5890
|
| Public and media relations |
(269) 387-8400
|
|
Tickets
Athletic events
Gilmore Theatre Complex
Miller Auditorium
|
(269) 387-8092
(269) 387-6222
(269) 387-2300
|
| WMU Foundation |
(269) 387-8700
|