Fast Facts
Fast Facts
CoEHD programs are large and far-reaching…
- Western Michigan University owes its roots to the College of Education and Human Development. Founded in 1903 as a teacher’s college, WMU has grown into an internationally regarded higher education institution while maintaining a strong commitment to training teachers and school administrators.
- In September 2008, the Michigan Legislature gave approval to a capital outlay bill that includes $11.7 million for the first phase of a major renovation to Sangren Hall, the home of the College of Education’s teacher preparation programs. Sangren is the University’s largest and most heavily used classroom building. The University is currently seeking additional capital outlay funding to finishthe project.
- WMU consistently ranks among the top ten in the country in the production of professional educators, according to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. In 2006-07, more than 1,000 teachers were certified and graduated from the College of Education.
- The College’s teaching internship program, the School University Partnership Team (SUPT), is among the best in the country. In 2006-07, the nation’s largest professional association for teacher education recognized WMU for its student teaching program, citing it as “exemplary.”
- Support for urban schools is a top College of Education priority. Thanks to support from State Farm Insurance, for the last four years at least 20 WMU students have received $1,000 awards to assist with their teaching internships in “urban schools of promise.”
- The College of Education and Human Development has great outreach, providing about 55 percent of all programming at the seven WMU branch campuses located throughout the state of Michigan. Additionally, the College of Education and Human Development offers both a graduate certificate and master’s degree program in educational technology that are available completely online.
- The College of Education is committed to helping its graduates find jobs. Annually, the College has a placement rate of 90 percent, including in-state and out-of-state employers.
- The College of Education and Human Development has “continuation agreements” with five Michigan community colleges. The agreements allow community college students with a two-year degree to seamlessly transfer to WMU and complete their bachelor’s degree.
- College of Education and Human Development associate professor of family and consumer sciences Barbara Frazier professor is part of an effort that has been awarded a three-year, $500,000 grant to study the impact of local retailers on rural communities. The grant is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative National Research Initiative and has been awarded to Dr. Frazier and colleagues at Iowa State and Ohio State University. Frazier and her fellow researchers will identify ways in which the retail sector in rural communities contributes to and enhances economic development.
