Kalamazoo Promise

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Kalamazoo Promise

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Kalamazoo Promise

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Kalamazoo Promise

On November 10, 2005, Dr. Janice Brown, the Superintendent for the Kalamazoo Public Schools, announced the initiation of the “Kalamazoo Promise.” Kalamazoo became the first city in the United States to provide full scholarships to any public college in Michigan for all graduates who had received their elementary and secondary schooling in the Kalamazoo Public Schools. Since the establishment of the Kalamazoo Promise in 2005, Promise type programs have been initiated in numerous other cities in the U.S. Funding for the Kalamazoo Promise is being provided by a small group of anonymous donors.

The Kalamazoo Promise provides an unparalleled opportunity to engage and energize the Kalamazoo community in building a world class educational environment in the Kalamazoo area. Western Michigan University is committed to playing a valuable role in making that happen. WMU’s commitment involves efforts to ensure the success of the Promise scholarship students at WMU and involvement in other programs and projects pertaining to the Kalamazoo School District youth both in the schools and in the community. This Website details the involvement of Western Michigan University with the Promise.

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Video from the the 2nd Annual
Excellence in Diversity Awards
is available on our Resources page.

Office of Diversity & Inclusion Vision

WMU recognizes that diversity and multiculturalism are essential for university administrators, faculty, staff members, students, alumni, and community partners to reach their unique potential in the areas of intellectual, personal, social, and cultural development in a fully engaged, enlightened community. Therefore, the University has a responsibility to encourage the exploration of the cultures and life experiences that are available on campus and in communities near and far, for cultural diversity makes sense only within a framework that enables equitable treatment of all in a community.

Office of Diversity & Inclusion Mission

WMU will be a leader in the area of diversity and multiculturalism by fostering an environment where diversity in all of its forms is investigated, explained, practiced, celebrated, affirmed, and vigorously pursued. WMU envisions an academic community that affirms the dignity, value, and uniqueness of each person. We intent to aggressively pursue the recruitment, retention, and/or promotion of a more diverse administration, staff, faculty and student body. Moreover, WMU aims to ensure that the campus climate is welcoming and affirming for all persons by addressing the causes and sources of structural inequalities and changing the decision-making processes that prevent “genuine participation” of all university constituents.