Trustees give OK to med school purchase

Contact: Cheryl Roland

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Acting at its July 8 meeting, Western Michigan University Board of Trustees gave its seal of approval to a resolution authorizing the WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine to acquire the physical assets of the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center, located in WMU's Business Technology and Research Park.

The resolution by the WMU board supports the purchase by the medical school of the building, property and equipment that is now held by the innovation center. The medical school can continue to use the facility's current name.

The board acted to further its strategic goal of supporting the Stryker School of Medicine as public/private partnership. Purchase of the physical assets would provide a research facility that is close to the WMU College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, as well as researchers currently working at the center. The development, according to the board recommendation, would enhance the medical school's ability to achieve the research requirement for accreditation and would provide additional opportunities for research collaboration with WMU faculty and students.

The WMU Board holds a right of first refusal on any sale of the building and property, and the board is also a Class A member of the medical school. The board waived its right of first refusal for this acquisition on behalf of the University, and in its medical school governance role, authorized the medical school entering into the transaction. A number of additional approvals still need to be secured before such a transaction takes place.

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