Office of the President
Newsletter
The President’s Perspective
July 2009
Dear Colleagues:
The fall semester is fast approaching, and I hope you are all taking the opportunity to use some vacation time and recharge your batteries for the coming year.
I’ve just returned from a trip overseas to finalize a new international agreement that will bring some wonderful new opportunities to our students and faculty as well as to K-12 schools and businesses in the communities we serve. In the next few days, we’ll be formally announcing the initiative, so be on the lookout for news of this venture.
It’s all about you.
Great College to Work For
While I was on the road, I was delighted to learn that Western Michigan University was included on the Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2009 list of the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For.” I already knew that. You already knew that. But it’s great to see it acknowledged by people outside of our University community.
WMU earned top-10 rankings in five of the 26 categories measured, and we were recognized for our offerings and best practices in providing health care benefits, tuition remission, life insurance, disability insurance and post-retirement benefits. The primary factor for recognition was the feedback collected last spring by the Chronicle of a random anonymous survey of our faculty, administrators and professional staff—you and your colleagues.
Be sure to use one of your most valuable benefits
One of our top-10 rankings in that Chronicle “Great Colleges to Work For” listing is based on our employee tuition remission program. This is a benefit that few other industry sectors can provide at the level we do. I want to urge you to personally take full advantage of this benefit and urge your dependent family members to do the same.
Our tuition remission benefit provides the opportunity to use your career at Western Michigan Univiersity as a way to continually broaden your horizons and improve your credentials. In a time of tough finances, all employees are wise to continue to broaden and expand their skill set. Becoming proficient in a second language or pursuing a degree will make you an even more valuable employee.
Right now is a perfect time to get the ball rolling so you can enroll in fall classes. If you are unsure about pursuing a degree and just want to experiment or explore a new interest, you can secure admission as a student with nondegree status at either the undergraduate or graduate levels.
Act now, and you’ll have more than six weeks to see an advisor, clear scheduling issues with your supervisor, arrange for childcare or save for books. We encourage supervisors to use this opportunity to encourage and support our employees.
- Complete details about the amount covered and eligibility can be found in the Employee Handbook.
- The application process is simple.
- If you need assistance, the Registrar’s office is a great resource.
Orientation
We recently finished our orientation sessions for this fall’s incoming students. As was the case last year, having faculty and staff members reach out and attend events like the parent mixers made an enormous positive impression on new members of our Bronco family.
In many situations in which the enrollment decision was still not firm, I think your involvement may well have tipped the scale. On the occasions when I was able to attend, I heard many affirming remarks from new students and their families. Thank you for making orientation your priority.
Campus visitors broaden our opportunities
For those of us here all summer, a major benefit of being part of this University community is the opportunity to enjoy a wealth of cultural and academic events. This week, for instance, we’re sharing our campus with leading physics researchers from around the globe.
Usually held in cities like Paris, Quebec, Vienna, New York and Seattle, the conference is in Kalamazoo this year and organized by co-chairs Drs. Nora Berrah and John Tanis. For members of our campus and local communities, this means a chance to hear free public lectures by two speakers known for putting science in lay terms for general audiences. The second of these is especially appropriate for young people.
- Dr. Pat Dehmer, deputy director for science programs in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, will speak on “Facing Our Energy Challenges in a New Era of Science” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23, in Shaw Theatre.
- Dr. William Phillips, leader of the Laser Cooling and Trapping Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, will speak on “Time, Einstein and the Coolest Stuff in the Universe” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, also in Shaw.
Go to XXVI International Conference in Photonic, Electronic and Atomic Collisions for the official Web site.
Student achievement
As always, our students continue to find success in and out of the classroom. I’m always hard-pressed to confine my student achievement comments to just a few items. Here are some you need to be aware of.
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Starting at the top
Swanson was selected by the New York Times.
Phillip Swanson, a junior offensive lineman who earned Academic All-American honors as a member of Western Michigan University’s Bronco football team, has been selected by the New York Times to blog about life in Division I football throughout the 2009 season.
Phil, a Grand Haven, Mich., native, is studying journalism at WMU. He also has served as sports editor for the Western Herald. His first piece for the Times college sports blog “The Quad” appeared July 7.
“It is not every day that a college journalism major is able to have a byline in or associated with The New York Times,” Phil says.
Follow his blog, “On the Line at Western Michigan”.
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International honors
A research-project presentation by a trio from Western Michigan University captured first place in a competition held during the International Cultural and Academic Meeting of Engineering Students May 9-16 at Bogazici University in Istanbul.
The annual contest draws students and academics from around the world to Istanbul to showcase their research and cultures. This year, 15 projects were presented from 12 countries. The winners were three WMU students who presented nanotechnology research they conducted last summer in Brazil.
- Brittany Albin, a senior chemical engineering major from Grand Rapids
- Margaret Gerhart, a senior paper engineering major from Montague, and
- Mallory Good, a December 2008 mechanical engineering graduate from Rockford.
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Topping all Michigan universities
Western Michigan University seniors in the Haworth College of Business Advertising and Promotion Program have won two of only three scholarships awarded statewide by the AdCraft Club of Detroit’s AdCraft Foundation. That organization is the nation’s largest advertising club. Its foundation annually awards cash grants to advertising and marketing students attending universities in Michigan.
Eric Leonard, of Dexter and John Peters of Cassopolis each received a $2,500 scholarship. They both expect to graduate in the spring of 2010.
Faculty and staff achievements
When it comes to cutting-edge work, summer is always an enormously productive time on a university campus. At WMU, it’s also a time to recognize outstanding staff service.
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‘Green’ to go
Imagine going to a fast food restaurant and not seeing a trashcan.
This summer, Joel Kendrick, director of WMU’s Paper Pilot Plant has been attracting attention in national recycling circles.
Starbucks will run a pilot program in its NYC stores using cups certified by Kendrick and WMU as 100 percent recyclable. That firm’s goal is to have 100 percent of its in-store cups recycled in 2012.
Other fast food chains are looking at the WMU work as well, and last month, Joel was invited to present the WMU Pilot Plants’ new recycling certification process at a summit in New York City, which was attended by a who’s who in the paper, recycling and fast food industries.
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Making manufacturing ‘green’
Dr. Patten received one of six 2009 innovation awards.
Dr. John A. Patten, professor and chair of manufacturing engineering, received one of six 2009 innovation awards from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers at the society’s annual Conference June 7-9 in Philadelphia.
He was honored for developing an innovative micro-laser-assisted machining process that leaves minimal waste and substantially reduces tool wear.
Patten is earning a national reputation in green manufacturing. He is also one of the University’s major renewable energy advocates and was instrumental in getting the wind turbine installed on the Parkview Campus.
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Going beyond the job description
Last week we honored four exceptional employees who routinely go beyond their assigned duties to help their colleagues and our students. They make our University a better place.
Please take a moment to congratulate this year’s annual Make a Difference award winners. They are:
- Cheri Edgar, office coordinator in business information systems;
- Deborah Goostrey, building services coordinator in the College of Health and Human Services;
- Stephan Keto, a grounds supervisor in landscape services; and
- Mary Ramlow, office coordinator in the Evaluation Center.
Stay informed by reading WMU News
There’s no shortage of news about our University during the summer months. I urge you to stay well informed as the coming weeks unfold. The latest news about our University is always available at WMU News.
You are our ambassadors in the community. Your family, friends and neighbors may turn to you for insight and background on what’s happening on campus and in Michigan higher education.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and get ready for a new academic year full of activity.
Best regards,
John M. Dunn
President