Nonprofit leadership program wins national awardJan. 12, 2010 KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University is the recipient of the 2008-09 American Humanics Program Excellence Award, a prestigious national honor awarded to institutions dedicated to preparing the next generation of nonprofit sector leaders. Students and representatives from WMU traveled to the American Humanics Management/Leadership Institute in Phoenix Jan. 3-6 for the final round of competition, which resulted in WMU winning the award. The WMU program was honored for "demonstrating best practices in all nonprofit leadership program areas, with strengths in the areas of institutional support, fundraising, nonprofit management curriculum, and community service," according to American Humanics. The American Humanics program at WMU is part of the undergraduate minor in nonprofit leadership, which is housed in and supported by the School of Public Affairs and Administration. The University also offers a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Administration and a concentration in nonprofit leadership within the Master of Public Administration program," noted the award. Prior to the WMU group traveling to Phoenix, WMU was named one of two finalists for the honor, along with the University of Central Florida. Representatives from each school made a formal presentation to the Program Excellence Award Review Committee and produced a video about its program.
"The students did a great job with their presentation and responding to questions from the committee. And, I note that Janice Maatman as WMU campus director for the American Humanics program has done an excellent job in preparing the students for their participation at the Institute," said Dr. Barbara Liggett, WMU interim director of the School of Public Affairs and Administration. Founded in 1948, American Humanics is a national alliance of nearly 70 colleges and universities nationwide and more than 60 national nonprofit organizations. WMU offers an undergraduate minor in nonprofit leadership that can be taken in addition to any major, as well as a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership and administration. American Humanics is housed within and supported by the WMU School of Public Affairs and Administration while also receiving institutional support from the University. During the 2008-09 academic year, Campus Compact and the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund granted WMU American Humanics students $15,000 to re-grant to local nonprofits and $3,000 for administrative costs. Students studied community needs, set priorities, issued requests for proposals, analyzed 23 proposals, completed site visits and held a Students4Giving Grant Celebration. The WMU group has received another $15,000 to distribute to local nonprofits in spring 2010. The student association also completed an additional four fundraising projects, including an Annual Letter Appeal and Santa's Village, raising a total of $26,695. WMU students also put in a total of 1,190 community-service hours planning and implementing seven community service projects, including Bowling for Kids' Sake and a Head Start Christmas Party. For more information, contact Janice Maatman, WMU's director of nonprofit education programs in the School of Public Affairs and Administration, at janice.maatman@wmich.edu or (269) 387-8945. Media contact: Deanne Puca, (269) 387-8400, deanne.puca@wmich.edu WMU News |
