WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

'Western Michigan University' (abbr. 'WMU') is a public university established in 1903; its main campus is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. As of 2006, the school has slightly fewer than 25,000 students. The school is the fourth largest in the state of Michigan and is one of the 50 largest universities in the United States.The school's mascot is Buster Bronco, and the school colors are brown and gold. The first president of WMU was Dwight B. Waldo.
WMU's College of Aviation is one of the largest aviation programs in the United States; the university is also noted for its Paper Engineering and Behavioral Analysis programs, as well as for the Haworth College of Business and Army ROTC program. WMU's theatre department has also produced many talented individuals working in the entertainment industry throughout the country. Additionally, the WMU School of Music is recognized as offering some of the best programs in the Nation for those with musical interests and aspirations.
WMU's expansion projects include a new Business and Technology park for research, a new aviation campus in Battle Creek, Michigan, and extensive building renovation and restoration in the Kalamazoo campus, as well as a new chemistry building and a visual arts center.
WMU is the site of the annual International Congress on Medieval Studies.

Contents

Academics

Campus

West Campus

East Campus

Oakland Drive Campus

Parkview Campus

Branch campuses

Student life

Athletics

Fight Song

The Alma Mater

Notable alumni

External links

Academics

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching places WMU among the 76 public institutions in the nation designated as research universities with high research activity. U.S. News & World Report's annual ranking of American colleges and universities includes WMU as one of the nation's top-100 public universities. Princeton Review included Western Michigan on its 'best Midwestern colleges' list for two years in a row. The University also had six Fulbright Scholars, the most of any school in the state of Michigan in 2006, these individuals are recognized for increasing understanding between the United States and other countries.
The university offers 254 degree programs through 9 colleges. The colleges that are part of WMU are: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Aviation, the Haworth College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Health and Human Services, the Lee Honors College, and the Graduate College.
The Haworth College of Business operates out of Arnold Schneider Hall. The school is named for an alumnus, who gave a gift of $5,000,000 towards the construction of Schneider Hall, and later served on the school's board of directors. Aside from having a nationally recognized undergraduate business program, the Haworth College of Business has one of the oldest and most successful Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs in the state. It also is the sixth largest college of business in the country, with over 5,200 students.

Campus

Western Michigan University is divided into four campuses in Kalamazoo:

★ West Campus

★ East Campus

★ Oakland Drive Campus

★ Parkview Campus

West Campus

West Campus is the primary and largest WMU campus in Kalamazoo, and could also be referred to as "Main Campus." Most of the university academic and administrative buildings are located on West Campus, including the College of Arts of Sciences, Haworth College of Business, College of Education, College of Fine Arts, and the Lee Honors College. Many of the residence halls are found scattered throughout West Campus, while freshman dormitories are located a short distance away in Goldsworth Valley. The Bernhard Center is a centrally located multi-purpose building to provide student and community groups with meeting space. Located within the Bernhard Center is the Bronco Mall, a one-stop-shop for students which includes a large computing center, a food court and dining area, a full service bank, and the school bookstore. Waldo Library and an attached computing lab are located on West Campus, as is the Dalton Musical Center.
West Campus is also the site of Miller Auditorium. A large entertainment venue seating nearly 3500 people, it is Michigan's fourth largest auditorium. Miller Auditorium hosts many events ranging from popular musicals and concerts to graduation commencements and film screenings. The Gilmore Theater Complex is located directly next to Miller Auditorium, and features three performance stages and faculty offices.

East Campus

Main articles: East Campus (Western Michigan University)

East Campus is the original development dating from when the university was founded in 1903. It contains many of the university's historical buildings including, East Hall, West Hall, North Hall, Walwood Hall, Spindler Hall, Vandercook Hall, and The Little Theater. Many of these buildings are located on a hill overlooking the city of Kalamazoo.

Oakland Drive Campus

Main articles: Oakland Drive Campus

The Oakland Drive Campus is the university's newest land acquisition. It is home to the university's College of Health and Human Services and the WMU Army ROTC program.

Parkview Campus

The Parkview Campus is home to the University's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Business Technology and Research Park. Erected in 2003, the $72.5 million building is 343,000 square feet and features two two-story 600 foot wings connected by a middle glass enclosure. The campus is located about 3 miles southwest of the main campus. Students often commute to the campus via a shuttle bus that runs Monday through Friday between the main campus and the engineering college.
The 265 acre campus is the only in the world with paper production, paper coating, and printing pilot plants on site. The school offers 16 undergraduate engineering, technology and applied sciences programs, while the graduate level, the College of Engineering offers 11 master programs, and 5 doctoral programs.

Branch campuses

Western Michigan University also has several branch campuses that offer education to more than 6,000 students each year. These branch campuses are located in various cities throughout Michigan:

★ Battle Creek, site of the College of Aviation.

★ Grand Rapids

★ Holland

★ Lansing

★ Muskegon

★ South Haven

★ Benton Harbor (Southwest)

★ Traverse City

Student life

Western Michigan offers a wide range of activities for its students. There are currently over 300 registered student organizations that students may join. Students are welcomed to school each year with Bronco Bash, an event with live entertainment performances and booths sponsored by student and community organizations. The Campus Activities Board CAB is the main student organization responsible for bringing entertainment events for students. Some events the organization sponsors include "At The Show" concerts, "Bernie's After Hours" comedians, "Special Events Live" and "Miller Movies," presented at the school's main theater, Miller Auditorium. CAB sponsors both Bronco Bash and WMU's student Homecoming activities. The Western Student Association (WSA) also plays an important role in funding RSO events as well as addressing student concerns around campus.
WMU sponsors or recognizes several groups aimed towards personal and social development. This includes Faith and Spiritual Development, LBGT Student Services, Greek Life, services for International Students, Multicultural Affairs, Off-Campus Life, and Sponsored Student Organizations.
Western Michigan University's fraternities established on campus included Tau Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Phi Alpha, Phi Sigma Kappa, Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa Phi, Omega Psi Phi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Sigma Phi, Sigma Pi, Sigma Chi, Delta Chi, and Sigma Lambda Beta.
The sororities established on WMU's campus are Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Zeta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Pi Beta Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Lambda Gamma, and Delta Gamma.
Western Michigan University students and faculty are served by Sindecuse Health Center. Resources include full clinical, diagnostic, and nursing services, health promotion options, sports medicine and therapy, dental services, and a pharmacy. Sindecuse Health Center is located on West Campus.
The Moped Army, an avid group of moped riders, was formed in 1997 by three friends attending the university.

Athletics

Main articles: Western Michigan Broncos

Fight Song

Fight on, fight on for Western!

Take the ball, make the score

Win the game--ah!

Onward for the brown and gold

Push 'em back, push 'em back!

Bring us fame!

Fight on, fight on for Western!

Over one, over all, We will reign!

Fight, Broncos fight!

Fight with all your might!

Western win this game!

★ Fight Song Sing-Along

The Alma Mater

Western we sing to you, brown and gold

Western we bring to you faith untold

You challenge and inspire,

Your hope is our desire,

We sing to you our alma mater, brown and gold!

Notable alumni

Main articles: List of Western Michigan University alumni

External links

★ Official Sites

★
★ Official website

★
★ Official Greek Website of WMU

★
★ Official athletics website

★
★ Campus map

★
★ Student/Faculty Portal

★
★ WMU Webmail

★
★ Distinguished Alumni

★ Athletic Message Boards

★
★ Broncos Illustrated