Legislature passes critical legislation, sends to Governor for signature

During the month of October, the legislature passed SB 511, which was introduced by Sen. Sean McCann and it now awaits the Governor's signature. This legislation was critical for WMU as it ensures the savings from the recent paydown of the unfunded MPSERS pension liability is reflected in future payments owed by the university. This legislation results in over $4M in additional savings annually for WMU that can now be invested back on campus.

The efforts in getting this legislation passed was truly a team effort by our entire delegation with both Sen. McCann and Rep. Julie Rogers introducing legislation and shepherding it through the legislative process. We also were incredibly grateful for the bipartisan support from the Bronco Delegation who supported the bills. Thank you to Rep. Christine Morse, Rep. Matt Hall, Rep. Kevin Coleman and Rep. Carol Glanville for voting YES on this important bill.

Please reach out to them and let them know you appreciate their support of WMU!

Candidate Forum and Remember to Vote!

On October 11, we hosted the Kalamazoo Mayoral and City Commissioner Candidate Forum, which provided an excellent platform for a great policy discussion on how we can build a more vibrant and thriving city that effectively serves our students and the entire Kalamazoo community.

We would like to thank the League of Women Voters of Kalamazoo Area, WMUK Now Kalamazoo, Public Media Network, and Lee Honors College for organizing and hosting this event with us. Their support and collaboration made this forum a huge success, and demonstrated the special role our campus plays in helping provide unbiased, non-partisan election information for area voters.

If you would like to watch the recording of the forum, click here.

A reminder that next Tuesday (11/7) is Election Day in many local communities across the state, to see if you have an election in your community and view a sample ballot visit the Sec. of State's website.

Networking with Journalists From Across Europe

On October 30, our team had the opportunity to engage with about 20 journalists from across Europe in the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVP) to discuss our office's role on campus and why we continue to champion and coordinate our We Talk program.

As polarization continues to intensify both domestically and internationally, the exchange of ideas and strategies for constructive dialogue has never been more critical. We Talk provides this platform here at WMU and we will continue to offer a diverse offering of discussion sessions and engagements in the year ahead. Be sure to checkout our website for more details!

Thank you to WMU Alumna (and former OGR team member!), Emma Baratta and Global Ties for connecting us with them.

Congratulations to Sen. Sean McCann & Kara Wood!

During the recent homecoming festivities, the College of Arts and Sciences held its annual Alumni Achievement Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to Senator Sean McCann and former Associate Vice President for Community Partnerships Kara Wood for being recognized at this event!

Read more about their achievements here.

Huge Announcement: Jonathan Haidt Visit on February 26, 2024

Check our We Talk website for more details on New York Times Bestselling Author, Jonathan Haidt visit to our campus next February 26, 2024!