Representatives from the newly erected Ascension Borgess Cancer Center, the Western Michigan University Business Technology and Research Park North, and state and local government officials celebrated the new park and center at a Sept. 15 ribbon cutting ceremony.

Higher education gets bump in state budget, resiliency center funding Thanks to the strong support of Rep. Mary Whiteford, chair of the Michigan House health policy committee, and Western's legislative delegation, WMU's Resiliency Center will receive $750,000 in one-time funding through the 2022 state budget process. Faced with the largest budget surpluses seen in decades, the Michigan Legislature passed a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2022 in late September with the support of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Western’s appropriation was a one-time, 1% increase—$1.1 million dollars—which leaves the University’s base funding levels essentially flat over the past 5 years.  While certainly appreciated, one-time funding increases limit an institution’s ability to plan for long-term strategies and future investment. Western will begin the FY 2022 budget with an annual appropriation of approximately $111 million, on par with the amount of state funding received in FY 1998. With tuition rates intrinsically linked to state appropriation levels, we must invest more as a state into our higher education institutions to improve access and affordability. Currently, Michigan ranks 44th nationally in per-resident support for higher education. Please encourage our elected officials and policy makers to better fund our public universities for the benefit of our students, the workforce, and the future of our state.  Also included in the state budget package was one-time debt relief funding for the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System and supplemental funding for higher education required under federal standards associated with the American Rescue Plan. State universities received a one-time 3.9% payment through the ARP in order to maintain minimum levels of funding.  Learn more on the State Budget Office website.

WMU celebrates opening of BTR Park North, Ascension Borgess Cancer Center Western formally marked in mid-September the opening of Business Technology and Research (BTR) Park North and its first tenant, Ascension Borgess Cancer Center. The new park was developed with a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and through a three-way partnership with Oshtemo Township and the Kalamazoo County Road Commission. It has the potential to generate investment of at least $50 million and over 200 high-tech jobs. Located on a 55-acre site along Drake Road south of Stadium Dr., the new park represents a northward expansion of Western's original business park located on the Parkview Avenue Campus. It will attract new businesses and regional partnerships with the University that support research, economic development and new student opportunities. This expansion builds on the success of the original BTR Park, which is operating at full capacity with 40 companies and more than 850 employees, including 100 alumni. Since the park's inception in 2002, park businesses have provided hundreds of internships for WMU students. Thank you to all partners who contributed time and talent to development of the BTR North project, including Southwest Michigan First, Green Business Certification Inc., the Kalamazoo Bee Club, WMU’s Office for Sustainability, and local environmentalists. Site condo development opportunities at BTR North are available, ranging from 3-16 acres. Sizes and dimensions may vary based upon needs. Listing. Read more at WMU News.

Researchers help develop, protect state's natural resources The Michigan Geologic Survey is a statewide asset housed at Western that provides ongoing research in geologic mapping to assess, protect and sustainably develop Michigan's vital natural resources, including our Great Lakes shorelines. Attracted by the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences expertise, resources and extensive research to develop and expand MGS research and growth, the state moved the survey and its collections to WMU in 2011. The University appreciates the ongoing support of our legislators and state department partners who advocate for funding to sustain the MGS.   Since its transfer to Western, the survey has lacked a consistent and sustainable funding stream from the state. A recent report issued by the Water Use Advisory Council recommends funding the MGS at a level of $3 million per year to achieve optimum geological data for use in various applications. The report has received support in the Michigan Legislature, and legislation supporting the funding proposal has been introduced.  MGS research currently underway includes a project funded by the United States Geological Survey, in which Western researchers are contributing to the creation of a model that will more accurately predict which shorelines and geologic areas are most prone to failure and the mitigation efforts that may help save them. Using drone technology, John Yellich, MGS director, and a team of scientists recently concluded several weeks of drone observation of Lake Michigan's southern shores. They will work with other investigators to sample and map the geology of the bluffs and to correlate that data with bluff collapse rates. As the state's geological research repository, the MGS publishes all findings, and works with stakeholders to help implement proven solutions for lakeshore stability.

Moral courage leader shows the way in campus visit Working regularly with state and federal legislators keeps our government relations team keenly aware of the polarization dividing our society and the need for all of us to learn to converse with people on the other side of the divide, whatever it may be. To that end, We Talk, the University's civil discourse initiative, hosted a September campus visit with author and educator Irshad Manji, that inspired students, faculty, staff, alumni and community leaders. In nine events over the two-day visit, Manji, the New York Times bestselling author of “Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times” and founder of the Moral Courage Project, led us to consider how we are all much more than the labels that are applied to us and how everyone needs to feel respected and safe to express their views and values under the banner of diversity and inclusion.   An interactive panel presentation open to the community capped off Manji’s visit, which included political strategist Jason Cabel Roe and Dr. Luchara Wallace, director of WMU’s Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations. Visit the Irshad Manji campus visit webpage to view the video recordings of the panel and two presentations Manji held with students. Thank you to We Talk Founding Sponsors Stephanie M. Fletcher and Edward J. Fletcher, the WMU Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Michigan’s King-Chávez-Parks Initiative's Future Faculty Fellowship program and this is a bookstore & Bookbug for making this visit possible. Discussions are underway to bring Manji back to Kalamazoo in spring 2022 to build on the momentum of her fall visit. Interested in joining the We Talk conversation? Connect at wetalk@wmich.edu. Want to be better heard? Listen more, says Manji If you want to get a fair hearing, you have to give a fair hearing. That's one of the many lessons Irshad Manji shared with us in her September campus visit, which she explains in this short video.

Campus COVID planning keeps campus safe and healthy University return-to-campus policies mandating indoor masks and weekly testing for people who are unvaccinated has resulted in a campus positivity rate that is less than 1%, well below the Kalamazoo County positive test rate of 11.9%. Thanks to the cooperation of students, faculty and staff, the campus COVID case count remains low. As of November 9, 2,240 people were tested in the seven-day period preceding and of them, 21 or .9% of the total, tested positive for the virus. COVID dashboard. Campus immunization statistics: Enrolled students: 76.57% Faculty: 96.02% Staff: 83.74% Combined population: 78.26% At this time, all students, faculty, staff and visitors—regardless of vaccination status—are required to wear a mask in all University buildings. Mandatory testing for unvaccinated individuals will continue through the remainder of the semester. The team is assessing the testing protocol needed during spring semester.

Corporate Engagement Tailgate 2021    The WMU Corporate Engagement Team held a tailgate party prior to the Oct. 9 Bronco football game, inviting over 150 corporate and community partners and their guests to thank them for their partnership and to celebrate accomplishments achieved together.  Attendees enjoyed food, drink and conversation with senior leaders from WMU representing the areas of Academic Affairs, Research and Innovation, Government Relations and Community Partnerships.  Thank you to all of our corporate and campus partners who attended. We welcomed the opportunity to celebrate the partnerships we have formed to benefit our campus and community! Western appreciates the opportunity to have a meaningful connection with businesses, municipalities, nonprofits and neighborhoods! Join us, and see what Broncos can do! Connect at: www.wmich.edu/corporate

Kudos Corner--student assistants, past and present

Welcome to Eusha Rushmila, a Capital Intern working with the Government Relations team for the 2021-22 academic year! Eusha is a sophomore majoring in international and comparative politics from Dhaka, Bangladesh. She will spend most of her work hours during fall semester in the OGR office on campus handling a variety of tasks. Her spring semester internship hours will be spent in Lansing to gain a broad understanding of how state government serves the people of Michigan. Please give her a warm welcome if you happen to meet her!

Congratulations to Vica Claey, a 2020 graduate of WMU's nursing program, who recently accepted a position with Kent County providing in-home consultation and care to pregnant women, new mothers and their babies. Vica worked as a student assistant in Government Relations in 2018-2019. Immediately after graduation in May 2020, Vica accepted a position working at Bronson Methodist Hospital to care for new mothers and babies. Her WMU education and the experience she gained in the hospital prepared Vica for this next step in her career journey. Good luck, Vica!

The Western Michigan University Office of Government Relations will ethically  operate with transparency, civility, bipartisanship and inclusivity to support public  higher education. We advocate for and advance public policy and partnerships benefiting Western Michigan University and the communities we serve.

wmich.edu/government 

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