Merze Tate College

Edwin Martini
Dean

Mission of the College

Merze Tate College provides a holistic approach to supporting all WMU students. Through an integrated set of programs and support services, we help students to identify and pursue their purpose.

Vision of the College

Merze Tate College champions a holistic and equitable experience so that all WMU students may thrive.

University Studies Degree

The university studies bachelor’s degree integrates a student’s prior coursework into a personalized degree, providing students with an opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree from WMU in a manageable and straightforward fashion without the constraints of specialized curriculum. Either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded based on the topical areas applied.

Collegiate Pathways

The Collegiate Pathways program is a dual enrollment opportunity providing eligible high school students with access to university courses and academic support services. The program delivers customizable educational opportunities in cooperation with high school and early middle college partners. Dual enrollment allows students to earn college credits that may be applied toward high school graduation requirements as well as a college or university curriculum.

Career and Student Employment Services

Career and Student Employment Services assist students with exploring career options, interviewing, negotiating, resumes and cover letters, and finding internships and jobs. Services include virtual career advising appointments, resume and cover letter reviews and maintaining part-time, internships and full-time employment opportunities listed on Handshake. The office facilitates regular employer and alumni campus visits to participate in job fairs, visit classrooms, and provide mock interviews for students. Staff conduct workshops and seminars addressing current job market issues, linking academics to career paths, finding an internship or trending job search strategies.

For more information, schedule a virtual career advising appointment, email wmu-handshake@wmich.edu, or call (269) 387-2745. The office is located on the first floor of Ellsworth Hall. wmich.edu/career

Center for Academic Success Programs

The Alpha Program offers support to students who have been conditionally admitted to WMU. The program begins with the First-Year Experience course, where students form relationships with other students, staff, and student mentors. Alpha students take a variety of courses to explore majors and develop skills to increase their success in college.

Exploratory Advising is the advising home for students who have not yet decided on a major and are engaged in exploring how their interests and passions align with academic programs. Most of our students are first-year students, and they work with Exploratory Advising until they declare a major and move to a degree program.

The Office of Military and Veterans Affairs provides guidance and mentorship for veterans, those still serving, and their family members. The office facilitates the transition to civilian and college life, offering academic and benefit support, career exploration and job search, as well as counseling and disability services. We connect our students with others through student organizations and social and career events.

The Writing Center provides individualized writing assistance to all undergraduate and graduate students in all majors. Our writing consultants assist with any writing assignment or writing task in any genre. The Writing Center helps students better understand any style guide (MLA, APA, Chicago, IEEE, etc.), learn to write from sources without plagiarizing, create personal proofreading guides, and develop a firm grasp of academic, workplace, and personal writing and rhetoric.

Office of Student Transitions

Adrienne Fraaza, Director
Ellsworth Hall
(269) 387-2167

The Office of Student Transitions delivers programs designed to foster a learning environment that involves students academically and socially. Our programs encourage student persistence and retention through graduation from Western Michigan University. The FYE seminar, described below, is the credit portion of the Office of Student Transitions for all students new to the University.

The purpose of the FYE seminar is to develop an intellectually engaged and socially integrated first-year student. This greatly enriches academic and campus life and helps to positively impact university retention. The FYE seminar is available for first-year, first-time students only and has no prerequisites. The FYE seminar is offered fall semester.

FYE 2100 First-Year Experience (2 hours)
The First-Year Experience seminar is designed to help students develop a sense of responsibility for their own learning and will provide support during the first semester of transition to the University. This seminar will introduce students to University resources, academic expectations, the eight dimensions of well-being, and will foster community-building. Taught in a small group setting, students will interact with a faculty/staff member and a student leader twice a week. The FYE 2100 seminar will include weekly class meetings, project-based assignments, written assignments, and attendance at selected University events and workshops. The importance of writing, critical thinking, communication, and study skills will be emphasized, as well as exploration of major and career opportunities. Students will earn a letter grade for this course.

Student Success Services

Katie Easley, Program Manager of Student Success Services
Amy Degner-Petillon, Administrative Assistant II
Kelsey Harness, Bronco Study Zone Manager

Western Michigan University
3374 Rood Hall
(269) 387-4252
wmich.edu/student-success

Office of Student Success Services (S3) provides academic support to any student enrolled in Arts and Sciences courses via peer academic success coaching, drop-in course assistance, and the learning assistant program. The main S3 office is located in 3374 Rood Hall. Learning assistants provide course-specific support to undergraduate students. Peer academic success coaching pairs high-achieving undergraduates with students who desire to enhance their study strategies and receive one-on-one peer assistance. Drop-in tutoring at the Bronco Study Zone in 3374 Rood Hall and at the Math and Science Success Center (MSSC) in the Valley 2 residence hall offers immediate, on-the-spot support to students enrolled in a wide variety of Arts and Sciences courses.

WMU Signature

WMU Signature assists students in completing a Signature project to help them apply their in and out of class learning. Signature projects are student initiated projects taking action on real world issues. Students completing the WMU Signature program earn a designation on their diploma identifying their chosen pathway. WMU Signature is designed to help Western Michigan University students share their story in order to stand out to future employers and graduate schools.