Merze Tate College

Staci Perryman-Clark, Interim Dean

Mission of the College
Merze Tate College champions a holistic and equitable approach to supporting all WMU students, throughout each stage of the academic journey. Through an integrated set of data-based programs and support services, we help students identify and pursue their purpose, so that all may thrive.

University Studies Degree
Jessica Parker, Director of Academic Advising
Ellsworth Hall
(269) 387-4156

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.

Exploratory Advising
Rich McMullen, Director of Exploratory Advising
Ellsworth Hall
(269) 387-4414

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. 

Early College Programs
Kimmy Beuchler, Director of Early College Programs
Ellsworth Hall
(269) 387-6095

Early College Programs 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.

Academic Success Programs (ASP)
Myia Hughes, Director of Academic Success Programs
Ellsworth Hall
(269) 387-0401

Alpha Program
The Alpha Program offers support to students who have been conditionally admitted to WMU. The program begins with the First-Year Experience course (FYE,) 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. More information on FYE is detailed below.

Trio Student Success
TRIO Student Success Program is a learning community funded by the U.S. Department of Education that helps first-generation, income eligible and students with disabilities complete their baccalaureate degrees. Providing students with services like learning opportunities, scholarships and career prep, TRIO continuously works to help students succeed.

Career and Student Employment Services
Evan Heiser, Interim-Director of Career and Student Employment Services and Director of WMU Signature
Ellsworth Hall
(269) 387-2745
wmu-handshake@wmich.edu

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, 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.

Service-Learning
The Office of Service-Learning connects faculty and community partners and assists them in developing and managing service-learning projects for students to participate in. Service-learning is a mutually beneficial endeavor in which course learning objectives are met by addressing community-identified needs–putting academics into practice. Projects require a minimum of 15 hours of service work outside the classroom and include a critical reflection of the experience and empowers community members, students and faculty to create change.

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.

Office of Military and Veterans Affairs
Kenneth Franks, Military advocate
Ellsworth Hall, 1261
(269) 387-4615

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.

FYE 2100 First-Year Experience Military Transition Course (2 hours)
The Military Transition Course is a First Year Experience (FYE) course designed to help military-connected students transition from military service into academia, 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
Ellsworth Hall
(269) 387-4252

The Office of Student Success Services (S3) provides academic support to all WMU students. The main office is located on the first floor of Ellsworth Hall, and services can be accessed online at wmich.edu/student-success.

Peer Academic Success Coaching
The Peer Academic Success Coaching program pairs high-achieving undergraduates with students who desire to enhance their study and learning strategies and receive one-on-one assistance and support to work toward their goals.

Course Assistant Program
The Course Assistant Program offers on-the-spot, academic support to students virtually and in-person at the Bronco Study Zone in 3374 Rood Hall.

Learning Assistant Program
The Learning Assistant Program offers direct support to students by providing in-class assistance and weekly review sessions to explore course objectives and develop effective study techniques. In an in-person, or synchronous online course, the learning assistant will be present in the classroom to assist the course instructor and students. In an asynchronous course, the learning assistant will be active within the Elearning platform to support students in their coursework. Each learning assistant will also lead three review sessions each week for students in their assigned section.

Supplemental Instruction Program
The Supplemental Instruction Program provides support and assistance to students within selected courses. Supplemental Instructors have taken the courses for which they are providing services. In an in-person or synchronous online course, the Supplemental Instructor will be present in the classroom to help address any student questions and concerns. In an asynchronous course, the Supplemental Instructors will be active within the E-learning platform to support students within their coursework.

Navigator Network
Professional and peer navigators proactively contact students who need support, connecting them with campus resources. Students can also reach out to the navigator team via live chat, email or a phone call for personalized support.

Office of Student Transitions
Adrienne Fraaza, Director of Office of Student Transitions
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 First Year Experience (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.

Writing Center
Kim Ballard, Director
1343 Ellsworth Hall
(269) 387-4615

The Writing Center, a free resource for students, is open Monday through Friday in 1343 Ellsworth Hall and in Waldo Library on Sunday nights. Our writing consultants, specially trained graduate assistants and undergraduate students, provide individualized writing assistance to all undergraduate and graduate students in all majors. Our consultants can help with any writing assignment from any class or with writing tasks in any genres, including scholarship essays, employment-search communications (resumes, CVs, cover letters, thank-you notes, negotiation letters, etc.), graduate school or college major statements, dissertation or thesis chapters, presentations, and more. The Writing Center also helps students with reading-to-learn strategies and with any style guide (MLA, APA, Chicago, IEEE, etc.), learning to write from sources without plagiarizing, and creating personal proofreading guides. While working with our consultants, students develop a firm grasp of academic, workplace, and personal writing and rhetoric.

In a typical session, a consultant will meet a student one-to-one to offer specific feedback on the student’s work, questions, or writing process. We also meet with groups of writers collaborating on projects. Some students ask for help getting started or planning their writing. Some work with us on writing anxiety, test taking skills, and proofreading strategies. Consultants and students may meet in person on our main campus, and we are available for virtual consulting, too.

The Writing Center offers 50-minute appointments through our online scheduler, found on our website: wmich.edu/writingcenter. Students usually make their own appointments and choose their consultant. Students must register to use our scheduler because we cannot sync our scheduler with students’ Western Michigan logins and passwords. Students may also call us at (269) 387-4615 to for questions. If they reach our voicemail, which may happen if we’re talking to another client, students should always leave a message with their telephone number.

Our website lists our hours for each semester and summer session, which may change. During fall and spring semesters, we offer Sunday hours from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at our 1st floor Waldo Library Satellite location. Students who want help when the University is not holding classes may email the Writing Center director at kim.ballard@wmich.edu.

At the request of instructors or organization leaders, Writing Center staff will develop and present workshops in classes or meetings. We are also available for in-class writing assistance and are eager to collaborate with instructors to develop Rhetorical Reading Guides for their classes or to help them require students to use Personal Proofreading Guides.

A welcoming resource for all students, Writing Center staff truly enjoy working with students on their writing and hope as many students as possible take advantage of our long-established resource. As part of Merze Tate College, we are dedicated to helping students thrive at Western Michigan University.