KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Western Michigan University may be one of the larger institutions in Kalamazoo, but it’s not as big as it used to be, and that’s having an impact on a town that calls itself the “Promise Community”
During a presentation to the Kalamazoo City Commission Monday, WMU Vice President Jeff Breneman laid out just how dramatic the enrollment declines have been at Western. He said enrollment has dropped from a high of 30,000 to just 19,000 currently.
Breneman did say WMU and their new medical school are integrated with the community through a broad range of interrelations and agreements.
Commissioners pressed the Breneman to have the university get involved in fall programs the city is developing to help kids with their studies. One commissioner even asked Breneman if the WMU had any empty buildings they could use to house the homeless.
