°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x

A resource and partner to the university and its community.

°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x exists to collaboratively imagine, design and realize ideas that transform and enhance the learning experience.

What is °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x?

The landscape of higher education is evolving rapidly, and the imperative to create impactful, diverse, and flexible learning experiences is more critical than ever. Delivering excellent academic experiences necessitates thoughtfully designed courses, inclusive teaching, and leveraging instructional technology to its full potential; however, staying on top of it all can be daunting, overwhelming, or frustrating.  

That's where °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x comes in.  

Drawing on the expertise of our teams, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x collaborates with instructors, staff, and administrators within the university to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and propel academic innovation forward in ways that directly benefit our campus community. We also share our skills and services with our community outside of the university, forging unique learning experiences for pre-college students, adult learners, and organizations across southwest Michigan. 

Teaching & Learning

Instructor proudly standing in front of his students as they work.

Instructional Design & Development

You bring the subject matter expertise, and we’ll help you discover evidence-based teaching and learning strategies that can transform and enhance your students’ academic experiences. From individual instructors to entire programs and departments, we offer customized solutions to fit the diverse needs of our partners.
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Students working on their lessons with the aid of technological resources.

Instructional Technology

Our experts are ready to help you better understand, navigate, and leverage technology so you can elevate your instruction, not complicate it! We provide administration and support for dozens of systems and tools that you use daily. From the Instructional Technology Center help desk to our accessibility experts, whatever problems are troubling you, we’re here to make the answers clear.
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Faculty discussing a topic at an event.

Faculty Development

In collaboration with institutional units across the university, we help all instructors—whether you are board appointed, adjunct and part-time, or a graduate student—develop the skills necessary to lead innovation in teaching, sustain growth throughout your career and across disciplines, and engage in impactful scholarship opportunities.
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Market Research

A researcher looking at market data to inform his decisions.

Make data-informed decisions and answer critical questions without getting lost in the research. From market trend analysis to survey design to focus groups, our team utilizes quantitative and qualitative methods to equip you with the information you need to move your project forward.

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Community Connections

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OLLI

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ (OLLI) offers high-quality, non-credit educational opportunities for mature adults in southwest Michigan. With support from °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x, this volunteer organization has collaborated with emeriti, faculty, and staff to offer compelling courses, thought-provoking trips, and impactful community service events year-round since 2011.
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Grand Rapids

°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x extends the reach of the university beyond Kalamazoo through our campus in Grand Rapids. As a leader in innovation, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥-Grand Rapids identifies, develops, and opens the doors to learner-centered pathways for diverse populations across the region through our commitment to active community engagement and by providing cutting-edge academic experiences that respond to the needs of the modern age.
Visit Grand Rapids
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Early College Programs

Charting a path to professional success starts early. In collaboration with K-12 partners statewide, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x’s Early College Programs empower high school students to pursue dual enrollment by attending university-level courses, giving them the opportunity to earn credits towards their high school graduation requirements in addition to Western’s academic programs.
Take the first step
Instructors and Staff solving a problem at an event.

Professional Development

°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x’s Professional Development team designs non-credit learning opportunities that help our clients overcome challenges and discover creative solutions. Our customized competency-based programs are built around relevant, real-world projects and practical activities that deliver tangible results.
Find your opportunity
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Imagine.

°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x is driven by a vision of the future. We strive to define what academic innovation looks like by exploring teaching methodologies, how technology is incorporated into learning, and what types of support instructors need to succeed. °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x embraces discovery by testing new ideas, taking risks, and finding inventive solutions that meet the individual needs of those we serve.
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Design.

°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x acts as a catalyst for change by utilizing creative methods to approach challenges and solve problems. We work with our partners to identify opportunities and brainstorm customized solutions to meet specific needs. Our internal experts leverage the latest research and data analytics on teaching and learning to drive decision-making as we collaboratively design excellent academic experiences.
Staircase with a trophy at the top icon for Realize process.

Realize.

°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x drives results. We connect ideas to intentionally designed processes that transform thoughts into action. How? Through collaboration. °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥x cultivates thriving relationships and connections within both our internal and external communities by forming inclusive teams that break down barriers to provide our partners with the resources and support they need.