Celebrating Community: Completed Academic Year as Provost at WMU

Today, I'm delighted to reflect on the first academic year as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Western Michigan University (WMU). It has been a journey filled with the spirit of community and the realization that a series of small decisions, when made collectively, can yield truly remarkable results.

?The Power of Community:?As I transitioned from my role as a Dean at the University of Kentucky, where we achieved considerable success, I must confess that I harbored some apprehensions. I wondered whether we could move the needle as swiftly and at scale. However, it brings me immense joy to share that together, as a community, we have not only risen to the challenge but also exceeded expectations.

?Uplifting Enrollment:?The first achievement is a modest increase in overall new student enrollment, encompassing both undergraduates and graduates (2%)— only the third increase in a decade for our institution. More impressive is the surge of 6.4% in domestic transfer student enrollment, a testament to our commitment to accessibility and inclusion. In a historic feat, our graduate student enrollment grew by an outstanding 7.2%, setting a university record. This achievement marks only the second time in a decade that WMU has witnessed an increase in graduate enrollment. The remarkable 30% growth in the College of Education and Human Development stands as a testament to our collaborative efforts, driven by new partnerships with Michigan school districts. Other colleges, including Engineering, Fine Arts, and Hayworth College of Business, have also contributed significantly to the noteworthy growth.

?Sustaining Academic Excellence:?Throughout our journey, it is imperative to underscore that these accomplishments were achieved without any compromise to WMU's defining academic standards. We have expanded while unwaveringly adhering to academic benchmarks that distinguish our institution. Significantly, we take pride in sharing that our dedication to upholding academic excellence has not resulted in a reduction in the average GPA of our incoming students.

?Retention Success:?In demonstrating our unwavering commitment to student support and success, we achieved an impressive 3.3 percentage point gain in the first-to-second year retention rate, reaching almost 80% in fall '23. This significant milestone for our R2 institution was only exceeded once in the past 23 years and stands as the most substantial increase in nearly a decade. These gains were also widely shared among historically underrepresented populations, with notable increases in retention for Black/African American students (3.1 percentage points), Latinx students (3.9 percentage points), and students identifying as two or more races (11.7 percentage points). This positive growth in retention rates among historically underrepresented populations further underscores our commitment to diversity and inclusion as the success of all students.

?Nurturing Faculty Excellence:?As a community, we have introduced innovative pedagogy awards to recognize and incentivize faculty for their pioneering teaching methods. We've prioritized the hiring of faculty with a strong focus on historically marginalized community engagement in research and creative fields. Our investments in artificial intelligence initiatives are poised to enhance research capabilities and educational experiences, ensuring that our students receive a world-class education. Furthermore, we have implemented more competitive offers for spousal hiring to attract and retain top-tier faculty talent and introduced bonuses to incentivize recognition in national and international rankings.

?Commitment to Students:?The heart of our success lies in our commitment to the university motto, "So that ALL may learn." Student success is a collective endeavor, and our progress is a source of pride for our entire community. We've empowered students by actively including their perspectives on leadership committees and establishing a dedicated student advisory committee for the Provost's Office. This ensures that our students have a direct hand in shaping the policies and initiatives that impact their education.

?Future-Focused:?Looking ahead, we understand that challenges lie ahead in the Michigan and Midwest’s higher education landscape. Despite a 5.9% decrease in the fall '23 first-year class in the state, our fall '23 first-year class remains an impressive 16.3% higher than the fall '21 class. We are committed to adaptability and innovation as we navigate these changes. Our efforts are further bolstered by the Provost Office’s strategic hiring of executive leaders such as the Kentucky Commissioner of Education and from prestigious R1 institutions (i.e. Arizona State University, Florida International University, Northwestern University), all dedicated to ensuring that our students not only enroll but thrive in an environment that celebrates the pursuit of knowledge as a lifelong journey.

?As we reflect on our remarkable journey this past academic year, I'm reminded of the words of Helen Keller "Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much." Together, we have shown that the collective power of our community can achieve results. We would be honored to share any of our strategies towards accomplishing these results. Just reach out to us for a conversation.

?Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey called life. Together, we will continue to shape a brighter future for our nation and its students.

?With gratitude and determination,

Julian?Vasquez Heilig

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Western Michigan University

[email protected]

Bio:?about.me/jheilig

CV:?bit.ly/ProfJVHcv