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An anonymous $550 million gift to Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, will help fund “tuition-free education, low-cost housing, a new innovative Living Learning Community and internship stipends for students attending the Kalamazoo school”, according to an article in the Detroit Free Press by David Jesse, 12/9/21. “It is the largest single gift ever given to any public university in the nation.”
According to the article, the University will launch several programs to help students:
- “The first, the new Bronco Promise will provide a tuition-free WMU education for up to five years for first-year students who come from Michigan families earning an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less who have net assets under $50,000, the school said in a news release. University officials plan to hand out the scholarships to 340 students in the 2022-23 academic year and a projected 600 students each year after.
- “Western will also create a program to give up to $6,000 in housing and dining scholarships to 110 incoming students for their first year. That will cover about half of living expenses for a year, the school said. It will also create a new Living Learning Community for the students. They will live together in double occupancy rooms in a section of one of Western's residence halls.
- “Students who attend Kalamazoo Public Schools or have a Detroit or Grand Rapids address will get preference for the need-based scholarships, but all Michigan residents are eligible to apply. Applications are due Feb. 15, and decisions will be released in March.
- “Western is also creating a program that will subsidize up to $3,600 in wages for up to 100 students each year with competitive, need-based stipends. The internships will be for students working with private and nonprofit organizations, the university said.”
- “The school will also give 800 upper-level students each year a need-based award up to $1,000 that can be applied to tuition and fees to help students complete their degrees.”
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From Wikipedia: “Western Michigan University (WMU) is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo. Its enrollment, as of the Fall 2019 semester, was 21,470... It is classified among 'R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity'...
