Western Michigan Teachers College

Western Michigan University

Former names	Western State Normal School (1903–1926) Western State Teachers College (1927–1940) Western Michigan College of Education (1941–1955) Western Michigan College (1955–1957)
Type	Public
Established	May 27, 1903 (1903-05-27)
Academic affiliations	APLU AASCU
Endowment	$386.6 million (2017)
President	Edward B. Montgomery
Academic staff	925
Students	23,252
Undergraduates	18,313
Postgraduates	4,939
Location	Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. 42°17′00″N 85°36′50″W / 42.28333°N 85.61389°W / 42.28333; -85.61389Coordinates: 42°17′00″N 85°36′50″W / 42.28333°N 85.61389°W / 42.28333; -85.61389
Campus	Urban
Colors	Brown and Gold
Nickname	Broncos
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – MAC, NCHC
Mascot	Buster Bronco
Website	www.wmich.edu

Western Michigan University (WMU) is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo. Its enrollment, as of the Fall 2016 semester, was 23,252.

WMU's aviation program is ranked as one of the top 5 aviation programs offered in the United States. WMU is the site of the annual International Congress on Medieval Studies. WMU's law school, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, however, was ranked the worst law school in the country by Above the Law in December 2017. The university's athletic teams compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are known as the Western Michigan Broncos. They compete in the Mid-American Conference for most sports. WMU is ranked 1,059th in the 2018 US News & World Report global universities ranking.

On May 27, 1903, Michigan Governor Aaron T. Bliss signed a bill authorizing the creation of the State's fourth teacher-training facility. The three other normal schools were in Ypsilanti (Eastern), Mount Pleasant (Central), and Marquette (Northern). Kalamazoo was chosen as the new school's location on August 28, 1903. Other locations considered included Allegan, Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Decatur, Three Oaks, and Hastings. The first building, then known as the Administration Building, and now known as East Hall, was constructed in 1904.