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Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
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broncofan1 Offline
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Post: #41
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
WMU has a very nice campus and busing to Kalamazoo and Portage is free for students. Kalamazoo/Portage is experiencing growth and a resurgent downtown, along with ArtHop and vibrant beer industry. Bronson/Borgess remain some of the best health options in the country, while the BTR features start-ups and innovative collaboration for new tech.

What WMU doesn't have is any clue about how to market itself and it's community. GVSU (and CMU for that matter) outspend WMU in marketing by a factor of 10-1. No joke. They each spend nearly 10 times as much as WMU to market their programs and campuses to the GR, Detroit, Chicago, and northern Ohio markets. It's been that way for a decade, but nothing has changed on our end except for who to blame in admissions/enrollment.

We wear the "best kept secret" tag like a badge of honor. It is shameful how much University leaders - from the Board to the President to the VP's - have failed to provide any vision for our fine University.
01-13-2018 10:11 AM
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okgc Offline
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Post: #42
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
(01-13-2018 10:11 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  WMU has a very nice campus and busing to Kalamazoo and Portage is free for students. Kalamazoo/Portage is experiencing growth and a resurgent downtown, along with ArtHop and vibrant beer industry. Bronson/Borgess remain some of the best health options in the country, while the BTR features start-ups and innovative collaboration for new tech.

What WMU doesn't have is any clue about how to market itself and it's community. GVSU (and CMU for that matter) outspend WMU in marketing by a factor of 10-1. No joke. They each spend nearly 10 times as much as WMU to market their programs and campuses to the GR, Detroit, Chicago, and northern Ohio markets. It's been that way for a decade, but nothing has changed on our end except for who to blame in admissions/enrollment.

We wear the "best kept secret" tag like a badge of honor. It is shameful how much University leaders - from the Board to the President to the VP's - have failed to provide any vision for our fine University.

What is your source of Marketing spending $$ ?

Cant see how you can say Pres John Dunn did not have a vision for the future of WMU.
01-13-2018 11:42 AM
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Doo Online
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Post: #43
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
(01-11-2018 09:30 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  Does it really matter if WMU is 24k undergrad than 30k undergrad? Does that really make us less of a school? Does it really "devalue" a degree from WMU?

Also, after having read the thread, I concluded that the TOTAL cost of the "college experience" is much greater than it used to be, so more people from the larger GR metro area are leaning toward GVSU than WMU. That's unfortunate, but that's reality.

I'm from GR and I loved Kzoo. Both cities are great and are unique experiences, but I chose to attend WMU.

Does it matter that WMU is 24k.....no.

What matters is how we arrived at 24k.
01-13-2018 08:12 PM
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broncofan1 Offline
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Post: #44
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
(01-13-2018 11:42 AM)okgc Wrote:  
(01-13-2018 10:11 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  WMU has a very nice campus and busing to Kalamazoo and Portage is free for students. Kalamazoo/Portage is experiencing growth and a resurgent downtown, along with ArtHop and vibrant beer industry. Bronson/Borgess remain some of the best health options in the country, while the BTR features start-ups and innovative collaboration for new tech.

What WMU doesn't have is any clue about how to market itself and it's community. GVSU (and CMU for that matter) outspend WMU in marketing by a factor of 10-1. No joke. They each spend nearly 10 times as much as WMU to market their programs and campuses to the GR, Detroit, Chicago, and northern Ohio markets. It's been that way for a decade, but nothing has changed on our end except for who to blame in admissions/enrollment.

We wear the "best kept secret" tag like a badge of honor. It is shameful how much University leaders - from the Board to the President to the VP's - have failed to provide any vision for our fine University.

What is your source of Marketing spending $$ ?

Cant see how you can say Pres John Dunn did not have a vision for the future of WMU.

Source is University Relations.

Dunn's vision was a Med School and Law School. That's impressive and all, but he did NOTHING for marketing and had a fundamental misunderstanding of enrollment management.
01-13-2018 11:31 PM
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BroncoPhilly Offline
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Post: #45
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
(01-13-2018 11:31 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  
(01-13-2018 11:42 AM)okgc Wrote:  
(01-13-2018 10:11 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  WMU has a very nice campus and busing to Kalamazoo and Portage is free for students. Kalamazoo/Portage is experiencing growth and a resurgent downtown, along with ArtHop and vibrant beer industry. Bronson/Borgess remain some of the best health options in the country, while the BTR features start-ups and innovative collaboration for new tech.

What WMU doesn't have is any clue about how to market itself and it's community. GVSU (and CMU for that matter) outspend WMU in marketing by a factor of 10-1. No joke. They each spend nearly 10 times as much as WMU to market their programs and campuses to the GR, Detroit, Chicago, and northern Ohio markets. It's been that way for a decade, but nothing has changed on our end except for who to blame in admissions/enrollment.

We wear the "best kept secret" tag like a badge of honor. It is shameful how much University leaders - from the Board to the President to the VP's - have failed to provide any vision for our fine University.

What is your source of Marketing spending $$ ?

Cant see how you can say Pres John Dunn did not have a vision for the future of WMU.

Source is University Relations.

Dunn's vision was a Med School and Law School. That's impressive and all, but he did NOTHING for marketing and had a fundamental misunderstanding of enrollment management.


GVSU has done well because of where they are. Grand Rapids is a far more dynamic metropolitan region than Kalamazoo and has been for years. GVSU has benefited from that.

Frankly, we should have been far more aggressive introducing WMU programs in Grand Rapids back in the 1960's and 1970's, but President's Miller and Barnhard dropped that ball. Now everyone has satellite extensions in GR. We missed that boat.

WMU focus today should be less on how many students we have and more on offering select, dynamic programs that have excellent placement, prospects for high salaries and benefits and market what we offer aggressively in GR and Metro Detroit-but also regional states.

If we offer the same programs as GVSU we're never going to 'win' based on the numbers. Let them be the 'all things to all people' university in west Michigan, we need to be far more selective in what we offer and who we market it to.
01-14-2018 01:45 AM
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Bronco'14 Offline
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Post: #46
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
When I saw the Cooley deal, I thought 'okay, they benefit because we can help get their standards up; we benefit because we're adding a law school.' One can only hope that was part of the deal: WMU helping to transform Cooley.

You need a Law school and a Medical school because those are the things that specialize you from a GVSU or K, or even KVCC.

Also, the concern over the numbers comes from 'we want to be in that 25K to 30K' student range.

Last point, I live in GR; GVSU is still largely a commuter school. I never got that sense living in Kalamazoo at Western. And not only that, but a lot of GVSU's grads stay in Grand Rapids. (My main thought at Western was 'wow, there's a lot of students here from Chicago and Detroit. Why can't we recruit the rest of Michigan?)

We should be looking at CMU, really, in terms of enrollment. CMU owns the GR market between WMU and CMU and that's the problem.
(This post was last modified: 01-15-2018 07:25 PM by Bronco'14.)
01-15-2018 07:21 PM
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Fthechips Offline
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Post: #47
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
The best thing WMU can do for itself is improve its buildings. Half the academic buildings look like crap(Dunbar, Wood, Bernhard,kohrman) and get some more new dormitories. I know that’s a lot of money but I believe the addition of sangren, western heights and the valley dining center have done wonders for the school. Also not sure why we’re investing all this money into a gaming club when we could be dumping that money into academics, a new hockey arena, or a new academic building, that is just mind boggling to me.
02-21-2018 01:18 AM
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broncofan1 Offline
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Post: #48
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
(02-21-2018 01:18 AM)Fthechips Wrote:  The best thing WMU can do for itself is improve its buildings. Half the academic buildings look like crap(Dunbar, Wood, Bernhard,kohrman) and get some more new dormitories. I know that’s a lot of money but I believe the addition of sangren, western heights and the valley dining center have done wonders for the school. Also not sure why we’re investing all this money into a gaming club when we could be dumping that money into academics, a new hockey arena, or a new academic building, that is just mind boggling to me.

First off, the "gaming club" is much more than just a club, and the money is coming out of a specific President's Innovation fund that required a rigorous request/approval process. Athletics didn't put in a request. Some academic programs tried, but didn't have a clear vision for those funds. E-sports is the future, like it or not. Millions of dollars are up for grabs in terms of sponsorship and marketing, and many schools are moving that way.

New residence halls have been going up, updates to Brown and Kohrman have taken place. A new student center is about to break, which will be awesome and replace much of what the Bernhard Center tries to do.

Things aren't as bleak as some make it sound. We have a GREAT campus.
02-21-2018 10:29 AM
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ColinApocalypse Offline
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Post: #49
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
Yes, there have been and continue to be sweeping changes happening to campus. Rapidly modernizing.

They're about to tear down the Elmwood apts. as well as build a new student center. Other changes are still needed and many are in the works.

President Dunn had a grand vision for improving campus and we've already seen much of it come to life.
(This post was last modified: 02-21-2018 01:36 PM by ColinApocalypse.)
02-21-2018 01:36 PM
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Fthechips Offline
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Post: #50
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
(02-21-2018 10:29 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  
(02-21-2018 01:18 AM)Fthechips Wrote:  The best thing WMU can do for itself is improve its buildings. Half the academic buildings look like crap(Dunbar, Wood, Bernhard,kohrman) and get some more new dormitories. I know that’s a lot of money but I believe the addition of sangren, western heights and the valley dining center have done wonders for the school. Also not sure why we’re investing all this money into a gaming club when we could be dumping that money into academics, a new hockey arena, or a new academic building, that is just mind boggling to me.

First off, the "gaming club" is much more than just a club, and the money is coming out of a specific President's Innovation fund that required a rigorous request/approval process. Athletics didn't put in a request. Some academic programs tried, but didn't have a clear vision for those funds. E-sports is the future, like it or not. Millions of dollars are up for grabs in terms of sponsorship and marketing, and many schools are moving that way.

New residence halls have been going up, updates to Brown and Kohrman have taken place. A new student center is about to break, which will be awesome and replace much of what the Bernhard Center tries to do.

Things aren't as bleak as some make it sound. We have a GREAT campus.

I guess I'm not fully informed on what the "gaming club" is or what it entails? Is it just a bunch of kids that play Minecraft all day and compete with other schools in an NCAA format? Are there other major universities that are investing in this as well?
02-21-2018 04:26 PM
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Fthechips Offline
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Post: #51
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
[/quote]

All I know is this, Western needs programs which are effective at placing students in the workplace. They need programs that fill niches, that nobody else offers. They need professional programs. WMU needs programs that attract students from other states and overseas. Like:

1. Paper and Print technology
2. Aviation and Pilot Training
3. Accredited Engineering Program
4. Medical School offering MS and DO programs
5. Law School
6. Physical Therapy

These are the type of programs that'll build our reputation, attract students and distinguish us from the run of the mill state, regional schools. Frankly, we need to focus less on student population and more on the quality of students we attract.

[/quote]

This. The aviation, nursing, and medical school do a great job pulling students from Chicago/Milwaukee area.
(This post was last modified: 02-21-2018 04:36 PM by Fthechips.)
02-21-2018 04:33 PM
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broncofan1 Offline
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Post: #52
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
(02-21-2018 04:26 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  
(02-21-2018 10:29 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  
(02-21-2018 01:18 AM)Fthechips Wrote:  The best thing WMU can do for itself is improve its buildings. Half the academic buildings look like crap(Dunbar, Wood, Bernhard,kohrman) and get some more new dormitories. I know that’s a lot of money but I believe the addition of sangren, western heights and the valley dining center have done wonders for the school. Also not sure why we’re investing all this money into a gaming club when we could be dumping that money into academics, a new hockey arena, or a new academic building, that is just mind boggling to me.

First off, the "gaming club" is much more than just a club, and the money is coming out of a specific President's Innovation fund that required a rigorous request/approval process. Athletics didn't put in a request. Some academic programs tried, but didn't have a clear vision for those funds. E-sports is the future, like it or not. Millions of dollars are up for grabs in terms of sponsorship and marketing, and many schools are moving that way.

New residence halls have been going up, updates to Brown and Kohrman have taken place. A new student center is about to break, which will be awesome and replace much of what the Bernhard Center tries to do.

Things aren't as bleak as some make it sound. We have a GREAT campus.

I guess I'm not fully informed on what the "gaming club" is or what it entails? Is it just a bunch of kids that play Minecraft all day and compete with other schools in an NCAA format? Are there other major universities that are investing in this as well?

Nope.

And Yep.

There is a TON of money flying around this. And the moneys invested in research could help our computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, graphic arts, design, and theater programs.

https://dotesports.com/business/news/tea...ment-20826
02-21-2018 08:25 PM
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broncofan1 Offline
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Post: #53
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
ESPN is also recognizing the appeal.

http://www.espn.com/esports/
02-21-2018 08:27 PM
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Hoekjeness Offline
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Post: #54
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
Anybody who doesn’t understand the eSports/e-gaming world needs to watch this TedX talk:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kcX11m1g3hs
02-21-2018 09:00 PM
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ColinApocalypse Offline
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Post: #55
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
Esports are the next big thing. Very, very popular and a lot of money in it. Better to get in on the ground floor.
(This post was last modified: 02-21-2018 09:21 PM by ColinApocalypse.)
02-21-2018 09:20 PM
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broncofan1 Offline
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Post: #56
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
(02-21-2018 09:20 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Esports are the next big thing. Very, very popular and a lot of money in it. Better to get in on the ground floor.

About time WMU gets ahead of a trend, huh?
02-21-2018 10:29 PM
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BroncoPhilly Offline
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Post: #57
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
(02-21-2018 09:20 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Esports are the next big thing. Very, very popular and a lot of money in it. Better to get in on the ground floor.

No questions it's a growth industry, but what does the Gaming Center actually DO? Is it instructing students in any way, or is it simply recreational?

Western has done a bad job marketing what they are doing. I criticized his concept on the Western Herald as a big waste of money, but acknowledging that I didn't know enough about it.

For one, the name of 'Gaming Center' denotes recreational. If it's more than that WMU needs to market it better. Everybody on campus may know, but the Alumni sure don't. How about an article in the Alumni magazine?
02-22-2018 09:14 AM
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Fthechips Offline
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Post: #58
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
[/quote]


Things aren't as bleak as some make it sound. We have a GREAT campus.
[/quote]

Uhhhh. Compared to who? I would say we have a below average campus, as far as the quality of buildings. Half the buildings are way outdated and look like crap. Every dorm besides Western heights is way overdue for replacement. So is bernhard center and dunbar.
(This post was last modified: 02-22-2018 03:21 PM by Fthechips.)
02-22-2018 03:20 PM
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broncofan1 Offline
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Post: #59
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU


Things aren't as bleak as some make it sound. We have a GREAT campus.
[/quote]

Uhhhh. Compared to who? I would say we have a below average campus, as far as the quality of buildings. Half the buildings are way outdated and look like crap. Every dorm besides Western heights is way overdue for replacement. So is bernhard center and dunbar.
[/quote]

You need to get out more.
02-22-2018 09:09 PM
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Fthechips Offline
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Post: #60
RE: Front Page of The Grand Rapids Press: GVSU Has Overtaken WMU
(02-22-2018 09:09 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  
(02-22-2018 03:20 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  


Things aren't as bleak as some make it sound. We have a GREAT campus.

Uhhhh. Compared to who? I would say we have a below average campus, as far as the quality of buildings. Half the buildings are way outdated and look like crap. Every dorm besides Western heights is way overdue for replacement. So is bernhard center and dunbar.
[/quote]

You need to get out more.
[/quote]


I’m on campus everyday and am other universities all the time.
02-22-2018 09:58 PM
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