Western Michigan University is considering expanding some of its academic programs to Florida. On Tuesday the Board of Trustees approved a plan that would let Western seek a license from the Florida Department of Education.
Likely candidates for expansion include Western’s aviation and health programs, and the target area is southwest Florida in a region that includes Tampa Bay.
Associate Provost of Extended University Programs Dawn Gaymer says it’s a densely populated part of the state that is home to many Western alumni. Gaymer says no public university in Florida offers an aviation program.
“There’s a significant opportunity for us to expand to Florida and then help to support the aviation program back in Battle Creek, Michigan and connect the two,” she says.
Gaymer also says that Western’s Michigan health programs have grown “significantly.”
“And our number-one barrier to growth are clinical rotations - having the places that students can do those experiential activities,” she says, adding that the region the university is considering offers many opportunities for those rotations.
Western already has a presence in Southwest Florida through its affiliate, the WMU Cooley Law School in Tampa Bay.
The trustees’ meeting was held in Grand Rapids.
