Graduate Student Association

Graduate Student Association
Western ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5242 USA
(269) 387-8207

Resources

  • offers graduate students one-on-one tutoring appointments with a trained graduate student tutor. Tutors can help you read difficult articles, structure your papers, take effective notes and other graduate level study skills. 
  • University Libraries Book an appointment with a subject librarian trained specifically to help students in your department. University Libraries also has microcourses, guides and workshops to help students with graduate level work. 
  • The Graduate College offers in person and virtual writing circles during the academic year, as well as other events tailored to graduate students. 
  • The Writing Center offers one-on-one writing support to help you in every stage of the writing process.  
  • WMU Invisible Need Project: Broncos. Period.  provides menstrual hygiene products for any menstruating WMU student.  This includes single-use, long-term, and sustainable options, when possible at low or no cost. 
  •  is a place where all people are welcome and all items are available completely free of charge. The Free Store of Kalamazoo will redistribute clothing and household goods donated by the community to the community for free. 
  • Can help Portage residents with food and clothing, evictions and utility shut-offs, personal care items, prescription assistance, transportation, resumes, free legal clinics, WIC, immunizations, vision/hearing test, free tax preparation and more. 
  • YWCA Kalamazoo provides individuals and families with victim-focused counseling and advocacy services as well as shelter for survivors of violence, transitional housing, and legal services. Counselors/Advocates are also available to assist clients in writing Personal Protection Orders, develop safety options, accompany one to court, and provide referrals to other social service agencies. Additionally, they advocate for clients with landlords, employers, police, prosecutors and other agency workers when needed. 
  • S.A.F.E. Place provides shelter, court advocacy, PPO assistance, referrals and comprehensive counseling programs for victims of domestic violence at no cost. 
  • The Domestic Violence Coalition (DVC) provides free services to residents of Van Buren County who have been affected by the crimes of domestic and sexual violence. 
  •  Free part-time child care for income-eligible people with children ages 6 weeks - five years. 
  • College Assistance for Parenting and Education (CAPE) CAPE offers eligible student parents at WMU reduced child care tuition by paying 50%-100% of the child care tuition at 3 partner child care centers in the community.  
  •  St. Luke’s Diaper Bank provides free diapers on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. 
  •  The WIC program provides nutrition education, one-on-one counseling about nutrition, monthly food benefits, support and help with breastfeeding, referrals to health care, immunizations and other programs. 
  •  Affordable local childcare, including 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shift care and 24-hour drop-in services. Use the children’s center interest form to be added to the waitlist. 
  •  Comprehensive list of local childcare providers.  
  •  MI Bridge allows you to apply for benefits related to healthcare coverage, food assistance, cash assistance, child development and care, state emergency relief and more. 
  •  offers services for children with behavioral difficulties and intellectual/developmental disabilities. 
  •  Twenty Hands is a Maternal Infant Health Program providing home visits and resources for low-income pregnant women and infants up to age one.  
  •  Child and family therapy and other services related to abuse, addiction, and behavioral and mental health disorders. 
  • Financial Aid Information on how to apply for student loans and find scholarships and funding within the university. 
  • has lots of great articles on how to manage your finances.  
  • offers scholarships for Kalamazoo County Residents.  
  • The Graduate College has information on scholarships, assistantships, grants and other funding opportunities for graduate students.  
  • Graduate Student Association offers Certification, Data Collection, and Conference grants for graduate students.  
  • Student Emergency Relief Fund can help you cover unexpected expenses.  
  • Books For Broncos The Invisible Need Project works to assist students with accessing free or low-cost options for course materials, including textbooks and other required course materials. 
  • has expanded its resources so now even more students qualify. MI Bridges allows you to apply for benefits related to healthcare coverage, food assistance, cash assistance, child development and care, state emergency relief and more.  
  •  offers a variety of services, including emergency utility bill assistance, rental assistance, textbook and tuition assistance, and more.  
  •  Can help Portage residents with some of the following needs: food and clothing, evictions and utility shut-offs, personal care items, prescription assistance, transportation, resumes, free legal clinics, WIC, immunizations, vision/hearing test, free tax preparation and more. 
  • Invisible Need Food Pantry Free on-campus food pantry for registered WMU students. Shop as often as every other week! 
  •  Provides free, on-campus meals to college students living in Kalamazoo. Open Mondays and Thursdays 5-6 pm on a first come, first serve basis. 
  •  Free hot lunch on Thursdays for international students from noon to 2 p.m. just outside Kanley and Sangren. 
  •  Low-income students may qualify for supplemental income to purchase groceries.  
  •  WIC is a special nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children.  
  •  Call to set up a time to visit one of their pantries nearest you. 
  •  A hot nutritious breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered free of charge every day for any man, woman or child in the community. Additionally, they offer a food pantry. (breakfast 6 to 8 a.m.; lunch 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; dinner 4:30 to 7 p.m.)  
  •  Distribution days are on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the 1st and 3rd Fridays each month from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at our Portage Road location. ID must be presented at each visit. Clients can only shop twice a month but can pick their days. 
  • WMU Campus Housing Offers a variety of apartment options for graduate students.   
  • Resource to help you find affordable off campus housing in the Kalamazoo area.  
  • is building a community of people who are overcoming homelessness through relationships, housing, employment, education, and sobriety.  
  •  Offering permanently affordable, democratically controlled rental housing, Kalamazoo Collective Housing operates group cooperatives and single-family apartments.  
  • can help Portage residents with evictions and utility shut-offs, as well as food and clothing, personal care items, prescription assistance, transportation, resumes, free legal clinics, WIC, immunizations, vision/hearing test, free tax preparation and more. 
  • Provides free plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and structural issues for low-income homeowners in Kalamazoo County. 
  •  The Red Cross and its partners can test existing smoke alarms and install up to three free smoke alarms for those that need them. 
  • offers resources and information to help Kalamazoo residents buy a home, repair their home or avoid foreclosure. 
  • WMU International Student and Scholar Services Assists international students in gaining meaningful academic and socio-cultural experiences while studying and living within WMU's campus community and the southwest ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ community-at-large. 
  • WMU Study Abroad Office Offering financial aid resources, safety information, tools for incoming international students and more. 
  • provides constitutionally guaranteed representation to citizens charged with a crime who cannot afford an attorney.  
  • is a nonprofit law firm providing free legal advice and representation in a broad range of areas including consumer cases, family matters, housing problems, government benefits and more. 
  •  The Law Library, in partnership with the Kalamazoo County Bar Association, offers free monthly legal clinics at the Central Library, Powell Branch Library, and the Portage Community Center. 
  • WMU’s Invisible Need Project- Student Health Assistance Fund This fund can pay for critical health care for students who have unforseen short-term medical needs and a limited ability to pay. For a student meeting eligibility requirements, the fund may cover up to $500 of expenses incurred at Sindecuse Health Center during an academic year.  
  • WMU’s Sindecuse Health Center provides evaluation and treatment for a variety of illnesses and injuries, preventive health check-ups, periodic health monitoring, and opportunities that enhance individual and community health. 
  • WMU’S Unified Clinics are a multi-specialty group practice with clinics focusing on hearing, vision, behavioral health, language and speech therapy, occupational therapy, womens’ health services and more. 
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  •  offers HIV/STI testing and condoms, free of charge. 
  •  Following services are offered: Abortion, Birth Control, HIB Services, LGBTQ Services, Men's Health Care, Morning - After Pill, STD Testing, Treatment & Vaccines, and Women's Health Care. 
  • Lending Hands is a durable medical equipment loan program where that loans durable medical equipment for free for up to seven months. 
  •  Low-cost dental hygiene services provided by students in training. 
  • Sindecuse Health Center offers short-term individual, couples’ and group counseling for any WMU student. 
  • WMU Centers for Counseling and Psychological Services Trained graduate student counselors offer free counseling and psychological services to children, adolescents and adults in Southwest ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§. Appointments available in both Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. 
  • Any individual who needs help with mental illness, developmental disabilities, emotional difficulties, or substance use issues may be eligible for services or community referrals. 
  • is the leading agency for suicide prevention in the area. They offer several suicide prevention resources, including the 24/7 helpline, The Gatekeeper Program, and a survivors of suicide loss support group.
  • The center is designed to provide immediate assessment and treatment for adults ages 18-65 experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms who cannot wait for routine outpatient intervention. 
  • How to report sexual misconduct on campus.  
  • WMU Sexual Assault Prevention and Education A list of resources on ways to help yourself or a loved one who has been sexually assaulted. Includes gender-specific resources, including LBGTQ+ students.  
  • WMU Health Promotion and Education: FIRE Place FIRE Place is a resource and support center that addresses the issues of sexual assault and other bias incidents. It provides peer support and education, serves as a resource center, supports students through the reporting process and facilitates a number of art and awareness projects.
  • WMU Health Promotion and Education: Gentlemen United  This is a leadership development program open to students of all gender identities united to change the culture and end sexual violence at WMU. Our focus is on encouraging men to address masculine stereotypes and step up to make Western a safer and fun place for everyone.
  • WMU Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Services Behavioral Health Services is a licensed and accredited outpatient substance use and behavioral health disorder treatment provider. 
  • Southwest ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ Behavioral Health (SWMBH) is the Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan (PIHP) for eight ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ counties: Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren.
  • Programs include: assessment, detox, short-term residential care, family & relationship (co-dependency counseling, and dual-diagnosis treatment.) Services are for both men and women.
  • Victory Clinical Services offers several options for short-term or long-term maintenance therapies for opiate treatment. Victory Clinic also provides outpatient medically supervised withdrawal from methadone and suboxone.
  • 211 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to connect you with help of all kinds.
  • WMU Disability Services for Students The vision for DSS is to guide the institution into universal design of facilities, programs and activities so that there is opportunity and encouragement for full participation by a diverse student body, including those with disabilities.  
  •  At VA Battle Creek Medical Center, our health care teams are deeply experienced and guided by the needs of Veterans, their families, and caregivers.
  •  The Kalamazoo County Veterans Service Office is committed to providing services and assistance to those men and women who have honorably served their country. It is our privilege to guarantee that veterans will receive, and are informed of, all federal, state or county benefits to which they and their dependents may be entitled free of charge.
  •  OutFront Kalamazoo provides programs and services for youth and adults such as peer support groups, social events, educational resources and more. We also organize and mobilize individuals and organizations so that together we may advance social justice and achieve equity and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community.
  •  We exist as an advocacy organization to make it possible for each person with a developmental disability to participate fully in all aspects of the community and to support the effort of each individual to determine their own future.