Western Michigan University renames Essential Needs program to honor ninth university president

Western Michigan University's Essential Needs program, which was established in 2014, bears a new name to honor the university’s president, Dr. Edward Montgomery, who is retiring on June 30, 2025. In addition to being renamed to the Montgomery Essential Needs program, the program will be expanding its vision and focus to provide more support to students in need.

According to an article on Western Michigan University’s website, Dr. Montgomery is quoted as saying of the honor, “Kari, EJ and I are deeply humbled and honored by this naming. We have always been inspired by the transformative role the Essential Needs program has played in our students' lives and within our campus community. For some students, these resources can make a life changing difference along their path to a degree. For all students to succeed, their basic needs must first be met. And for some, it’s a meal, an emergency car repair or some other essential support that ensures they are prepared to learn, to stay in college and to ultimately graduate. It is incredibly rewarding to know that this program ensures that all our students have access to the resources they need. Our community coming together to support each other reflects the values that both our family and Western hold dear. We will always be Broncos, but this makes it official.”

The Montgomery Essential Needs program provides students in need of support with various essentials, resources, and emergency financial assistance, with support services including access to food and menstrual products and financial assistance for medical needs, textbooks, and other urgent needs like care repairs.

The program has been renamed in honor of Dr. Montgomery, who has shown great compassion for students and has been focused on helping students overcome obstacles so they can succeed in their education. With this in mind, in addition to the renaming, the program will also be expanding to provide even more assistance and resources for students. Among the new additions to the program are a laptop loan system, a winter clothing closet, a cap and gown exchange for graduation ceremonies, and resources for student parents, including diapers and formula.

Shelly Edgerton, the chair of the Board of Trustees, explained the progress that has been made under Dr. Montgomery’s leadership, saying, “There is no more fitting tribute than to name the Essential Needs program in honor of Dr. Montgomery in recognition of his relentless focus on student success throughout his presidency. His leadership has enabled us to live out the belief that Broncos hold most dear, ‘So that all may learn.’ Under his leadership, Western announced the $550 million Empowering Futures Gift. The strategic investments of those resources have enabled our students to achieve record student success with the highest retention and graduation rates on record. Our faculty have achieved record-level research and creative activity and are leading innovative Experience-Driven Learning opportunities for students while Bronco athletes have collectively had some of the most successful years in Bronco history. President Montgomery’s legacy will live on in the lives of thousands of students who have been transformed by Western Michigan University. Bronco nation owes a debt of gratitude to him, his wife Kari and their son, two-time Bronco EJ.”

Dr. Montgomery’s tenure as president began on August 1, 2017, and will end with his retirement on June 30, 2025.

For more information about Western Michigan University, visit the school’s website.