AUDIO: WMU class working to keep college graduates in community

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo is a center for educating young professionals, but creating them and keeping them here are two different things.

One class at Western Michigan University has been dedicated to figuring out ways to retain the grads in the community.

Dr. Doug Lepisto’s class has come up with ideas like job fairs, internet links, mentor programs, special events, internships, even downtown housing specially designed for young professionals fresh from graduation.

Dr. Lepisto says linking “town and gown” before graduation is the key to combating the brain drain after they get their diplomas.

One of their more tangible ideas is to create a fleet of 200 electric scooters that could transport students from WMU and Kalamazoo Valley Community College to downtown businesses, night spots and eventually the new arena.

Senior Emily Cramer says their research shows that 89% of the students would use them and 94% of the businesses like the idea.

Other cities that have scooters have seen a 6% boost in business.

That was WMU senior Jake Anglim, who says scooters are easier to park and more environmentally friendly than cars.

They say their research also shows that students think mass transportation is inconvenient and stops running after 10 p.m. and Uber is unreliable.

But an economics grad, who did not give his name, has experience with scooter operations and says most of them are in the south, where the weather is more conducive and says the city would be much better off upgrading the bus system to bring students home from the bars, than going the scooter route.

While some of the class’s ideas are already in place locally, others, including the scooters, are not.