Western Michigan University is a premier, comprehensive, public research university. Through education and research, the Department of Geography, Environment, and Tourism seeks to understand distribution patterns of the world's physical and cultural features and their implications for better use and management of resources to: Foster the acquisition of core knowledge in geography and the applications of such knowledge to real world issues through quality teaching and research. Provide an environment for student professional growth through development of critical thinking, problem-solving and multiple learning skills as well as aesthetic and creative capacities. Raise awareness, appreciation and relevance of geographic dimensions of social, cultural, political, economic and environmental issues of the day in order to address them more effectively. Create and maintain a challenging and intellectually vital geographic learning community that engages students and faculty in continuing discourse, with focus on active, informed, productive, creative, open-minded and ethically responsible professional training and citizenship in a complex, multicultural world.