Organization

For over 60 years, Western Credit Union Management School (WCMS) has helped provide credit union management staff with the education necessary to meet the challenges of leadership in the financial services industry. The sole mission of our non-profit organization is education. WCMS offers a powerful, up-to-date curriculum focused on management education necessary for credit union professionals. The program is a complement to a traditional Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, with WCMS course content focused specifically on management in the financial services industry, and, where possible, drawing examples from credit union history and management. WCMS serves credit union employees in the thirteen western states. Overall authority for school policies belongs to a Board of Trustees composed of credit union and state association presidents, and the administration and instruction is headed by respected professors. Because the school is located at Pomona College in California, it draws upon the college's resources, including faculty and classrooms. In addition to receiving solid in-class academic instruction and practical applications from MBA-level faculty including professors, attorneys and select high-level credit union leaders, students at WCMS develop their skills through structured service learning activities. A diploma from the school has come to be recognized as a distinction and a mark of accomplishment. Numerous national leaders in the credit union movement are graduates of WCMS, including the current president of the California/Nevada credit union trade association, the immediate past president of the Oregon/Washington credit union trade association, members of the board and executive committee of the national credit union trade association, hundreds of CEOs; and the immediate past president of CUNA serves as a trustee for the school.