The daily newsletter for the WKU community
May 7, 2019
President's Message: End of Year
Fellow Faculty and Staff:

Today, we begin the most exciting week of the year on our campus, graduating the largest number of students, projected at 2,677, in WKU’s history! As our Class of 2019 completes their academic work, I hope you take a moment and pause to remember why you chose to invest your professional life in higher education. We are privileged to guide the academic and personal transformation of our students. No matter your role at WKU, you shape our students intellectually and help prepare them for their futures. So, as our graduates celebrate their accomplishments, as a community we also should celebrate our collective work that makes WKU a student-centered institution, committed to opportunity and access for every young person in our region.

Commencement is the second largest annual gathering of alumni on our campus, only smaller than Homecoming. Last year, as we returned to our tradition of holding commencement in the stadium and having our students process through their assembled faculty and staff, we also added a final Topper Walk down the Hill and the Big Red Bash culminating celebration on Friday evening. And on Saturday, we continue with our College Recognition Ceremonies and WKU’s practice of having each graduate recognized individually. Our team has worked hard to elevate and further develop these events this year. I hope you will join your colleagues and participate in our activities throughout the weekend to honor our new alumni. You will find a listing of all our commencement related happenings here: https://www.wku.edu/commencement/schedule-spring.php .

A special thank you to all who have lead and participated in our commencement planning efforts. We appreciate your attention to detail and your tremendous commitment to our commencement traditions. This will be a remarkable weekend because of your efforts.
CLIMBING HIGHER
WKU honored the Spring Graduating Class of 2019 at Graduand, a pre-commencement ceremony for students who have completed at least one-fourth of their degree at WKU in Elizabethtown-Fort Knox. Thirty-seven students attended the ceremony on May 1 at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center in Elizabethtown. There were 149 WKU graduates eligible to participate. Learn more
BOARD OF REGENTS TO MEET FRIDAY
The WKU Board of Regents will hold its second quarterly meeting at 9 a.m. Friday in the Martin Regents Room, Jody Richards Hall. Learn More
WKU joins partnership with Somerset Community College
WKU will partner with Somerset Community College to offer a new teaching program in the Somerset area. Through the University Center of Southern Kentucky, a consortium of postsecondary educational institutions to bring higher education to the area, WKU will offer a hybrid middle grades math and science teacher education program called SKyTeach.
500+ international & study abroad students to graduate
WKU Global Learning & International Affairs congratulates more than 500 graduating global citizens in the spring Class of 2019. The graduating class includes 120 are international students from 24 countries. They will receive white stoles containing their home country’s flag at an international graduate reception at 6 p.m. Thursday at Mahurin Honors College-International Center multipurpose room. The Class of 2019 also includes 384 domestic students who have studied abroad in a combined 38 countries. They will wear red stoles with the flags of the countries where they studied.
Spotlight: Jacob Abbott
“I love the community we have here at WKU. Everybody I’ve met has been like family. In the architecture sciences program, it’s a tight knit group that is graduating together. We’ve had the chance to grow with one another over the last four years. I love how WKU feels huge, but small at the same time.” -- Jacob Abbott, graduating senior from Belton.

Student Technology Centers Summer Hours
Beginning May 13 through August 8, Jody Richards Hall Student Technology Center (Lab) will be open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; Cravens Student Technology Center will be open 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.
Elaine Weiss presented the Boyd-Lubker Visiting Scholar Lecture
WKU in Elizabethtown-Fort Knox hosted its Graduand Ceremony
Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex hosted Family Fun Day
Folklife Network Gathering
Folklorists, Community Scholars, oral historians, folk artists, tradition bearers and other folklife enthusiasts are invited to the Kentucky Folklife Network Gathering from 5 to 7:30 p.m. May 15 at the African American Museum, 1783 Chestnut St., Bowling Green.
May
8
Wednesday
ISEC Graduation Celebration

The Cynthia and George Nichols III Intercultural Student Engagement Center will host its Graduation Celebration at 2 p.m. at Downing Student Union Auditorium. More Info
May
8
Wednesday
Lavender Recognition Ceremony

WKU's fifth annual Lavender Recognition Ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. at the Augenstein Alumni Center. More Info
May
9
Thursday
WKU Glasgow Graduand

WKU Glasgow Graduand will begin at 6 p.m. at T.J. Health Pavilion Community Center, 310 N. L Rogers Wells Boulevard, Glasgow. Reception will begin at 5:30. More Info
Western Kentucky University 
1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101