The newsletter for the WKU community |
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President's Message: Salary Restoration |
Dear Faculty and Staff,
I’d like to share with you an important update that I announced moments ago to our Board of Regents. As you know, our fall 2020 enrollment far exceeded projections, and, at this time, we expect no additional state appropriation cuts through the end of the fiscal year. Enrollment stability, coupled with reduced spending across the university, have elevated WKU to a strong financial position as we enter the second half of fiscal year 2021.
Since salary reductions were enacted in July as we prepared for an uncertain fall 2020 semester, we have remained committed to restoring salaries as soon as fiscally feasible to do so. Due to your hard work and persistence, we are now in a place to make that shift.
Today, I am happy to share with you that all university-wide, centralized salary reductions implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will end this month. Additionally, faculty and staff will receive reimbursement for the amount withheld since July 1. Therefore, on December 18, your paycheck will include your fully restored salary for December, as well as a retroactive payment for salary reductions made July through November.
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President's Message: Four Big Wins |
Dear Faculty and Staff,
As we approach the end of the term, I would like to take some time to reflect on the tremendous achievements of the past calendar year. While we have celebrated these successes individually, taking them as a whole highlights WKU’s significant positive momentum. Pausing briefly from our daily tasks to reflect on our collective efforts, I hope you recognize the significance of what you have accomplished. We continue to navigate successfully amid incredibly difficult externalities, along with an increasingly complex and rapidly changing higher education landscape, all while creating a bright future for our university.
The work of the WKU Community has been extraordinary. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends pressed forward toward the goals detailed in our 10-year strategic plan, Climbing to Greater Heights. Though the list of recent successes is extensive, I will review the following four highlights with the Board of Regents during today’s meeting: Recruitment, Retention, Graduation, Access and Opportunity.
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The WKU Film Program will present a virtual screening of student films from the fall semester plus a senior recognition ceremony at 6 tonight. Learn More
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Today@WKU will return in January. Reminder: WKU Winter Session classes will begin Monday. WKU offices will be closed Dec. 21-Jan. 1 for holiday break and will reopen Jan. 4.
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The WKU Board of Regents on Friday approved two certificate programs in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Shane Spiller, a professor of Management, also was sworn in as faculty regent. More: Strategic plan update
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25 students recognized by Gilman Scholarship program |
Twenty-five WKU students were recognized by the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad in the October 2020 application cycle. Twenty-one WKU students—more than any other university in Kentucky—were offered scholarships totaling $98,500 with an average award amount of $4,690. Four additional students were recognized as alternates. |
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As the fall semester concludes, WKU News is sharing #WKUGrad stories on several graduating seniors. As a reminder, Fall 2020 graduates will be recognized with Spring 2021 graduates in Commencement celebrations scheduled for the weekend of April 30-May 1, 2021.
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Jakayla Williams
It takes a special person to work with children -- a kind, caring, patient individual -- and Jakayla Williams of Louisville, a graduating senior majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Child Studies, knew at an early age those qualities existed in her. “I love the interaction and support I can give to a child,” Williams said.
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Gabriela ‘Gabi’ Lopez
WKU ROTC cadet Gabriela ‘Gabi’ Lopez of Hammond, Indiana, needed a hero, so she said she became her own. The Nursing major and Military Science minor commissioned today as a second lieutenant and nurse in the U.S. Army. “I want to care for others and to bring people some aspect of positivity,” Lopez said. More: WKU ROTC commissions six cadets
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Spotlight: English Conference |
The Department of English hosted the 2020 Undergraduate Conference on Literature, Language, and Culture on Nov. 13. Best in Conference winners were Caitlyn Woitena, Abigail Raley and Hanna Van Winkle. |
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Carpenter Foundation awards grant to Kentucky Museum |
The Kentucky Museum was awarded a $30,000 grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation to support the creation and installation of a “buon fresco” mural in collaboration with artists Mike Nichols and Alice Gatewood-Waddell. |
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Strong bonds between WKU, Germany withstand pandemic |
Students and teachers at WKU’s partner school for International Student Teaching, the Anne-Frank-Gymnasium in Werne, Germany, created a music video in response to the Jerusalema Dance Challenge. |
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Forensics sweeps 'Fall Finale' |
Led by junior Tess Welch, the WKU Forensics Team captured first place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, first speaker and the overall sweepstakes trophy at the “Fall Finale,” a virtual tournament on Dec. 6-7.
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End of Semester Campus Update from EVP Howarth |
As WKU's holiday break approaches, Susan Howarth, Executive Vice President for Strategy, Operations and Finance, has some updates and reminders for the campus community. |
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Campus Update from WKU's Co-Chief Diversity Officers |
WKU's Co-Chief Diversity Officers Molly Kerby and Michael P. Crowe Jr. provided an end of semester update on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. |
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Parking & Transit Advisory |
WKU Parking & Transportation has announced parking and transit changes for the end of the fall semester (through today) and Winter Term (Dec. 14-Jan. 18). |
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Imagine going to school full-time, working full-time and having four children under the age of 4. And also being a part-time minister. That’s been the scenario of one of WKU’s December nursing graduates and WKU’s Amy Bingham introduces us to Will Gott in this week’s View from the Hill.
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Last Chance to Dance
Students in the Department of Theatre & Dance’s Choreography II class will present their works in the informal showcase Last Chance to Dance at 7 tonight and Saturday. Learn More
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Residence Halls Close
WKU residence halls will close for winter break at 10 a.m. Saturday and will reopen for spring semester at 8 a.m. Jan. 15. Note: Hilltopper, Northeast and Rodes-Harlin halls will remain open during winter break. Learn More
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Winter Session Classes
WKU Winter Session classes will begin Monday. Learn More
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Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd.
Bowling Green, KY 42101
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