The newsletter for the WKU community
July 13, 2021
WKU successfully completes SACSCOC Fifth-Year Interim Accreditation Report
WKU has been notified by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) that it has successfully completed the Fifth-Year Interim Report process with no issues of concern raised and no additional reporting required. The Fifth-Year interim report is a critical step in the 10-year reaffirmation cycle for academic accreditation. Institutions that lose their accreditation may also lose state and federal funding as well as their ability to confer degrees.

The Fifth-Year Report covers a number of important accreditation standards, including adequate staffing, improving student learning, maintaining an appropriate and safe physical plan, and providing adequate student support services. Successful completion of this part of the reaffirmation cycle helps position the university for full reaffirmation in 2025.

“To produce a document that is two hundred pages long with hundreds of additional pages of supporting materials during the past year was a substantial undertaking, but our faculty and staff rose to the challenge,” WKU President Timothy C. Caboni said.
Governor appoints 2 Regents to WKU Board
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has appointed Doris C. Thomas and Phillip W. Bale to the WKU Board of Regents. Thomas, of Smiths Grove, replaces Frederick Higdon of Lebanon and will serve through June 30, 2027. Bale, of Glasgow, will serve through June 30, 2027. The Board will next meet August 5 and 6 for its annual retreat and quarterly meeting.
CLIMBING HIGHER
WKU student Christopher Cole Sawyers of Williamsburg was named a 2021 Tillman Scholar, a designation awarded to only 60 U.S. service members, veterans and military spouses nationwide by the Pat Tillman Foundation. Learn More
Strode named Director for Regional Campuses
Dr. Derick B. Strode has been named Director for Regional Campuses. Strode has worked at WKU for 17 years and has extensive experience in student recruitment, advising, and academic services. Strode will oversee regional campus operations, including collaborations with WKU academic colleges and departments to provide strategic planning for instruction and programs to meet the unique needs of each community.
Spotlight: Dr. Beckie Stobaugh
Dr. Beckie Stobaugh, professor in WKU’s School of Teacher Education, recently spent 15 days in Colombia (June 15-30) as part of the Fulbright Specialist Program. Dr. Stobaugh’s project at the University of Colombia in Cartagena centered on two goals: developing asynchronous learning modules to help their university faculty fully implement formative assessment and conducting a series of trainings for university faculty in Colombia.
July 2021 Staff Star Award Recipients
The WKU Staff Senate recognized the Christopher Ware Staff Star Award recipients during its meeting on July 7. The July 2021 recipients are Patti Whitehead, Office of Enrollment and Student Experience; Ryanne Harper Gregory, Office of Research and Creative Activity; and Sandra Hughey, Student Activities. More: Submit a Staff Star nomination
WKU hosts personal finance camp for high school students
“We had been looking for ways to better engage with high school students and this seemed like a great way to do just that,” said Andrew Head about the High School Personal Finance Planning Camp that took place at WKU June 27-30. Head, an Associate Professor in the Department of Finance and Director of the WKU Center for Financial Success (CFS), worked for two years with the CFS Program Manager Zach Jones and others to implement the camp.
View from the Hill
Circle of Support internships
More than a dozen students from WKU’s Kelly Autism Program have just wrapped up a paid summer internship program at various places around Bowling Green. It was a huge success for all involved as WKU’s Amy Bingham explains in the View from the Hill.
Finance summer camp
What if there was a summer camp dedicated to showing high school students how to get their financial life in order before they become adults? It happened on WKU’s campus last week as WKU’s Amy Bingham explains in the View from the Hill.
WKU to offer four non-credit healthcare training courses
WKU Continuing & Professional Development will offer four non-credit healthcare career training courses this fall for adult learners interested in beginning a career in the healthcare field. Courses will be offered in-person in either Bowling Green or Glasgow.
Citizen Science Forum
The Hardin Planetarium has partnered with SKy Science Festival and the Kentucky Climate Center on a NOAA-funded project, Citizen Science, Civics, and Resilient Communities, focusing on community resilience to extreme precipitation. The project has two parts: a virtual forum and a project webpage. Join in virtually from 4:30-6:30 p.m. (CT) Wednesday for an interactive national forum hosted by the Museum of Science Boston.
Athletics
July
13
Tuesday
Gifted Studies Summer Programs

Camp Innovate, hosted by The Center for Gifted Studies, continues through Friday. Learn More
July
13
Tuesday
Planetarium Show

The Hardin Planetarium will present Ancient Earth at 7 tonight. Show times are 7 p.m. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Sunday through July 29. Admission is free. Learn More
July
19
Monday
Python Coding Camp

Python Coding Camp, sponsored by the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon July 19-30 at the Knicely Conference Center. Learn More
More events: Check WKU Events calendar or follow @wkuevents on Instagram
Western Kentucky University 
1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101