The newsletter for the WKU community
January 27, 2020
Spring semester begins today
Welcome back WKU! As the spring 2020 semester begins today, here are some updates:

  • Tobacco-free campus: WKU became a tobacco-free, smoke-free campus on Jan. 1. The policy prohibits the use of all tobacco and vaping products on all properties that are owned, operated, leased, occupied or controlled by WKU.
  • Parking/Transit: Check out updates on parking and transit operations. Normal parking regulations and transit operations resumed this morning.
  • Dining hours: Check out spring 2020 hours for the WKU Restaurant Group.
  • Campus construction: Check out webcams as work continues on the First Year Village and the WKU Commons at Helm Library.
  • Winter weather communications plan: Here’s a reminder about WKU’s winter weather communications plan that provides a number of ways you can find out if classes are delayed, canceled or if a campus is closed.
  • Today@WKU archive: If you missed our weekly newsletters this month, check out the Today@WKU archive page.
CLIMBING HIGHER
WKU has been honored with 2019 Tree Campus USA® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management. WKU has received the designation for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation each year since 2010. Learn More
Unauthorized access of computer system investigated
On Jan. 23, 2020, WKU learned that an unauthorized person may have accessed a computer system in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. As soon as we became aware of this, we immediately took steps to secure the system and commenced an investigation to determine what happened.
Board of Regents committees to meet Friday morning
The WKU Board of Regents will conduct committee meetings Friday. The meetings will begin at 9 a.m. in the Martin Regents Room of Jody Richards Hall.
Staff Leadership Institute Class of 2020 holds first meeting
The 24 participants in the WKU Staff Leadership Institute (SLI) Class of 2020 had their first meeting on Jan. 15. SLI is offered through a partnership between WKU Lifelong Learning, WKU Human Resources, and the WKU Staff Senate and is designed to develop leadership skills for WKU staff who have demonstrated advancement potential.
Spotlight: Beth Rogers
When Beth Rogers took her data science and location intelligence skills—acquired in the pursuit of scientific research—to Fruit of the Loom, she became a catalyst for data-driven change at the apparel giant. Rogers earned a master’s degree in geoscience at WKU with a concentration in GIS technology.
Photographer David LaBelle will present lectures at WKU
The School of Media ’s Photojournalism department invites the campus community to meet photographer, author, teacher, motivational speaker and lover of life David LaBelle as he presents two lectures. Tonight, LaBelle will discuss his 50-year career at 7:30 in Jody Richards Hall, room 127. On Tuesday night, LaBelle will discuss his novel, Bridges and Angels: The Story of Ruth . In the lecture at 7 at Jody Richards Hall Auditorium, LaBelle will reveal his emotional connection to the purpose and meaning behind why he wanted to share with the world the death of his mother in his 350-page novel.
WKU freshman receives Jeff and Mary Key Scholarship
WKU freshman Langley Williams, a 2019 graduate of Central Hardin High School, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Jeff and Mary Key Scholarship for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Cultural Enhancement Series to host Swedish Jam Factory Feb. 3
WKU's Cultural Enhancement Series will present the Swedish Jam Factory at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at Van Meter Hall. Swedish Jam Factory is a Swedish-American musical performance act that specializes in tap dancing while playing music. The group is comprised of Thomas Bergstig, from Stockholm Sweden, and WKU alum Isaac Middleton from Harlan, Kentucky. Admission is free and open to the public.
View from the Hill
The end of January is crunch time for scholarship applications and other important college deadlines. WKU is providing extra support for area high school seniors as WKU’s Amy Bingham explains in this week’s View from the Hill .
January
27
Monday
Spring Semester Begins

Spring semester classes begin at WKU.
January
27
Monday
Photojournalism Lecture

David LaBelle, an internationally known photographer, teacher, author and motivational speaker, will discuss his 50-year career at 7:30 p.m. at Jody Richards Hall, room 127. More Info
January
28
Tuesday
Planetarium Show

Spaceship Earth will continue at 7 p.m. at the Hardin Planetarium. More Info
Western Kentucky University 
1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101