The newsletter for the WKU community
March 12, 2024
Provost's Message: New Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award
The Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award honors an institutional professor from each CUSA school who demonstrates a record of outstanding teaching, research, service and/or scholarly activity within their academic discipline. The annual award recognizes one winner from each institution who will receive an honorarium ($5,000) and becomes the university’s nominee for Conference USA Professor of the Year.

Completed nomination materials need to be submitted to the provost office by March 27, 2024. A committee composed of one faculty from each college, the faculty athletic representative, and the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee President (or designee) will determine the Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award winner for Western Kentucky University by April 12, 2024. Also, by April 15, 2024 the committee will send the winners’ nomination material to the C-USA office so that the individual is eligible for the C-USA Professor of the Year Award. The faculty chosen as the C-USA Professor of the Year Award winner will receive an additional honorarium ($15,000) for the distinction.

All award winners will be officially acknowledged and announced by the conference office in the summer, displayed on established digital and social media platforms and recognized at a conference event in the fall.
CLIMBING HIGHER
WKU Campus Child Care has earned a 5 STAR rating in Kentucky’s All Star Child Care Quality Rating System. Learn More
Renovations planned for Jody Richards Hall computer lab
The Jody Richards Hall Student Technology Center is getting a reboot. The computer lab will close at 4:30 p.m. March 15 as WKU Information Technology Services launches a project to meet the changing needs of students.
Spotlight: Civil War Exhibit
WKU Libraries announced the opening of its newest exhibit, "The Civil War in Primary Sources," located at The Commons at Helm Library in The History Room.
WKU Student Publications wins 2024 Business Pacemaker
The business side of WKU Student Publications won the 2024 Student Media Business Pacemaker Award from Associated Collegiate Press on Saturday, marking the first time WKU has won the honor for its business practices.
WKU student wins Hearst multimedia competition
WKU student Rhiannon Johnston won the Multimedia Innovative Storytelling Competition of the 2023-2024 Hearst Journalism Awards Program. Johnston, a senior advertising and photojournalism major from Louisville, received a $3,000 scholarship for the winning entry The Road Home and qualifies for the National Multimedia Championship which will be held this June in San Francisco. WKU is in third place in the Intercollegiate Multimedia Competition after two of four multimedia competitions this year.
Two GFCB student projects finalists in national event
Two projects led by the Gordon Ford College of Business students have achieved remarkable success, securing two of the top three national finalist spots for the prestigious "Project of the Year" Competition organized by the Small Business Institute®. The competition is an annual event in which schools across the United States are invited to submit up to two student-led consulting projects. As finalists, the two teams have been invited to the annual conference in Orlando to present their work.
Housing & Residence Life wins two awards at conference
A delegation from WKU’s Department of Housing & Residence Life recently attended the annual Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) conference in Charleston, S.C. The team brought home two awards as Lana Kunkel, Director of Housing Operations, received the SEAHO Service Award and Kirsten Hooks, HRL Marketing Coordinator, won the SEAHO Case Study Competition.
March 2024 Staff Star Award Recipients
The WKU Staff Senate recognized the Christopher Ware Staff Star Award recipients during its meeting on March 6. The March 2024 recipients are Elin Chadwick, Academic Advisor, WKU in Elizabethtown; Daniel Peach, Library Facilities Coordinator; and Sherri Taylor, Payroll Coordinator. More: Submit a Staff Star nomination
Early College students focus on career tracks in WKU visit
Local high school students from Early College at WKU in Glasgow recently had an immersive learning experience on the Hill. The students spent their morning engaging with representatives from departments within their chosen career track.
Group travels to Louisville for 2024 Multicultural Retreat
Seven WKU students and two staff members traveled to Louisville on March 2 for the 2024 Multicultural Retreat, sponsored by the Student Activities office. Students started the day by taking a historical tour of West Louisville in the Portland, Shawnee, Parkland and Chickasaw neighborhoods. The afternoon involved community service with Hand in Hand Ministries.
Imagewest assists KEA in 'Difference Makers' campaign
The Kentucky Education Association (KEA) is launching the "Difference Makers" campaign to raise awareness of the tireless efforts and dedication of public educators across the Commonwealth and inviting the general public to join them in the effort. To get the message out, KEA has enlisted the services of Imagewest, the student-run ad agency at WKU, to shed light on the dedication, passion, and expertise that public school educators bring to their classrooms every day.
WKU Week in Photos
Blooms around campus are a sign that spring is almost here. Check out the latest WKU Week in Photos for events, concerts and more March moments on the Hill from Clinton Lewis and Carol Coronado, WKU Communication & Marketing.
Imagine_BGKY Hackathon
The WKU Innovation Campus is sponsoring a two-part Hackathon series wherein programmers, designers, and innovators are invited to imagine the future of Bowling Green and the Commonwealth. Registration for Imagine_BGKY’s first installment is open through April 30.
Athletics




 
 
 

 
March
13
Wednesday
Exhibit Opening

Roommates: From Western to the White House will open with a reception at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Jody Richards Hall Atrium followed by the Gaines Lecture Series at 7 p.m. in the JRH Auditorium. Learn More
March
14
Thursday
Chinese Calligraphy

The Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition and Awards will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Honors College-International Center, room 1011.
March
15
Friday
Residence Halls Close

WKU residence halls will close for Spring Break at 6 p.m. Friday and will reopen at noon March 24. McCormack Hall and Rodes Harlin Hall will remain open. Learn More
Western Kentucky University 
1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101