The newsletter for the WKU community |
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President's Message:
Preparations for a New Academic Year
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Dear Colleagues,
I hope the summer provided you with time to relax, refresh, travel and spend time with family and friends. While the months that separate our spring and fall semesters offer a slightly slower pace on our Hill, I appreciate the hard work of our faculty and staff to fervently plan for the academic year ahead.
During the last three months, our campus hosted thousands of participants for academic, athletic and interest-based summer camps. These activities give us an important opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the broader community and serve as a valuable recruitment mechanism, exposing potential future Hilltoppers to all that WKU has to offer.
Campus improvements, particularly at the top of The Hill, charged ahead this summer. Our Hilltop Restoration Project will make the north end of campus more accessible and easier to navigate and will provide unique spaces for educational and social activities to take place, all while enhancing the most beautiful campus in the Commonwealth.
In July, we welcomed 81 first-year students to campus as they began our five-week Summer Scholars program, offering them experiential learning opportunities and critical preparation for success as undergraduate students. Also in July, I wrapped up my summer 2022 Big Red Road Trip. As I once again traveled throughout the state, I found incredible support for our institution through meetings with elected officials, school administrators, alumni and more. WKU’s steadfast commitment to deepening partnerships across the state continues to yield extraordinary success – for our students, for our university and for our region.
As we prepare for the 2022-2023 academic year, I hope that you plan to join me, in person, at our annual Faculty and Staff Convocation on Monday, August 15, at 10:00 am in Van Meter Auditorium. Together, we will reflect on the previous academic year and look ahead to what promises to be another remarkable year on our Hill.
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AASCU honors ONE WKU Campaign |
The ONE WKU Campaign has earned national recognition from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. AASCU selected WKU for the Excellence & Innovation Award for DEI Leadership for its outstanding results and potential to influence and serve as a model for other institutions.
The ONE WKU Campaign, which launched in 2020, comprehensively drives DEI efforts across campus, including book clubs, deliberative dialogues, and the Inclusive Teaching Academy. The ITA was the first program in the state to be approved by the Council on Postsecondary Education for its Cultural Competency Credential.
“It is such an honor to be recognized for the work we have done with the ONE WKU Campaign,” said Dr. Molly Kerby, Co-Chief Diversity Officer. “While our work is just beginning, we have made some major strides in the areas of equity and inclusion over the last couple of years. I think our success is due to the creation of a collaborative process of change-making that includes a diversity of voice, talent, and thought; cooperation and teamwork truly make the difference.”
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Dr. Chris Shook, Dean of WKU’s Gordon Ford College of Business, is the 2022 winner of the Southern Management Association’s highest honor, the James G. Hunt SMA Sustained Outstanding Service Award. Learn More
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Bike4Alz Team 10 completed its 2022 cross country ride last week in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Bike4Alz group is committed to the mission of raising money and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease one mile at a time. Learn More
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HEALTHY ON THE HILL: FALL UPDATE |
Here's a Healthy on the Hill update from David Oliver, Director EHS and Emergency Manager: This fall, WKU looks forward to beginning the academic year under normal operations. While COVID-19 will likely be a part of our lives moving forward, we now find ourselves in a much different position than we were in to start the previous two fall semesters. Vaccines remain readily available, and a significant percentage of our campus community has chosen to get vaccinated to protect themselves and others. We will continue to monitor the virus and all variants and adjust plans as necessary. However, we do not anticipate starting the semester with a mask requirement, nor will we limit capacity at indoor activities. Learn More
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“WKU means so much to me. I would have never studied abroad, much less worked abroad, without the people who guided me at WKU. I would have never picked a major that I was passionate about without faculty telling me to go for it. I wouldn’t have met the people who will be my lifelong friends. I would have never created projects and work that mean something to me.” – Emily Falica, English teacher in South Korea |
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4 students awarded nationally competitive scholarships |
Three WKU students were awarded Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) scholarships, and another WKU student was awarded a Freeman Award for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA). |
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School Psychology program earns national re-accreditation |
The School Psychology program at the Specialist level has received Full Program Approval from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). This accreditation is valid thorough 2029. School Psychology is part of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences (CEBS). The program uniquely trains students in both education and mental health. |
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Gatton Academy students conduct summer research |
Several Gatton Academy students had the opportunity to participate in advanced research in a variety of academic fields during Summer 2022 through the Gatton Research Internship Grant (RIG) Program. |
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WKU Alumni Association announces 2022-23 Board leadership |
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CITL Virtual Office Hours |
CITL will be holding Virtual Office Hours starting Monday to assist you with questions you may have with respect to hybrid/online pedagogy, course design or educational technology. Virtual Office Hours will be available through August 30. |
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WKU in Owensboro will host Big Red's Movies on the Lawn |
The community is invited to WKU in Owensboro on September 10 for Big Red’s Movies on the Lawn. The event will offer inflatables, food trucks, and a free double feature of Finding Nemo and Jaws. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m., offering free inflatables and food for purchase from local food trucks and vendors. Finding Nemo begins at 7:30 p.m.; Jaws begins at 9:30.
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Hilltopper Creamery, the site of WKU’s cheese making plant, welcomed dairy farmers from around the state recently. WKU’s Amy Bingham has more on the Dairy Conference in this View from the Hill.
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Planetarium Show
Lives of the Stars will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Hardin Planetarium. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Sunday through September 1. Learn More
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WKU Soccer
WKU Soccer will host Murray State in an exhibition match at 7 p.m. August 10 at the WKU Soccer Complex. Learn More
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Science Fun Day
The Hardin Planetarium will host a James Webb Space Telescope Science Fun Day at 1 p.m. August 13. Learn More
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Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd.
Bowling Green, KY 42101
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