The newsletter for the WKU community
November 23, 2021
Governor tours WKU's SmartHolstein Lab
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear toured WKU’s SmartHolstein Lab on Thursday. The lab is a partnership between Holstein Association USA and WKU’s Department of Agriculture and Food Science. Funding for the project is provided by Holstein Association USA and Kentucky’s Agriculture Development Board.

Governor Beshear said the SmartHolstein lab demonstrates the future of the agriculture industry. “It shows that we are on the cutting edge of where we have to go in agriculture.”

The Governor also noted that increasing global water shortages coupled with a growing population make innovations like those at the lab essential. “We have to innovate. We have to increase our yield. We have to increase the amount of milk production.”
4 inducted into Teacher Hall of Fame
The Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame inducted members of its 12th and 13th classes Friday afternoon at WKU.

After a one-year COVID-19 delay, the 2020 inductees Lynn Riedling of Louisville and Wanda Carol Clouse of Barbourville were formally recognized along with 2021 inductees the late Evelyn Douglas of Shepherdsville and Sharon Coomer Mattingly of Glasgow in the ceremony at Gary Ransdell Hall.

This year’s induction ceremony was the first held at WKU. The ceremonies had been held at the Capitol in Frankfort since the inaugural class was selected in 2008.

“Our institution’s rich lineage in teacher education denotes clearly our longstanding commitment to elevating our community, our state, our nation and beyond,” WKU President Timothy C. Caboni said. 
HEALTHY
ON THE HILL
Check WKU's Healthy on the Hill website for the latest updates, including COVID Cases Dashboard, Vaccine Information and more.
CLIMBING HIGHER
Nine WKU and Gatton Academy students were honored for their research presentations at the Kentucky Academy of Science virtual meeting Nov. 5-6. Learn More
WKU geologist wins China's highest award for foreign experts
China’s Ministry of Science and Technology has announced that University Distinguished Professor of Hydrogeology Chris Groves of WKU’s Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences has won the Chinese Government Friendship Award, which is the People's Republic of China's highest award for "foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to the country's economic and social progress.” Dr. Groves, who directs the Crawford Hydrology Laboratory within WKU’s Applied Research and Technology Program (ARTP), has been working to understand, and to help solve problems in, water resources of southwest China for more than 25 years.
Spotlight: Cade Mitchell
Cade Mitchell, a Psychology major from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, is using his time on The Hill to experience all he can and learn as much as possible along the way. This semester, Mitchell is away from WKU and is spending the semester with the Disney College Program.
WKU students participate in Arabic Debate competition
Last weekend, WKU Arabic students Reece Gillespie, Garrett Strickler, Kerby Gilstrap, and Cody Smith, along with Modern Languages Arabic instructor Lhousseine Guerwane, participated in the second annual U.S. Arabic Debate Championship (USADC) at the University of Chicago, hosted by QatarDebate.
English hosts conference
On Nov. 12, the English Department hosted the annual Undergraduate Conference on Literature, Language, and Culture in person in CH 125 and over Zoom.
Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is Nov. 30. When considering where to give back, we hope you choose the WKU Cares Fund to share the message that WKU is committed to being an inclusive university that provides access and opportunity for all students.
Course Evaluations
Here's a reminder from WKU’s Office of Institutional Research that students are encouraged to complete course evaluations. Students completing all course evaluations by Dec. 2 will receive early access to grades on TopNet. 
Hall of Distinguished Alumni nomination deadline Dec. 1
Know someone who is an all-star WKU alumnus? Someone who has made an indelible impact in their career field? Someone whose service has made their community a better place to live and work? Nominate them for the highest honor WKU alumni can achieve – the Hall of Distinguished Alumni. Deadline is Dec. 1.
Thanksgiving Break Parking
WKU Parking & Transportation reminds the campus community about parking and transit changes in effect for Thanksgiving break (Wednesday-Sunday).
CITL Virtual Office Hours
CITL will be holding Virtual Office Hours starting Monday (Nov. 29) through Dec. 8 to assist you with questions you may have with respect to hybrid/online pedagogy, course design or educational technology. CITL Video: Students Say Thank You to Faculty & Staff
WKU Week in Photos
Check out this week’s installment of WKU Week in Photos by Clinton Lewis of WKU's Division of Communications and Marketing.
Athletics
November
24
Wednesday
Thanksgiving Break

WKU offices will be closed Wednesday-Friday for Thanksgiving holiday break. Residence halls will close at 10 a.m. Wednesday and reopen at noon Sunday; Hilltopper Hall and Rodes Harlin Hall will remain open.
November
25
Thursday
International Student Thanksgiving

The WKU International Student Thanksgiving Dinner will be served from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Micatrotto Dining Room, Academic Complex 213. For information, contact Julie Lee.
November
28
Sunday
Planetarium Show

Celebrations for a Long Winter's Night will open at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Hardin Planetarium. Show times are 7 p.m. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 13. Admission is free. Learn More
Western Kentucky University 
1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101