The newsletter for the WKU community |
|
|
|
President's Message:
Employee Compensation Update
|
Colleagues:
Final data from the comprehensive compensation analysis project initiated in 2019 is complete, and representatives from Human Resources and Segal have engaged in preliminary conversations with constituency groups across campus. To that end, we want to provide you with an update on the ongoing work regarding employee pay analysis and total compensation package.
Results from the analysis indicate that the salaries of some employees fall below the minimum salary of their designated pay range. In addition to funding the 1.5% salary increase implemented January 1, 2022, we also set aside a pool of funding in the FY22 budget to begin addressing gaps, such as this, revealed by the compensation analysis. This morning, all faculty and staff received notification of their assigned pay range. Additionally, employees whose salary fell below their pay range’s minimum and who have been designated to receive a salary increase in the first phase of adjustments were notified of the changes to their salary.
This is an incredibly important first step, but our work is not finished. We have asked the Budget Executive Committee (BEC) to prioritize a compensation increase pool in the FY23 budget. The BEC will determine the allocation strategy, which may include cost of living increases, as well as funding to address pay gaps and inversion, remedy compression, and reward performance. While we cannot accurately predict future year budgets, employee pay remains a top priority for us, the entire President’s Cabinet, and our Board of Regents.
Our commitment to caring for employees extends beyond salary. Other benefits, including paid time off, play an important role in building a competitive total compensation package. Following conversations with divisional leaders across campus, today we announce the following additions to our paid holiday schedule, effective immediately:
-
University offices will close for the two days of WKU’s Fall Break each year.
-
University offices will close for three days (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) each year during WKU’s Spring Break.
For your planning purposes, WKU’s paid holiday schedule, including these five additional days, can be found here. We hope that you value the break from daily routines to collectively refresh and recharge. As a reminder, WKU’s summer operating hours will resume May 9, 2022.
|
|
Darnez Pope, Health Information Management faculty member from the WKU Department of Public Health, co-authored a research study published in the medical journal mHealth. Learn More
|
REMEMBERING C.M. 'BILL' GATTON |
C.M. “Bill” Gatton, namesake of the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, passed away on April 18, 2022. Gatton was the largest individual benefactor in WKU history, with support that totaled more than $19.1 million. Gatton was recognized as WKU’s Philanthropist of the Year in 2016. Learn More
|
|
|
|
WKU Forensics wins NFA title |
The WKU Forensics Team won the National Forensics Association National Tournament sweepstakes championship hosted by Illinois State University April 15-18. |
|
|
|
|
Message from Provost Fischer |
Colleagues,
Since coming to WKU, I have been struck by the faculty’s dedication to our students’ success. In ways big and small, in ways visible and intangible, faculty constantly show up for our future graduates. The strong bond between faculty and students can be seen in nominations for the CITL Teaching Honors. This past semester alone, students cast 635 nominations, commending 350 individual faculty for both providing an exceptional learning experience as well as offering compassion, empathy and help during difficult times. I want to take a minute and reflect on a few faculty initiatives that contributed to and advanced student success at WKU.
|
|
|
|
|
|
“I joined DLI to immerse myself into WKU's community and make the most of my college experience.” Sophie Bitner is a sophomore from O’Fallon, Illinois, who is double majoring in History and Political Science with a minor in Nonprofit Administration. Bitner became an instructor for Dynamic Leadership Institute after completing the DLI program herself. |
|
|
|
|
Bornefeld elected SGA president |
Cole Bornefeld, a junior from Hendersonville, Tennessee, has been elected Student Government Association president at WKU. In the general election held April 18-19, Garrison Reed, a sophomore from Franklin, Tennessee, won the executive vice president, while Bowling Green freshman Sam Kurtz won the administrative vice president. |
|
|
|
|
Student-athlete makes most of her time in & out of classroom |
When choosing a college, high school seniors often consider many factors. When Audrey Griffin, a senior Marketing major from St. Leon, Indiana, was looking for a university, she wanted to find a place that felt like home and had a positive atmosphere, but Griffin had another piece to consider when visiting WKU's campus, whether or not to continue her running career on the Hill. "I chose WKU because it felt right," said Griffin. "When I visited WKU, the campus immediately made a positive impression on me. I remember talking to my mom about how nice everyone was. By the end of my trip, I was ready to come to WKU before knowing if running was even an option." |
|
|
|
Graduate student gains valuable research experience |
Somon Hakimov graduates with a Master of Science degree in Homeland Security Sciences this May. He spent the last two years working in the lab of Dr. Ali Oguz Er, Associate Professor in the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy. |
|
|
|
|
English major reflects on her experience at WKU |
Olivia Alsup is a senior from Franklin, earning a degree in English. While she has always been passionate about English, she initially had a different career in mind when she graduated from high school. “Originally, I was on the Early Childhood Education pathway at my high school,” says Alsup. She explains that while she loved working with the children, ages ranging from six weeks to two years old, she desired to pursue a degree in English. In Fall 2019, she enrolled in the program and never looked back. More: English, Gender & Women's Studies present Ukrainian film
|
|
|
|
|
Graduate student volunteers as advocate with Hope Harbor |
WKU graduate student Braiden Abbott from Portland, Tennessee, started volunteering as an advocate with Hope Harbor, Inc., a sexual trauma recovery center, three years ago as just one of the multiple ways in which she created a path to gain experience for a counseling career. |
|
|
|
|
Department of Music events include the following concerts:
- Symphonic Band and the Campus-Community Band, 7:30 tonight at Van Meter Hall. Admission is $5.
- Wind Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. Friday at Van Meter Hall. Admission is $5.
- WKU Jazz Honor Band, 4 p.m. Saturday at Downing Student Union Auditorium. Admission is free; donations accepted.
-
WKU Choral Activities, 4 p.m. Sunday at Van Meter Hall. Admission is $6; $4 for students.
|
|
|
|
|
The WKU Dance Company will present an array of work featuring choreography by WKU dance faculty and nationally acclaimed guest artists during Evening of Dance 2022 at 7:30 tonight-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center’s Russell Miller Theatre. Tickets are $16; $12 for students and seniors (62+).
|
|
|
|
|
A celebration is planned Friday afternoon for the leadership gift Eva and Jim Martens have made benefiting the WKU Alumni Center and WKU Athletics. In this week’s View from the Hill, WKU’s Amy Bingham sits down with them in the WKU room of their home to talk about what the university means to them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Faculty Senate
WKU Faculty Senate's April meeting will begin at 3:45 p.m. today via Zoom. Learn More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earth Day
The WKU Earth Day celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Centennial Mall. Learn More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alumni Center Event
WKU will celebrate the philanthropy of Eva and Jim Martens with an event at 3 p.m. Friday in the Robertson-Feix Grand Ballroom at the Eva and Jim Martens Alumni Center. Learn More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Run for Autism
The 15th Annual LifeSkills Run for Autism, supporting the Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex at WKU, will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday at the Bowling Green Ballpark. Learn More (Note: Streets around WKU's campus will be closed during the event; check out the campus traffic advisory.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd.
Bowling Green, KY 42101
|
|
|
|
|
|
