The newsletter for the WKU community
February 21, 2023
Provost's Message: Quality
Enhancement Plan - Toppers R.I.S.E.
Dear Colleagues,  
 
Last fall, Academic Affairs invited the campus community to provide Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) ideas that would improve student learning and/or impact student success. The focus groups we conducted produced a host of excellent project ideas. After looking at all the data collected, we sent a survey to faculty and staff asking everyone to rank-order the seven top ideas that emerged from that process. 

Approximately 23% of the respondents ranked the Graduate Profile (10 essential skills all college graduates need) as their top choice, followed closely by Experiential/Applied Learning (20.6%). Since “applied and integrated learning” is one of the essential skills in the Graduate Profile, the top two choices fit naturally together, and we feel that Toppers R.I.S.E. “A Roadmap to Integral Skills and Experiences” is the perfect name for the new QEP.  

We are in the process of forming a QEP workgroup comprised of faculty and staff from each college and key personnel from across other divisions to set up a timeline and plan for implementation. As we progress, there will be many opportunities for input from everyone on our campuses. I encourage you to share your ideas as we put together a plan to enhance and improve student success at WKU.
CLIMBING HIGHER
Dr. Richard Gelderman, WKU Emeritus Professor of Physics and Astronomy, was recently named as a Fellow of the American Association of Physics Teachers. Learn More
31 students earn Gilman Scholarships; 18 named alternates
Thirty-one WKU students earned the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad in the October 2022 application cycle, more than in any other cycle and more than all of Kentucky's other public institutions combined. An additional 18 students were named alternates. A record-setting 58 WKU students applied in this cycle, a 164% increase since the previous cycle in March 2022. Of those who worked with the Office of Scholar Development to prepare their applications, 86% were recognized as recipients or alternates.
Spotlight: Jonesville Fresco
Creating The Jonesville Fresco, an exhibition highlighting the unique process used to create the Jonesville Fresco at the Kentucky Museum, is on display through April 14 in the Corridor Gallery, second floor of Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center.
Kentucky Folklife Program announces award recipients
The Kentucky Folklife Program (KFP) announced that Tommy Case and George Wakim are the 2023 winners of the Homer Ledford Award. This award honors top Kentucky luthiers for their contributions to the craft of instrument making and service to Kentucky music communities and is given in honor and memory of master luthier, musician, and educator Homer Ledford.
Author Jolie visits WKU
On February 15, the author Raechel Anne Jolie came to WKU to discuss their new book and give general tips for writers. Jolie (she/they) is the author of Rust Belt Femme, a memoir about her life growing up in Ohio and the influence that music and her community had on them.
Folk Studies lecture Thursday
WKU will host Dr. Marilyn White as part of the Folk Studies 50th anniversary speaker series at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Western Room of the Kentucky Museum. Dr. White is the president of the American Folklore Society (AFS), a retired professor of Anthropology and Africana Studies at Kean University, and a former WKU professor. Her presentation will cover her personal and academic folklore journey, the value of academic programs, and knowledge of people from a small Caribbean Island where she has conducted extensive fieldwork.
WKU Night at the Predators
Join WKU students, families, alumni and fans for WKU College Night at the Predators on February 28. The event in Nashville will feature a pre-game reception, a limited edition co-branded hat, and on-ice promotions during the game at Bridgestone Arena. The reception begins at 5 with puck drop at 7.
WKU Week in Photos
Check out the latest installment of WKU Week in Photos from Clinton Lewis and Carol Coronado, WKU Division of Communications & Marketing.
Athletics
February
22
Wednesday
Graduate School Event

The WKU Graduate School will host a Virtual Info Fair from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday. Learn More
February
23
Thursday
Three Minute Thesis

The WKU Graduate School will host its second annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at Downing Student Union, room 2123. Learn More
February
24
Friday
Studio Series

The Department of Theatre and Dance will present Studio Series 2023 at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Gordon Wilson Hall Lab Theatre. Learn More
Western Kentucky University 
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Bowling Green, KY 42101