The newsletter for the WKU community
March 5, 2024
President's Message: Yielding Admitted Students and Summer Hours
Dear Colleagues,

Each of us chose a career in higher education because we understand and believe in the transformative power of a college degree. Together, we must work to ensure that future generations and their families understand not only the importance of higher education but also the unique opportunities that WKU offers.

As we continue recruiting the class of 2028, thank you for your diligence in sharing the WKU story with prospective students, their families and friends. While we work to share our perspective with all potential students, yielding admitted students remains particularly critical during this period in the recruitment cycle.

Simply admitting a student does not necessarily translate to enrollment at WKU. In fact, more than 62% of the students we admit to WKU do not end up enrolling at any postsecondary institution. With each of these students, especially those uncertain about attending college, we must establish a connection and begin building a sense of community and belonging that will last throughout their time at WKU and beyond.

In support of those efforts, our academic colleges have partnered with the Office of Admissions to offer Preview Days for admitted students in March, providing us with the opportunity to showcase our campus and demonstrate the hands-on support that makes the WKU Experience unlike any other. These Choose WKU events allow admitted students and their families to meet with members of the student’s academic college, learn more about their chosen major and ask questions about their next steps prior to attending a Topper Orientation Program session later in the spring or summer. I encourage you to work with the Office of Admissions and academic colleges to learn how you can assist with these important events for our future Hilltoppers.

Recruiting students, supporting them through their journey on the Hill and providing opportunities for them upon graduation requires significant effort from each of us, and WKU remains committed to providing a healthy work/life harmony for all employees. As a reminder, the university will close for three days (March 20-22) for Spring Break. Additionally, we will again operate on a reduced 34-hour workweek during the summer months.
CLIMBING HIGHER
Dr. Liz Sturgeon has been named the new director of the WKU School of Nursing and Allied Health (SONAH) in the WKU College of Health and Human Services. Learn More
WKU and Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College received the Partnership for Transfer award at the 2024 Student Success Summit. Learn More
Provost's Message: Civic Engagement & Academic Freedom
Dear Colleagues, 
 
It’s hard to believe that this semester is already one-third of the way complete and spring break is less than a month away. As such, many of us are inspired to make warm weather plans as we look forward to spending time with friends, family, and the broader community. This is also a favorite time of year for civic engagement, and we are so fortunate that universities and colleges have long been places of robust discourse and reasoned debate.
Spotlight: Bobbi Coffee
Bobbi Coffee, a first-generation scholar from Louisville majoring in Literature with a minor in Creative Writing, is about to embark on a journey to the University of East Anglia in Norwich, United Kingdom.
Regents approve programs
The WKU Board of Regents on Friday approved a number of new academic programs, including a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a Bachelor of Science in Data Science.
2024 Celebration of the Arts award winners announced
The Kentucky Museum and its sponsors announced the winners of the 2024 Abound Credit Union Celebration of the Arts on Friday night.
Robert Penn Warren Center announces award winner
Dr. Gary Saul Morson, Lawrence B. Dumas Professor of the Arts and Humanities at Northwestern University, has been selected as the winner of the 2023 Warren-Brooks Award for his book, Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers on the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter. The award is presented each year by the Robert Penn Warren Center at WKU.
WKU research to be presented in Posters-at-the-Capitol
Eleven WKU research projects will be presented Thursday during the 22nd annual Posters-at-the-Capitol event in Frankfort.
Showcase Workshop Series
Here’s a reminder for students: How to Present at the Showcase, the final installment in the Student Scholar Showcase Workshop Series, will be held via Zoom from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Documentary Screening
The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers will present a screening of Master of Light at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Jody Richards Hall Auditorium followed by a Q&A session. The event is co-sponsored by the PCAL Cultural Enhancement Series.
Choral Concert
Sing, My Child, a choral concert featuring Treble Chorus, University Singers, Chorale and Southern Kentucky Choral Society with special guests the Treblemakers and RedShirts, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Van Meter Hall.
America 250 Series
Dr. Pearlie Johnson, Independent Scholar and member of the Kentucky Humanities Council’s Speakers Bureau, will present Quilt Art: Examining the Narrative in Kentucky Quilts at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Kentucky Museum.
Photo exhibition to open with reception, lecture on March 13
WKU’s School of Media & Communication and The John B. Gaines Family Lecture Series will present an exhibition of photographs and an evening presentation showcasing Jabin Botsford and Demetrius Freeman’s photographic journey from Western to the White House.
AMS Graduate Student Chapter
The AMS Graduate Student Chapter at WKU, established in the Fall of 2015, is teaming up with the WKU Math and SIAM Student Chapter for a collaborative initiative in the spring 2024 semester. 
MI2 Newsletter
Check out the latest newsletter from the Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2). The nonprofit organization with a mission to foster innovation in Kentucky’s growing metals industry is headquartered at the WKU Innovation Campus.
WKU Week in Photos
Check out the latest WKU Week in Photos from Clinton Lewis, WKU Communications & Marketing.
Tornado Drill Wednesday
WKU will participate in the statewide tornado safety drill on Wednesday. At approximately 9:07 a.m. (Central time), WKU will test its emergency communications network, including the outdoor warning speakers.
Athletics
March
5
Tuesday
Wedge Seminar

Richard V. Reeves will present Why is the modern male struggling, why does it matter, and what can we do about it? at 7 tonight at the Eva and Jim Martens Alumni Center. Learn More
March
6
Wednesday
Staff Senate

The WKU Staff Senate will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Downing Student Union, room 2081. Learn More
March
8
Friday
Dance Big Red

The 10th annual Dance Big Red will be held from 6 p.m. to mighnight Friday at the Preston Health and Activities Center. Learn More
Western Kentucky University 
1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101