The newsletter for the WKU community
October 1, 2019
Updates from the Provost
Research, scholarship, and creative activity at WKU are important parts of our academic mission and, when nurtured and supported, they directly contribute to student success. It has been documented that applied learning leads to better understanding of principles and better student outcomes. It has also been documented that students that work with faculty on research projects are more likely to persist and ultimately graduate.

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at WKU does an excellent job providing pre-award support to faculty and staff who write and submit research proposals. Our major successes from this past year are reported below.

  • FY19 Sponsored Grants and Contracts awarded - $17,920,196
  • FY19 Instrumentation Grants awarded - $851,028
  • F19 Indirect Cost Recovery (F&A) - $1,549,711 (highest in 8 years)

Further, the annual Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey is used to rank colleges and universities on annual research expenditures. The current WKU HERD ranking is 324, which ranks WKU third in Kentucky. Lower scores are better. For comparison, the following shows Kentucky regional comprehensive rankings: KSU 357, MoSU 475, MSU 486, NKU 554, and EKU 599.
CLIMBING HIGHER
The Fall 2019 issue of WKU SPIRIT is available. In addition to Homecoming information, this issue includes a feature on “Saving the Safari" and a look into the lives of five WKU alumni who have earned the title "overcomer." Learn More
LJ Cross Scholarship presented
A new scholarship to support students who work with individuals in the special needs community was presented to Taylor Boulier of Vine Grove during Parent & Family Weekend. Dr. Joseph and Margery Cross of Elizabethtown, along with their children—Adam, Megan and Abigail Cross—established the LJ Cross Scholarship in honor of their 21-year-old son and brother who has a dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and autism.
Taylor Boulier, WKU President Timothy C. Caboni, Donald Smith, Margery Cross, LJ Cross, Joseph Cross, Kacy Caboni, Madison Cottrell, and Kate Adams with Big Red at the presentation of the first LJ Cross Scholarship.
Spotlight: Hammer In
The Kentucky Museum will host Hammer In, a free, family-friendly community event celebrating the metal workers' trade, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
TOP Ideas: Entrepreneurship Challenge deadline today
Here's a reminder from WKU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation that proposals for the TOP Ideas: Entrepreneurship Challenge are due today.
WKU Week in Photos
Check out the latest installment of WKU Week in Photos by Clinton Lewis and Bryan Lemon of WKU Division of Communications and Marketing.
October
1
Tuesday
Economic Freedom Presentation

Dr. Josh Hall, chair and Professor of the Center for Free Enterprise at West Virginia University, will present Economic Freedom: Trade-offs or Free Lunch? at 4:15 p.m. in Grise Hall’s Guillaume Auditorium. More Info
October
1
Tuesday
Scholarship Workshop

The Department of Student Financial Assistance will host a Scholarship Workshop for current undergraduate WKU students from 5 to 7 p.m. at Jody Richards Hall Auditorium. More Info
October
2
Wednesday
Potter College Alumni Speaker Series

Potter College Alumni Speaker Series will present Carlos Phillips, president and CEO of Greenville (S.C.) Chamber of Commerce, at 2 p.m. at Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center, room 198. More Info
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1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101