UA11/1 on Campus, Vol. 8, No. 1 WKU University Relations

Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® WKU Archives Records WKU Archives 2-1998 UA11/1 On Campus, Vol. 8, No. 1 WKU University Relations Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records Part of the Higher Education Administration Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, Mass Communication Commons, Organizational Communication Commons, Public Relations and Advertising Commons, and the Social Influence and Political Communication Commons Recommended Citation WKU University Relations, "UA11/1 On Campus, Vol. 8, No. 1" (1998). WKU Archives Records. Paper 4400. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records/4400 This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in WKU Archives Records by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Vol. 8 No.1. Publication For Faculty, Staff and Friends of WKU • February 1998 ... ii1 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY ~It~s time for change' Gov. Patton says By Bob Skipper ates, 762 baccalaureate Change is necessary if and 289 masters. universities are to improve, Four students were Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton also honored fo r their told the fall graduating academic achievements. class at Western Kentucky Shanon Peterson, a University Dec. 16. history major from Bowl " ) sense that we're in the ing Green, received the midst of a great sea change scholar of the college in this world in education, award for the highest and we in America, and grade-point average in the particularly, we in Ken~ Potter College of Arts, tucky, and especially you Humanities and Social here at Western Kentucky Sciences. She also received University are in a position the Ogden Trustees' to take advantage of that Award for having the sea change and change highest GPA in the gradu forever this institution and ating class. She is the this Commonwealth, if daughter of Gregg and only we have the wisdom Linda Peterson. and courage to do it," Susan Henderson Patton said. Cook, a marketing major Accepting the invitation from Brownsville, re of WKU President Gary ceived the scholar of the Ransdell, Patton spoke to a college award for the full house in Western's College of Business E.A. Diddle Arena during the Administration and the Ogden school's 142nd Commencement, Patton said universities must that you graduates are going to Trustees' Award. She is the daugh during which the University take advantage of changes in make things happen throughout ter of Ray and Linda Henderson conferred more than 1,200 degrees. technology and provide services this nation," Patton said. and is married to l.R. Cook. "Throughout most of recorded such as distance education to fit Ransdell told the graduates that Nancy Smith, a middle grades history, the transmission of educa the needs of its students. "The they are responsible for writing education major from Elizabeth tion has been with a professor university must be willing to their own life stories. town, scholar of the college award talking face-to-face in the same embrace change because we as a "You are now moving on to the for the College of Education and room with a student, but that is SOCiety must have change," he said next chapter," Ransdell said, Behavioral Sciences. She is the changing," Patton said. The tech Patton told the graduates they adding that while they have daughter of Russell and Dale Hale nology and need are changing and have three choices in life: "We can completed their degrees, "Your and is married to Dale Smith. "we must never abandon that make things happen. We can Western experience is just begin Greg Hackbarth, a computer fundamental student-professor watch what happens. Or we can ning." He urged them to stay science major from Bowling Green, residential relationship that will wonder what happened." close to Western, to defend it and the scholar of the college award for always be a part of our educa " I know that Western Kentucky support it. the Ogden College of Science, tional establishment. But we must University is going to make things Western conferred 1.213 degrees Technology and Hea lth. He is the have more." happen in Kentucky and 1 know during the ceremony: 162 associ- son of Steve and Susan James. New year, new administrative structure The new year brought a new planning, accounting and purchas tor (Lewis Mills), overseeing administrative structure to Western ing. intercollegiate athletics and the Kentucky University. ·The creation of the Executive Hilltopper Athletic Foundation; and WKU President Gary A. Ransdell Assistant to the President for General Counsel (Deborah announced that effective Jan. 1, Public Affairs and Governmental Wilkins), overseeing legal affairs, seven officers report directly to Relations, filled by Fred Hensley, equal opportunity, Human Re him. The reorganization includes: Vice President for Institutional sources, Internal Auditor and -The creation of the position of Advancement. He will oversee Environmental Health and Safety. Provost and Vice President for governmental relations and the "This structure is designed to Academic Affairs, filled by Dr. Office of University Relations. focus on our core responsibilities Barbara Burch, Vice President for The creation of a Vice President to provide a strong and relevant Academic Affairs. The position will for Development and Alumni academic program and ensure be supported by the Vice Presi Relations, to be filled in the spring, optimum intellectual, cultural and dent for Infonnation Technology overseeing development, alumni social growth for out students,- Dr. (Dr. Charles Anderson). the Office relations, affiliated foundations and Ransdell said. "I have tried to of Institutional Research, the Spedal Events. combine conventional wisdom in academic deans and academic Others reporting to Dr. Ransdell higher education with the capaci programs and services. include the Vice President for ties (human and financial) of our -The creation of a Chief Finan Student Affairs (Dr. Jerry Wilder). current staff and budget. ft cial Officer, filled by Ann Mead. overseeing Student Life and An organizational chart illustrat She will oversee budgeting and Student Services; Athletics Direc- ing the changes is on page three. - ·OnCampus Western Kentucky University February 1998 Regents asked to support merit scholarships; discuss vision, mission President Gary Ransdell urged would "send a strong statement" ments would be used to recruit the regents the awarding of up to two the University's Board of Regents that the state values academic top faculty in the country, Dr. honorary doctorates each year in at its quarterly meeting Jan. 30 to achievement, regardless of finan Ransdell said. recognition of significant achieve support Gov. Paul Patton's plan for cial situation. "This will de-em In other business, the board: ments. a statewide merit scholarship phasize money in the decision to "Endorsed the creation of a "Approved five areas as poten program. go to coUege and where to go President's AdviSOry CounciL The tial programs of distinction, as While he said he supported the college," he said. council would be made up of defined in the Postsecondary funding of a need-based scholar Dr. Ransdell also asked regents highly successful alumni and Education Improvement Act. The ship program, which has been in to support a proposed bond issue friends who would counsel the areas include: Center for Applied place but remained unfunded, Dr. to create endowments for faculty president in institutional direction Science and Technology; Educa Ransdell added, " I am most inter positions. Patton has proposed to and p lanning. tion, Health and Human Services ested in a state-funded program the General Assembly that $11 "Accepted responses to 57 recom for Families and Children; Folk that rewards scholarly achieve million in bonds be sold to create mendations outlined in the re Studies; industrial/Organiza ment." endowments of $100 million for cently-completed Institutional tional Psychology; and Journal Patton's plan would create the University of Kentucky and Review. The responses assign the ism and Communication. college scholarships for high school the University of Louisville and recommendations to a member of Dr. Ransdell said up to three students based on grade-pOint $10 million for the remaining state the University administration and areas will be submitted to the average and scores on the Ameri universities. provide a time line for implementa Council on Postsecondary Educa can College Test. The higher the "This would mean taking 20 tion or study. tion for consideration. Each center G PA and test scores, the larger the years to payoff something that "Endorsed the creation of an approved by CPE would be scholarship. would be absolutely pennanent:' honorary doctorate committee. The eligible for $1.4 miHion in fund Dr. Ransdell said such a program he said. Income from the endow- committee will recommend to ing, which would have to be matched by the University. WKU receives $25,000 gift from Faculty Awards Western Kentucky Gas Co. Western Kentucky University to serving communities such as Alumni, faculty, staff, administrators, and students are invited to has received a $25,000 gift from Owensboro and its citizens." nominate fuU-time members of Western's faculty for college and The gift will be given in five uni versity awards for teaching, research/creativity and public Western Kentucky Gas Co. in selVice. Owensboro to be used for support annual installments of $5,000 each The Community College will select one awardee for teaching. of a lecture series in WKU's Col to the Western Kentucky Univer The areas of University Libraries and Information Technology will lege of Business Administration. sity Foundation beginning in jointly select two awardees': one for research/creativity and one for publiC The gift will fund, "Business fiscal year 1997-98 and ending in service. Vision 2020: A Contemporary fiscal year 2001-02. Each of the colleges wiD select three awardees from each college: one for Management Lecture Series," Headquartered in Owensboro, teaching, one for research/creativity, and one for public service.

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