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A
Grad Student's Survival Guide to Western
Basic
Skills for College Teaching Program (BSCT)
WKU's
Graduate Studies Information Pages
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A Grad Student's Survival Guide to Western
Following is a collection of information that might be of use to GTAs new to Western. You can read straight through it by scrolling down or use the Table of Contents to jump to the area of information you need. I would appreciate any help you can offer with corrections or additions to the information. Please Email me at facet@wku.edu. Thanks!
Table of Contents:
Photo Identification Card, Time Zone, Campus Mailing Address, Course Schedule, Parking, Food Facilities, TOPNET
Campus Equipment and Resources
Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching, Phones, Computer Information, Email, Professional Copying, Preston Health and Activities Center
Local Culture, Pronunciation, and Directions Guide
Campus, Community
Post Office, Personal Copying, Banking, Shopping, Entertainment, Sports, Driver's License, Car Registration, Electricity, Recycling, Gas, Newspapers, Telephone, Television, Internet
State Cities, Voting Registration, Elected Representatives
May be obtained in the basement of Downing University Center (across from the basketball arena). Walk around to the downhill side and enter from the back. The ID center is down the hall on the right, or enter from the ground floor of DUC (where the cafeterias are) and take the elevator to the bottom floor. The ID card is processed while you wait. You must bring a photo ID to obtain the Western ID card. Use your card to obtain discounts at the bookstore (in DUC), at the on-campus cafeterias and to check out books from the libraries. You can put "Dining Dollars" or "Big Red Dollars" on it and get added discounts when making purchases on-campus.
(Your Department), 1906 College Heights Blvd., Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 42101-3576
To mail to other campus
departments, use a campus mail envelope with the name of the person and department
listed.
Academic calendars can be obtained here: http://www.wku.edu/Dept/Support/AcadAffairs/Registrar/acad_calendar.htm
You can look at your class schedule here: https://acsapps.wku.edu/pls/prod/wku_hwsched.P_CrseSearch
Evening Classes begin at 5:00 or at anytime deemed to fit the needs of students & when classrooms are available.
A word of warning: The Community College on occasion changes the schedule (reducing the time between classes to 10 minutes) to fit another class in during the day. Once you have access to the TopNet system (See later in this material) you'll be able to get a personal schedule, suitable for using in your syllabus if you are teaching.
For those who are teaching undergraduates: Students seem to have relatively more difficulty showing up for class on Fridays. If attendance is important to your teaching philosophy, then you will need to plan for incentives for those who attend and expect to experience some "limit-testing." It is recommended that you discuss your attendance policy with your students the first day of class. A course schedule is automatically generated for you in the Topnet System.
As on any college campus parking can be a problem. A parking permit (actually a piece of plastic, you hang from your mirror) can be obtained at the Parking and Transportation Services office. Student employees and GTAs are not considered faculty/staff for parking purposes, so you may obtain only a commuter pass.
After Labor Day parking improves considerably. Be careful the first week of school as there are many drivers unfamiliar with the streets around campus and you are likely to meet a driver heading the wrong way down a one-way street. The campus police ticket and tow vigorously the first weeks of school.
Campus Tour:
Online Campus tour is at http://www.wku.edu/tour.html
WKU Dining and Catering Services are operated by Aramark Corporation, which offers a wide variety of dining options around campus. Faculty may purchase food with cash or Big Red Dollars (with 11% discount) added to their ID card.
At Downing University Center (DUC): Campus food services include The Fresh Food Company, a multiple food line facility which offers fresh-prepared foods; DUC Food Court, which includes Bene Pasta, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut; Starbucks Coffee and Freshens Smoothies;and RedZone sports restaurant on the main floor; and a Subway on the ground floor.
Around Campus: Garrett Conference Center offers Garrett Food Court, which inclues Bene Pizza and Pasta, Salad Garden, Grille Works and Home Zone; and a Subway, both located on the ground floor and the side facing Helm Library. Java City, is located in Helm Library, and offers gourmet coffees, drinks, sandwiches and desserts/pastries for a quick snack or pick-me-up. There is also a convenience store, Bate Shop, connected to Bates Runner Dormitory.
Close Off-Campus: Many fast-food restaurants are located along the 31-W Bypass, Russellville Rd, Campbell Ln and Scottsville Rd. Several nice restaurants and coffee shops are located around and near the downtown square, including Spencer’s Coffee House, 440 Main, the Sicilian, Mariah’s (State St.) and the Brickyard Café (Chestnut St.). Close by Mexican restaurants include Puerta Vallarta (Bypass, Campbell Ln. and Scottsville Rd. locations), Peppers (Campbell Ln.) and El Mazatlan (Fairview Plaza). China One Buffet King offers buffet-style Chinese on the Bypass. Taj Palace on Scottsville Road offers Indian food, and we have a Shogun of Japan (Scottsville Rd.) Many additional restaurants of all varieties are located around town. There is only space to list a few close to campus, so please explore and give all merchants a chance at your dollars.
Glasgow: The Glasgow campus offers snacks and lunch at a convenient campus location from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm.
WKU is a Pepsi campus. For more information go to: http://www.wkudining.com/
TOPNET
TOPNET is an interface for assigning grades and various other teaching administrative tasks. If you are teaching you will need to get training and a Password. The following is a link to it: http://topnet.wku.edu For an online tutorial on how to use TOPNET go to http://adcom1.wab.wku.edu/html/manuals.html-ssi.
Campus
Phones
Computer Information
Professional Copying
Preston Health and Activities Center
WKU Classified Mail List
Adj Fac/Teaching Messages Listserv
World Travel Connection Kit
FACET can provide various
resources as you prepare for your classes, not the least of which is knowing
the campus resources. Please link to our home page
for some ideas of how we can assist you.
When on campus dial 5-7000,
Microcomputing Support, to get information about setting up an email address
and for information on web pages. Call 5-7000 for help with supported software
(Netscape Communicator and Microsoft products).
Your WKU email address will be: firstname.lastname@wku.edu. Check http://www.wku.edu/infotech/index.php?page=89,
for more information. WKU students are contacted officially (as in through
Banner, TopNet or Blackboard) through their WKU email address, not a yahoo
or other address.
Microcomputing offers classes on software which are periodically announced via email, or the schedule can be referenced online at http://www.wku.edu/~train/train.htm.
Our course software for web support of classes is currently Blackboard and it is administered by Academic Technology, 5-3754. You are required to attend a short training before an account is set up for you if you are teaching. Academic Technology and the Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching (5-6508) periodically offer instruction on teaching on-line. Contact either for further information.
In the library, faculty may request that materials be copied (usually library materials, journals, etc.) at the Circulation Desk on 4th floor Cravens.
Check with your department to see if they have any restrictions concerning copying and/or to obtain use of the copy card. Some departments have restrictions on how many copies an instructor may make, even for a course they are teaching.
WKU
CLASSIFIED MAIL LIST
WKU has a classified list which faculty and staff may use to announce items
for sale, etc. To subscribe, go to: http://lists.wku.edu/mailman/listinfo/wku-classifieds
Many campus directions are given using the terms "up the hill" or "down the hill" which can be translated literally. "Up the hill" may also refer to the University administration, as in "It's an idea from up the hill." "Parking in Egypt" refers to a student lot at the bottom of the hill (the very bottom). Usually used in a phrase of disgust ("I had to park in Egypt!") to express how far away someone had to park as an excuse for coming to class or work late.
Female instructors tend to be called "Mrs." or maybe a slurred "Ms" by students and students tend to be more formal than in many parts of the country. They perceive the term "Mrs." as a sign of respect as far as I can tell. If you have another preference for being addressed you will need to make it clear. Male instructors are likely to be called "Dr." regardless of educational qualifications.
This is a sweeping generalization which you should test against your own experience but many undergraduate students have had little experience beyond the confines of their local community. However, lack of opportunity does not equate with lack of ability. In addition, your students may have experienced difficult life events and tend to be very sensitive to the needs of their extended family.
I urge you to spend some time one-on-one with students whom you are teaching, learning about what they value. You'll develop an appreciation for the richness and complexity of their lives. Remember that the longer you spend in a graduate program, the more your sense of what an "average" student is may be distorted. You are not an average student or you wouldn't be in a graduate program so don't use your behavior as the norm.
Southerners tend to "speak softly" to avoid offense, perhaps because the consequences of creating offense are long term in a small community. Students will tend to introduce themselves by the county from which they come and they will often hope to return to that county and their family. Beginning students may be intimidated by the size of the campus and the buildings here. They may be intimidated by you. If you have any Kentucky family, however distant, mention it.
Community directions are often given by mentioning a facility "that used to be there." For example, you may be told that one movie theater is "in the shopping mall where K-mart used to be." Translation: It is at the north end of the By-Pass (31-W), where it meets Cemetery Road.
"Where Sam's used to be" is where Hobby Lobby is currently located-- on Scottsville Road, about halfway toward the mall from campus.
The Mall vs The Old Mall ("where the mall used to be"). "The Mall" is Greenwood Mall which is on Scottsville Rd almost to I-65. "The Old Mall" is located where 31-W and Campbell Lane intersect on the south side of town. There is a large Kroger's and some discount stores located near there.
The By-Pass is also known as Nashville Road or as 31-W. Scottsville Road becomes Broadway where it crosses the By-Pass (see above) on its way into town.
[Pop Quiz Interlude. Translate this native message: There were 4 theaters in town. One is out by the Mall on Scottsville Road and one used to be where K-Mart used to be. In addition, the new multi-plex movie theatre is located across from the Old Mall and movies are regularly shown in DUC during the school year.]
Streets in the area around the square ("downtown") are one-way. Study a map before venturing into the area. An easy tour is to take Normal (which becomes State) down the hill to the square, make a left and go half way around the square, then take College back up. Cars coming up College Street do NOT stop at the top when they must turn right or run into the statue of our founder, Cherry. The road in front of the statue (which College turns onto) is 15th Street. Cars on 15th Street stop to allow cars laboring up College to enter. You can't get too lost in Bowling Green.
Caution: Local drivers tend to push the limits on red lights. Look before proceeding when the light changes.
Don't misunderstand if a waitress calls you "honey" (or even "sweetie") when serving you. This carries no meaning other than as a social greeting.
If you are new to town, you will need to find out about everything from banks
to utilities to cellular phone companies. The two web sites listed below can
assist you in getting acquainted with our community:
The Bowling Green Chamber
of Commerce “Online Directory” offers contact information
on area businesses, listed alphabetically by category. Look up accountants,
adult day care, advertising, airports, apartments, attorneys, automobile dealers,
etc…and that’s just the ‘a’s!!
For information about utilities, education, health services, driver’s
license and voter registration, local religious organizations, an interactive
map of Bowling Green and much more, go to the City of Bowling Green home
page.
POST OFFICE
A campus post office is located in the basement of Downing University Center
(DUC). The main BG post office is located on 11th Street (from campus, drive
down Normal (which becomes State), turn left onto 11th and go about 2 blocks.
The Scottsville Rd. branch is past where I-65 crosses Scottsville Rd, then
about another mile on the left, has longer hours than the other branches in
town.
PERSONAL COPYING
A Kinko's (open 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.) is located on Campbell Lane in the
small shopping center in front of Walmart’s. A Copy Trolley is on Scottsville
Road. Staples and Office Max are also on Campbell Lane.
BANKING
Service One Credit Union used to be the university credit union and still
has an office on campus as well as on Campbell Lane and the 31W Bypass. Other
banks include Firstar Bank, BB&T Bank (with branches located in Kroger’s
with later hours), South Central Bank (locally owned and operated), and National
City, to name a few. Shop around for one whose hours of operation and branch
office locations meet your needs. For more information, go to the online directory
at http://www.bgchamber.com/onlineDirectory/index.cfm?catID=41.
SHOPPING
Hardware: Your biggest stores are Lowe's (on Campbell Lane
next to Target) or Home Depot.
General Discount: A Walmart Super Store and Target are located on Campbell Lane. A new Walmart has been built at the intersection of Morgantown Rd. and Veteran's Memorial. K-Mart is on Scottsville Rd closer to I-65 than the mall. A Roses is on Russellville Road. Bowling Green also has a number of consignment stores (often along the By-Pass). Also, a new Sam's Club is located at 3200 Ken Bale Blvd, off Scottsville Rd near I65.
"Green Living" Directory: This Directory lists energy-saving and environmentally-friendly businesses, agencies, and educational programs in Bowling Green and south central KY which are working to reduce their environmental impact. Find it online at http://www.wku.edu/bggreen/directory.pdf.
Upscale shops can generally be found at the Mall on Scottsville Rd and around the downtown square near Main Street.
Antique stores are tucked all over the place. Go to small towns around Bowling Green, too. Smiths Grove is a good place to visit for antiquing; also, Russellville and Glasgow.
Groceries: Bowling Green has Kroger's, Winn-Dixie, and Houchen's (a regional grocery store). For discount groceries, go to Aldi’s on Campbell Lane or Save-A-Lot at the intersection of 31W and Cemetary Rd./Fairview Ave.
Bookstores: The Western Book Store is located in Downing University Center (DUC) on the 2nd floor. At the end of the fall semester they typically have a pre-Christmas sale for faculty and staff with additional discounts. There's another bookstore for textbooks, Lemox, which you'll find just past the northwest corner of campus. Greenwood Mall (out Scottsville Road) has a Waldenbook's and Half-Price bookstore. Barnes and Nobles is across from Target on Campbell Lane near Scottsville Road. There is a used book store, the Book Rack, in Williamsburg Square on Fairview Rd. There is one other bookstore which sells textbooks- Book Depot across from Rodes-Harlin Hall on the other side of University Blvd.
The Bowling Green Public Library is at 1225 State St., near the bottom of the hill. Contact: 781-4882.
Of special interest in the public library system is the Depot branch at 401 Kentucky Street, housed in the former L & N Railroad Depot and specializing in technology and early childhood education. For more information, call the Depot branch at 782-0252 or the Early Childhood Center at 746-0913.
A Sugar Maple branch is located out Richardsville Rd. north of town. Their hours of operation are M-Sat 9-5; closed Sun. For more information, call 781-1899.
Of course you can check books out from the WKU campus libraries, located
in Helm Cravens, Tate Page Hall and Glasgow.
ARTS &
ENTERTAINMENT
Besides the movie theaters mentioned previously, there are several live theaters
(Capital Arts, Fountain Square Players and the Phoenix in Bowling Green, KY
Repertory Theater in Horse Cave) in addition to Western performances. Many
people also go to Nashville for performances. Watch the student newspaper,
The Herald, for listings of events, or pick up a copy of The Amplifier at
area businesses, to find out about community music and other events. To find
out about events in Nashville, go to http://www.nashvillescene.com.
For a more complete listing of various clubs and recreational opportunities go to http://organizations.ky.net/sck.htm and then to your county of choice (Bowling Green is in Warren County).
SPORTS & RECREATION
There are numerous parks in the city, a YMCA, an adult soccer league and other
league play organized by the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation (842-3310).
The Preston Center on campus also organizes faculty-staff league play at various
times during the year.
Mammoth Cave World Heritage Site is just up I-65 and is definitely worth several visits. Lost River Cave is conveniently located here in Bowling Green and offers walks, a butterfly house, and river trips into the cave. Many people go to nearby lakes for sailing and other water activities. There are 3 golf courses (Hartland, Hobson Grove, and Paul Walker) and some frisbee golf courses are laid out on campus and at Hobson Grove. The 4th floor of Downing University Center (DUC) has a bowling alley and ping pong. There are several other lanes in town.
Also, check out:
The Russell Sims Aquatic
Center, Tomblinson Way. Call 393-3271 for information and current hours
of operation.
Beech Bend Park, Beech Bend Park Road. Call 781-7634 for information and current hours of operation. Beech Bend offers a swimming pool, water slide, amusement park, race track and camping.
Bowling Green Road Runners at http://www.bgrr.com.
Bowling Green League of Bicyclists at http://bg.ky.net/BGLOB/
Southern Kentucky Paddlers Society – Call 842-1266. Take advantage of the abundant and beautiful rivers in lakes Kentucky.
Nashville is home to the Titans. Bowling Green has plans to build a baseball park and a national racecar speedway, so stay tuned!
DRIVER'S LICENSE
& CAR REGISTRATION
For your driver’s license, go to the new Justice Center on Center near
Main St. For car (or voter) registration go to the Old Court House on 10th
Street. There are a lot of one-way streets downtown, so be patient when driving
there.
UTILITIES
In addition to the information below, to find out more go to http://www.bgky.org/utilities.htm
Electricity
City: Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (water, sewer, electricity, trash)
782-1200.
County: Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corp. 951 Fairview Ave. 842-6541
Recycling
If your area's utility participates, you'll receive a red bin in which to
place your recyclables (they do not have to be separated). Put it out by the
curb on the appointed day for your street.
Gas
Atmos Gas provides natural gas service to customers in Bowling Green. To establish
service call (888) 954-4321.
Newspapers
The local paper is the Daily
News. For more information, call 783-3200. Many faculty subscribe to the
Louisville
Courier Journal, which often offers specials at the start of the school
year. WKU’s student paper is known as the College Heights Herald and
is published Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Telephone Service
Residential service is available through BellSouth at 757-6500
Digital telephone service is available in Bowling Green and Warren County.
Numerous long distance services are available in the area including Bell South,
AT&T and Sprint.
Cell Phone Services
Numerous cellular phone services operate in the area. Go to
http://www.bgchamber.com/partners.php
for a list with contact information.
Internet Options:
For a list of local internet service providers to to: http://www.bgchamber.com/partners.php
Other providers include Bellsouth, Earthlink
Cable Modem: Insight Communications
Dial-up: AOL, Walmart, MSNb
Television
Cable TV: Insight
Communications: 515 Double Springs Rd 782-0903
This is in the most out of the way location of the basic services. The other
services are mostly downtown. For the shortest wait, try to get service before
all the students return in the fall.
Satellite TV: Direct TV Call 843-2212.
Dish Network at HH Greg 1785 Campbell Ln Call 782-8484
The Satellite Store 112 Shive Lane Call 782-0303
Lexington is the home of University of Kentucky (UK), Keeneland Race Track,
and is surrounded by beautiful horse farms. Georgetown, north of Lexington,
is home of the Toyota–Camry automobile manufacturing plant. Bowling
Green is home to the GM-Corvette automobile plant. Owensboro, on the Ohio
River west of Louisville, is home to several colleges including a WKU extended
campus facility. Paducah is at the far west side of the state, on the Mississippi
River.
VOTER REGISTRATION
You can register to vote when you get your driver's license or go to the Old
Court House. Be sure to ask for the location of where you actually vote. Go
to http://www.bgky.org/voter-registration.htm
for more information.
ELECTED OFFICIALS
City Mayor: Elaine Walker
Visit: http://www.bgky.org/citycommission/index.php
to find out about Bowling Green city officials, boards and commissions.
Warren County Judge Executive: Michael Buchanon (http://www.warrencountygov.com/JudgeExecutive.htm)
Governor: Ernie Fletcher (http://kentucky.gov/)
For most up-to-date information on state officials, visit:
http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/whoswho/whoswho.htm
State Senator: Brett Guthrie
State Representatives: (Residents of Warren County & Bowling Green are
represented by one of the following Districts ---20, 21, 22, or 23. You may
call Voter Registration at 843-5306 for more information. )
Representatives are: Johnny Bell, Jim DeCesare, Jody Richards, and Rob Wilkey
For up-to-date information on national officials, visit:
US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/
Kentucky Senators - Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning
US Representatives: http://www.house.gov/
Representative - Ron Lewis
Check here to find names of senators and representatives:
http://thomas.loc.gov/links/
(get recommendations)
Also, check out Relocating to Bowling Green for more ideas.
Classroom Presentations
If you are teaching a class, contact the Outreach Coodinator at the Counseling & Testing Center, 745-3159, to arrange a classroom presentation on:
Call early because the calendar fills quicky.
Other
Helps
Basic Skills for College Teaching Program (BSCT)
FaCET Teaching Tools Page
Balancing
Strategies for Graduate Students Who Teach
Tip Sheet No. 21 Ideas for Graduate Teaching Associates
Aug 21, 1996
1. Ask a faculty member to be your mentor. Find a mentor.
2. Create a syllabus--it is like a contract between you and your students.
List all policies in your syllabus and stick to it.
3. Establish your authority during the first few days of school. You can lighten
up later. Don't try to be their best friend. You are the instructor and need
to maintain control of the class.
4. Do not embarrass students. Do not react too strongly to situations until
you have all the facts. Be ready for what "excuses" you'll accept.
5. Understand the diversity of students. Each class has a personality.
6. First day, ask the students "Why study ___ (your subject)?"
7. Take attendance--there are various reasons why you may be asked to verify
that a certain person was in class.
8. Do not talk constantly--silence allows for student thought, questions,
and a chance to catch up.
9. Have fun yourself, and make it fun for the students. Relate the subject
matter to everyday life! Make transparencies of comic strips. Make alternative
lesson plans in case you lose the interest of the class.
10. The day you stop being nervous is the day you stop teaching.
Tips generated by attendees at the workshop
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Last Modified June 18, 2007. All Contents Copyright © 2000, Site created July 1996 Western Kentucky University