History of Western
As a public institution of higher learning, Western Kentucky University came into existence in 1906 when a bill was enacted by the Kentucky General Assembly creating a state normal school in Bowling Green, headed by Dr. Henry Hardin Cherry. The name of the institution was changed by the Legislature in 1922 to Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College. In 1930 the school's name was changed to Western Kentucky State Teachers College, and in 1948 it was changed to Western Kentucky State College. It became Western Kentucky University in 1966.
From its beginning as a small state normal school with about 300 students and a dozen faculty members, Western has grown in both size and scope of academic programs. Enrollment has grown from less than 1,700 in the fall of 1955 to nearly 15,000 students in the fall of 1995. The faculty has grown from fewer than 100 in 1955 to over 550 in 1995 and the number of teaching faculty holding the earned doctorate or other terminal degree has advanced from under 25% to more than 70%. In 1955 Western conferred two undergraduate degrees and one graduate degree; currently the University offers three associate degrees, five baccalaureate degrees, six masters degrees, the specialist degree, and cooperative doctoral programs with the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. The number of fields in which students may pursue studies has increased substantially during the same period. (For more complete information on degrees and areas of study available see the current Western Kentucky University Catalog Issue and Graduate Studies Issue.)
The University physical plant likewise has undergone tremendous growth, expanding from a few classrooms and offices in one building in 1906 to a main campus of more than 66 modern buildings and approximately 200 acres. (For an up-to-date list and description of University physical facilities consult the Western Kentucky University Catalog Issue.)
Many of the ideals upon which the University was founded were expressed by Western's first President, Dr. Henry Hardin Cherry, and are still guiding principles today. For example, Dr. Cherry articulated these goals for Western:
I. To be a live school and to impart to its students a burning zeal to do and to be something.
II. To let the reputation of the school be sustained by real merit.
III. To lead the student to understand that a broad and liberal education is essential to the highest degree of success in any endeavor in life.
Through the years the school has striven constantly to provide its students with varied educational opportunities within an academic climate intended to promote the legitimate objectives of liberal education, democratic citizenship, character development, and the pursuit of excellence.
For an interesting and more detailed historical background of Western, read Lowell Harrison's book, Western Kentucky University (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1987).
