TThe College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Western Kentucky University has a long and rich history of educating students to meet the demands of the workplace and to be “the employee of choice” in their chosen careers.
Graduates are not only educated for the demands of the workplace, they are also provided opportunities and learning experience that will help them to be contributing members of society and to enhance the quality of life for humankind in the state, country, and larger global community.
The focus of the educational process is student learning and the engagement of students in the learning process both in and outside the instructional setting.
The College is composed of the departments of Counseling and Student Affairs; Curriculum and Instruction; Educational Administration, Leadership, and Research; Military Science and Leadership; Psychology; and Special Instructional Programs. In addition to these academic units, the College also houses The Center for Gifted Studies; the Center for the Study of Life-Span Development; the Center for Mathematics, Science, and Environmental Education; and Training and Technical Assistance Services. In cooperation with the College of Health and Human Services, administrative and supervisory support is also provided for the Clinical Education Complex..
One of the roles the College has historically played is the education of quality teachers and other school professionals for schools in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the larger, global
community. WKU provides leadership in the Commonwealth in the realm of educational reform and has developed a national reputation for work in documenting teacher candidate/teacher
impact on P-12 student learning. As part of the work in accountability, the Educational Leadership program has achieved regional and state recognition for program redesign initiatives
in the area of school principal preparation. These initiatives related to P-12 student learning have led to WKU’s participation in the Teachers for a New Era Learning Network, Standards-Based Teacher Education Project, the Southern Regional Education Board Principal Redesign Initiative, and the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future..
The strength of the College goes beyond the major initiatives related to P-12 student learning. The College also takes a leadership role in the development and implementation of a university-
wide and community partnership effort to provide services to individuals and families who are significantly impacted in their ability to productively contribute to society. Through the Clinical
Education Complex (CEC), faculty members and students in the College, along with colleagues across campus, provide services through the Kelly Autism Program and the Talley Family
Counseling Clinic.
Outside the Clinical Education Complex setting, students and faculty actively engage with clients in both our Psychology Clinic and Literacy Clinic on campus, and students throughout
the College participate in practicum and intern settings across Kentucky and the globe. Likewise, many students from the Psychology and Literacy programs engage in significant research projects with major professors and are well prepared for admission to top graduate schools and for employment.
In addition to preparing leaders for 21st Century schools, education-related agencies, business, and industry, the College actively engages in the education of leaders for the U.S. Army. With
one of the top programs in the country, graduates of the Military Science and Leadership Program continually serve our country with distinction.
As the University enters its second century of service to the Commonwealth and larger global community, many of the programs in the College eagerly awaits the construction of a new, hightech building that will facilitate learning and student engagement in classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings. The facility will blend the historic richness of WKU with 21st Century learning environments in order to prepare graduates for the demands of the current work environments as well as for careers that do not even exist today.
As part of the educational mission of the College, the following initiatives are currently priority areas for the New Century of Spirit Campaign.
The Center for Gifted Studies - The Center for Gifted Studies is a major center for gifted and talented education in the United States, with a vision to become a preeminent, comprehensive international center. First, The Center seeks to enhance its national leadership position in advocating for appropriate educational opportunities for gifted children. Secondly, we desire to enhance that leadership position by providing comprehensive services that address the cognitive and social-emotional needs of gifted and talented children and young people..
Kelly Autism Program –The Kelly Autism Program (KAP) is designed to provide instruction, intervention, and support opportunities to children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders, as well as their families. The primary focus of KAP is preparing young adults with autism, ages 14 and over, to effectively transition to a purposeful, fulfilling life once their public school years are over..
The Educational Leadership Doctoral Program –The proposed doctorate in Education (Ed.D) in Educational Leadership will result in advancement of the educational agenda and
economic growth of the Commonwealth. The interdisciplinary program will draw on the array of expertise and specializations throughout the University. The program is designed to prepare “practitioner-scholars” who have been exposed to content and experiences where application to the real world is the norm.
New CEBS Building –The $35 million replacement project for Tate Page Hall was approved by the 2006 Kentucky General Assembly. Replacement of the Hall, which was built in 1970, is necessary because of a multitude of ventilation and related problems. The new building will integrate state-of-the-art technology into the classrooms, as well as provide adequate space for clinical areas that will house literacy, psychology, and counseling programs.
Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky – The mission of the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky is developing talent and leadership in mathematics
and science in the Commonwealth. The Academy is a comprehensive residential program for the most gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors from across Kentucky who are interested in careers in mathematics, science, technology, and/or engineering.
Center for the Study of Life Span Development –Housed in the Department of Psychology, the Center for the Study of Life-Span Development focuses on the study of varying stages of human development. The mission of the Center is to coordinate, support, and further develop the research, education, and outreach activities of WKU faculty work in areas of life-span development; to promote the understanding of developmental processes; and to promote the discovery and application of research-based solutions to problems of human development.
Literacy Program – The College operates multiple literacy programs, such as the K-12 Literacy Clinic and the Adult Literacy Clinic, including the College Reading Success Initiative. In the new CEBS building, additional space will be available to expand these services and combine them into a single Literacy Center.
Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame –The purpose of the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame is to recognize Kentuckians who have made significant contributions to the teaching profession.
Selection of inductees will be made from individuals, living or deceased, who spent a significant portion of their professional careers in Kentucky and who made noteworthy contributions to
the lives of children and youth in P-12 school settings.
CEBS Scholarships/Assistantships/Fellowships and Study Abroad Program - WKU must compete globally against the best universities in order to recruit and retain the most talented students. Endowed scholarship funds, graduate assistantships, and fellowships allow many of these students to realize their dreams. In addition, a study abroad experience is almost always described by students as the most transformational component of their college careers. The opportunity to engage with and to be immersed in a foreign culture is an important element
of the University experience. Significant private support can eliminate the financial obstacles that prevent such opportunities from becoming a reality.
CEBS Living and Learning Communities –Living and Learning Communities will offer CEBS students who share similar academic interests the opportunity to live and learn together in a single residence hall.
Talley Family Counseling Clinic - Families experience numerous difficulties, including communication problems, role relationship conflicts, family illnesses, developmental conflicts, traumatic events, family violence, and many other challenges. The need for clinical help to address these difficulties is growing in our community; while many families and individuals desire counseling to help overcome their problems, they are unable to afford a counselor.
The Talley Family Counseling Clinic principally serves lower socioeconomic families, couples, and individuals who need this professional assistance in order to manage their personal and
relationship problems.
Graduate Research Fund – An endowed Graduate Research Fund will promote scholarship and support graduate students and faculty in their research efforts.