The Potter College of Arts and Letters at Western Kentucky University offers programs in humanities, social sciences, and visual and performing arts. It is composed of the Departments of Art, Communication, English, Folk Studies and Anthropology, History, Modern Languages, Music, Philosophy and Religion, Political Science, Sociology, and Theatre and Dance, as well as the School of Journalism and Broadcasting.
Our 12 departments offer more than 25 undergraduate majors plus seven graduate degrees. Though it is one of six academic colleges at WKU, our classes generate 30 percent of the University’s total credit hours. We also provide a large portion of the University’s General Education curriculum including most of the core of required courses.
Potter has endowed professorships in History, Music, and Journalism and Broadcasting and houses the Center for the Study of Civil War in the West. The School of Journalism and Broadcasting and the Forensics Program are nationally acclaimed, and the state has designated them as Commonwealth Programs of Distinction. The College also has nationally accredited programs in Art, Music, and Journalism and Broadcasting.
Potter College intends to lead the way in defining the role of a public university in the 21st century. As the university’s largest college, Potter plays a crucial role in WKU’s determination to be a leading American university with international reach. The College seeks support for its efforts to enrich the learning environment for students, faculty, and staff. It proposes to build centers of excellence rooted in its special strengths and its commitment to serve the Commonwealth. As the largest provider of cultural programming in our region, the College offers cultural experiences to the university as well as the wider community.
In support of these goals, the Potter College of Arts and Letters has outlined the following goals for the New Century of Spirit Campaign.
A Rich Learning Environment
The hallmark of a truly distinguished university is its ability to provide special dimensions to the academic experience. Part of this is recruiting talented faculty members and giving them the resources to pursue innovative projects, particularly when those projects link scholarship and service in creative ways. Consequently, endowed professorships like the Baker Professorship in Music and the Frockt Family Professorship in Civil War Studies are important models for endowed professorships in the college, and they remain a high priority for Potter in the New Century of Spirit Campaign.
We want our students to be able to emulate the models provided by our endowed professors. We are committed to the academic success of our students, and financial support is often a crucial factor for many WKU students. Scholarships, including graduate assistantships, remain a high priority for Potter.
Involving students in research is an increasingly important part of our academic mission, and the College seeks additional support for student research. We would like to establish summer fellowships for students to conduct research during the summer with the supervision of a faculty member. These fellowships will provide financial support for students to travel to conduct research, to present the results of their research, and to attend professional conferences. We plan to expand our own annual student research conference.
Potter also encourages students to study abroad to better prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century. However, for most students, financial considerations are the primary obstacle preventing this type of opportunity from becoming a reality. The addition of scholarship funds for study abroad would allow countless students to engage in this important element of their education.
Centers of Excellence
Potter College already has the distinction of housing Programs of Distinction in Journalism & Broadcasting and in the Forensics Program. These programs remain at the forefront for the College as it seeks resources in New Century of Spirit Campaign. Their achievements have set a high standard of student-centered achievement, and the College is committed to building on their success.
During the campaign, the College seeks to establish additional centers of excellence in areas of special strength. Of primary importance is the newly established Center for the Study of the Civil War in the West. The Center builds on established strengths in this area, particularly the newly endowed Frockt Professor and the purchase of a significant new microfilm collection pertaining to mid-19th century America. Frockt Family Professor Glenn LaFantasie has outlined a bold plan for the center with programming for professional scholars as well as for citizens from the community who are interested in learning more about the Civil War.
The College believes this range of programming aimed at many different audiences is the model we should pursue in establishing new centers. Strong possibilities for such centers include a Creative Writing Institute in the English Department or an Institute of Politics in the Political Science Department. Potter College also houses a rather unique program in Religious Studies that could also form the nucleus of a center focused on the role of religion in Kentucky or the Upper South.
Potter College disciplines could also play a major role in a Center for Kentucky Studies. Perhaps more than any other university in the Commonwealth, WKU has scholars who focus on Kentucky topics. A Center for Kentucky Studies could serve as a research center or a “think tank” for a wide range of issues of importance to the Commonwealth. The Center might publish studies on specific topics, hold conferences or symposia, and invite academics and state leaders to “residencies” on campus. Potter College would be central to such a project, but disciplines across the campus could potentially be involved.
Support for centers such as these could take many forms—endowing professorships, purchasing materials, sponsoring conferences, supporting student involvement (graduate assistantships, internships, research projects) as well as many other possibilities.
Cultural Programming
WKU, and particularly Potter College, provide cultural opportunities for a large portion of the Commonwealth. For thousands of Kentuckians, WKU offers virtually their only chance to hear a symphony orchestra, see a ballet, experience the visual arts, or to hear a presentation by a prominent policymaker or intellectual. Providing these opportunities is crucial to the educational experience of our students and to our commitment to serve the people of the Commonwealth.
Artists-in-residence are extremely important, as students benefit enormously from seeing how different artists approach issues and solve problems. Residency programs allow students to work with visitors who can offer them additional perspectives on the creative process. Residencies might be as short as a few days or as long as a year. Support for residencies is an important Potter College goal for the New Century of Spirit Campaign.
The College also seeks support for cultural programming, both on campus and in the community. The remarkable success of Potter’s String Development Program, made possible through a gift from Jerry Baker, is a great example of how private support to the university can provide new arts opportunities for area children. With additional private support, programs such as our Children’s Theatre could reach more children in the region. Providing excellent performances in the performing arts is an increasingly expensive proposition. And recruiting talented students in the arts is an increasingly competitive process. Seeking support in all these areas is an important priority for the College in the New Century of Spirit Campaign.
The College also seeks additional support for the Cultural Enhancement Series. Established a decade ago, the series has brought to campus some of the nation’s most prominent performers and intellectuals. The series is extremely diverse, sponsoring music legend Doc Watson as well as Stephen Jay Gould. Our annual roots music presentation fills Van Meter Auditorium every year. As part of their visit, our guests regularly do a small presentation for select students and have dinner with about a dozen faculty members and students. Support to expand the Cultural Enhancement Series is an important priority for Potter.