Welcome back from what I hope was a time of rest and relaxation for most of you. Ginny and I were able to spend a few days visiting our kids in Phoenix, and enjoyed sunshine and temperatures in the low to mid 80’s. However, as I write this on the morning of our first official day back from break, it’s 65 degrees right here in Bowling Green, KY, at 7:00 a.m. What a delightful way to start 2006.
Today is the first day of the first Winter Term ever for WKU. I will let Beth, Bill or Jenni tell you about the great way this effort is starting off. There are many folks that have worked extremely hard to make this first Winter Term a success. Nearly all units of the entire campus have been involved, and I wish to thank everyone for their input. Particular kudos go to Beth Laves, director of winter term, and her staff, the DELO marketing team, and Dawn Bolton, our winter term contact and coordinator in the Provost’s Office. You have all done a super job...thank you.
Take a look at the new carpet in 163 A-B-C and you will want to party! You can expect some new light fixtures in this room soon as well. Finally, in terms of remodel/fixit projects for the Carroll Knicely Conference Center this month...the pitter-patter you will hear on the roof will not be Santa's reindeer, it will be workmen replacing the badly worn roof. Some noise in the short-term is better than flooding the inside of our facility. This project is being paid for through a three way arrangement with the president, the provost, and DELO. We will also be installing new lighting for our canopy signs and new boards and lights on the Nashville street sign, which we will pay for ourselves.
I believe that DELO will have a very positive year in 2006. As you know, our success is the result of everyone working as a team. Every success we have reflects on everyone of us, and every time anyone stumbles we all get bruised. I continue to be impressed and pleased with the work ethic and positive attitude of the DELO staff, thank you for it and keep it up. So as I began...HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.
Faculty and students continued to enjoy activities beyond the traditional classroom. You can see pictures by visiting our website at www.wku.edu/glasgow. We’d like to share some of the highlights from December. Various groups of students worked together to provide assistance in community efforts, which included Katrina victims, BRAWA (Barren River Animal Welfare Association), Angel Tree, coat collection, Bears for BRASS (Barren River Area Safe Spot), among others. The Glasgow Associated Student Body entered a float in the annual Glasgow Christmas parade which won first place in their division.
We had both Dynamics Leadership I and Dynamics Leadership II classes, which held their completion dinner at Bolton’s Landing. We partnered with the Barren County Alumni Association in the Toys for Toppers campaign. As a part of this, we offered the community an opportunity to have their pictures made with Big Red by the Christmas tree.
The Glasgow Campus would like to welcome our returning students from the 623rd. A special Thank You to Dean Kahler, Office of Admissions, for his assistance in helping them prepare for readmission before they even left Iraq. Due to his efforts, several were ready to enroll as soon as they returned home.
We would like to welcome Stacy Jessie on board at the Glasgow Campus. Stacy recently joined the staff of EOC as a counselor. She will be based at the Glasgow Regional Center covering Allen, Barren, and Hart counties. The purpose of EOC is to serve low-income and first generation adult students. Stacy graduated from WKU with a BS degree in Marketing in 1993 and with an MBA in 2001.
As we begin the New Year, we are already looking forward to many activities. The Glasgow/Barren County Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Breakfast will be hosted by WKU-Glasgow Campus, January 6, 3006. Dr. Ransdell will be the guest speaker. The Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours will be co-hosted by Glasgow Regional Center and BRAVE (Barren River Area Vocational Educational Consortium) on February 2, 2006. Our special guests will be Dr. Nathan Hodges, president of BGTC, and our own Dean, Dr. Don Swoboda. Frank X. Walker, a founding member of the Affrilachian Poets, will be conducting a presentation for Black History Month at the Glasgow Campus on February 2, 2006. Several students will be going by bus to Diddle Arena to attend a men’s and a women’s basketball game in February.
WKU’s first Winter Term has proven hugely popular with faculty and students alike. On January 2nd nearly 1700 students began classes that enabled accelerated progress toward graduation, allowed the opportunity for concentrated study, or offered unique learning experiences such as study abroad.
Planning is underway for an expanded Winter Term 2007. Evaluation of the first Winter Term will occur through open forums with faculty and staff, student surveys, student focus groups and continued work with the Winter Term Advisory Committee.
Deborah West recently joined the staff of the Carroll Knicely Conference Center as Sales and Marketing Representative. Deborah has several years of experience in sales and will focus on recruiting new clients to the Conference Center. Deborah can be reached at 745-2507 or at Deborah.west1@wku.edu. Please join in welcoming Deborah to the DELO team.
Thanks to the generosity of DELO employees, this past Christmas was a little brighter for two children in the Bowling Green community. Through the Salvation Army’s Christmas Angel program, we were able to purchase toys and clothes for a 3 year old and an 18 month old child. Thank you for your generosity and for spreading the Western Spirit!
