May was a busy and exciting month for the DELO staff. It was an especially "fulfilling" one for me. By that, I mean that after several candidate interview dinners, retirement dinners, an emeritus dinner, graduation dinners, conference dinners, awards dinners, and end-of-the-year celebration dinners, I am filled so full that I will have to spend the entire summer trying to work off the weight. (Pun intended)
We had an historic event happen in our family this month, Adam Joseph (A.J.) Beadle was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 9th (this will be on the test). Our new grandson is the first child of our second daughter Shari. Ginny has been out to get acquainted for his first two weeks, and I’m going out the first week of June. He just can’t wait to see me...he’s already heard so many good things about me!
WKU held two commencement ceremonies this year, one for graduate students and one for undergraduates. I was privileged to represent DELO for all the hard work you do for credit students by participating in both ceremonies and to congratulate two of our own DELO staff. Ashley Heath, our student worker, received her Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Family and Consumer Sciences and a Minor in Psychology and Chris Rhynerson, our business manager, received his Master of Business Administration. CONGRATULATIONS Ashley and Chris.
Beth, Dewayne and I attended the annual Kentucky ACHE meeting at EKU this month. It was the first time I have been to Richmond and the EKU campus. It was a good meeting and it is always good to see our colleagues from the other higher education institutions in the state. We always learn at these sessions.
One more set of congratulations goes to Manon Pardue and her DELO special project team for the great effort made to support and deliver a CTD proposal. I call this group a "special project team" for two reasons. First, the effort was the first major invitation that anyone from Western has ever had to present a proposal and respond to an RFP from an international business firm for developing a comprehensive training program. This made the project itself special. And, second, the total cooperation, dedication and hard work that Manon and her DELO colleagues put into this effort was, in and of itself, special for me to observe. Our CTD unit was the only university training/consultant group represented in the 15 groups that were originally screened down for consideration; the other 14 were private businesses. After the original presentation, our CTD, under Manon’s leadership, was one of four groups invited to present a detailed proposal; and finally one of only two that were asked to respond to an RFP from the company. Although the company’s final selection was not the DELO CTD proposal, the effort was certainly a victory for us. It’s like making it to the final two teams in the NCAA basketball tournament. I couldn’t be prouder of this cooperative team effort and these staff members even if we would have won the contract. The team included: Manon Pardue (leader and director of CTD), Linda Jones, Bill Oldham, Sharon Woodward, Jenni Perry, Elizabeth Main, Chris Rhynerson, Scott Blake and Susan McCue. This effort was one of the finest examples of teamwork and unselfish cooperation that I have had the privilege to witness in my nearly 40 years in this field. Congratulations team, you made all of DELO look good.
I want to welcome our newest DELO staff member, Derek Olive. Derek brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our Conference Center team, and we look forward to getting to know him better. Keep reading for more about Derek.
Enjoy the letter.
Don
The 2006 Online Teachers Summer Camp was held May 15-19 at Mass Media and Technology Hall on the main campus. The workshop, sponsored by the Office of Distance Learning, FaCET, and Academic Technology, is designed to teach faculty how to develop online courses by integrating technology with online teaching techniques and strategies. Twenty-two faculty members and 3 staff members participated in the camp.
Presenters from DELO included Sharon Woodward, Continuing Education; Chonda White, Correspondence Study; Tabatha Spain, DELO Testing Center; Rob Wyatt, Distance Learning; Elizabeth Romero and Leyla Zhuhadar, TSOnline Center.
• Team Building Workshop for WKU Owensboro Office
On April 19, 2006, Cheryl Lewis-Smith from Human Resources traveled to Owensboro to share her expertise on Team Building with the Owensboro Staff. The interactive activities were informative for better communication within the office and building communication skills to increase productivity.
• Western Kentucky University Center on Economic Education
The WKU Owensboro Center on Economic Education has curricula designed to help area teachers educate students in the concepts of economics at each grade level. There are over 100 teacher designed units that can be checked out and used in the classroom. About 60 are for primary, 25 are for middle grades, and 18 are for high school. Also, there are over 150 videos covering a wide range of economic concepts. Dr. Wayne Rickard, WKU Owensboro Graduate Advisor, is the Center Director.
• New Scholarship Opportunity
Dr. Marilyn Brookman was guest speaker for the Owensboro Noon Optimist Club on April 12. As a result of the contact, the Optimist Club will now sponsor a scholarship for a WKU- Owensboro student for the 2006-2007 school year. Many thanks to the Noon Optimist Club!
• New Gift for the WKU Archives
On May 4, Dr. Marilyn Brookman spoke to the Lady Kentucky Colonels at the Owensboro Country Club. Following the meeting, Dr. Brookman was contacted by one of the members who had attended WKU in the 1930’s. She gave a 1931 WKU Yearbook to WKU. Another member has offered volunteer services for the Owensboro office. We appreciate the thoughtfulness from the Lady Kentucky Colonels.
• Leonard Pitts Lecture
The Owensboro World Affairs Council sponsored a lecture by Syndicated Columnist Leonard Pitts, on April 27. WKU Owensboro helped in the sponsorship of this event for an overflow crowd at the Taylor Lecture Hall at Brescia University.
• WKU Owensboro Helps Local Charity
Girls Incorporated, a national organization that provides educational programs to millions of American girls, particularly those in high-risk, under-serviced areas, called on WKU Owensboro to support their fundraiser. A beautiful basket of WKU memorabilia was donated to the silent auction. It brought $140 to benefit the charity on the evening of May 4.
• OCTC Construction
WKU Owensboro is working around the recent construction of the Owensboro Community and Technical College’s Technology Center. Some parking has been eliminated, but new parking areas are also being constructed on the southern area of campus. It is exciting to watch the new construction and a bit challenging to access the WKU-O office.
• Join the WKU-O Non-Traditional Student Organization!
Open to all students who are Non-traditional – over 25, or married, working full-time or part-time, online students, grad students, commuters – anyone who considers him or herself a Non-traditional student.
Organizational meeting: Thursday, September 14, 2006 @ 5:30 p.m.
WKU Office LRE 206
Robin Cooper, President 270-313-2963
Charlotte Dixon, Staff Advisor 270-684-9797
May, 2006 has been a very busy and productive time at the Glasgow Campus. In addition to celebrating the graduation of many of our students, we have had several projects that have kept us busy. Included below are some of the events.
Dr. Bayless welcomed the attendees of the 5th annual Faculty Staff Appreciation Dinner on May 5. The dinner was attended by over 100 faculty, staff, student workers and guests. >>>
Dr. Don Swoboda was on hand to present the first Outstanding Adjunct (Part-Time) Faculty Award to Susan Chambers. Ms. Chambers has taught English at the Glasgow Campus for 13 years. <<<
The entertainment was provided by Mandy Biggs; accompanied by Jack Montgomery and Graham Hudspeth. >>>
Sue Lynn McDaniel also presented an historic look back at Western. More pictures are available on the Glasgow Regional Center website. <<<
Lisa C. Hare, a May 2006 graduate of WKU, receives her Gamma Beta Phi cords from James McCaslin, Co-Sponsor of the Glasgow Regional Center Chapter of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society. Lisa is the first member of the Glasgow Chapter founded in April, 2006, to receive the cords for graduation. >>>
The May 3, 2006 Blood Drive held at the Glasgow Campus was an extraordinary success. We exceeded our goal by 44%. The week before the blood drive, a representative of the American Red Cross came and set up to talk with students and remind them of the blood drive. Apparently, it worked!
The Glasgow Campus is now a wireless site. A special thanks to Jeppie Sumpter, Jeff Stewart, Dereck Keeling, Richard Williams, Blake Steenbergen, and Jessie Miller in Network Services and Edwin Craft, David Taylor, Eric Flowers, and Eric McIntyre in Telecommunications for their hard work on this project.
May 17, 2006 graduating Staff Leadership Institute class included Judy Parker from Glasgow Campus. This was the first year that a Glasgow candidate applied. Staff Leadership Institute will have more Glasgow applicants in the future. <<<
We found a break in the weather in the earlier part of May and were able to plant an assortment of dogwood, cypress and oak trees. Special thanks go out to Mr. Gary Koon for giving access to the trees; to Darren Henson, University Landscape Architect, for relocating the trees; and to John Bayless for days of volunteer labor in helping plant the trees.
Congratulations go out to one of the Glasgow students, James "Jamie" Wood, who was awarded the Cagles Keystone Internship. The internship is awarded by Cagles Keystone chicken industry located in Albany, Kentucky. According to Dr. David Coffey, Cagles will be looking at upper level management to come out of these internships.
Successfully completing rider education and training gives motorcyclists the basic skills needed to ride safely. Western Kentucky University’s Department of Continuing Education has a limited number of openings in two motorcycle rider training courses. The Basic Rider Course and the Advanced Rider Course, offered through the Kentucky Motorcycle Program, are operated and maintained by the Traffic Safety Institute at Eastern Kentucky University and taught at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center on the WKU South Campus.
The Basic Rider Course only takes 12 students at a time and fills up months in advance. The weekend-long Basic Rider Course classes meet from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Available dates for the BRC are Aug. 11-13, Sept. 8-10, Sept. 29- Oct. 1, Oct. 20-22, Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 3-5. The fee for this course is $110. This class is offered free to 16 and 17 year olds with a limit of two free slots per class.
The Experienced Rider Course is for the experienced rider who wants to refresh and practice street riding maneuvers. This course is intended to help the experienced rider hone riding skills and develop finesse. The ERC also emphasizes strategies to reduce risks. The ability to skillfully handle various riding situations is developed throughout the course and reinforced by specially designed on-cycle maneuvers. The Experienced Rider Course meets from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 3 and Oct. 14. The fee for this course is $65.
For information, contact Continuing Education at (270) 745-1910 or continuing.education@wku.edu.
On Tuesday, June 13, Summer Session students and Western faculty, staff and their families will be able to enjoy an outdoor theater showing of Hoodwinked on the WKU South Lawn. The movie is sponsored by the Summer Sessions and the WKU Campus Activities Board www.wku.edu/cab/.
Hoodwinked features the voices of Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries), Glenn Close, Jim Belushi and David Ogden Stiers (M*A*S*H, Lilo & Stitch).
"A smart send-up of the ’Little Red Riding Hood’ tale with a fable-skewering sense of humor... the resulting ride is nearly irresistible." - Los Angeles Daily News.
Western Kentucky University plans to begin offering graduate education coursework at the Madisonville Community College (MCC) Muhlenberg County Campus beginning the Fall 2007 semester.
The cohort program will be geared toward currently employed teachers to continue their education at the graduate level and to enhance their professional development. The goal is to provide a class sequence through face-to-face, ITV and online courses so students can plan their academic and career paths. Coursework offered at the Muhlenberg County Campus will lead to a Master’s of Arts in Education degree and some students may be able to take the courses to obtain a Rank I or Specialist degree, depending on the student's previous graduate coursework. Students interested in particular areas of concentration, such as counseling or biology, will be advised of coursework available at the Owensboro Regional Campus, WKU's main campus, and/or online in support of their objectives.
Dr. Deborah Cox, MCC Chief Academic Officer; Dr. George Humphreys, MCC Extended Campus Director; and Jennifer Whitehead, Muhlenberg County Schools, are working with Dr. Marilyn Brookman, Director of Western Kentucky University’s Owensboro Regional campus, Dr. Sam Evans, Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at WKU, and other representatives from WKU concerning coursework and programs to be offered at the MCC Muhlenberg County Campus.
“We want to increase educational opportunities to help citizens of the area enhance their career goals,” said Dr. Cox. “This is an opportunity to open our space and technology at the Muhlenberg Campus for that to happen. It is also exciting for MCC to expand our working relationship with the Commonwealth’s excellent regional universities.”
An informational session was held at the MCC Muhlenberg County Campus on May 9 for potential students to learn more about admissions and course offerings. The input from the students will be vital in forming a cohort group around which WKU will shape its sequence of courses in coming semesters. A follow up session for official enrollment is planned for late June.
Dr. Brookman says, "Western is happy to be able to offer this program to teachers in Muhlenberg County. Our partnership with the MCC/Muhlenberg County campus is one that will benefit this area for many years to come."
Derek Olive joins the staff of the Carroll Knicely Conference Center as Conference Center Coordinator. Derek has several years of experience in the service industry and will oversee events, work with clients and assist in scheduling for the Conference Center. Derek can be reached at 745-2507 or at Derek.olive@wku.edu. Please join in welcoming Derek to the DELO team.
