Trick or Treat,
If the old saying, "time flies when you’re having fun" is true, then it was nothing but fun at DELO in September. We started the month by saying goodbye to Chris with a lunch for him at Peppers. Mary Cole took the baton he passed to her and hasn’t lost a step. I have once again been blessed by having had the opportunity to hire both of these outstanding individuals for Team DELO. We kicked off the United Way campaign for WKU, worked out our parking lot issues to keep the motorcycle course operating in place, graduated 29 masters students in New York City, made three trips to the Elizabethtown campus and two to Owensboro, began the process of reviewing the summer term fiscal model, held our first meeting with Julie Childress who has been assigned to work with DELO in the development area, and attended three chamber events. All the while, DELO staff have started, continued and completed all forms of classes, programs and events...in other words, business as usual!
One of our most satisfying activities was the distribution of $500,000 to the president and academic units of the campus. This distribution was made one year ahead of the required schedule, and was possible because of the success that our DELO staff has achieved in partnering with campus and external units to meet our mission of WKU outreach. Congratulations to all of you.
As you read the newsletter this month you will see that many exciting activities have been accomplished across DELO. This is your "treat". The "trick" is to continue the fun throughout October and the rest of the year!
Enjoy...
Don
We are working closely with the Army Continuing Education System and Service members Opportunity College (SOC) to prepare for the increased demand for college programs expected at Ft. Knox. Gail Ledford and Bea Cobb participated in a two-day SOC planning program in Kansas City in September to coordinate our planning activities with other colleges in the SOC system.
Staff pictured at left also recently attended the Department of Defense Worldwide Symposium on Education in Orlando. The event had about 3,000 military, college, and other personnel interested in education programs for service members. (More information about this conference is presented below.)
As a result of our reorganization, we have two new staff and some existing staff that have been reassigned:
This month we had a "Meet the WKU President" session for ECTC and WKU E-Town students and had an excellent turnout.
Dr. Ransdell talks with WKU Elizabethtown student Dawn Clodfelter about her WKU classes.
We had three major student recruitment events in Elizabethtown in September:
The WKU steel drum band performed to the crowd’s delight during the Elizabethtown-Fort Knox open house.
Dr. Ransdell, Dean Swoboda, and Dr. Stephens met with the ECTC leadership team to discuss collaboration and plans for WKU in Hardin County.
Our relationship with ECTC is very strong and we plan to grow programs together to offer new degree options for the local community. A number of new partnership discussions are underway, including sharing space in Phase II of the Central Regional Postsecondary Education Center which is now under development.
WKU Regent Lois Gray, Dr. Ron Stephens, and Dean Don Swoboda discuss WKU Elizabethtown programs at the Rotary meeting.
President Gary Ransdell presented the program for the Elizabethtown Rotary Club in September. He discussed local partnerships, the anticipated major changes in demographics and the local economy that Hardin County is facing with the BRAC changes at Ft. Knox, and WKU plans to grow aggressively in Hardin County to continue to be the leading option for bachelor and master degree programs for local families. The program was well-received with many supporting comments and questions about WKU growth and programs for the Elizabethtown / Ft. Knox community.
Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra
As one of the centennial celebration events in Hardin County, the Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of WKU Professor Dr. Bill Scott, performed "Cartoon Classics" before a very enthusiastic audience at the John Hardin Performing Arts Center on the evening of September 29. The concert received rave reviews from the community and we are already getting requests for a return engagement.
Emcees for the event, and now local stars, WKU alums Bart Lovins and Kendra Stewart are shown with Dean David Lee, who chaired the WKU committee that planned the concert.
Dr. Gary Ransdell talks with Lincoln Trail Elementary School first grader Erin Shortt before the concert. Erin plans to be graduating in the WKU class of 2022, and she said that she "loved that concert".
September marked the beginning of fall. Leaves take on a myriad of colors, temperatures begin to ease a little, and all the fall activities begin. This has been true at the Glasgow Campus. We welcomed the return of our students while the work began on planning for the next terms.
The Glasgow chapter of Gamma Beta Phi held a bake sale with proceeds going to the Muscular Sclerosis Walk. It was a chance for this organization to bring together its members from the University and Technical College programs here on the Glasgow Campus for such a worthy cause. Their efforts are sincerely appreciated.
Fall also marks the resurgence of college fairs in our area. Dr. Bayless attended the first College Night held for Barren County Middle School. This was a general informational meeting for middle school students and parents. Crystal Nuckols and Phyllis Reed, advisors at the Glasgow Campus, attended the tenth annual Cave Country College fair located at the Cave City Convention Center. This event allows seniors and parents from Barren County, Caverna, Glasgow, Hart County and Metcalfe County to gain information about admission procedures, requirements for admission, scholarship opportunities, degree offerings, etc. from over 30 different institutions of higher learning from Kentucky and surrounding states. Over 300 students and parents attended.
We were pleased to host the College Heights Herald’s two day retreat. Glasgow Campus always welcomes the opportunity to showcase our campus and community.
The Glasgow Campus hosted one of two Red Cross Blood Drives scheduled each semester. This gave students, faculty and staff an opportunity to donate blood scheduled around their classes. Community members donated blood also. We are very grateful for everyone who participated.
Katie Pinkston with Career Services held a training session on the Glasgow Campus for the Discover Career Planning Program. DISCOVER is an online, web-based program that offers guidance and information to Western Kentucky University students in making important career and educational decisions. It is available free to all enrolled WKU students, and can be accessed through any internet connection. The Glasgow advisors agreed that the program will be of tremendous benefit to all the students.
The Glasgow Barren County Chamber of Commerce hosted a Leadership of the Future Executive Committee press conference at WKU-Glasgow Campus to announce the members of the 2006-2007 Leaders of the Future class who were chosen from Barren County, Caverna, and Glasgow high schools. Congratulations to everyone who was chosen to be participants in the 2006-2007 Leaders of the Future class.
Firefighters from departments all over the area came together Saturday, September 16, for the third annual firefighters Challenge at the Glasgow Campus. There were individual and unit competitions that increased public awareness of firefighting skills, and raised money for the Temple Hill Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, not to mention the opportunity to win the competition.
After receiving a grant from Texas Instruments administered by Ohio State University, the Glasgow Regional Center mathematics instructors, Dr. Molly Dunkum, Suzanne Britt and Linda Fitzpatrick, sponsored a Texas Instrument graphing calculator workshop for pre-service teachers. Dr. Patsy Fagan from Drake University conducted the workshop. Approximately 20 pre-service students attended the two day workshop. Students received a calculator (worth approximately $100) for attending the workshop and will receive additional equipment from Texas Instruments after they are employed in their first teaching position.
We are pleased to welcome aboard Jimmy Martin. Jimmy has joined our Maintenance staff in a part-time capacity and lives in Mammoth Cave with his wife, Teresa. He enjoys four-wheeling and raising horses and cattle.
The students welcomed the arrival of the Centennial edition of the Talisman. This is the first edition with an extended campus section. A special thanks to Jackie Bretz and the Talisman staff for making this possible.
September 28 was National "RAINN Day" (Rape Abuse & Incest National Network) where college students "get carded." They were given a card with information relating to sexual assault awareness, tips, etc. One of the therapists for Hope Harbor (the local sexual trauma recovery center) was at the Glasgow Campus to hand out information to students.
WKU students received information on the 2007 Winter Term and signed up for great door prizes during the Winter Term Kick-off event on Tuesday, October 3. Warm, sunny temperatures prompted a switch from hot chocolate to lemonade but nobody seemed to mind. Big Red even came to help spread the word!
Representatives from the Winter Term office, Academic Advising, Financial Aid, Dining Services and Housing were present to help answer questions students had about Winter Term. For information about the 2007 WKU Winter Term, visit www.wku.edu/winter or call 270-745-2478.
Several WKU representatives, including Dean Don Swoboda, Beth Laves and Laura Ricke from DELO, celebrated the graduation of 29 students who received their master’s degree in communication disorders Thursday, September 14 in the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) building in lower Manhattan.
The students are the second group of UFT graduates to receive their degrees from WKU through this distance learning program. A third group is progressing through the program and a fourth group has just started.
The online program is meeting the needs of speech therapists seeking a master’s degree while maintaining their current full-time school jobs and their family responsibilities. WKU, through the Division of Extended Learning and Outreach (DELO), has tailored the courses offered in New York to fit the needs of the UFT.
According to Dr. Swoboda, programs like this help WKU reach an important goal. "Distance learning is a perfect example of how WKU is becoming a leading American university with international reach," he said. "We were able to meet the needs of the students in New York which enhances Western’s image as a national provider of higher education services."
Amanda McGaughey and Chonda White (Correspondence Study), Jenni Perry (DELO Marketing) and Bea Cobb, Gail Ledford and Ron Stephens (WKU-Elizabethtown) represented DELO this summer in Orlando, FL at the Department of Defense Educational Symposium.
Once every three years this exciting event brings together all the major players in voluntary education. Over 1,500 service members and exhibitors were in attendance. WKU DELO departments that were highlighted consisted of: Correspondence Study, Distance Education, and the WKU Elizabethtown/Ft. Knox Regional Campus.
The 2006 theme "Educating America’s Service Members Any Place Any Time" focused on the mission of providing high quality and valuable voluntary educational opportunities for members of the military community.
Individuals in attendance represented:
The South Central KY Job Fair and Business Exhibition was held at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center on September 14. Over 65 employers participated including JM Smucker, Dart Container Corporation, Logan Aluminum, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Huish Detergents, Sumitomo, DESA, Eagle Industries, Country Oven Bakery, Trace Die Cast and many others.
DELO had a table providing participants with information about services aimed at helping workers further their training and increase the chances of finding a better job. The Medical Center and Greenview Regional Hospital provided free health screenings.
Over 460 job seekers came during the day, making the first year event a tremendous success.
Karen Winkle was recently hired as Assistant Catering Director and oversees catering for all events held in the Carroll Knicely Conference Center. Most recently, Karen worked in Special Events Catering at the University of Oklahoma. (Circle January 17, 2007 on the calendar – that’s when our Dean’s beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers play Karen’s Sooners in basketball!)
Quality catering is one of the many things which sets the Carroll Knicely Conference Center above other facilities. We’re glad to have Karen supporting this important function.
This redesign took several factors into consideration. We felt a majority of the users of the website would still be on dial-up connections and so the page file sizes needed to be kept small. The largest page on the new site is only 10KB and will download in less than 2 seconds on a 56 KB modem. We felt that many of the website visitors may still be using older browsers and so the page design was kept very basic. We also wanted to maintain the patriotic theme of the original website.
You can check it out for yourself at www.wku.edu/ContinuingEd.
