April 27, 2001

WKU Regents Approve $174 Million Budget For 2001-02

Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University Board of Regents today approved a $174 million budget for the 2001-02 fiscal year. The budget includes a 2 percent across-the-board salary increase for university employees.

The total budget is 9.6 percent more than the 2000-01 budget and an increase of 5.2 percent in state appropriations. State appropriations now make up 42 percent of the university's education and general budget.

The budget also includes a projected $2.3 million increase in tuition revenue. Tuition, which was set last year, and projected enrollment increases account for the revenue increase. Chief Financial Officer Ann Mead said that tuition and fees make up 27 percent of the budget.

In other business, the board:
· Extended President Gary Ransdell's contract one year to June 30, 2005. The board also approved a 2 percent raise for Ransdell. The recommendation came after a performance review by a board committee that gave Ransdell an overall rating of "excellent."

· Approved a contract for the purchase of four parcels of land at Center and East 14th streets. The purchase options will be transferred to the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, which picked the site for a new performing arts center.

· Approved a lease-purchase agreement with the College Heights Foundation for the President's Home at 1700 Chestnut St. at a purchase price of $260,394.

· Authorized Ransdell to negotiate a purchase contract for the Bowling Green Mall property to house the Innovation and Commercialization Center. Any purchase would be contingent on final approval by the board. The ICC would house applied research, commercialization and business start-ups and would be funded by $4 million from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority.

· Approved the establishment of the School of Health and Human Services to house programs such as public health, health care administration, nursing, dental hygiene, social work and industrial hygiene. The board also renamed the Ogden College of Science, Technology and Health to Ogden College of Science and Engineering and renamed the Department of Engineering Technology to Department of Engineering to reflect the establishment of bachelor's degree programs in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering.

· Appointed Dr. James T. Baker, a professor of history, as a University Distinguished Professor.

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