August 14, 2001

WKU President Lists Legislative Priorities At Convocation

Bowling Green, Ky. - With Western Kentucky University in a growth mode, President Gary Ransdell told faculty and staff Tuesday morning that Western will seek an increase in state appropriations.

When the 2002 General Assembly meets, Western's top priority will be an increase in its base budget to cover the costs of enrollment growth, salary growth and basic operations, Dr. Ransdell said at the University's Opening Convocation.

"Between now and next spring, I am dedicated to doing all that I can to work with our local legislative delegation to ensure that the higher education budget in Kentucky addresses enrollment growth as its first priority," Dr. Ransdell told WKU faculty and staff.

In the past four years, Western has grown faster than any other university in Kentucky, he said. "We now find ourselves trying to manage the result of our own recruiting success and the reputation of quality which you have earned for this university," Dr. Ransdell said. This fall's enrollment is expected to be near 16,000.

"The state asked us to grow. We have grown," he said. "The state budget simply must reward this enrollment growth."

Western's other legislative priorities include the continuation of state trust funds for teaching and research equipment, deferred maintenance and endowment gift matching money; funding to renovate Thompson Complex, Snell Hall and Science and Technology Hall; funding to convert WKYU-TV to digital transmission; funding to build a regional center in Owensboro in partnership with Owensboro Community College; and planning money for renovation of Van Meter Hall, Garrett Conference Center and Gordon Wilson Hall.

During the convocation in Van Meter Hall, Dr. Ransdell also welcomed new department heads, faculty members and staff to Western; updated the faculty and staff on construction projects that are transforming the campus, on new engineering programs that have 150 students enrolled and on economic development initiatives that are improving the region; discussed the Investing in the Spirit capital campaign; and paid special recognition to the nearly $400,000 donated in the past year by faculty and staff.

The 2001 faculty awards for excellence in teaching, research and public service, announced earlier this year, were formally presented during Tuesday's convocation.
Provost Barbara Burch presented the awards to Dr. Larry Danielson, Department of Modern Languages and Intercultural Studies, excellence in teaching; Dr. Elizabeth Lemerise, Department of Psychology, excellence in research/creativity; and Dr. David Coffey, Department of Agriculture, excellence in public service.

Dr. Ransdell also announced two new awards that will presented during next fall's Opening Convocation. A WKU economic development award will be presented to the faculty or staff member who best exemplifies the University's spirit for economic development in the region. The President's Spirit of Western Award will pay tribute to the faculty and staff members who make a significant difference to serve the University community.

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