August 09, 2001

Students Return Soon To Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Ky. - From "HILLTOPPERS" painted across the upper deck of L.T. Smith Stadium to renovations of residence halls, Western Kentucky University is rolling out the Big Red carpet for another year.

Enrollment for the fall 2001 semester, which begins Aug. 20, is expected to exceed last fall's enrollment of 15,516, according to Registrar Freida Eggleton.

On Sunday, Aug. 12, about 1,500 first-time students are expected to arrive for the five-day M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan (Making Academic and Social Transitions Educationally Rewarding), a program that began in 1993 to help students in their transition to college life.

Residence halls open for all students at 8 a.m. Aug. 16. A Welcome Back Western Festival is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Preston Center lawn.

On Aug. 14, President Gary Ransdell's opening convocation for faculty and staff begins at 8 a.m. in Van Meter Auditorium with the Academic Affairs faculty convocation at 1 p.m. in Van Meter. Several other meetings for faculty and departments are scheduled through Aug. 15.

(A calendar of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs events through Aug. 17 is available online at http://www.wku.edu/Dept/Support/AcadAffairs/calendar2001.html)

Construction projects
When students return to campus, they'll notice work is continuing on several projects designed to improve campus life and to enhance academic programs.

A renovated McLean Hall will reopen to 122 students. The directional halls (North, South, East and West) are closed for the 2001-02 year for room renovations that
include air-conditioning, electrical upgrades and other work; those halls are scheduled to reopen next fall. Virginia Garrett Avenue between the Grise Hall lot and Normal Drive is closed.

Media and Technology Hall, which will house the School of Journalism and Broadcasting and the Division of Information Technology, is being built on Normal Drive near the Academic Complex and Tate Page Hall. The Guthrie Courtyard's clock tower is under construction near the South Lawn.

Among other projects completed or nearing completion are: installation of waterlines along Normal Drive; renovation of the entrances of Thompson Complex Central Wing and Academic Complex; and renovation of Downing University Center lobby.

One project, the installation of carpeting in Helm Library, revealed a piece of Hilltopper history, the basketball court of WKU's former arena. Red and white carpeting had marked the spot of the court's center jump circle, but now the original jump circle will be covered in glass for all to see. Western's home court was in the physical education building (now Helm Library) from 1931 to 1963.

Academic changes
Summer was a busy time for several academic areas that underwent leadership changes.
Twelve programs have new or interim department heads: Scott Stroot, theater and dance; Dr. Richard Bowker, biology; Dr. Steven Haggbloom, psychology; Dr. Mitzi Groom, music; Dr. David Keeling, geography and geology; Dr. Stanley Cooke, special instruction programs and elementary and interdisciplinary early childhood education; Dr. Thad Crews, physical education and recreation; Dr. Louella Fong, consumer and family sciences; Dr. Gayle Ecton, educational administration, leadership and research; Dr. John, Moore, middle grades/secondary education; Dr. Donald Nims, counseling programs.

Ogden College of Science, Technology and Health became the Ogden College of Science and Engineering. Health programs, such as public health, health care administration, nursing, dental hygiene, social work and industrial hygiene, are now part of the School of Health and Human Services.

Economic impact
One thing that hasn't changed is Western's role in the Bowling Green-Warren County economy.

Western students, faculty and staff generated an estimated $118.5 million in direct off-campus expenditures during the year ending in July 2000, according to an economic impact report prepared by Dr. William W. Davis, an associate professor in the Department of Economics and Marketing.

According to the report, WKU students spent $77 million off campus for food, housing and other items while faculty and staff spent $41.4 million. The report doesn't include the $107.4 million in direct expenditures made by the University or the multiplier effects associated with spending and employment impacts of the University, students, faculty and staff.

More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.