February 05, 2001

WKU Receives More Than $5 Million In Private Funding For Engineering Program

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University has received more than $5 million in private and matching funding to support the transition of its engineering program.

That total includes $4.25 million in four gifts, pledges and matches from the state's Regional University Excellence Trust Fund to create four endowed professorships for the Engineering Department. These include:

· $2 million from Jim Scott of Bowling Green for construction and civil engineering ($1 million state match).
· $1 million from Bud Layne of Glasgow for electrical engineering ($500,000 state match).
· $1 million anonymous gift for construction and civil engineering ($500,000 state match).
· $250,000 from Bill Bell of Lexington for construction and civil engineering ($125,000 state match).

"Western has been in engineering education for 30 years," said WKU President Gary Ransdell. "This will transition us from a technology program to full bachelor's certification. I have been impressed with the way engineering companies and private individuals have stepped forward with private support to make the transition possible."

Dr. Ransdell said the private funding gives the program the "legs needed to hit the ground running. These funds are the impetus to make these programs possible. We have been able to purchase the equipment needed to make the transition to the baccalaureate program as well as strengthen the capacity of the faculty positions needed, including the endowed professorships and the Scott Chair in Construction and Civil Engineering."

Matt Dettman, associate professor and director of the Scott Center for Construction and Engineering, said the external financial support "clearly shows we're doing this because the region is demanding it by letting their checkbooks do the talking."

In addition to gifts, area industries are contracting with Western to help solve problems. The financial support and experience these contracts provide is an investment in Western and in the region's economic future, Dettman said. The return for the companies is a pool of qualified graduates to fill their engineering needs, he said.

In addition to the gifts for professorships, Western has received more than $843,000 in 21 gifts and pledges to support the transition with start-up funding and operational endowments. They include:

· Trace Die Cast, $10,000
· Sumitomo, $50,000
· Weyerhaeuser, $100,000
· Bowling Green Municipal Utilities, $25,000
· TVA, $10,000
· H + M Company Inc., $75,000
· Hills Pet Nutrition, $10,000
· Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Co., $5,000
· Logan Aluminum, $100,000
· James N. Gray Co., $100,000
· General Motors, $2,00
· Alliance Corp., $100,000
· Georgia Pacific, $5,000
· Dana Corp., $10,000
· Holley Performance Products, $12,500
· Scotty's Contracting, $100,000
· Anonymous, $50,000
· Scott and Ritter, $25,000
· Don Greulich, $10,000
· Van Meter Contracting, $18,750
· Scott, Murphy & Daniel, $25,000

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