WKU News & Events

August, 06 2002

'Exciting Time For Students'
Awaits At WKU

Bowling Green, Ky. - As students return to Western Kentucky University this month, they'll find the University's transformation is continuing.

New and returning students, along with faculty and staff, will see that construction of academic buildings is progressing, renovation of athletic facilities and residence halls is continuing and growth in enrollment is record-breaking.

"It's going to be a really exciting time for students," said Jamie Sears, Student Government Association president.

SGA and University administrators are asking students to embrace the vision of a transformed campus, Sears said.

"Years ago students came to Western because it was beautiful," she said. "We still come to Western because it's beautiful. Now students will come to Western because it is amazing. It'll be an amazing campus when we get it done."

Fall semester classes begin Aug. 19, but more than 1,600 first-year students get a jumpstart Aug. 11 when M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan begins. Since 1993, the five-day program (Making Academic and Social Transitions Educationally Rewarding) has provided activities that allow first-year students to get organized and become familiar with campus before classes begin. Residence halls open for all students on Aug. 15.

On Aug. 13, President Gary Ransdell will address faculty and staff at the annual opening convocation, which begins at 8 a.m. in Van Meter Auditorium.

The annual Welcome Back Western event is scheduled for Aug. 22 on the Downing University Center south lawn.

Here are highlights of projects or changes the campus community will notice this fall:

Residence hall renovations: The directional halls - North, South, East and West - have been renovated by the WKU Student Life Foundation and reopen as Northeast and Southwest halls. Work is continuing on a plaza and courtyard on the former Virginia Garrett Drive.

Renovations have begun at Bates-Runner Hall, which will reopen in fall 2003. Bemis Lawrence Hall will reopen in the spring 2003 semester after work to install sprinklers, renovate bathrooms and change furnishings is completed. Similar work on Barnes-Campbell Hall will begin when the fall 2002 semester ends.

A project to install sprinklers in all WKU residence halls is nearing completion with installation at Central and Poland halls this summer and Keen Hall next summer.

Athletic facilities: E.A. Diddle Arena and Jimmy Feix Field are being renovated as part of a $32.5 million project to update WKU's athletic facilities.

The arena will have new entrances, scoreboards, offices, auxiliary gym, concession stands, luxury boxes and a Hall of Champions. Next summer, the arena floor and seating will be replaced.

At L.T. Smith Stadium, the Hilltopper football team will play on a new synthetic surface. The AstroPlay surface has the look and feel of real grass.

The athletics work also included projects at Western's baseball and softball facilities.

Other campus projects: Construction continues on Media and Technology Hall, which is scheduled to open in 2003. The facility will house the School of Journalism and Broadcasting and the University's Division of Information Technology.

Groundbreaking on a new science building is scheduled for Aug. 16. The Complex for Engineering and Biological Sciences will be located near Thompson Complex and Hardin Planetarium. As part of the project, the Snell Hall Parking Lot and a section of Ogden Drive will be closed.

Parking: The Diddle construction project has prompted other changes in parking.
The parking structure has been changed to Zone B permits only from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Diddle Lot is Zone C (commuter students) only from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Four new student parking lots are open near Kentucky, Center, 14th and Adams streets.

Additional information for students is available online at http://www.wku.edu/information.html

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.