May 08, 2003

Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University Board of Regents on Friday approved changes in student fees beginning with the fall 2003 semester.

The new fees include $36 for student parking and transportation, $12 for libraries and $3 for the student radio station. The changes also include an increase of $22 in the facilities improvement matching fund fee, bringing it to $58.

The parking and transportation fee will be used to repay an estimated $10 million bond issue to expand the existing parking structure by 900 spaces.

The libraries fee will be used to support the library operating budget. The student radio station fee, which was approved by students in a referendum, will support WWHR-FM, a working laboratory for broadcasting students.

The increase in the facilities improvements matching fund fee will help provide funds to match those set aside by the state for improvements to the electrical distribution system. It will be added to the $36 fee that begins this summer, but was too small to fully match the $1.8 million in state funding.

In other business, the board:

* Appointed Brian Goff and Vicki Stayton as distinguished university professors. Dr. Goff, a professor of economics, joined the Western faculty in 1986. His interests include applied microeconomics and public sector economics. Dr. Stayton, a professor of special instructional programs, joined Western in 1989 and has developed a national reputation in early childhood and special education.

* Approved joint baccalaureate degree programs in electrical engineering with the University of Louisville and in mechanical and civil engineering with the University of Kentucky. Development of the programs began in 1999.

* Approved selling one acre at Morgantown Road and Forest Drive to Bowling Green Municipal Utilities for $50,000. The land will be used for a new water tower.

* Approved the purchase of property at 1702 Normal Drive for $105,000.

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.

-WKU-