August 06, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Preparations for the fall semester are well under way at Western Kentucky University.
Construction continues on academic buildings, parking lots and other facilities while summer renovation projects at residence halls move toward completion before students return to campus.
Classes begin Aug. 25, but several events, activities and facility openings are scheduled beginning next week.
Alpha Delta Pi, which moved last year from its location on Normal Drive to make room for a new College of Education building, will dedicate its new sorority house at 1633 Chestnut St. at 11 a.m. Aug. 14.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new food court between Pearce-Ford Tower and Keen Hall is scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 15. The facility will house a Popeye’s Chicken, Zoca’s, Edy’s Ice Cream and a convenience store.
On Aug. 17, about 2,000 first-year students will arrive for M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan activities. For the 16th year, WKU is offering M.A.S.T.E.R. (Making Academic and Social Transitions Educationally Rewarding) Plan to help first-year students make the transition to WKU. The program, sponsored by the Department of Housing and Residence Life, ends Aug. 21.
Faculty members and professional staff in Academic Affairs and Student Affairs will participate in Engaging the Spirit: Celebrating Student Success on Aug. 18. The daylong program begins at 8 a.m. at the Garrett Conference Center Ballroom with featured speaker Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, president of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The conference continues with breakout sessions and concludes at 2:30 p.m. with faculty awards and other recognitions.
Residence halls will open for all students at 8 a.m. Aug. 21. This summer’s renovation projects by the Student Life Foundation have included the top third of Pearce-Ford Tower as well as Keen, Gilbert, McCormack and Rodes-Harlin halls.
On Aug. 22, President Gary Ransdell will conduct his opening meeting for faculty and staff at 8 a.m. at the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center amphitheatre.
Highlights of semester opening events include the following:
Aug. 14: Dedication of Alpha Delta Pi sorority house, 11 a.m. at 1633 Chestnut St.
Aug. 15: Ribbon cutting at new food court facility, 11 a.m. near Pearce-Ford Tower.
Aug. 17-21: M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan activities.
Aug. 18: Engaging the Spirit 2008: Celebrating Student Success, 7:30 a.m. at Garrett Conference Center Ballroom and Cherry Hall.
Aug. 21: Residence halls open for all students, 8 a.m.
Aug. 22: Opening convocation for faculty and staff, 8 a.m. at E.A. Diddle Arena.
Aug. 25: Fall semester classes begin at the WKU campus in Bowling Green and regional centers in Glasgow, Owensboro and Elizabethtown/Fort Knox/Radcliff.
Aug. 27: Welcome Back WKU Festival, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Downing University Center South Lawn.
Sept. 2: Class of 2012 Freshman Assembly, 6 p.m. at Diddle Arena.
More details about the fall semester events and activities are available on the WKU News Blog at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
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