Dean's Welcome

Welcome to University College!

I think you’ll find University College (UC) to be a very rich and diverse college with lots to offer. Our mission transcends the boundaries of traditional disciplines and our units and people contribute significantly to the richness and vibrancy of the university community in many, many ways.

We touch the lives of up to 80% of all incoming freshmen, building the foundation for a successful college experience. We have minors, undergraduate, and graduate certificates that complement any major. Among our offerings, students will find programs that foster an advocacy for social equity and opportunities to build the skills and capacities necessary to encourage positive social change. We also feature programs that enhance understanding of leadership theory and the ability to apply leadership principles in virtually any academic or professional context.

UC intentionally reaches out to non-traditional learners with academic programs and support services. We provide a place, a philosophy, and a process to help adult learners be successful in their academic pursuits and beyond. We offer a graduate program in which students have the opportunity to develop and refine administrative knowledge and leadership skills in a variety of public and private sector organizations. Additionally, we provide flexible undergraduate academic programming for both traditional students as well as working adults including fully online and/or ITV based degrees with many applied and practical options. UC is extremely accommodating of students from KCTCS and other two-year institutions, in many cases accepting their entire associate’s degree as the first two years of their WKU baccalaureate program.

We embrace the WKU strategic goal of responding to educational, social, cultural, and economic development needs through increased outreach, applied scholarship, research, public service, and innovative opportunities for lifelong learning. Many UC activities and initiatives bring campus and community together for the enrichment of both higher education and public life. We coordinate service learning for WKU and encourage students to be actively engaged in communities ranging from local to global.

UC is also a leader in international programming. We serve as the academic home of the Chinese Flagship Language Program. This federally funded program, one of only nine similar Language Flagship initiatives in the US, is actively redefining the paradigm in language education. The Flagship Program personifies UC’s emphasis in transcending disciplinary boundaries and innovation by integrating Chinese language education in majors across the university to help produce transcultural, translingual, global professionals.

Each UC unit and academic program brings something unique and special to the college. However, we are bound by a common goal to foster adaptability, critical inquiry, and creativity within our students and to promote a sense of citizenship and social responsibility. We are proud of the richness and variety that we bring to the WKU family and look forward to increasing collaborations and partnerships for public good with those across our campus, our community, and, indeed, our world.

Dennis K. George, Ph.D.

Dean, University College