WKU News

Chair Phillip Bale recognized three new members of WKU's Board of Regents; from left, Cole Bornefeld of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Melissa Dennison of Lexington, and Gary Broady of Franklin. (WKU photo by Clinton Lewis)

During its third quarterly meeting of the calendar year Friday (August 12), the Western Kentucky University Board of Regents approved a new name for the ROTC Physical Training Facilities located at the Charles M. Ruter Track and Field Complex. The facility will be known as Century Park in honor of the 100^th class of WKU Hilltopper Battalion 2^nd Lieutenants, who were commissioned in the 2021-2022 academic year. Each year, approximately 15 WKU students complete the Army ROTC program and earn commissions as U.S. Army Officers. The Army ROTC program at WKU is one of the oldest in the state.

The Board also approved faculty emeritus status for Dr. Cathy Carey, Professor of Economics, Dr. Daniel Myers, Associate Professor of Economics, and Dr. Julie Ellis, Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Faculty members who have received emeritus status must have served the university for at least 10 years and have had a distinguished record of achievement and service.

Also, three new Regents were recognized by Chair Phillip Bale. Melissa Dennison of Lexington, Gary Broady of Franklin, and Cole Bornefeld of Hendersonville, Tennessee, all formally took the oath of office during a special called meeting of the Board of Regents in July.

In other business, the Board of Regents:

• Approved the suspension of six academic programs, due either to changes in curriculum by adding a different certificate or degree, or low and declining enrollment.
• Approved a number of faculty and staff personnel actions which have proceeded through administrative channels and have been executed by Human Resources between March 21, 2022, and June 30, 2022.
• Approved addendums to the employment contracts of WKU’s Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach.
• Approved the employment contract of WKU’s Head Baseball Coach.
• Approved the lease of dining space in Regents Hall.

The Board of Regents will next meet on October 21, 2022, to conduct Committee Meetings.

Contact: Jace Lux, (270) 745-4295

- WKU -

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.