Potter College News

Following approval from the President and Provost, the Potter College of Arts & Letters at WKU announces the future names and structure of their schools. The college, which currently houses eight departments and one school, will now be restructured into four schools and one department.

Entitled PCAL Forward, the restructure initiative includes the creation of three new schools: the School of Creative Arts and Design, the School of Languages, Literatures, and Writing, and the School of Social Sciences. The School of Media & Communication, which was established in 2022, will remain. All programs associated with the Department of History will stay as a department temporarily to further facilitate future partnerships with one of the newly formed schools by 2030.

The School of Creative Arts and Design will comprise of the former Departments of Art & Design, Music, and Theatre & Dance. The school will also house the new program additions of Interior Design and Fashion Studies, which will officially join the college on July 1.

The School of Languages, Literatures, and Writing will consist of the former Departments of English and Modern Languages. The School of Social Sciences will include the former Departments of Political Science and Society, Culture, Crime, and Justice Studies.

The college announced their plans for PCAL Forward in January 2025. Guided by a five-phase plan, this initiative has presented opportunities for PCAL faculty, staff, and administrators to work together to shape and implement a new college structure.

“Higher education continues to face significant challenges that have required difficult conversations and decisions,” says PCAL Dean, Dr. Terrance Brown. “These moments, while complex, are necessary if we are to continue the transformational work of educating and preparing better human beings.”

Restructuring provides PCAL the opportunity to create stronger academic pathways, enhance student experience and visibility, and expand curriculum, media, and community partnerships. Academic identity will also be preserved in PCAL Forward.

“Through these challenges, opportunities have emerged that allow us to reaffirm our values and preserve the importance of meaningful knowledge, meaningful work, and meaningful living,” says Dr. Brown. “For PCAL, meaningful living is centered on belonging, readiness, and purpose. These guiding words have provided our college with an opportunity to realign our organizational structure in ways that better meet the needs of today’s students. This work has not been easy, but it has been necessary. For that reason, I am grateful to each faculty member, staff member, student, and administrator who has contributed to this important effort.”

Implementation of the PCAL Forward initiative will occur in Fall 2027. For more information about PCAL Forward, please visit https://www.wku.edu/pcal/pcalforward.php.