October 30, 2009
Bowling
Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University Board of Regents today approved the purchase of Colonial Courts apartment complex to become an international student and visiting scholars village.
Three, two-story brick buildings will be purchased for $573,750 to join six cottages already owned by WKU. The property is located on Normal Drive across from WKU’s Southwest Hall.
Renovations to some of the buildings will begin in December. Demolition of two of the buildings will begin in June 2010 followed by the construction of a new building for the Office of International Programs.
Provost Barbara Burch said the village would be replacement and added housing for visiting scholars and unify all international program services and support systems. She said the number of visiting scholars needing university housing has increased from less than 10 to more than 50 per year and the number of international students at WKU has increased more than 250 percent.
The board also heard a final report for fall enrollment. Dean Kahler, associate vice president for enrollment management, said WKU’s official enrollment is 20,712, an increase of 951, or 4.8 percent, over fall 2008. Enrollment highlights include 3,067 graduate students (up 9.7 percent); 2,150 African-American students (up 13.9 percent); and increases of 4 percent or more in each of the undergraduate classes.
“Retention is priority and a measure of success,” WKU President Gary Ransdell said. “That is the most encouraging statistic on this report.” He added that this is the 12th consecutive year that WKU has led the state institutions in enrollment growth.
In other business, the board:
- Approved new clinical practitioner ranks for the College of Health and Human Services.
- Approved a master of science program in instructional design in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.
- Approved the sale of a lot in the Greek Village to Sigma Nu Fraternity for $50,000.
- Approved faculty emeritus status for Elizabeth Oakes, English; Jerry Wilder, Counseling and Student Affairs; and Richard L. Miller, psychology.
More WKU news is available at http://www.wku.edu/news/index.html and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/.
-WKU-
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