WKU News

Meeting at Western Kentucky University’s Innovation Campus, the WKU Board of Regents voted today (March 3) to award University Distinguished Professor status to Biology Professor Dr. Thomas Keith Philips. Considered an expert worldwide on several different types of beetles, Dr. Philips has led groups of WKU students to locations around the globe including Ghana, South Africa, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile.

Speaking in support of Dr. Philips, WKU Provost Dr. Bud Fischer noted his contributions to applied research and learning. “He’s highly respected internationally for both teaching and research. His research gives students hands-on opportunities to learn, and that’s what he does best.” The University Distinguished Professorship program is designed to recognize faculty members who have served WKU with distinction and have compiled an outstanding record of achievement in teaching, research, and service.

Additionally, the Regents approved Faculty Emeritus status for Dr. Sam Evans, former Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences; Dr. John Moore, Professor of Teacher Education; and Mr. Rico Tyler, Practitioner in Residence of Teacher Education. Faculty members who are awarded Emeritus status must have served the university for a minimum of 10 years and have had distinguished records of achievement and university service.

The Regents also approved the adoption of a university admission policy. The admission policy is a comprehensive summation of existing practices relating to the admission of all students to the university.

Additionally, the Regents approved the adoption of an updated Student Code of Conduct. Recently passed state legislation necessitated a code of conduct revision to include enhanced protocols for due process and procedure related to suspension or expulsion from the university.

In other business the WKU Board of Regents:

• Approved suspending the Graduate Certificate in Strategic Sports Communication due to low program enrollment
• Approved routine faculty sabbatical leave recommendations
• Approved routine personnel actions that were implemented by Human Resources between October 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022
• Approved the university’s financial report of budgeted expenses versus actual expenditures
• Accepted external auditor reports and financial statements for WKYU-FM and WKYU-TV for the period that ended June 30, 2022
• Accepted external Accountant’s report on application of agreed-upon procedures for NCAA compliance
• Received an update on the academic progress of the university’s student athletes from Todd Stewart, WKU’s Director of Athletics
• Received a legislative update from Jennifer Breiwa Smith, Executive Director of Government and External Relations
• Heard a report from Beth Laves, Assistant Provost and Director for Accreditation and Academic Programs, who reviewed the university’s mission statement as required by the university’s accrediting body

The Board of Regents will next meet on April 14, 2023, to hold committee meetings.

Contact: Jace Lux, jace.lux@wku.edu           

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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.