WKU News

The WKU Board of Regents on Friday (Jan. 25) approved the transfer of 20 acres to Hardin County Schools for the creation of an early college and career center.

The land, originally given to WKU in 2007 by the North Central Education Foundation (now the Central Kentucky Community Foundation), is adjacent to Elizabethtown Community and Technical College.

The center, announced Thursday (Jan. 24), will fulfill several roles.  High school students in the Hardin County Schools will use the center to take courses in several career pathways. The pathways include, but are not limited to, health science, engineering, manufacturing, transportation, distribution & logistics, media arts & communication and culinary arts & hospitality services. WKU and ECTC will partner with Hardin County Schools in providing instruction and dual credit courses.

In addition, WKU will be able to offer courses in the building during evenings and weekends.

The original intent when the land was given to WKU was for the University to construct a building in which it could offer higher education classes, WKU President Gary Ransdell said. That was before the downturn in the economy, however.

“This is a way for us to achieve what we had hoped to do a few years ago,” he said. “This model could be a model for other school systems across the state.”

In other business, the Board:

• Approved a four-year contract for Head Football Coach Bobby Petrino.
• Approved faculty emeritus status for Dr. Robert C. Smith, professor of Teacher Education.
• Approved an undergraduate minor in floristry.