Mount Everest Mount Everest - iamWKU

Dr. Barbara BurchDuring Dr. Burch’s tenure at WKU:WKU has been the fastest growing public universityin the state (41.7 percent) with enrollment increasingby more than 6,000 students, from 14,613 to20,712 between 1996 and 2009.International enrollment is seven times what it wasin 1996 (577 today, compared to 82 in 1996).The number of full-time faculty has increased 34.6percent (from 546 to 735).Minorities now make up 14.6 percent of full-time faculty,while they accounted for 6.6 percent in 1996.More than 41,000 degrees have been awarded fromWKU since 1996.WKU has seen a 41.6 percent increase in baccalaureatedegrees awarded per year and a 39.4 percentincrease in graduate degrees awarded per year.The Division of Extended Learning and Outreach wasfounded to create incentives for academic units to engagein outreach activities. More than $7 million hasbeen returned directly to academic colleges and departmentsfor their contributions in the last two years.Provost’s Initiatives for Excellence awards were establishedto support innovative approaches that advancestudent learning and faculty capacity inscholarship, teaching and service.The College of Health and Human Services, the UniversityCollege and the Honors College were all established.The WKU Research Foundation (WKURF) was createdto facilitate and expedite scholarship at WKU.New bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical,Mechanical and Civil Engineering were approved.The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Sciencein Kentucky was established as a living-learning environmentfor high school students with a desire topursue advanced careers in science, technology, engineeringand mathematics.The ALIVE Center for Community Partnerships wascreated to focus on regional stewardship, servicelearning and community-based research.WKU’s doctoral program in Educational Leadershipwas developed and implemented, enrolling 85 doctoralstudents during the 2010 spring semester.Winter Term was established and now enrolls morethan 1,200 students each year.The WKU Institute for Citizenship and Social Responsibility(ICSR) was created to promote civic engagementand individual responsibility for socialchange.In addition to being nationally and internationally acclaimed,the School of Journalism and Broadcastingand the Forensics Program were designated by thestate as Commonwealth Programs of Distinction.The Applied Research and Technology Program(ARTP) was established as a Program of Distinction,consisting of 13 scientific and service-oriented centersand institutes designed to prepare students forthe knowledge-based economy.WKU was one of 12 universities in the United Statesto be awarded $2.4 million to establish SKyTeach, aninnovative program to improve teacher education inmath and science.New Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree wascreated with implementation to begin next Fall.www.alumni.wku.edu | WKU SPIRIT | 29