WKU’s Division of Extended Learning and Outreach (DELO) announces a realignment to create the Office of Academic Outreach.
The Office of Academic Outreach is home to the division’s credit programming: Dual Credit, Cohort Programs, Online Program Services and Summer Sessions/Winter Term. In fiscal year 2011, there were 48,144 enrollments in courses administered by these units. This restructure will facilitate collaboration between these areas to enhance program development, student recruitment and student services.
“I am really pleased with this restructure of the credit side of our division,” said Dr. Beth Laves, Associate Vice President for DELO. “This new focus on student outreach will hopefully build even stronger support structures for faculty who reach out to students through online and off-site programs.”
Laura Ricke
DELO has named Laura Ricke as the director of the reorganized office. “I am tremendously excited about the synergistic opportunity this restructure affords to support our faculty with program development and student recruitment,” said Ricke, who joined DELO in 2005 and has been the Cohort Programs Director since 2007.
With Ricke’s extensive knowledge of serving distance students coupled with her business background, Laves feels confident she will do an outstanding job leading this new office. Prior to coming to WKU, Ricke was co-owner of a Xerox Sales and Service Agency in Elizabethtown. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration from WKU.
Alicia Bingham
One of the DELO units Ricke will be directing, Summer Sessions/Winter Term, also experienced a recent change in leadership. WKU graduate Alicia Bingham has taken the position of Coordinator of Summer Sessions and Winter Term. In recent years, these alternate sessions have had a significant impact on students moving toward graduation.
As coordinator, Bingham will be responsible for administrative processes and program development in the WKU Summer Sessions Program and WKU Winter Term. She will serve as primary contact with WKU faculty, staff, administration, and current and potential students.
“I feel truly honored to represent DELO as the Coordinator of Summer Sessions and Winter Term,” said Bingham, who has worked in DELO since 2006. Bingham grew up on Franklin and graduated from Franklin-Simpson High School in 2002. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management and finance from WKU (2006), and a Master of Business Administration degree from WKU (2010). She also completed the WKU Staff Leadership program in 2011.
Laves is excited about the opportunities this new office brings and looks forward to seeing WKU reach even farther and connect with students throughout Kentucky and around the world. “Both of these individuals bring a depth of knowledge about credit programming, and I am pleased to welcome them as a part of Academic Outreach in DELO,” she said.
For information about any of the units in Academic Outreach or the Division of Extended Learning and Outreach, visit www.wku.edu/delo or call (270) 745-1900.
Contact: Jennifer Perry, (270) 745-1926.
