Jerry Baker Scholars Departmental Info

The Department of Art & Design uses the Baker Scholarship in two primary ways: recruitment and student retention. A small percentage of Baker Scholarship funds are used to support student-focused Departmental initiatives.

Recruitment

Approximately $45,000 was utilized for recruitment scholarships and awarded to incoming students. Some of these, for top recruits, are renewable for up to four years. These scholarships are automatically renewable based on the student maintaining a major in the Department and a 3.0 GPA within their major. Additional one-time recruitment scholarships were also awarded.

Retention

Approximately $45,000 was utilized for retention scholarships and awarded to current WKU students pursuing a major within the Department of Art & Design including the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, Bachelor of Arts in Studio, Bachelor of Arts in Art Education or Bachelor of Arts in Art History. Retention scholarships are renewable, but students must re-apply for the award.

The Department of Art & Design awards both recruitment and retention scholarships once a year in early spring. Applicants for all scholarships must submit:

• 10+ images of recent work.
• A statement about the work.
• >A cover letter addressing artistic and/or creative achievements, academic achievements and a statement of need.

A committee, comprised of the Department faculty as a whole, will review and award scholarships for the following academic year.

Departmental Initiatives

Emergency Scholarships: The Department uses a small portion of the Baker Scholarship to address emergency student needs. The Department is currently allocating $10,000 per year for Emergency Scholarships. A student may not receive more than $2,000 per year. Emergency needs are defined as financial issues preventing a student’s persistence in the program. Students must complete an application identifying their need, which is reviewed by a three-person committee. Decisions are made by this committee as quickly as possible with all information kept in confidence.

“495” Grant: The Department has developed a one-credit-hour course (Art 495) for students who have recently graduated. This portfolio-development course allows students to return to WKU to receive guidance from the faculty and use of the studios as they develop a portfolio for graduate school or professional advancement. In order to remove barriers for enrollment, the $500 grant assists students with covering the tuition for the class.

The Dance Program at Western Kentucky University is very fortunate to receive significant ongoing scholarship support from the Baker Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded to both current and incoming students. Our program is dedicated to providing our students with the training and experiences they need to ensure the arts continue to flourish in Kentucky and beyond. This funding from the Baker Foundation helps recruit and retain diverse students who are passionate about the arts but who might not otherwise be able to afford college. It also allows us to support, encourage and recognize outstanding students within the Dance Program.

Below are the guiding principles and annual goals for the Dance Program when distributing funds from the Baker Scholarship.

Guiding Principles:

• The fund will be used to positively affect as many students in the program as possible.
• The process for application and distribution of this fund will be as equitable, inclusive and transparent as possible.
• Students from underrepresented groups will be prioritized for support when possible.
• Students who are entirely self-supporting or from low-income families will be prioritized for support when possible.
• The fund will be used to positively benefit all aspects of the Dance Program.

Baker Dance Scholarship Types:

Recruitment Scholarships

• Typically distributed in April and May to incoming freshmen, based on audition.
• Intended only for use during the student’s first year. Subsequently, students may apply for the Annual Jerry E. Baker Scholarship or other funds.
• Awards will be made with the intention of ensuring the Dance Program becomes home to a very diverse, talented, intelligent and capable group of students who intend to pursue the BA in Dance.
• The selection process will be overseen by the Dance Program Coordinator in consultation with the Dance Program faculty involved in the recruitment process that year.

Retention Scholarships

Annual Jerry E. Baker Scholarships given each May at the Department of Theatre & Dance Banquet.

• Applications will be made available in February and funds awarded in April or May.
• The awards are typically for distribution in the following academic year, although awards to seniors will also be possible.
• The Department of Theatre & Dance faculty will operate as a committee of the whole in deciding how to award these funds.
• These may be awarded based on need, merit, or both.
• Academic performance, work ethic, and positive contribution to the culture of the Dance Program/Department may be taken into consideration for this scholarship.

Jerry E. Baker Completion Grants awarded throughout the year.

• Primarily intended for seniors within one or two semesters of graduation who we believe to be at risk of dropping out due to lack of funds.
• Awarded by the Department Head throughout the year, with the agreement of at least two Dance faculty members.
• Meant to augment the student’s funding after all other options have been explored.
• Typically, a one-time scholarship of $1,000 to $3,000.

Student Travel Scholarships

• Funds supporting student travel, including: study abroad and study away, conferences and research presentations, and support for group travel to see regional/national performances
• Students will apply through either the faculty member leading the travel or their Program Coordinator. Faculty and Program Coordinators will forward the student’s application with their endorsement to the Department Head. These funds may be distributed throughout the year, as appropriate, based on the following principles:
  • In general, students should always pay at least some portion of the cost of travel.
  • Students who have not yet traveled beyond the region and/or have financial need will be prioritized for these funds.

Horticulture at WKU is a concentration option for a degree in Agriculture and is housed in the Department of Agriculture and Food Science. The Horticulture concentration focuses on core courses to prepare a student for a career in the landscape/nursery field. A custom program can be developed to meet the needs of the student who would like a career in greenhouse production, vegetables or fruits.

To be eligible for a Baker Scholarship, students must be full-time students enrolled in the Department of Agriculture and Food Science with a concentration in Horticulture. Because of the generous Baker Scholarship funding, each student enrolled with a Horticulture concentration will receive some scholarship support.

The scholarships are awarded based on a combination of grade point average and financial need within the program each year. Students with greater financial need receive more scholarship money than those with lesser need. For example, a student with high a GPA but who is from a TIP area or out-of-state may receive more support. A students’ leadership amongst their peers may also be taken into consideration.

In addition to retaining current students, Baker Scholarships are also used to recruit students to the program. Some high schools with cooperating teachers share information about the scholarship, and we hope to expand this effort soon. The scholarship also supports one graduate student each year.

The Department of Music conducts auditions for incoming freshmen each spring prior to fall enrollment. The audition is for admission into the program (as a Music major or minor) as well as for performance-based scholarship consideration. Students must demonstrate technical and musical proficiency, as well as college-readiness, through the performance of two contrasting pieces of music, technical exercises/scales, sight-reading and a short interview. Once all auditions are completed, the Music Scholarship Committee meets with the Department Head to allocate and offer awards.

Performance based awards are tiered dependent upon the strengths of the student and Department needs for individual instruments/voices. Annual awards typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 and are renewable for up to four years or eight semesters. All Department of Music awards are contingent on students maintaining a 3.0 GPA, continuing acceptable progress towards their degree, performing and working with assigned ensembles, being enrolled as a full-time student, and maintaining a high standard of character and leadership. Scholarship award recipients are reviewed after every semester resulting in award renewal, warning(s) or removal.

Baker Scholarships support the annual recruitment and retention efforts above but also provide support for students who typically don’t receive Music scholarships (guitarists, Music minors, and graduate students); have financial or immediate, unforeseen needs; or are travelling through study abroad programs or ensemble performance tours. The Department of Music has a rich history of offering diverse programs, concerts, performance experiences and regional/global travel to our students. The Baker Scholarships make those experiences a reality for many students who otherwise would not be able to participate.

The Theatre Program at WKU is very fortunate to receive significant ongoing scholarship support from the Baker Scholarship. Our program is dedicated to providing our students with the training and experiences they need to ensure the arts continue to flourish in Kentucky and beyond.

This funding from the Baker Foundation helps recruit and retain diverse students who are passionate about the arts, but who might not otherwise be able to afford college. It also allows us to support, encourage and recognize outstanding students.

Below are the guiding principles and annual goals for the Theatre Program when distributing funds from the Baker Scholarship.

Guiding Principles:

• The fund will be used to positively affect as many students in the program as possible.
• The process for application and distribution of this fund will be as equitable, inclusive and transparent as possible.
• Students from underrepresented groups will be prioritized for support when possible. Students who are entirely self-supporting or from low-income families will be prioritized for support when possible.
• The fund will be used to positively benefit all aspects of the Theatre program.

Annual Distribution Goals:

Retention

Goal: 50% of funds each year will be distributed in support of current students. The funds may be used for:

• Annual Jerry E. Baker Scholarships given each May at the Department of Theatre & Dance Banquet.
• Jerry E. Baker Completion Grants awarded throughout the year.
• Jerry E. Baker Community Arts Engagement Scholarships given at the end of each semester.

Process:

• Annual Jerry E. Baker Scholarships
  • Applications will be made available in February and funds awarded in April or May.
  • The awards are typically for distribution in the following academic year, although awards to seniors will also be possible.
  • The Department of Theatre & Dance faculty will operate as a committee of the whole in deciding how to award these funds.
  • These may be awarded based on need, merit or both.
  • Academic performance, work ethic and positive contribution to the culture of the Department may be taken into consideration for this scholarship.
• Jerry E. Baker Completion Grants
  • Primarily intended for seniors within one or two semesters of graduation who we believe to be at risk of dropping out due to lack of funds.
  • Awarded by the Department Head throughout the year, with the agreement of at least two faculty members.
  • Meant to augment the student’s funding after all other options have been explored.
  • Typically, a one-time scholarship of $1,000 to $3,000.
• Jerry E. Baker Community Arts Engagement Scholarships
  • Awards made to the students in the Department of Theatre & Dance who engage in exceptional outreach projects in the community such as organizing theatre festivals, community arts events, workshops and performances in schools, etc.
  • These are typically $250 – $750. Faculty will nominate and ensure equitable distribution.

Recruitment

Goal: 25% of funds in will be spent recruiting students.

• Typically distributed in April and May to incoming freshmen, based on interview and/or audition.
• Intended only for use during the student’s first year. Subsequently, students may apply for the Annual Jerry E. Baker Scholarship or other funds.
• Awards will be made with the intention of ensuring the Department becomes home to a very diverse, talented, intelligent and capable group of students with broad interests in all areas of Theatre.
• The selection process will be overseen by the Department Head and based upon recommendations by the faculty involved in the recruiting process that year.
• In order to ensure a well-rounded program, the Department may prioritize students whose interests and/or skills are currently underrepresented in the program (e.g. tech and design, directing, playwrighting, etc.).

Student Travel

Goal: 15% of funds in most years will be spent supporting student travel, including:

• Study Abroad and Study Away
• Conferences and research presentations
• Support for group travel to see regional performances

Process:

• Students will apply through either the faculty member leading the travel or their Program Coordinator. Faculty and Program coordinators will forward the student’s application with their endorsement to the Department Head. These funds may be distributed throughout the year, as appropriate, based on the following principles:
  • In general, students should always pay at least some portion of the cost of travel.
  • Students who have not yet traveled beyond the region, and/or have financial need, will be prioritized for these funds.

Contingency

Goal: 10% of funds will be held in reserve for contingency. Between 5% and 10% should be held for carry over to the next year to ensure a healthy and continuing fund. Up to 5% may be used by the Department Head for emergency awards to students, particularly in times when faculty are not available for consultation and the need is immediate. Faculty may also recommend a student for emergency funding at any time.

Reporting

The Theatre Program will track its progress on these goals and report annually to the full faculty and Dean of Potter College of Arts & Letters.

Substantive change to these guidelines may only happen by majority vote of the Department’s full-time faculty, along with the approval of the Department Head and Dean.