Western officials plan to stimulate campus programs and research with money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Faculty and staff in areas across campus, including the Ogden College of Science and Engineering and the College of Health and Human Services are preparing proposals for stimulus money.

Western will bid farewell to Richard Kirchmeyer next semester and welcome a new vice president for information technology.

Kirchmeyer’s retirement date is Sept. 30, said John Bonaguro, dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

A committee chaired by Bonaguro will continue interviewing candidates this week and next week, Bonaguro said.

A proposal from President Barack Obama’s administration would cut the number of student loan programs from two to one.

Congress continues to discuss options for the competing loan programs as some financial aid gurus worry that having only one loan program would be a disservice to students.

President Gary Ransdell said Western officials prepared for the state’s revenue drought before officials forecasted next year’s budget deficit.

The state budget office announced last week its prediction that next year’s deficit will be between $818 million and $1.

Friends remember James Morris Bingham of Bowling Green as a feisty character.

Bingham, who was a 67-year-old retired assistant geography professor, died Saturday, May 2 at Greenview Regional Hospital, said Eddie Smith, manager of J.C. Kirby Lovers Lane Chapel.

Western fundraisers might not win the battle against the recession this year, but they think they’ll take the $200 million prize in the end.

Western has brought in less money so far this year than last year, but university officials are confident that Western will reach its $200 million capital campaign goal by 2012.

Sam Dunaway didn’t go to Western, but he’s donated about $1.3 million so some students can pursue higher education on the Hill.

Dunaway, who owns Dunaway Timber Company in Fordsville, has provided eight students with full-tuition scholarships for the 2009-2010 school year, said Tom Hiles, vice president for institutional advancement.

Students might think twice about dropping classes next semester after the Board of Regents made the practice pricier.

The board voted to change the add/drop fee for next semester from $20 to $50 instead of charging a $30 fee on top of tuition for each credit hour a student takes exceeding 15 hours.

Honors College Director Craig Cobane said that when someone replaces him, “hopefully in 500 years,” they’ll get to help students through the endowed professorship created for his position.

Endowed professorships are prestigious faculty positions, said Tom Hiles, vice president for institutional advancement.

The Board of Regents approved salary increases for some university personnel Friday.

It’s a decision that doesn’t sit well with some faculty and staff members who will get one-time bonuses instead of raises next year.

At least one faculty member has resigned in the wake of the raises.