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.