Speech delivered by WKU president Gary Ransdell at the National Governor\u27s Association Center for Best Practices. In response to Governor Patton\u27s challenges to create Programs of Distinction and enhance the state\u27s capacity for economic development, we, at Western, have created a series of applied science centers. These centers are directing faculty talent toward creating a relevant curriculum in the sciences, toward solving environmental and material problems which limit economic development, and toward creating practice-based experiences for students. A by-product of these centers is a strengthened core curriculum which brings the applied sciences into focus for all WKU students
