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WKU Regents Approve New Doctor of Psychology Degree, Swear in New Faculty Regent

WKU is one step closer to offering a doctorate in Applied Psychology.

The school’s Board of Regents approved the degree program at its quarterly meeting Friday. The new Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) would be offered through the Department of Psychology in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

The Council of Postsecondary Education must now OK the program before the school could begin offering classes in the fall of 2015.

Dr.Phillip Bale, who serves as chair of the WKU Regents’ Academic Affairs Committee, hopes those graduating from the program will be able to offer increased mental health services throughout the region.

“Anyone who is familiar with the statistics regarding mental health not only in Kentucky, but in rural areas across the country, there is a real dearth of services available. As a primary care physician, I welcome any program that is going to help afford more opportunities for people to get help.”

According to a 2013 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 41 percent of U.S. adults and fewer than 20 percent of children who needed mental health services received the support they needed.

Also at Friday’s WKU Regents meeting, Dr. Barbara Burch was sworn in as the school’s new Faculty Regent. She takes over the position held byHistory Professor Patti Minter for the last seven years.

Dr. Burch is a former WKU Provost who currently teaches in the school’s Educational Leadership doctoral program.

Kevin is the News Director at WKU Public Radio. He has been with the station since 1999, and was previously the Assistant News Director, and also served as local host of Morning Edition.
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