After seven years as the faculty representative on the WKU Board of Regents, Dr. Patti Minter will step down after Friday's meeting.
Often an outspoken critic of athletic salaries, Minter always pressed the board to put more emphasis on academics.
“I think many people are troubled that as the cost of tuition increases, we continue to privilege entertainment over education," Minter told WKU Public Radio. "We fund a lot of wants over needs."
Dr. Minter said one of her most rewarding experiences was being a voice not just for faculty, but the students and the community.
"One of the things I noticed when I spoke about these inequities at the Board of Regents, people would stop me at the grocery store, people would stop me on campus, and thank me for what I said and they were glad someone was giving voice to that."
Dr. Minter feels some of her best achievements were bringing domestic partner benefits to WKU and making salary information more transparent. Still, she says there is work to do in the area of faculty compensation, which is below benchmark."The conversation is beginning about how we take care of our people and I think that’s a good thing, and I’m happy to have been a part of starting that and moving that conversation forward," Minter stated.
With her departure, Dr. Minter says she still plans to focus more on research and stay active with the University Senate.
Minter will be replaced on the Board of Regents by former Provost Barbara Burch. Dr. Burch is currently a professor with WKU's Educational Leadership doctoral program.
