WKU Department of Society, Culture, Crime, & Justice Studies

04/21/2026

04/15/2026

Our fundraising campaign for the SCCJS Du Bois Scholarship is now live!

This scholarship was first established in 2020, but we are now asking for your help in growing the scholarship fund in order to be able to give more support to our wonderful students!

Once the goal is met students will be awarded the scholarship based on the following criteria:

a. Must be enrolled as a full-time student at Western Kentucky University.
b. Must be majoring in the Department of Society, Culture, Crime, & Justice Studies.
c. Must convey the personal qualities of character, integrity, dependability, industriousness and human compassion which produce leaders and merit the honor of this award. Preference will be given to applicants with strong records of community service and leadership.

We appreciate your support in this! Copy the link below to view the fund!

https://alumni.wku.edu/s/808/cf19/interior.aspx?sid=808&gid=1&pgid=7534

03/30/2026

Thinking of joining our team? Wanting to be more involved in SCCJS? You’re in luck! SCCJS is now accepting applications for student ambassadors!

Qualifications include:
- Sophomore, junior, or senior in good standing
- A major/minor within SCCJS
- A cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher
- A positive and enthusiastic attitude toward WKU, PCAL, and SCCJS
- Demonstrates responsibility, reliability, and strong time-management skills

Help us grow our department, build your skills, and represent one of the hearts of !

Applications are due April 8th, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.!

Have questions? Reach out to Ashley Patkovic, Administrative and Operations Coordinator, at [email protected] or FAC 130.

We can’t wait to meet the new faces of SCCJS!

03/30/2026

The application for the Undergraduate Leadership Conference is live!

Take a trip to Camp Miniwanca on the coast of lake Michigan from Friday, May 22nd to Wednesday, May 27th! Gain leadership skills, build life-long bonds, and discover new activities.

Apply to receive a scholarship that will cover conference registration, room and board, transportation costs, and conference meals.

*Applications close April 8th, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.*

03/13/2026

03/11/2026

WKU SCCJS and WKU History are proud to announce our next Brown Bag: Careers and Internships in Historic Preservation!

Please join us Tuesday, March 31 in FAC 140 from 1 to 2 pm.

Our speaker will be Dr. Nicole Roth, Site Identification Program Administrator at the Kentucky Heritage Council!

A free lunch will also be served at 12:45. We hope to see you all there!

03/06/2026

Please join us next week in welcoming the Kentucky Supreme Court!

On Wednesday, March 11 and Thursday, March 12, the KY Supreme Court will be having oral arguments at the Eva & Jim Marten’s Alumni Center in the Robertson-Feix Ballroom. Both oral arguments will take place from 10:00 am - 11:30 am.

On Wednesday, March 11th, there will be a panel discussion held in Houchens Industries Auditorium located in Chandler Hall at 4:00 pm.

Students who are interested in:
- American Government
- Constitutional Law
- Police Institutions
- Public Policy
- History & Civic Life
are HIGHLY encourage to attend!

02/27/2026

Calling all Sociology and Criminology students! Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society is now enrolling eligible lifetime members. To join you must meet the following criteria:

1. Have declared sociology major, sociology minor, criminology major, or criminology minor.
2. Be of Junior, Senior, or Graduate standing.
3. Have completed at least 60 credit hours of college prior to initiation, including 12 credit hours in sociology or criminology at WKU.
4. Have maintained a 3.3 GPA overall as well as a 3.0 in all sociology and/or criminology courses.

The induction ceremony will be part of our SCCJS annual student recognition ceremony on Monday, April 13, 2026. It will be held in the Martens Alumni Center!

Questions can be directed to the SCCJS office suite, FAC 130!

*A lifetime membership in AKD requires a one-time due payment of $25. Checks can be made to Dept. of Society, Culture, Crime, and Justice Studies. Venmo to -Krull-2; Cash; Cashiers Check. Please drop off application and payment in FAC 130, the SCCJS main office suite. Payment and completed form is due by 4:30 pm Friday, March 13.*

02/24/2026

Big thanks to the Kentucky Museum for hosting Dr. Ferrell's Cultural Diversity class! We look forward to discussing the "What Happened to Jonesville?" and "Facing the Freshman Year" exhibits in class. WKU Department of Society, Culture, Crime, & Justice Studies WKU Potter College of Arts & Letters

02/19/2026

On Wednesday, February 18th, students gathered in the Alumni Center to experience the Poverty Simulator.

Students were able to step into the shoes of those who experience economic insecurity and learned how to navigate the cost of living while dealing with limited time and resources.

We hope participants left with an understanding of poverty and what it’s like in other people’s shoes!