PRESS RELEASE
Glasgow News 1
The Student Life Foundation announced today that Regents Hall and Normal Hall, two of its newest residence halls on the campus of Western Kentucky University, will be temporarily closed for at least the upcoming academic year following the results of an independent engineering assessment conducted by a nationally recognized firm.
While both halls received certificates of occupancy prior to opening in 2021, the assessment was commissioned in the Spring semester of 2025 as a precautionary measure after the Student Life Foundation questioned whether issues similar to those discovered in Hilltopper Hall could exist in Regents and Normal.
“We engaged an independent, nationally respected engineering firm to thoroughly evaluate the situation,” said Brad Howard, Chair of the Student Life Foundation, which owns the residence halls located on WKU’s campus. “Regents and Normal do not appear to share the same significant structural issues identified in Hilltopper Hall. However, some components do not meet Kentucky’s commercial occupancy standards and must be addressed before students can return.”
As a result, students will not reside in Regents or Normal Halls during the 2025-2026 academic year while necessary code-related repairs are completed.
The study revealed the following as among the primary items that the Student Life Foundation needs to address in Regents and Normal Halls:
- The ceilings must be replaced to comply with building code requirements.
- Bracing must be installed on the first and second floors of both buildings to enhance resistance to high winds and seismic activity.
Hilltopper Hall, closed in early 2024, was the subject of an in-depth structural analysis that revealed widespread design and construction flaws. Today, the SLF also announced the permanent closure and eventual demolition of Hilltopper Hall, after concluding that repairing the building is not feasible.
The future use of the site will be determined at a later date.
The closure of Regents and Normal Halls will necessitate shifts in fall housing assignments, affecting approximately 1,000 students. WKU has sufficient capacity to meet on-campus housing demands. To ensure flexibility and maintain alignment with student housing preferences, the Student Life Foundation is finalizing a lease agreement with the Hyatt Place hotel adjacent to campus.
WKU Housing and Residence Life staff are currently distributing updated housing assignments.
“Our focus remains on supporting every Hilltopper throughout their journey on our Hill, said Martha Sales, Vice President of Student Experience and Dean of Students. “The changes we announced today, including a new premier housing option and significant renovations to several existing halls this summer, represent our commitment to delivering a premier living and learning experience at WKU.”
“Through the years, we’ve worked closely with the Student Life Foundation to address challenges as they have arisen,” said WKU President Timothy C. Caboni. “Our students and their well-being remain our shared top priority, and we’ve demonstrated in the past that we’re willing to make tough decisions if they’re in the best interest of our students.”
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