President Caboni

Colleagues,

Welcome to another exciting academic year at WKU! As we make final preparations to welcome our students to the fall semester, I would like to thank you for your dedication to our mission of ensuring all Hilltoppers are positioned for success.

I enjoyed our time together this morning at our Faculty and Staff Convocation as we reflected on last year’s successes and previewed some of the work on our horizon. Congratulations to this year’s Spirit of WKU award winner, Dr. Marko Dumančić. His remarkable contributions to our institution and sincere commitment to our students serve as an inspiration to us all. For those who couldn’t join us this morning, a copy of my address is located here: www.wku.edu/convocation.

This week, many of our newest Hilltoppers begin their time on our Hill by attending M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan. This preparatory program helps new students connect with peers, acclimate to campus, learn and practice WKU traditions and engage with faculty and staff – all before classes start. For more than three decades, M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan has helped participants begin their first semester better prepared, more confident and equipped for success. Thank you to our Housing and Residence Life staff for their diligent and thoughtful preparation and to the faculty and staff who volunteered as Cluster Facilitators.

As students begin classes this week, please encourage them to take advantage of office hours, reminding them of this terrific opportunity to get to know their professors outside of the classroom and to deepen their engagement with course materials. We know having a close relationship with a faculty or staff member is the best predictor of success and satisfaction for students.

Finally, I invite you and your family to join us this Friday at 5:30 p.m. on South Lawn for Topper Fest and Fan Fest. This family-friendly evening will feature food from Aramark and local food trucks, outdoor activities, autograph sessions with Hilltopper student-athletes, music by The Downtown Band, fireworks at dark and more. As a reminder, all WKU faculty and staff members will receive two free drink tickets with a WKU ID. You can learn more about Topper Fest here: https://www.wku.edu/topperfest/.

I am looking forward to a wonderful year together on our Hill! Go Tops!

Best,

Timothy C. Caboni