President Caboni

Colleagues,

Recently, we celebrated the successful conclusion of our Opportunity Fund campaign, which raised more than $102 million to support our students and established 267 new endowed scholarships. When I announced the Fund in 2018, we prioritized three overarching goals: provide access to a degree; support students through graduation; and offer hands-on, applied educational experiences beyond the classroom.

Our campus is filled with stories of Hilltoppers whose lives have been changed because of the Opportunity Fund. As I shared with you at Faculty and Staff Convocation, I am especially grateful for the 740 faculty and staff members who gave more than $6 million to this Fund. Your commitment and support make a profound difference in the lives of our students, helping create opportunities that shape their futures. Together, our efforts foster an environment of success and intellectual growth, and I appreciate your dedication to our mission.

Although active fundraising for the Opportunity Fund has concluded, our work to support our students will continue. We remain committed to providing the resources needed to ensure a robust WKU Experience for each of our Hilltoppers.

While classroom learning remains a cornerstone of life on our Hill, we recognize that the ways our campus community engages beyond the classroom also are important. October offers multiple opportunities for the WKU Family and greater Bowling Green area to participate in campus life.

First, we are excited to welcome #1 international and New York Times bestselling author and neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Genova to campus for the second installment of our Presidential Speaker Series. Dr. Genova’s ability to blend compelling narratives with the study of the human mind offers insight for all audience members. I hope you will join me on October 15 at 7:00 p.m. in Van Meter Auditorium, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. As a reminder, the event is free to attend, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached. Please encourage your students also to attend.

October also brings two exciting midweek home football games: UTEP on October 10 and Kennesaw State on October 30. As WKU Athletics recently announced, award-winning entertainer Flo Rida will perform a free pregame concert on South Lawn prior to the Kennesaw State game. I invite you to enjoy the show at 5:00 p.m. and then head to the stadium to cheer on our Hilltoppers. As a reminder, all faculty and staff receive two free game tickets, two complimentary drinks (bottled water or soda) and two free food items (hotdog or popcorn) for each of these midweek games. You can pick up your tickets and concession coupons at the Diddle Arena ticket office Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or on game day until 4:00 p.m.

Finally, I am proud of the work we have done to offer our employees significant paid time off, which remains a key component of our overall compensation package. This time contributes to a healthy work-life harmony - essential for maintaining both personal well-being and professional productivity. As a reminder, campus offices will close for WKU’s Fall Break Monday and Tuesday, October 7 and 8. I hope this brief midsemester respite is refreshing for each of you.

Thank you for all that you do in support of our students, alumni and institution. 

Go Tops!

Best,

Timothy C. Caboni