President Caboni

Dear Colleagues:

At the end of January, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) announced its District III awards, which recognize the very best in advancement across the Southeast. WKU had a terrific showing, tying with the University of Alabama for fifth in the entire district, behind North Carolina State University (1), Emory University (2), Virginia Commonwealth University (3) and Auburn University (4). I am proud of the outstanding work produced by our Communications & Marketing and Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement teams that continues to enhance our institutional outreach and communication efforts, especially during a global pandemic. The full list of WKU recognitions is below:

• Publications Pivot: WKU Spirit Online Edition – GRAND GOLD
• Digital Communications: WKU Day of Caring – GOLD
• Magazines, Alumni/General Interest 2x Per Year: WKU Spirit – GOLD 
• Fundraising Pivot: WKU Donor Experience Officer Launch – SILVER
• Events on a Shoestring: Facing the Freshman Year – SILVER
• Writing for the Web: WKU Student Feature Series – BRONZE
• Photography Series: WKU Agriculture Research Education Series – BRONZE
• Poster Design: High School Counselor Mailing – BRONZE
• Short Information Video: Childhood friends from Belize reunited on WKU Campus –BRONZE
• Single Sheet Publication: Salsa Night Promotion – BRONZE 

WKU continues to work with state and local partners to advocate for our faculty and staff to gain access to the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Vaccine availability in our area, however, remains limited. Once we receive notification that appointments can be made for our employees, we will distribute those instructions. I appreciate the sustained compliance to our Healthy on the Hill guidelines by all those in our WKU Community. Because of the high level of cooperation, this semester we continue to experience a low number of COVID-19 cases and have had only one positive flu case reported by the Graves Gilbert Clinic on campus.

Finally, our commencement planning team continues its work to develop a celebration that appropriately honors our graduates. All of the applicable graduating classes have been surveyed, and our events staff and planning team are actively using this input to construct ceremonies that celebrate our Hilltoppers’ achievements and protect the health and wellbeing of all those attending. I encourage every member of the WKU community to participate. We will announce specific details once finalized, but in the meantime, please add the following dates to your calendars:

Fall 2020 and spring 2021 graduates

Saturday, May 1, at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium

10am – Gordon Ford Business College; College of Health and Human Services

6pm – Potter College of Arts and Letters; College of Education and Behavioral Sciences; Ogden College of Science and Engineering

Spring and summer 2020 graduates

Saturday, May 8, location TBD

10am – all colleges

As we head into the fifth week of the semester, a critical period of time for our students’ success, thank you for your work to support and guide our students. Our Hilltoppers continue to thrive, even during these unusual circumstances, because of your personal attention and commitment to their success.

Best, 

Timothy C. Caboni