President Caboni

Dear Colleagues,

Last week marked the beginning of a lifechanging journey for our first-year students and a much-anticipated return to a more typical WKU Experience for our continuing Hilltoppers. Our students need our support now more than ever, and I appreciate your work to provide them with a strong start to the fall semester.

Thank you to all who volunteered to assist with Move-In. Simply showing up, pushing a cart and lending a hand demonstrates our interest in their success from day one. Thank you to those who executed a successful M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan, assisting our newest students with their academic and social transition to campus life. Your work pays tremendous dividends as this critical week sets the tone for their WKU careers. And thank you to everyone who assisted with Topper Directions, demonstrating the WKU Spirit so clearly with a smile and a map - helping our new students navigate campus.

As we settle into the fall term, please pay attention to the mental health of your students (as well as the well-being of your colleagues and yourselves). We all endured a challenging year and a half. I know many continue to feel disappointment in the resurgence of the virus and the disruption it creates. If you need assistance having conversations with students exhibiting mental health struggles, please contact Dr. Karl Laves or Dr. Peggy Crowe at the Counseling Center.

Finally, Hilltoppers wear red and Hilltoppers show up -- to WKU musical performances, campus lectures, theatre productions, sporting events and all of the in-person gatherings that make participating in a campus community special and that we missed last year. This week, I hope you will join me in the stands as we go head-to-head with the University of Tennessee-Martin in our first home football contest. Unique to this game, instead of wearing red, be sure to wear white for our WHITE OUT! And you don’t want to miss the inaugural Big Red’s Rush as we celebrate our newest students with a pre-game tailgate and field-run.

Best wishes for a successful term and academic year.

GO TOPS!

Timothy C. Caboni