New Faculty Guide

The Topper Orientation Program (TOP) is a one-day, new student orientation program for full-time, degree-seeking, first-time freshmen. TOP introduces students and guests to the WKU culture, pertinent policies and procedures, and activities and student life programs. Students are separated by college or academic program to learn about requirements for general education, major and minor programs, and to meet with an academic advisor and register for classes. To assist them in getting into required sequences and foundation courses for their majors, including (if necessary) supplemental courses, the Advising and Career Development Center pre-registers students for full-time status prior to TOP. During TOP, students have the opportunity to make changes to their pre-registration, as well as complete the rest of their schedule. TOP offers a parallel parent/guest orientation that provides information relevant to parents. The program includes welcome sessions from each college and an opportunity to meet one-on-one with a financial aid counselor.

Transfer students generally complete TOP Online, and within 48 hours following completion, an academic advisor contacts the student to arrange for an advising appointment. During the advising appointment, transfer credits, degree requirements, and scheduling for the upcoming semester are discussed.

Both undergraduate and graduate international students participate in an orientation program provided by WKU International. The program incorporates many of the features of TOP, but also includes elements specific to international students, such as the federally mandated check-in.

The mission of the Department of Student Financial Assistance at WKU is to assist qualified students, regardless of financial background, in securing resources to finance their college education. In support we are committed to being responsive to customer’s needs, maintaining the integrity of programs administered by our department, being accountable to the University, State, Federal, and third party entities, supporting University recruitment and retention strategies, and providing a family work environment that facilitates both personal and departmental growth.

University Learning (IDST 199) is an elective three-hour credit course designed to support students as they navigate the rigorous academic and social transition into the post-secondary setting. IDST 199 refines students’ skills in critical thinking, reading comprehension, approaches to studying, and information literacy. Through the course, students are introduced to campus resources and centers, technology, and other important student services. Delivering these supports to incoming first-time freshmen via a curricular experience is a core component of the University’s strategy for first-year experience as students who successfully complete the University Learning course tend to remain at WKU after their first semester. All students are encouraged to take IDST 199, especially those with lower test scores and/or high school GPAs. Students whose reading placement exam score(s) do not meet a minimum threshold are required to take IDST 199.

The Advising and Career Development Center (ACDC) provides academic and advising support to the majority of first-year and second-year students, with the exception of those in audition-based majors and pre-acceptance programs advised within the academic units. Advisors and staff within the ACDC are knowledgeable about every undergraduate program WKU offers. The center coordinates academic advising activities among undergraduate and academic departments for undergraduate students, and all degree-seeking undergraduate students must meet with an academic advisor prior to registering for classes each semester. The academic advisor assists the student in the selection of courses that will provide appropriate preparation for career objectives and ensures timely completion of degree program requirements. Academic advisors at WKU also provide guidance regarding academic resources, internship possibilities, and key information for student success while working toward graduation. Generally, students with fewer than 60 hours of college credit, including transfer students, are assigned an ACDC advisor who works closely with the academic colleges. To help students connect to their advisor, all ACDC advisors send an email at the start of each semester to welcome their advisees, and then a follow-up email within the first three weeks of the semester to check in and provide a list of helpful resources. Students with a declared major and 60 hours or more are assigned an advisor from the academic department that administers their particular program of study.

All students and alumni are provided career development services to assist them in identifying and reaching their career and employment goals. This is achieved by offering students career advising, internship/practical work experience, job fairs, and job search counseling.

WKU supports students through intrusive programs that assist students in becoming successful learners, particularly those needing supplemental coursework. Within recent years, approximately one-third of new freshman students enter WKU underprepared in English, reading, and/or mathematics.

Starting with the Fall 2019 incoming cohort, students admitted to WKU with an unweighted high school GPA of a 2.00-2.49 were admitted to the institution by way of the newly created Summer Scholars Program. Students arrived on campus in July, and were required to pass two three-hour credit courses with grades of “C” or better to continue their enrollment at WKU in the fall semester. Participants also attended meetings with academic advisors, financial aid counselors, and peer mentors. This program allowed students to experience many facets of campus life prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

Students with an academic standing of Academic Warning are invited to attend an Academic Warning Workshop during the first week of classes each semester. These workshops inform students of what the Academic Warning standing means, review information on policies such as course repeats and academic renewal, and provide a list of campus resources they can utilize to help restore their academic good standing.

All students with an academic standing of Academic Probation or Academic Committee Approval are required to participate in the Best Expectations Program (BEP), a 12-week workshop series that teaches students the importance of positive study habits and time management to help them become successful learners. Students in the program create individual academic success plans to help address their personal academic and non-academic concerns and to set new goals for how they can achieve success in their educational journey.

Within The Learning Center (TLC), currently enrolled WKU undergraduate students are provided with free peer-to-peer, course-specific tutoring and can make appointments for one-on-one tutoring. The Peer-Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) program is provided through TLC. This program pairs a student tutor with an assigned section of a course identified as a high-enrolled/high-failure course. The student tutor attends the class and hosts two to three study sessions for course participants. In addition to tutoring for course-specific content, TLC offers assistance with academic skill areas such as note taking, time management, test taking skills, and others. TLC is housed in two locations within the Downing Student Union to provide access to study spaces, computers, and a shared printer for students. Online students and students taking courses at WKU regional campuses are able to access the services provided by TLC virtually.

Several departments on campus offer student support services in their area of expertise. These resource centers are as follows:

• The Writing Center offers individual writing consultation to all WKU students, which is provided by English Department majors and graduate students. The Writing Center has locations in Cherry Hall, WKU's Glasgow campus, and via Zoom to be able to serve all WKU students. Online resources are available to students who otherwise would not come in for a consultation. Finally, the Writing Center offers additional resources and workshops developed in response to faculty requests and student needs.
• The Literacy Center serves students who arrive at the University underprepared to read and study at a college level. The center offers both one-on-one and group sessions, and assists online students and WKU regional campus students via Adobe Connect.
• The Student Athlete Success Center houses academic advising staff, a computer lab, and a study area designated solely for use by student-athletes. The center is also equipped with conference rooms and study rooms for student-athletes to meet one-on-one with tutors and to work on projects.
• The Student Success Center within the Gordon Ford College of Business provides its students free peer tutoring for select courses to ensure academic success.
• The Communications Success Center offers assistance with speech preparation and delivery as well as social scientific essay writing, including APA citation style.
• The History Department's Student Success Center has history tutors to help students develop essays and writing pieces to effectively express ideas and concepts.
• The Physics Help Center, run by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, offers face-to-face and online student assistance to help students with concepts and problem-solving skills in introductory physics courses.
• The Chemistry Tutor Center offers free tutoring services for chemistry courses. Tutors are selected by the department and have experience in multiple chemistry courses and a passion for helping others learn chemistry.
• The Math Help Lab, operated by the Mathematics Department, provides free tutoring, focusing on students taking general education mathematics courses. The Mathematics Department also provides the Math Testing Center for students to take both computer-based and paper-based exams in a proctored environment if they are registered for an online course or to retake Math Placement Exams, if eligible.

All WKU students have access through the One-Search Library Catalog to multiple online databases to find books and articles available online or through interlibrary loan. The WKU Libraries offer extensive online support through on-call reference librarians, live 24/7 chat, research guides, extensive journal databases that can be accessed from anywhere, and individualized librarian support through appointments by phone and chat. These services are provided to all WKU students so library resources and support can be accessed from anywhere and at any time.

All WKU students have access to the ITS Service Desk which is accessible by phone and chat during extended hours and weekends. In addition to speaking with a live WKU ITS staff member, students can manage password resets, access software downloads, and access helpful articles that walk through the most common problems, such as setting up email on mobile devices and using a two-factor authentication system. The regional campus staff include an IT Consultant who is responsible for maintaining classroom and computer lab technology at our regional instructional sites, as well as supporting students who may have hardware or software issues. 

The Counseling Center is committed to promoting the academic mission of the University by providing a variety of psychological services to students that will augment recruitment, retention, and graduation by strengthening students' capacity to tolerate distress, form healthy relationships, and seek healthy expressions of their ideals and values. It also advances the University's mission by providing educational programming, training, and consultation not only to students, but to the faculty, staff, and constituents of WKU as well. WKU recently created and launched My Mental Health #WKU which expanded the breadth and depth of self-service access to mental health resources.

The Student Accessibility Resource Center (SARC) assists with coordinating activities through many other campus offices, as well as public agencies, to meet the needs of students with documented physical or mental disabilities. SARC collaborates with Academic Affairs, the Counseling Center, Advising and Career Development Center, Intercultural Student Engagement Center, Office of Admissions, Office of the Registrar, Housing & Residence Life, and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). Outside agencies include the Office for Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services Division. SARC collaborates with the Division of Extended Learning and Outreach (DELO) to accommodate students who are studying online and provides assistance in setting up alternative testing facilities and coordination of other proctoring needs. SARC works with visually impaired students to ensure accessibility of instruction and provides assistance for faculty who work with students both on WKU campuses and online. Some students with disabilities receive priority registration for class selection with particular attention to locations of accessible classes.

The Office of the Dean of Students (ODS) is intentionally designed to support core institutional missions and values. With this overarching goal in mind, the office operates within a student-facing philosophy while concurrently serving an administrative leadership function. Specific student-facing tasks include:

• Creating a campus climate where the institutional mission and values are conveyed and reflected in student behavior/conduct
• Serving as liaison between students and the University
• Operating as an information and bi-directional communication portal for students, parents, and other constituents
• Coordinating interventions, student resources, student success programming, and student engagement initiatives

The Student Ombuds Officer is appointed by the Provost and serves as an information source and point of communication for students who believe they may have a personal grievance regarding an alleged violation, misinterpretation or improper application of University policies and procedures, or alleged improper treatment.

Adult Learner Services is a program specifically designed to help adult students aged 25 and older pursue a college degree. It offers a wide variety of assistance to "non-traditional" students. These services include degree audits, aid in getting admitted or readmitted, help connecting with financial aid counselors, setting up system logins and passwords, registering for classes, navigating Blackboard and online classes, and further referrals to campus services.

Housing & Residence Life (HRL) manages the University's residence halls and provides student programs on college living, health and safety, academics, diversity, and other topics, often in cooperation with other offices in Enrollment and Student Experience. The department also provides support and training to its student staff. Residential students engage in various social and educational programs planned and implemented by Resident Assistants. The programs address outcomes in at least one of Housing & Residence Life’s four Competency Areas: Academic Success, Community Living, Identity Development, and Multicultural Competence. Housing & Residence Life also coordinates M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan (Making Academic and Social Transitions Educationally Rewarding). This week-long orientation program for entering first-year students is meant to ease their transition to university life and increase their chances for academic success. Faculty and staff have the opportunity to engage with incoming students by serving as large group facilitators to provide a variety of program content. Additionally, HRL provides a Parent & Family Portal to help educate and connect individuals who help support students. Finally, HRL supports the academic mission of the University by partnering with Academic Affairs to offer nineteen Living Learning Communities and a themed-living option.

The Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC) was created and designed to assist with recruitment, retention, and graduation for students of color and LGBTQ+ students through a myriad of ways. The ISEC Academy is a Living Learning Community with students arriving on campus three days before university-wide programming at the start of each fall semester to assist with navigating college life, enhancing student expectations, and eliminating barriers to success. For students of color and LGBTQ+ students who do not participate in the ISEC Academy, the WKU Center for Academic Resources & Success (WKU CAReS) provides additional support. Students are provided with peer mentors to guide their success. An additional resource through ISEC that serves LGBTQ+ students is the Pride Center. ISEC hosts or co-sponsors academic, social, cultural, and celebratory events, such as Black History Month, Hispanic History Month, and Pride Month. Additionally, ISEC hosts a WKU graduation celebration for students of color and LGBTQ+ students.

The U.S. Department of Education TRIO programs offer competitive grants to colleges, universities, and other agencies who provide additional services to prospective and current students who are first generation, underrepresented ethnic minorities, low-income, and/or students with disabilities. WKU has successfully secured funding for the following programs: Educational Talent Search 1, 2, and 3, Educational Opportunity Center, Upward Bound, Veterans Upward Bound, and Student Support Services (see usage data). These programs target eligible undergraduates with academic potential and motivation who meet federal income and first-generation guidelines, and provide academic advising, personal counseling, tutoring, priority registration, scholarships, grant money, and participation in a targeted University Learning class.

The Kelly Autism Program (KAP) and the KAP Circle of Support Program works with approximately 45 WKU students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as they pursue their college degrees. The Circle of Support includes availability of private housing, study tables, mentoring, and social networking activities. KAP staff work on enhancing students' executive functioning skills, as well as providing tutoring sessions staffed by undergraduate and graduate students from WKU who have been trained in using evidence-based practices for individuals diagnosed with ASD. Mentors help each participant get acclimated and involved in various clubs and organizations on WKU's campus while the KAP hosts social events several times each month.

WKU has been consistently ranked as a "Best for Vets 4-year College" by Military Times Edge magazine. WKU has also been designated as a "Military Friendly School" every year since 2009 by Victory Media. Several offices work closely with the military and students related to the military, including the Office of Military Student Services, Veterans Affairs in Student Financial Assistance, TRIO Programs, The Graduate School, and Office of the Registrar. Services that support military students include course credit for military experience and training based on American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations include a dedicated Military Programs Counselor who specializes in assisting active duty service members, a military tuition rate for all service members currently on Active Duty, serving in a Reserve unit (excluding those on Individual Ready Reserve) or in a component of the National Guard, assistance with GoArmyEd and other tuition assistance programs, a free textbook lending program called Textbooks for Troops™, the Student Veterans Alliance, Veterans Upward Bound, Vet-2-Vet peer mentorship program for new incoming veterans, and availability of U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force ROTC programs.

The Graduate School serves both as the point of contact for prospective graduate students and as a liaison between enrolled students, faculty, and the University as a whole. For prospective students, the Graduate School provides graduate program and admissions information through the website and by direct contact. Academic support includes specific training for the development of future faculty through the Graduate Assistant Teaching Institute (GATI), assistance in writing and completing thesis and dissertations, access to the Academic Common Market, and a Frequently Asked Questions resource.

The Topper Orientation Program (TOP) for Online Learners allows for intuitive, real-time interaction between student and staff that builds valuable relationships with students who can often feel disconnected from campus due to their location. Upon registration, new online students are enrolled into a Blackboard organization for WKU C.A.R.E.S. (Coaching for Academic Readiness and Excellence), an online student success coaching initiative which provides high-touch support for online learners and is targeted to freshmen and at-risk students in particular. The mission of C.A.R.E.S. is to provide support that helps online learners reach their potential, build confidence, and succeed in reaching their academic goals. C.A.R.E.S. introduces students each week to modules designed to leverage student success such as time management, study skills, and test taking. Additionally, online learners are invited to participate in individualized academic success coaching.

WKU Online through Online Student Services includes a student resource portal that points students toward tools for online learners provided at a distance, and provides comprehensive, one-click access to student resources across campus. Professional staff with Online Student Services respond to student questions and help them through the admission, registration, and class start processes by phone, email, and online chat. Services include online tutoring through The Learning Center and the online Writing Center, an orientation for online learners, support for connecting to the Blackboard learning management system, how to access their student information through TopNet, and how to access their email account to facilitate communication.

Academic advising is provided to online students via advisors on the Bowling Green, Kentucky campus or at one of the regional campuses. Students can be advised via Zoom, phone, or email to ensure they have academic plans that put them on a path to timely graduation.

The Division of Extended Learning and Outreach (DELO) manages two testing centers for students who are taking courses that require proctored exams. The DELO Testing Centers help students schedule proctored exams anywhere in the world. WKU's online programming earned the university a designation of #20 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs in U.S. News and World Report's 2020 ranking of online programs.

The Office of Student Conduct is the “Judicial Umbrella” at Western Kentucky University. Within the Division of Enrollment and Student Experience, direct supervisory jurisdiction of student behavior matters involving violations of the Student Handbook is assumed by the Director of Student Conduct who serves as the senior conduct officer of the University. Under the direction of the Dean of Students, the WKU Student Handbook is reviewed every two years.

At WKU, the safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff is extremely important to us. We have created this website as a place where students, faculty, staff, and the community can visit to find resources related to campus safety, security, emergency preparedness, and more. 

The Western Kentucky University Police Department is a professional full service agency operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Officers have police powers, including arrest powers, under Kentucky Revised Statute 164.955. Our agency consists of 21 sworn police officers, 9 communications officers, 2 student workers, and 1 office associate. The department provides services to the Main Campus and owned or operated property by Western Kentucky University which includes South Campus, The Center, Lost River Cave, and The WKU AG Center.