WKU News

Dear Colleagues,

During my 2018 Investiture address, I announced the creation of The Commons at Helm Library, presenting us with an opportunity to transform the physical profile of the top of The Hill, but more importantly, enabling us to reimagine our libraries as a space where faculty and student collaboration flourishes, where pedagogical practices are enhanced, and where education continues beyond the walls of the classroom. The Commons offers a hub for many of our core campus services in an innovative space where learning and student support thrive. In tandem with our First Year Village, The Commons will provide boosts to our recruitment and student retention initiatives, while preparing students for success after their time on our Hill concludes.

Initially, we broke ground on The Commons with a target opening date of fall 2021. However, progress slowed as a global pandemic altered nearly every aspect of our lives and led to unprecedented workforce challenges and materials shortages. While we quickly adapted to provide novel dining and study options at the top of The Hill, we all experienced the shared disappointment of not having access to The Commons as soon as we had planned.

I am pleased to announce that next Monday, April 18, The Commons at Helm Library will officially open its doors to the campus community. I hope that you will make time to enjoy a meal, gather with friends and colleagues and celebrate this extraordinary space. The opening of The Commons represents a historic achievement in the life of our institution, and I am proud of the collective efforts that brought the vision of The Commons to life. Click herefor hours of operation and more information about this transformative facility.

Finally, on May 5 and 6, we will celebrate our graduates, including our fall 2021 graduates whose College Recognition Ceremonies were disrupted by the December tornadoes. As a reminder, WKU’s Spring Commencement exercises take place on Thursday evening, May 5, with individual College Recognition Ceremonies held the following day. These events draw thousands of visitors to our Hill, and we anticipate significant traffic on both days. As such, if you do not plan to attend Commencement on Thursday, May 5, I encourage you to conclude your workday early and leave campus at 3:30pm. On Friday, May 6, I ask that all supervisors implement flexible working arrangements to the extent possible that will allow offices to remain open supported by minimal staff on campus, with the majority of staff working remotely. Please visit this link for more information about Commencement and our College Recognition Ceremonies.

Thank you for all that you do to support student learning and engagement at WKU.

Go Tops!

Best,

Timothy C. Caboni