WKU News

The WKU Board of Regents on Friday approved tuition and mandatory fees for 2019-20.

Beginning with the fall 2019 semester, tuition for Kentucky undergraduate students will increase 2 percent, or $100, to $5,401 per semester. Nonresident and international undergraduate rates will remain unchanged.

WKU President Timothy C. Caboni said the university is employing strategies to keep WKU affordable, including moving more financial aid to students who need it the most. “We have to make sure that everyone who wants a WKU experience can get one regardless of their family’s economic situation,” he said.

President Caboni said it is too easy to look at “sticker price,” or published tuition rates, and not at the net cost of all expenses minus aid. At WKU, the average net cost is $11,817 per year, which he said is less than many other universities in Kentucky.

“When you look at net cost, we are incredibly competitive and a tremendous value,” he said.

In other business, the Board:

• Accepted a gift of property from the College Heights Foundation and approved a lease agreement for the property.The Foundation purchased the property at 1703 Chestnut St. from John and Susan Minton for $950,000. It appraised for $1.35 million and the Mintons are providing a $400,000 gift-in-kind. WKU has agreed to lease the property back to the foundation to serve as its office.The Foundation had planned to use a $1 million gift from Cliff Todd to renovate or replace the Foundation Building, but that proved too costly.
• Approved a one-time 10 percent bonus, $40,000, for President Caboni. Regent Frederick Higdon of Lebanon said the president “excelled in exemplary fashion” during his evaluation with the board’s Executive Committee. Regent George Nichols III of Potomac, Maryland, said many leaders in higher education struggle to deal with the needs of today’s students while looking at the needs of future students. “Higher education is going through a very disruptive time,” Nichols said. “President Caboni is a visionary who can execute and focus on what our future students will need to be successful.”
• Approved an employment contract with Head Football Coach Tyson Helton. Helton’s base salary is $800,000.
• Approved a base salary increase for Athletic Director Todd Stewart to $270,000. The increase from his current base salary of $204,132 will be paid by the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation.
• Approved emeritus status to Dr. Joseph Trafton, who has retired from the Department of Philosophy and Religion after more than 40 years.
• Approved sabbatical leaves for 16 faculty members.

Contact: Bob Skipper, (270) 745-4295