WKU News

WKU earned the second highest score among the state’s public, 4-year institutions on the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education’s (CPE) latest report on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Adopted in 2016, the Kentucky Public Postsecondary Education Policy for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion calls on campuses to create an environment aimed at producing culturally competent graduates and promoting academic success for all students. The CPE evaluates state campuses each year based on metrics that align with this policy and the state’s overall strategic agenda for higher education. Metrics include undergraduate and graduate enrollment, workforce diversity, retention rates, graduation rates, and the number of degrees completed by both underrepresented minorities and low-income students.

WKU’s DEI team is led by two Chief Diversity Officers, co-directors Mr. Michael P. Crowe Jr. and Dr. Molly Kerby. “This report further demonstrates WKU’s work and commitment to elevate the conversation around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Kerby said. “Though much of the DEI efforts at WKU is a work in progress, the partnership between the divisions of Academic Affairs and Enrollment and Student Experience has the potential for shifting the culture of WKU.”

Crowe added that "we have a commitment to evaluate, centralize, expand, and embed the diversity, equity, and inclusion plan in the enrollment, orientation, new faculty/staff on-boarding, professional developments, curricula, and the overall student experience while engaging the colleges where student interact most." 

Crowe and Kerby affirm the University’s commitment “to create an inclusive environment, as evidenced in our strategic plan, ‘Climbing to Greater Heights,’ by implementing a variety of initiatives under the ONE WKU effort.” The collaboration between Academic Affairs and Enrollment and Student Experience is designed to ensure all students have the opportunity and the resources to complete their degree programs in a timely manner and to provide “all faculty and staff with a workplace valuing and encouraging diversity, equality, and inclusivity.”

Contact: Molly Kerby, molly.kerby@wku.edu; or Michael Crowe, michael.crowe@wku.edu