WKU News

Dear Students,

Commencement provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the hard work and persistence of our students and to celebrate our university’s core mission of transforming lives through the WKU Experience. As I shared previously, this May we will gather in-person as a Hilltopper Family to recognize our graduates’ tremendous achievements, and we look forward to celebrating all those who completed their degrees in both 2020 and 2021. 

Although distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is underway, it’s imperative that we continue following our Healthy on the Hill guidelines until advised otherwise by health officials. With the understanding that spring 2021 Commencement activities will look different from years past (decreased capacity, physical distancing and masks), our planning team has worked diligently to engage our graduates and identify the commencement elements most important to them. Their priorities have shaped our priorities, and the team used their feedback to guide our planning, which I am pleased to share with the WKU Community today: 

Dates, Times and Locations

Fall 2020 and spring and summer 2021 graduates

Saturday, May 1, at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium

10am – Gordon Ford Business College; College of Health and Human Services

6pm – Potter College of Arts and Letters; College of Education and Behavioral Sciences; Ogden College of Science and Engineering

Spring and summer 2020 graduates

Saturday, May 8, location TBD

10am – all colleges

Tickets and Registration

We understand the significance of family and friends witnessing their graduate’s degree conferral. With capacity limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, graduates will receive four tickets, distributed by text message, for guests to be seated in L.T. Smith Stadium. Additionally, on May 1, a limited number of overflow seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis inside Diddle Arena where the ceremony will be shown on the video boards. If Diddle Arena reaches capacity, any additional guests will be directed to the South Lawn to view the live stream.  

Individual Recognition

Because individual recognition is incredibly important to our graduates, we are introducing an exciting, new component to our celebration. In collaboration with Full Measure, every graduate will be honored on the video screen during the ceremony with a self-submitted photo or video. We ask that all graduates update and double-check their cell phone number and email in TopNet as all information for graduates will arrive via text. Additionally, Topper Walk continues this year with a special pre-ceremony walk alongside fellow college graduates. 

Where to Find More Information

I encourage our WKU Community to stay up to date on our commencement activities by visiting: https://www.wku.edu/commencement/.

I can’t wait to celebrate with you. Go Tops!

Best,

Timothy C. Caboni