WKU President Timothy Caboni’s annual evaluation was the last item on the Board of Regents quarterly meeting agenda on Dec. 8. 

The process for the evaluation usually begins in August with all 11 members of the Board completing a comprehensive survey “regarding performance across multiple areas of presidential leadership.” The surveys, themselves, are not available to the public, Jace Lux, university spokesperson, said.

Instead of reading all 11 surveys, Regent Chair Philip Bale, along with help from Regents W. Currie Milliken and George Nichols III, wrote a one-page statement congratulating the president for his work.

“With respect to overall performance, it is again the unanimous opinion of our Board that President Timothy Caboni continues to be an effective leader and visionary for our university,” the statement reads.

The document praised Caboni for his “clear vision” in diversity, fiscal responsibility and political knowhow. 

Under fiscal responsibility, the Board said they have made “significant” strides under Caboni’s guide.

“Under President Caboni’s guidance, our Board recognizes the significant progress that has been achieved towards fiscal stability,” according to the statement. 

The Board also mentioned Caboni’s political knowhow in both the state legislature and in fundraising.

“Dr. Caboni has demonstrated political astuteness and refreshing legislative success in addition to the culmination of the best 10-year fundraising effort in the history of WKU,” the statement reads. “And, in the past five years, under President Caboni’s leadership, the University has received more gifts than during any other five-year period in our institution’s history.”

Finally, the Board said Caboni “reimagined new methods” for both the budget and the curriculum process “which requires greater input” from stakeholders and brings “greater transparency to those critical functions.”

“It is the expressed opinion of WKU’s Board of Regents that President Timothy Caboni has performed at an exceptionally high level in meeting these challenges and positioning Western Kentucky University to thrive and attain those ever-greater heights imagined within our strategic plan,” the statement reads.

At the end of the meeting, Caboni thanked the board for his evaluation but said while he, as president, is highly visible, it takes a lot of people to succeed.

“I want to thank the Board for their continued confidence in me,” Caboni said. “ Kacy and I are blessed to be in these roles and [we] continue to be energized and thankful. While I appreciate the vote of confidence, I also want to thank the cabinet, the deans […] everyone who works to advance the institution.”

As of the time of publication, the official evaluation by the Board has not been published.

Administration reporter Michael Crimmins can be reached at [email protected].