The annual WKU Faculty and Staff Convocation took place Monday morning at Van Meter Auditorium, where President Timothy Caboni previewed the upcoming academic year, highlighted campus accomplishments and presented the Spirit of WKU award.

WKU Opportunity Fund

Caboni shared progress on the WKU Opportunity Fund which, according to him, “established a critical pathway to ensure every student at WKU could have the full college experience.”

The fund has increased since it was established in 2018, starting with a goal of $50 million. After it was reached, the goal was raised to $100 million in 2021. Caboni announced in his address that the fund has surpassed the goal again, with more than $102 million, establishing 267 new endowed scholarships. 

“We more than doubled the initial vision we established for the fund, and it changes lives,” Caboni said.

According to Caboni, the fund has provided 20,205 students with private scholarship support since its implementation. 

The Mahurin Honors College

Caboni detailed plans to appoint a task force to consider revisions regarding curriculum and programming within the Honors College. 

“Since its creation, the Mahurin Honors College has provided outstanding opportunities for students seeking to challenge themselves academically,” Caboni said. “It has been instrumental in attracting high-potential and high-achieving students to WKU, and it differentiates us from other universities through the community and support it provides honors scholars. However, 17 years after its establishment, the College remains very much the same as when it was founded.”

He said the task force will consider ideas such as how to embed the honors curriculum in each college, expand the honors self-designed studies process, look into replacement options for the Honors College LLC and more. 

Caboni also paid tribute to Craig Cobane, former executive director of the Mahurin Honors College who died in May, calling Cobane a “respected colleague, mentor, advocate, teacher, and, most importantly, a cherished friend.”

Caboni noted the Board of Regents’ decision to honor Cobane by renaming the office suites in the Honors College and International Center after Cobane. 

R2 institution status

In efforts to become Kentucky’s first Carnegie-classified high research institution, R2 for short, Caboni said he has asked academic leadership to “think critically” about the PhD programs WKU may begin to offer.

“PhDs in programs like Disaster Sciences, Rural Leadership Policy Studies, AI/Data Analytics, all for example, could build upon our existing resources and successes and position us to be an innovative leader nationally and among Kentucky’s research institutions,” Caboni said.

Caboni said WKU is “well on our way” to increase research expenditures to $40 million. He said last year, WKU received $28,690,920 in total external funding. 

He also said he plans to convene a task force to explore creating an interdisciplinary school focused on AI, computational studies and data analytics. 

“The foundation for this school exists, but we must do more to differentiate ourselves regionally, be more competitive nationally and capitalize on the booming fields of artificial intelligence and big data,” Caboni said.

Enrollment and retention

Caboni described the class of 2028 as one of WKU’s “most talented first-year classes,” with an average GPA of 3.45. He also noted that total enrollment for the fall semester is up 1.2% from last year.

Caboni said over the last six years, overall student retention increased by 8.1%, which makes the total rate 79%, one percentage point below his 80% goal. 

Within the overall increase, Caboni said retention among minority students and low-income students in the past six years increased by 16.9% and 7.9%, respectively. 

Caboni additionally shared retention statistics of those involved in Living Learning Communities and said students “best succeed” when they engage in LLCs. 

“Our fall 2023 LLC students returned this spring at 4.5 percentage points higher than non-LLC participants, and preliminary data for this fall indicates a retention rate 8.1 percentage points higher during the past three years,” Carboni said. 

According to Caboni, 782 incoming first-time, first-year students are participating in an LLC this semester. 

“Our collective efforts to ensure the success of every one of our students are truly remarkable,” Caboni said. 

Campus changes

Caboni said “the restoration of our Hilltop” was completed this summer, which he said enhances accessibility, improves pedestrian circulation and generates new greenspace. 

“Now, The Commons at Helm Library, the Colonnade, Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center, Potter Hall, Van Meter Hall, Gordon Wilson Hall and Cherry Hall create an oval academical village, returning the top of our Hill to the original design envisioned by President Cherry and our founding architects,” Caboni said.

Caboni noted the opening of the Soccer/Softball complex last September. He additionally mentioned ongoing facility projects such as the new Gordon Ford College of Business building, the remodeled press box, which is set to open this fall, and the Hilltopper Fieldhouse, planned to open next fall. 

WKU received $160 million for the replacement of the Academic Complex, where the College of Health and Human Services is located. Caboni said the planning and design phase for the project began this summer, and construction is scheduled to begin next summer.

Caboni also said renovation on Cherry Hall is scheduled to begin next fall.

“As guardians of this space, we have a responsibility to both maintain our picturesque campus and to constantly reimagine how it might support the needs of tomorrow, ensuring that it serves our students, our faculty, our staff and our broader community for generations to come,” Caboni said.

Campus achievement

Caboni noted achievements made by WKU Forensics, the Big Red Marching Band and students who competed in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program. 

“Our Hilltoppers continue to excel both inside and outside of the classroom,” Caboni said. 

He said WKU Forensics won the National Forensics Association national title and was named the state champion at the Kentucky Forensics Association state championship for the 32nd consecutive year. 

“Not only is WKU Forensics unmatched statewide, but we are also without equal anywhere in the nation,” Caboni said.

Next, Caboni mentioned the Big Red Marching Band’s opportunity to perform in the London New Year’s Day Parade. According to Caboni, the band is the largest in Kentucky, with over 300 members. 

Caboni also mentioned WKU’s sixth-place finish in the Hearst’s overall intercollegiate national competition. This win marked the 31st consecutive top-eight finish.

Several awards the institution received last year were additionally highlighted by Caboni, including $5.8 million awarded to the WKU Lifeskills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research, over $3 million to the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, more than $1.3 million to WKU to support K-12 principal apprenticeships through Project ELEVATE and $2.1 million as one of eight institutions participating in CLIMBS, an effort funded by the National Science Foundation.

During the 2023-24 academic year, WKU invested over $860,000 in institutionally awarded scholarships for more than 400 students to study abroad, according to Caboni.

“WKU consistently leads the commonwealth in nationally competitive study abroad scholarships,” Caboni said. “With $355,000 earned in study abroad scholarships this year, the Office of Scholar Development continues to open doors and expand horizons for all WKU students.”

Caboni said WKU was recognized as a top producer nationally by the Gilman Scholarship and Boren Awards programs.

First-generation students

Caboni said during the 2023-24 academic year, over 700 first-generation students were involved in university-appointed programming. He said this year, this will develop through First to the Hill Academy, an initiative modeled after ISEC Academy. 

“Targeted resources, mentorship and community-building initiatives remain essential to ensuring these students not only persist, but graduate, setting them on a path to long-term success,” Caboni said.

Spirit of WKU

Marko Dumančić, assistant provost, director for the Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning and associate professor of history was announced by Caboni as the Spirit of WKU Award Winner. 

Caboni said Dumančić has made the History Department more inclusive, was awarded the 2017 Faculty Award for Teaching, published several research articles, authored an award-winning book, played a major role in developing LLCs, is a founding member of the committee behind WKU’s annual Lavender Recognition Ceremony and provides active leadership for WKU’s F1rst Gen initiatives.

“He works to ensure that all students know they belong at WKU, and he has an unwavering commitment to student success,” Caboni said.

Caboni concluded the address by thanking the audience for their attendance.

“We have many successes to celebrate as an institution and many more to celebrate in the future,” Caboni said.

Content Editor Ali Costellow can be reached at [email protected]