WKU President Timothy Caboni presented the university’s ONE WKU Campaign to state legislators Tuesday morning during the Interim Joint Committee on Education meeting in Frankfort. 

Caboni joined the presidents of the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University and Murray State University, where they were scheduled to present information to and answer questions from lawmakers on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Caboni said diversity on campus is defined by things such as geographic background, age, education, language, food insecurity, socioeconomic status, political views first-generation and marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, abiloty and disability, military status, religion, culture, ethnicity and race.

The ONE WKU Campaign, which launched in 2020, intends to cultivate a sense of belonging for every individual who comes to campus, Caboni said, emphasizing the importance of supporting students on an individualized basis. 

“Professors not only know their student’s names, they know who they are and they know how to help,” Caboni said.

Caboni noted the work of Student Support Services, Living Learning Communities, first-generation programming, registered student organizations and global study, as well as research opportunities and free speech as examples of how to foster student success. 

“What we know is that students attain success by experiences and engagement, both inside and outside the classroom,” Caboni said. “The support structure we provide must continuously evolve to meet the needs of our students throughout the course of their college journey.”

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