Dear Colleagues,
The summer provides us with the opportunity to reflect on the previous academic year and to prepare strategically for the year to come without the incessant pressures of the academic term. It also offers us the ability to spend time with family, friends and loved ones. With just more than a month before the start of classes, I am excited to share with you some of the remarkable progress we have made and some important developments taking place across the WKU community.
Last month our Board of Regents passed the university’s 2024-2025 operating budget. The $394.2 million budget will ensure financial stability and continued growth while enhancing the WKU Experience for our students and investing in our faculty and staff. Notably, the included 2% salary increase pool demonstrates our ongoing commitment to offering a competitive total compensation package for our employees. University budgets are complex and dynamic, and I am thankful for the time our regents invested to thoroughly study and understand the budget before voting to approve it.
I also am delighted to welcome our newest regents, Derrick Helm and Jennifer Hammonds, to the board. Derrick’s dedication to his alma mater is a tremendous asset to the Board of Regents, while Jennifer’s optimism and transparent, thoughtful decision-making are equally invaluable. I look forward to working with Derrick and Jennifer - and the rest of our regents - this academic year as we seek to advance the mission and vision of WKU, ensuring that we continue to provide an exceptional educational experience for our students.
Our annual Big Red Road Trip continues to provide me with the opportunity to connect with community leaders, prospective students and their families and WKU alumni in our service region and beyond. In June, I visited Logan, Ohio, Daviess and Hardin Counties, and this week I will spend a week in the greater Nashville area sharing the WKU story and fostering deeper engagement in the region. These visits help us to strengthen our community ties, establish new partnerships and showcase the extraordinary opportunities available at WKU.
Finally, as a reminder, we will gather in Van Meter Auditorium at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 12, for our annual Faculty and Staff Convocation. I look forward to sharing with you some exciting details that will help shape and define our 2024-2025 academic year and beyond. Also, last week we announced our fourth annual Topper Fest, set for Friday, August 16, at 5:30 p.m. on South Lawn. I appreciate all those working to plan this remarkable event. More details about Topper Fest can be found here.
Thank you for your continued dedication and support. Our success requires a collective effort, and I am grateful for the hard work and continued commitment of our entire WKU community.
Go Tops!
Best,
Timothy C. Caboni
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