WKU News

During the past several years, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations about what success truly means for WKU. Institutions of higher education are often judged by the number of students they enroll. However, as I have shared before, we have intentionally shifted away from measuring ourselves primarily by headcount toward a more meaningful measure of institutional effectiveness.

Institutions can always widen the front door. But too often that approach means admitting students we know are not yet positioned to thrive. And in some cases, it may mean investing scarce scholarship dollars simply to reach an arbitrary number.

Since 2017, we have made deliberate and sometimes difficult decisions - strengthening admissions standards, adding additional support mechanisms for students who may be at risk and aligning our resources more intentionally around student success. Those decisions reflect our commitment to inviting students to WKU who are prepared to succeed while ensuring that we surround them with the academic support, mentoring and engagement opportunities necessary to help them flourish. That work continues to yield extraordinary results:

• This past year, WKU achieved its highest one-year retention rate in institutional history at 79.4%. Nearly eight in ten of our first-year students returned for their second year - a powerful affirmation that students are finding community, support and momentum here.

• We also recorded our highest four-year graduation rate at 50.7%, meaning more than half of our students are completing their degrees on time. This, in turn, reduces debt, accelerates career readiness and fulfills the promise they made to themselves and their families. And our six-year graduation rate climbed to an all-time high of 59.1%, reflecting sustained progress across multiple cohorts and reinforcing that our focus on persistence and completion is working.
• Perhaps most importantly, we awarded 4,688 degrees last year, the largest number of annual degrees in WKU’s history. That represents 4,688 stories of perseverance and possibility. And, notably, WKU is producing more undergraduates than any university in Kentucky except UK.

As we continue that work, we remain committed to supporting the well-being of the faculty and staff who make it possible. The pace of higher education is demanding, and sustained excellence requires balance. Soon, campus will close for Spring Break from Wednesday, March 18 through Friday, March 20, offering an opportunity to pause our work and recharge to finish the semester strong. And as we look ahead to summer, we will once again operate on a 34-hour workweek from Monday, May 11 through Friday, August 14. Offices will maintain regular hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, while supervisors and employees work together to arrange schedules that meet operational needs and allow for flexibility where possible. Thoughtful planning now, including reviewing the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic calendars, will help ensure a smooth transition into the next academic year.

Finally, as we celebrate academic achievement, we should also continue to rally around the experiences that unite our campus community. Supporting our student-athletes is one meaningful way we demonstrate our Hilltopper spirit. To that end, I hope you will join me at the WKU Softball Complex on Thursday, April 2, at 6:00 p.m. as our softball team takes on Sam Houston State University. I also invite you to Nick Denes Field on Wednesday, April 22, at 6:00 p.m. when our baseball team hosts Austin Peay State University. For each game, faculty and staff will receive two complimentary tickets and two vouchers for a hot dog and drink (soda or bottled water). Beginning today, you may pick up tickets with a valid WKU ID at the E.A. Diddle Arena Ticket Office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.

Let’s fill the stands, celebrate our student-athletes, demonstrate our WKU spirit and enjoy some time together outside of our daily routines!

Go Tops!

Best,

Timothy C. Caboni