WKU News

Dear WKU Colleagues,

Helping students succeed requires us to connect what they learn in the classroom with the people, experiences, and support available throughout WKU. To strengthen those connections, the university has made an enterprise investment in Suitable as our institutionally supported platform for discovering and documenting student engagement.

Several areas of WKU, including the Gordon Ford College of Business, the College of Health and Human Services, the Honors College, and Student Activities, invested in Suitable before the university-wide expansion. Their work demonstrated its potential. By funding an enterprise license, WKU has made the platform available across colleges and units, so more students can find meaningful experiences and recognize the skills they develop through them.

As part of this transition, WKU’s former Activity Scanner for documenting event attendance has been sunset. Colleges and units that previously relied on it should work with the Suitable implementation team to record participation through Suitable. Suitable’s integration with Blackboard will also help connect students’ classroom learning with experiences beyond the classroom, giving them a fuller picture of the skills they are building throughout their time at WKU.

Our initial university-wide effort includes the WKU Ready badge, which introduces students to academic resources, their college, campus involvement, community connections, and WKU traditions. Over time, Suitable will also help us better understand student participation and assess how these experiences contribute to belonging, persistence, and career readiness.

I ask colleges and campus units to participate by identifying appropriate activities for Suitable and promoting engaging opportunities to students. Faculty can contribute by pointing students toward experiences connected to their courses or fields. This effort should build on programs already in place without placing substantial new responsibilities on individual faculty members.

The Suitable implementation team, soon to be led by a new Assistant Director for Student Success Analytics and Software Engagement, will continue to provide guidance, resources, and training opportunities to support consistent use across WKU. Thank you for the many ways you help students find their place here and prepare for what comes next.

Sincerely,