WKU News

At a news conference Thursday morning, Western Kentucky University and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System reaffirmed an agreement that will help more students across Kentucky easily transfer to WKU and earn four-year degrees.

“In 2009, WKU began signing individual agreements with KCTCS partner institutions, each strategically constructed to reduce barriers and make possible a college degree for even more aspirational students,” WKU President Timothy C. Caboni said. “This morning, we celebrate and reaffirm this critical alliance with the entire KCTCS system, a relationship that propels not only students seeking a four-year degree, but one that also strengthens WKU, KCTCS, our community, our state and our region.”

Students from the 16 KCTCS schools will have access to automatic transfer scholarships up to $4,000 and numerous support services through the WKU Transfer Center to provide a seamless transfer process. 

“In 2021, WKU and SKYCTC began working with the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and the National Association of System Heads to develop strategies and methods to make the transition from community and technical college to WKU easier than ever before,” President Caboni said. “This work included conducting a comprehensive review of the intricacies of the transfer process and implementing changes, such as the expansion of our transfer advising program and services, which significantly streamlined the process from admission to class registration.”

With more than 200 degree programs, including more than 80 offered online, WKU is accessible to community college students across the Commonwealth.

“KCTCS students come from all types of backgrounds and experiences,” KCTCS President Ryan Quarles said, “and we want to provide them with the resources they need to achieve their education goals. We are excited to continue to partner with Western Kentucky University and to expand support services to provide seamless transfer pathways for KCTCS students from across the system. Education opens doors, and increasing access to four-year degrees better prepares our students for employment success.”

The WKU Transfer Center is the one-stop location for students interested in transferring to WKU. The Transfer Center can assist students with transfer admission, credit evaluation, advising, and much more. “WKU uses academic advisors to advise students on which courses will seamlessly transfer between KCTCS and WKU,” said Dr. Chris Jensen, Assistant Vice President for Student Success. 

“Our Transfer Center works with KCTCS to create pathways to popular majors for transfer students,” Dr. Jensen said. “And WKU works with students to create an individual transfer plan if one is not mentioned on our website.”

WKU Housing & Residence Life also offers a transfer floor living option for any student who is transferring to WKU from a community college or a four-year university.

Each year, about 14,000 KCTCS students transfer to a four-year college or university. 

For more information and to learn about WKU’s transfer admission requirements, go to www.wku.edu/transfer.

For information, contact Jace Lux, jace.lux@wku.edu, (270) 745-4295; or Sue Patrick, sue.patrick@kctcs.edu, (859) 333-3177

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About Western Kentucky University: Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.

About the Kentucky Community and Technical College System: The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is comprised of regional colleges and a system office created to serve all areas of the commonwealth. With an annual enrollment of over 100,000 students, KCTCS is Kentucky’s largest provider of workforce training and postsecondary education. KCTCS and its colleges are united in their commitment to making life better for students, communities and the citizens of Kentucky.