Dear Colleagues,
The first phase of Elevate WKU - our complete reimagining of student housing and the
broader student experience on the Hill - is now underway. We are calling this first
phase the Southern Gateway, and it represents an important step in transforming the way students live, learn
and connect on our campus.
Work on the Southern Gateway began with the demolition of Douglas Keen and Hugh Poland
Halls, clearing the way for a new 1,000-bed facility. The new residence hall will
enhance the student experience, provide additional support and space for our Living
Learning Communities and create a stronger sense of connection for the students who
call our Hill home.
We will celebrate this important milestone with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility on Tuesday, October 20, at 10:00 a.m. I hope you will join me for this exciting day as we begin bringing this vision for
the future of housing at WKU to life.
Parent and Family Weekend is September 25-26, and we are expecting thousands of families to visit campus to spend time with their
students and experience life on the Hill. These visits are about more than a weekend
of activities. For many families, it is an opportunity to see firsthand the community
their students have joined and the people who are helping them succeed. Every interaction
in a classroom, residence hall, office, dining facility, athletic event or simply
walking across campus helps shape their impression of WKU. Let’s make sure our guests
experience the welcoming Hilltopper spirit that makes this place special.
Athletics provides another opportunity for us to build community and show our students
that we are behind them. As a reminder, all WKU faculty and staff can receive two
free tickets, two free drinks (soda or bottled water) and two free food items (hot
dog or popcorn) for two home football games this fall. The dates are:
- October 8: WKU Football vs. Missouri State
- October 27: WKU Football vs. Delaware
You may also purchase additional tickets to these two football games for just $10.
To receive your complementary tickets, visit the Diddle Arena ticket office Monday
through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or on game day until noon. Please note
that you must pick up tickets and concession vouchers in advance. As a reminder, we
will host country music superstar Tyler Hubbard for a free pre-game concert on South Lawn beginning at 4:30 p.m. prior
to the football game versus Delaware on October 27.
Finally, the university will be closed for Fall Break on Monday, October 5, and Tuesday, October 6. Paid time off is an important part of our benefits package, and I hope you will
take advantage of this opportunity to pursue the activities you enjoy outside of work
as our semester reaches its midpoint.
I am pleased to share another benefit that I hope will give our faculty and staff
some additional time to rest and recharge at the end of the semester. We will provide
an additional five days off for this year’s Winter Break, extending the break to a full three weeks away from
work. Therefore, this year’s Winter Break for employees will begin on Monday, December 14, with work resuming
on Monday, January 4. I hope this extended time away provides you with an opportunity to enjoy the holiday
season, spend meaningful time with family and friends, rest and return to Hill ready
for the spring semester.
There is much to look forward to at WKU. From welcoming families to campus and cheering
on our Hilltoppers to breaking ground on the next generation of student housing, this
year presents countless opportunities for us to strengthen our university and the
experience we provide our students and each other. Thank you for all you do each day
to make WKU a place where students can learn, belong and thrive. I look forward to
seeing you around the Hill, and I hope you will join me for these important moments
in the months ahead.
Go Tops!
Best,
Timothy C. Caboni
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