Dear Faculty and Staff,
I hope you enjoyed a restful winter break and that you took some time to relax and recharge. As I shared with you in December, your work resulted in tremendous, record-breaking successes at WKU last year. We all should be proud of the progress made toward our goals for recruitment, retention, graduation and access, as well as the many other achievements we celebrated across our university.
As we begin a new year on the Hill, we have several strategic initiatives, three of which I announced at my investiture four years ago, on which we have made significant progress and will continue our work to increase student success at WKU:
1. SCHOLARSHIPS: Our efforts to increase access and decrease cost for our students continues with four new scholarship offerings, effective fall 2021.
2. FIRST YEAR VILLAGE: Opening in fall 2021, the First Year Village reconceptualizes the on-campus living experience at WKU for first-year students.
3. WKU COMMONS at HELM LIBRARY: The Helm Library is being transformed into a modern, multipurpose, student-centered building that offers multiple dining options, provides individual study and collaborative work spaces, and facilitates student engagement with faculty and staff.
4. THE INNOVATION CAMPUS at WKU: Launching this year, The Innovation Campus at WKU is designed to increase close partnerships between businesses and the university. It will elevate our role as a regional lighthouse attracting outside investment and will enhance Warren County’s position as the entrepreneurial connector between Nashville and Louisville.
