News and Campus Messages

New Year Brings More Opportunities to Advance Kentucky

Eli Capilouto

Aug 25, 2025

Campus Community, This is one of my favorite times of the year. Each August, I get to talk with students as they move onto campus, meet the families who support them and spend time with the faculty and staff devoted to helping our students succeed — experiences that energize the start of another academic year.

This is a photo from Big Blue U of students on the Kroger Field in the shape of Kentucky.

President Capilouto's Remarks at Big Blue U 2025: "We the Wildcats"

Eli Capilouto

Aug 22, 2025

Good evening, class of 2029 and welcome to the University of Kentucky. For many of you, this is the first community you have chosen for yourself. And from the very beginning of our nation, we’ve been reminded of the power of a united community. There’s a reason the first three words of our Constitution are We the People. Those words and what they symbolize endure because they are intentional…collective…they signal action… Those words helped build a nation.

This is a photo of the University of Kentucky campus.

Important Message for Our Community

Eli Capilouto

Jul 18, 2025

We have been made aware of allegations of disturbing conduct, including an online petition calling for the destruction of a people based on national origin. That petition — which can be interpreted as antisemitic in accordance with state and federal guidance — appears to be authored by a university employee who is circulating it broadly online. We condemn any call for violence and the views expressed online certainly do not represent the institution’s views. They express hate.

This is a photo of the UK sign on University of Kentucky campus.

Update on Federal Actions

Eli Capilouto

Jul 7, 2025

Campus Messages, Government Updates

On July 4, President Trump signed into law a massive tax and spending package after passage by both chambers of Congress. The package represents an important challenge to our entire university and especially our health care system. Specifically, it contains a significant shift in funding for the way UK HealthCare has over the past several years fulfilled its mission to treat and heal the sickest patients, particularly in rural areas of Kentucky.

This is a photo of University of Kentucky graduates. UK Photo

Budget Prioritizes Students, Employees and Health of Kentucky

Eli Capilouto

Jun 13, 2025

Campus Community,A budget — whether in a household, business or university — is how we understand priorities. How we spend our time and resources makes clear what we care about the most.This afternoon, the UK Board of Trustees enacted our budget for 2025-2026, an $8.6 billion spending plan that says we care about:

outside the front of Gatton Student Center

Update on Federal Actions

Eli Capilouto

May 23, 2025

Government Updates

Early Thursday morning, the House adopted its version of a large tax and spending bill, which now goes to the Senate for its review. A final package will have to be reconciled by both chambers before going to the President.

This is a photo of the UK sign on the Gatton Student Center building on the UK campus.

Investing in You: A Budget That Puts Our People First

Eli Capilouto

May 15, 2025

As we finalize a proposed university budget for the 2025-2026 academic year that will be presented to the Board of Trustees in June, I want to outline three key initiatives — representing more than $80 million in additional investment in compensation and benefits — that are central to our continued efforts to take care of our people:

This is a photo of the University of Kentucky campus in the spring.

Public Review Process for Next Set of Draft ARs

May 1, 2025

As I communicated in my message to campus on March 12, the Board of Trustees has directed us to proceed with next steps in reviewing and revising the Administrative Regulations (ARs) to ensure they align with the institution’s updated Governing Regulations (GRs). Per the Interim AR 1:6 — Formulation and Issuance of University Administrative Regulations, the campus community is asked to comment on the draft ARs prior to my approval. The feedback process is described in Interim AR 1:6, section II.

This is a photo of students walking during a class change on April 14, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Carter Skaggs

Our Principles and Priorities as Kentucky’s University

Eli Capilouto

Apr 29, 2025

Government Updates

Campus Community, We are moving quickly into the final two weeks of the spring semester, a time that has traditionally been filled with anticipation, joy and celebration. But I realize that, for many, the recent policy changes facing our university — and higher education across the country — have resulted in questions and uncertainty.

This is a photo from the Grand Re-Opening of Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Photo courtesy of UK Athletics

Honoring the Legacy, Future of Memorial Coliseum

Eli Capilouto

Apr 28, 2025

The speech below was presented by University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto at the Grand Re-Opening of Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, April 26, 2025. A video recording of this speech is available to view here. You can view all the speakers here.

Email	pres@uky.edu
Phone	859-257-1701
Fax	859-257-1760