Campus News

'Behind the Blue': A Conversation With UK President Eli Capilouto

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 28, 2020) — The University of Kentucky is six weeks into a fall semester built around a hybrid of in-person and online classes. Masks, distancing, hand-washing, daily screenings and campuswide COVID-19 testing have become the protocol for the campus population, an initiative determined to provide a safe environment to fulfill UK’s missions of education, research, service and care.

As the university begins its all-Southeastern Conference (SEC) football season, which started Sept. 26th at Auburn University, UK President Eli Capilouto recently joined UK Public Relations and Strategic Communication’s Carl Nathe in a conversation for "UK at the Half."

On this edition of "Behind the Blue," Nathe's interview is presented in its entirety, as Capilouto discusses the university’s return to classes, how the planning process which started in the spring continues to inform decisions made in the midst of changing circumstances, ongoing efforts regarding diversity, equity and inclusion, and more.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

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As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.