Campus News

'Behind the Blue': UK’s Fall Restart and Ambitious Plan to Test Over 30,000 Students for COVID-19

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 24, 2020) — The University of Kentucky has announced detailed plans for testing up to 30,000 students for COVID-19 as part of its plan to restart in-class instruction Aug. 17.

The testing details are the first in a series of announcements UK will be making over the next few weeks regarding steps being taken to protect the health, safety and well-being of the campus community as it prepares for the Fall 2020 semester.

On this episode of "Behind the Blue," Tyler Gayheart, director of strategic communications and enterprise salesforce operations; Nick Kehrwald, UK’s dean of students; and UK Police Chief Joe Monroe join us to discuss this announcement and the testing plans that will attempt to create a baseline of screening, contact tracing and other health measures for the UK community.

"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.