Weekly Update: April 29, 2022

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 29, 2022) — University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto sent the message below to the campus community today.

Campus Community,

It is that time of the semester: Our students are preparing for finals week, faculty are wrapping up their grading for this term and our staff are continuing their invaluable work on behalf of our mission as we close another academic year.

All of these efforts are part of our most profound promise to advance Kentucky.

I’m grateful to each of you for your continued work, but more importantly, I thank you for the compassion and commitment you bring to our campus each day.

Please take note of the following important reminders:

Provost Search 

In December, I announced a committee charged with conducting a national search for our next provost. Over the past two weeks, four candidates participated in campus visits, including open forums. I will make a selection after receiving feedback from the search committee and our campus. It is our intent to have a new provost in place for the start of a new academic year this fall.

All information about the provost search process is available here.

Commencement Ceremonies

Our May 2022 Commencement Ceremonies will be held May 6-7 at the Central Bank Center at Rupp Arena. In alignment with current campus policies, masks will be optional at this event. The format will mirror that of our December 2021 ceremonies; individuals will leave the arena after crossing the stage rather than returning to their seats.

Commencement is an opportunity to celebrate the most fundamental component of our mission: preparing individuals for lives of meaning and purpose. More information is available on the Commencement website.

Update to International Flight Ticket Purchase Process

Concur Travel, UK’s online booking tool, has been reopened to international flight ticket purchases. UK faculty and staff on UK-endorsed trips must still purchase their international tickets through one of UK’s travel vendors (Concur Travel, AAA Corporate Travel Services or Avant Travel), but tickets will no longer be routed to the UK International Center for pre-approval. UK students (including student employees) are restricted from traveling to certain countries under AR 4:9.

Questions about travel safety during the pandemic or UK’s student travel policies can be directed to Director of Global Risk and Strategic Operations Jason Hope at jasonhope@uky.edu. More information can also be found at this link . Questions about international flight ticket purchases can be directed to UK Travel Services Director Patty Brophy at pabrop2@uky.edu. 

Masks on Public Transportation 

Masks are no longer required for passengers or employees onboard the Blue, White, Yellow, Green and Orange route buses as well as those utilizing Kentucky Wildcab and Paratransit  on-demand services. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that passengers continue to wear facial coverings, but they are now optional while riding the buses and while waiting in line at bus shelters. 

Please note that masks continue to be required on all UK HealthCare patient/visitor shuttles. Lextran has also updated its masking policy affecting all city transit routes. While recommended, masks are no longer required on Lextran buses. Please note that this policy may be modified in accordance with federal orders or requirements, or at the direction of campus health officials.

Thank you for being respectful of people’s individual masking decisions.

COVID-19 Boosters

Please remember that you are best protected when you stay up to date with all vaccinations, including, of course, the COVID-19 vaccine. Per the CDC, “COVID-19 vaccines continue to protect people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized and even dying — especially people who have received a booster.”

The CDC recommends COVID-19 boosters for individuals aged 12 years and older. Some individuals are eligible for a second booster (fourth dose). If you haven’t already, please sign up for your vaccine or booster as soon as possible.

Schedule your vaccine or booster.

Thank you for your role in advancing Kentucky.

Eli Capilouto

President