K2 Not Just for New Students; It's a Campus Celebration

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 13, 2014) — The spring semester’s K2 event is not an abbreviated version of the wildly popular K Week, the University of Kentucky’s fall welcome for new incoming as well as returning students; it’s simply a more intensive version.

K2 comprises what most students consider the most helpful, most essential offerings of the fall.

“K2 is meant to welcome the new students starting at UK in the spring and welcome back the entire UK community for a new semester. In surveying students, we have found that many of them seem to think K2 is just for new students. All UK students are invited to attend most of the events, particularly the social ones; the K2 Kick-off is our one event marketed specifically to all new undergraduate students,” said Nancy Stephens, assistant director of New Student & Parent Programs, UK Division of Student Affairs.

The K2 schedule stretches from now through the end of the month. The schedule includes UK Athletics events, a half-day session with advisors the day before classes begin, college and department events, a couple of SAB (Student Activities Board) events, academic tips from The Study, presentations by the Counseling Center, and much more.

Many of K Week’s most popular offerings are mirrored at the K2 Kick-off, including a welcome by Provost Christine Riordan, a professor’s academic tips, a campus involvement and leadership presentation, and UK Parking & Transportation’s tips on getting around campus. Relevant breakout sessions specifically for transfers, freshmen, and military veterans, a campus tour to locate students’ classrooms and a K Team dinner are also on the schedule. Students will be able to choose if they want to be on a K Team, a small group of other new students to befriend, led by a member of our Super Crew.

“The Office of New Student & Parent Programs recognizes that starting a new school can be particularly challenging in the spring semester, and we want to do everything we can to welcome our new students to the University of Kentucky,” said Student Affairs Transition Director Lauren Goodpaster. “We hope that by attending the K2 Kick-off and other campus events throughout K2, students will know there is a community of support from faculty, staff, and students alike, as well as a number of ways to connect to campus resources and opportunities.”

What best proves the success of the program, of course, are the opinions of past attendees, like these:

• "[The K2 Kick-off] cleared up the 'haze' of transferring to such a big school. Questions like, 'how do I get involved?' and 'is it easy to meet people?' were answered. It really helped me get into the UK swing of things."
•  "I am glad UK offers K2 for incoming students in the spring. There are a lot of opportunities I feel incoming spring students do not get to take advantage of ... so having K2 was really nice. Thank you."
• "Transfering to UK, I was very nervous. Attending this helped me so much. I felt so welcomed and all of my questions were answered. I was so excited by the end of it that I couldn't wait until I started classes. I would definitely recommend this to anyone!"
• "K2 was really helpful and I'm glad I attended! I was apprehensive but decided it would benefit me for the best. I was never treated with this much helpfulness, kindness, and respect at my previous college, so K2 was a positive experience by far! Already I'm getting involved and making UK my home. I feel K2 helped me achieve this level of comfort."