Numbers That Tell a Story of Transformation

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2014) — Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Eric Monday regularly blogs about UK's campus transformation. Over the weekend, Monday presented to the UK Board of Trustees about the university's transformational impact. He posted the following blog post today,telling a story with numbers:

40 months.

84 projects.

$1.36 billion.

Three numbers. Linked together for a transformational impact.

And more than anything else, the numbers tell a compelling story about you and this special place. We shared this story at our Board of Trustees retreat this past weekend; I'm excited to share it with you.

Over the last 40 months, under Eli Capilouto's leadership as president, our Board of Trustees has authorized 84 construction projects, each totaling more than $600,000. Those projects, in total, represent nearly $1.36 billion in investment — investment in quality of life, investments in academics and research, investments in health care, and investments in infrastructure.

Consider the breadth and depth of the investment that is taking place across our campus.

It's authorization for more than $1 million in construction each and every day and more than $33 million a month — all on this campus. It's nearly 4.4 million square feet of space.

The total investment represents roughly one-third of the value of UK's current total physical plant and is greater than our endowment, which at about $1 billion is the largest among Kentucky's colleges and universities.

But more important than sheer volume, square footage and space is what those numbers mean in terms of impact on this campus and for our Commonwealth.

New residence halls, with collaborative, high-tech learning spaces, are allowing faculty and students to work more closely together than ever before.

Additional space in the Chandler Hospital is further extending the network of specialized, complex care we offer to more Kentuckians throughout our state.

New classroom space affords us the opportunity to teach and learn with Kentucky's best and brightest in a setting that enhances learning and scholarship.

All of the investment means that we can extend and enhance the work we do for Kentucky … with Kentucky. We are — with nearly 150 years of history to guide us and a mission as Kentucky's flagship, land-grant institution — rooted in community.

And these numbers — 40 months; 84 projects; $1.36 billion in infrastructure — tell a story about steadfast commitment to making the future for Kentucky and the communities that we partner with even brighter.

I'm excited to be part of a team of people, working with a President and Board, dedicated to this place and committed to a mission that is uniquely ours at the University of Kentucky.

Go Cats.

Eric

@UKYMonday

Read more of the Monday Blog here. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Geegan, (859) 257-5365; sarah.geegan@uky.edu