State of the University of Kentucky is Hopeful, Innovative

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 16, 2010) – University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr., is not giving up. And he doesn't see UK's campus losing hope either.

Against a backdrop of a continued global recession, Todd focused on innovation in his final State of the University Address.

"I see a campus united in mission, unnerved by our financial condition and budgetary times," he said. "I see a place that is staring adversity in the face and, instead of whining, trying to find creative solutions to help us through these tough times."

Todd spotlighted pioneering UK faculty, staff, students and alumni as leading innovators amidst the most challenging of economic eras, focusing on Dining Services and the Emergency Department, as well as the College of Arts and Sciences and student athletes.

After Todd thanked UK alum Tom Hammond, who has emceed the State of the University Address since its inception, he introduced UK's new vice president for Student Affairs, Robert Mock, as well as new deans Michael Tick in the College of Fine Arts; Tim Tracy in the College of Pharmacy; and Terry Birdwhistell in UK Libraries.

Todd related Birdwhistell's story as example to UK employees of the educational assistance UK offers; Birdwhistell began work at UK as a student as he pursued his master’s degree. The Kentucky native went on to receive a master’s in library and information science and a doctorate in educational policy studies through UK’s Employee Education Program.

Todd focused on UK HealthCare's Chandler Hospital Emergency Department, represented by Dr. Roger Humphries, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine. "UK is now home to the most state-of-the-art emergency room in the country," Todd said of the only Level 1 Trauma Center serving Central and Eastern Kentucky.

Todd also cited the work of Mark Kornbluh, dean of UK's College of Arts and Sciences, and the college's 30 new online courses offered this past summer.

"That surge, combined with several initiatives launched as part of Provost Subbaswamy’s War on Attrition, helped UK set a record in the number of students who took summer classes as more than 9,000 students enrolled in summer courses this year," said Todd.

Todd spoke of campus innovators like Lisa Ruble and Dean Mary John O'Hair in the College of Education. Through a $1 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant from the National Institutes of Health, Ruble is currently working with teachers in 15 Kentucky counties on a project to train teachers working with autistic children in the classroom, particularly in the Commonwealth's rural communities that lack resources for such innovative programming.

O’Hair has engaged all 17 of UK's Colleges through the College of Education's P20 Innovation Lab in collaboration with Kentucky's public schools to add value to the state's educational system. "It is that type of approach – that type of outreach – that will help us change Kentucky," said Todd.

UK is also home to some of the nation’s leading energy innovators. Todd mentioned the College of Agriculture's Seth DeBolt, as well as researchers like Steve Lipka in the Center for Applied Energy Research.

UK was also one of only 20 schools in the world selected to participate in the 2009 Department of Energy Solar Decathlon and came in 9th, thanks to a team of faculty and students led by Don Colliver in the Department of Biosystems and Agriculture Engineering and the College of Design’s Greg Luhan, said Todd.

UK's innovation will be on full display during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, with UK HealthCare serving as the official health care provider for the Games; the College of Agriculture ensuring horse and rider safety throughout the event; and UK Opera Theatre’s Everett McCorvey's planning the Opening Ceremonies; and the Visitors Bureau's utilitization of UK's Solar Decathlon house at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Todd also discussed UK’s Campus Dining Services, "a department that has made enormous strides in improving campus life by responding to student requests for more national restaurants on campus and expanded their catering options and conservation efforts," he said. UK Dining Services, in collaboration with the School of Music and the Student Center, was awarded a Gold Medal dining award by the National Association of College and University Food Services.

Todd took the innovation discussion off campus with UK alumnus and Kentucky native Bub Asman, who won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Sound Editing for his work on “Letters from Iwo Jima.” Asman was in attendance at the event.

As his final State of the University Address drew to its close, Todd focused on his and Patsy's favorite part of the job: the students, or "the innovators of tomorrow."

Todd provided an overview of UK's stellar freshman class, 4,326 students, with a record 25.2 ACT composite average and an average high school GPA of 3.60, also a record.

This freshman class is also the most diverse class in UK history with increased African-American and Hispanic enrollment, which Todd reasoned was partly because of an increase in African-American faculty.

Todd recognized UK’s Singletary Scholars, who receive top academic scholarships, one of many of UK’s merit- and need-based scholarship programs that are not endowed.

"It is estimated that UK will spend $55 million in general fund dollars to fund scholarship program in 2010-11," he said, which led into a discussion of UK's launch of the Presidential Scholarship Initiative, a fundraising plan designed to ensure that a UK education remains accessible to all Kentuckians.

"Scholarships provide young people with the greatest gift anyone can give: the gift of opportunity," said Todd.

Todd also honored UK Track and Field athlete and eight-time All American Rondel Sorrillo and his coach Don Weber. Sorrillo, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, captured UK’s first NCAA Championship in the 200-meter dash in 2010.

"Mitch Barnhart and his team within UK Athletics have worked hard to make sure that every student-athlete that comes to UK and competes in any sport will have an opportunity to compete for championships," said Todd.

In addition to focusing on innovation, Todd reflected on the successes of the university despite the challenging economy as well as goals for the future of the institution. Research expenditures are now at record levels --- nearly $370 million; the university recently announced a record retention rate of 81.8 percent and announced the most academically prepared freshman class in its history even as enrollment continues to increase; and UK's operating budget has expanded from $1.2 billion when Todd became UK's president to $2.4 billion now, despite the fact that UK’s state appropriations remained flat.

Student Government President Ryan M. Smith, in his second term, highlighted the achievements of Student Government (SGA) over the past year and relayed new, exciting opportunities for students.

“The reach of Student Government continues its commitment to enhancing the quality of campus life for each and every student,” Smith said. “Our acts range in scope from the miniscule to the magnificent, but they remain present to those to whom it matters most: the students.”

An initiative launched last year that has had resounding success is the TallyCats program. TallyCats is UK’s comprehensive student involvement program that aims to not only encourage student involvement but increase retention rates. In its first year, students who participated in the TallyCats program had a retention rate nearly 10 percent higher than the average student.

SGA’s Leadership Development Program, a program for UK freshmen who are interested in becoming campus leaders, has become extremely popular. Several hundred students applied for the 40 spots in the program, up more than 75 percent from last year’s application pool.

Student Government launched a scholarship drive at last year’s address and remains committed to its goal; SGA continues to actively fundraise across the state to raise funds to relieve students of ever increasing educational costs. SGA has also increased the amount of funding available to student organizations.

Smith also announced a new SGA venture, the Student Driver Pilot Program, a program that has developed out of a desire to serve the student body in a safe, practical and reliable manner. “Along with UK Administration and the committed folks at LexTran, we have developed a program to provide free transportation Thursday through Saturday late into the evening when students are making their way around campus for weekend activities,” Smith said. “There is no question in anyone’s mind that student safety is a priority, and I am committed to reducing the number of safety-related incidents for all students regardless of where you might live. Through this program, we aim to eliminate any dangers which may arise late at night.”

Smith’s most poignant remarks came during his reflection on the presidency of UK President Lee T. Todd Jr.

“All of these good deeds – these committed works – are but of a relative fraction when held against the accomplishments of a man whose large shadow will be cast over this campus for generations to come,” Smith noted. “A man whose vision to elevate this university into a world renowned research institution - a pillar for public higher education - is nearly unparalleled. He has time and again displayed a deep and resounding love for this campus, and an unrelenting charge to improve the lives of Kentuckians for now and future generations. He’s also the best billiards player I have ever seen in my life.”

“President and Mrs. Todd have created a community where students have always come first,” he continued. “Together they leave a legacy of being known as the 'students' president' and 'first mom.' President Todd has been our greatest encourager. He has challenged us to believe in ourselves; to dream big; and he has stood with us to make this campus what it is today. I speak for the entire student body in saying each of you will be missed.”

The University of Kentucky continues to make strides despite any challenges.

"If you want to know how an institution can make such extraordinary progress despite the challenging times, simply look in the mirror," Todd said. "We could not accomplish any of this without all of you."

The State of the University Address will be available in its entirety within 24 hours on UKNow, UK’s official news website, at www.uky.edu/uknow.