UK Board of Trustees approves continued investment in Smart Campus Initiative

By Ryan Girves April 24, 2026

Four students sit indoors on a bench or ledge, using ipad tablets. Backpacks are on the floor near them and a modern, open indoor space is visible in the background.

The next phase of the initiative includes providing approximately 7,500 iPad kits, consisting of an iPad Air, Apple Pencil and keyboard, to students. Carter Skaggs | UK Photo

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 24, 2026) — A continued investment in the University of Kentucky’s Smart Campus Initiative, including advancing a multiyear strategy focused on student success, innovation and access to technology, has been approved by the UK Board of Trustees.

The board approved the lease and purchase of equipment to support the next phase of the initiative, which includes providing approximately 7,500 iPad kits, consisting of an iPad Air, Apple Pencil and keyboard, to students. The total cost of the seventh phase will not exceed $1.9 million and will be funded through agency funds.

The Smart Campus Initiative is a comprehensive, campuswide effort to leverage technology to enhance the overall campus experience, from recruitment and retention to graduation and career readiness.

Through its continued partnership with Apple, the initiative aims to:

Strengthen student recruitment, persistence and graduation outcomes
Enhance teaching and learning across in-person and online environments
Expand access to technology for underrepresented student populations
Support student mental health, safety and overall well-being
Increase access to financial wellness tools and online learning opportunities
Build skills that prepare students for lifelong success

University leaders say the initiative plays a key role in leveling the technological playing field for students while fostering innovation in and beyond the classroom.

“At the University of Kentucky, our Smart Campus initiative is powered by a strong partnership with Apple to drive innovation and expand opportunity across the Commonwealth,” said Heath Price, associate vice president for partnerships. “Providing iPads to students in 2019 helped level the playing field at a critical moment. As the initiative continues, students can take advantage of evolving technology to shape their own campus experience. Whether they are storyboarding complex projects, launching startups or building financial literacy through UK Invests, these tools empower creativity and prepare them for the future.”

Since its launch, the initiative has focused on expanding access to technology and equipping students with tools that support academic achievement, creativity and collaboration. It also aligns with broader university efforts to improve student well-being, strengthen digital literacy and expand innovative teaching practices.

The latest phase builds on previous investments and advances the university’s work to integrate technology across the student experience — from the classroom to career preparation and beyond.

To learn more about the university’s Smart Campus Initiative, visit the Smart Campus website.

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 healthcare. 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 $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.