Wildcat Ready Day to bring safety resources, demonstrations to campus
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 28, 2026) — The University of Kentucky Police Department (UKPD) invites students, faculty and staff to attend the inaugural Wildcat Ready Day, a public safety fair, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at Gatton Student Center Barker Plaza.
As part of Campus Safety Awareness Month, Wildcat Ready Day will bring together campus and community partners for an interactive public safety fair focused on preparedness, prevention and personal safety. The event is free and open to the campus community and will feature hands-on activities, demonstrations, giveaways and opportunities to connect with organizations that help keep the UK community safe.
What to expect:
- Hands-on public safety demonstrations
- Emergency preparedness tips and resources
- Opportunities to meet UKPD, campus safety partners and safety partners from the greater Lexington community
- Food, giveaways and prize opportunities
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn practical skills and explore resources designed to help them prepare for emergencies, respond to unexpected situations and make informed decisions about their personal safety. Activities will include safety demonstrations, preparedness information and opportunities to engage directly with public safety professionals and campus partners. Food, giveaways and prize opportunities will also be available throughout the day.
“Safety is a shared responsibility, and Wildcat Ready Day is an opportunity for our campus community to learn skills and discover resources that can make a real difference,” UK Police Chief Joe Monroe said. “Whether you are a first-year student or a longtime employee, we want everyone to leave feeling more informed, prepared and connected to the people and services that support safety at the University of Kentucky.”
Wildcat Ready Day is part of the university's broader Wildcat Ready campaign, a campuswide initiative that promotes safety awareness, emergency preparedness and informed decision-making. The campaign highlights resources available to students and employees while encouraging simple actions that can improve personal and community safety.
UKPD encourages members of the campus community to RSVP for the event.
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.