Wildcat First 8 helps students build connection, confidence during first weeks at UK
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 8, 2026) — The start of a new academic year brings a lot of firsts: the first day of class, the first conversation with a professor, the first meeting with an advisor or the first time walking into a new campus space.
Those seemingly small moments matter.
The opening weeks of the semester are an important time for students to begin building the relationships, routines and sense of belonging that can shape their experience at the University of Kentucky.
That is the idea behind Wildcat First 8, a new student-centered initiative from the Office for Student Success designed to help students build connection, confidence and familiarity with UK during the first eight weeks of the academic year.
“Research shows that the first eight weeks are when students build connections that could determine their overall success at any institution,” said Trisha Clement, Ed.D., dean of students. “The key indicators of success are belonging, engagement and retention.”
Wildcat First 8 gives students a simple framework for building those connections through three areas: people, places and pathways.
People are the peers and UK employees who know, notice, encourage or guide a student. Places are the campus spaces and communities where students feel comfortable, grounded, productive or connected. Pathways are the activities, services, opportunities, routines and supports that help students build momentum.
The goal is not for students to do everything in their first eight weeks. Instead, Wildcat First 8 encourages them to begin with one manageable action that fits their circumstances, finding one person, one place or one pathway and building from there.
For people, that might mean introducing yourself to someone in class, finding a trusted UK employee or identifying a fellow student you can text, study with or turn to with a question. It can also mean being that person for someone else by inviting a classmate to sit with you, sharing a resource or checking in on someone who may also be finding their way.
For places, students are encouraged to find spaces on campus where they can begin to feel at home. That could mean establishing a favorite study spot, spending time at the Gatton Student Center or William T. Young Library, visiting Campus Recreation or discovering another campus community or space that fits their interests.
And through pathways, students can begin exploring the opportunities and resources available to them at UK. Attending an event, exploring organizations through BBNvolved, visiting an involvement fair, using an academic or career resource, finding an on-campus job or simply saying yes to one new experience can all be starting points.
Wildcat First 8 recognizes that every student’s experience will look different. Some may find their people or favorite campus spaces quickly, while others build those connections over time through classes, work, activities and everyday routines. Whether commuting, living off campus, transferring to UK or beginning from a different starting point, students can shape their first eight weeks around their own experiences, circumstances and needs.
“I hope every student feels like they belong here, knows how to navigate UK and has people and places on campus that they can count on,” Clement said.
That sense of community is rarely created in a single moment. It is built through small, ordinary choices: introducing yourself, asking a question, showing up somewhere new or reaching out to someone else.
Those choices reflect the “power of we,” the idea that students can accomplish, experience and overcome more together than they can alone. Wildcat First 8 puts that idea into practice by helping students intentionally build the connections that can make UK feel like home.
“There are people, places and opportunities ready to help you succeed at UK,” Clement said. “Find your people, find your places and find your path. That is how you become a Wildcat at the University of Kentucky.”
Whether it is the first week of classes or the semester is already underway, Wildcat First 8 reminds students that it is never too late to start or begin again.
To learn more about Wildcat First 8 and find resources to help you get started, visit studentsuccess.uky.edu/dean-students/wildcat-first-8.
At the University of Kentucky, students are at the center of all that we do. From the moment you become a Wildcat through graduation and beyond, the Office for Student Success is committed to supporting you. Comprised of more than 40 units, the office is united by one vision — to help students live a life of meaning and purpose. Student Success designs and delivers unparalleled services and supports a community of learners in achieving their wildest ambitions. In the Office for Student Success, this is what we do — this is who we are. Explore Student Success resources.