State of University Address Highlights Bright Spots

Video of the State of the University Address is available below this story.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 24, 2009) -- The University of Kentucky's leaders today thanked the students, faculty and staff for pushing UK forward despite difficult economic times and encouraged them to continue working toward the goal of becoming a Top 20 public research university.

This morning, UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. and Student Government President Ryan M. Smith delivered the annual State of the University Address.

Todd noted that after "a perfect financial storm sideswiped our institution," faculty and staff have had to endure no pay raise for two years and students have had to endure increased tuition. Despite those obstacles, Todd praised the UK community for "fighting for this University and this Commonwealth like never before." 

He acknowledged the UK community's efforts in many record-setting accomplishments, calling UK a "university of firsts."  Among the records Todd cited:

-       UK topped 12,000 applications for this fall's freshman class.

-       The freshman class is more diverse than ever before with a 17 percent increase in African-American students; 21 percent increase in Hispanic freshmen and a 38 percent increase in international students.

-       The average ACT score of incoming students jumped from 24.4 last year to 24.7 this year.

-       More Governor's Scholars and Governor's School for the Arts students are in the freshman class than ever before -- 404.

-       UK had more startup companies last year formed by faculty and staff than at any of the schools 19 benchmark institutions.

-       UK climbed from 39th to seventh among all public and private universities for developing new technology-based business.

-       Our research expenditures soared to a record-high $337 million last year.

Todd also cited the achievements of many students, faculty, staff and alumni in attendance, including College of Pharmacy professors Peter Crooks and Linda Dwoskin, who collectively have more than $20 million in research funding, more than 300 patents and patent applications and a pharmaceutical company. Todd used them as an example of the many professors on campus whose work is helping boost Kentucky's economy.

"We've spent too long trying to recruit Kentucky to economic prosperity," Todd said. We need to invest in a new path to prosperity -- our people. Kentucky people who create Kentucky companies will create Kentucky jobs that will stay in Kentucky and thrive in Kentucky."

In closing, Todd reminded the campus community of the Top 20 Business plan set forth in 2005 and its potential to improve the lives of Kentuckians.

"That cause is just as noble and ambitious today," Todd said. "With the future of the children and grandchildren of our Commonwealth as our motivation, we move forward with renewed vigor and unwavering commitment to building a Kentucky that this state so richly deserves."

Smith, the Student Government president, praised students for their passion for the University of Kentucky and challenged them to take the university to new heights.

"Keep working, leading, loving and believing," Smith said. "The future is whatever we make of it. Let's make it ours."

He highlighted the achievements of UK's student leaders and their efforts to get more students involved in the university as well as the variety of organizations and activities in which students can participate. Smith cited TallyCats as an example. TallyCats is the new incentive program aimed at getting students to attend programming and join organizations on campus.

"We hope to increase not only school pride, but retention rates as well," Smith said. "Encouraging students to attend events they may otherwise never heard of will lead to further student involvement … which ultimately leads to a greater sense of unity."

Among the other efforts Smith talked about is a $250,000 scholarship fundraising drive that has been introduced to help subsidize student fees; a record number of freshmen applied for the Leadership Development Program, up 75 percent last year; the Emerging Leader Institute's continued increase in applicants; and the Leadership Summit's role in developing many of UK's most well-known and popular programs.