UK welcomes students to campus during Big Blue Move-In 2023
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 15, 2023) — The University of Kentucky is transforming this week as nearly 7,000 students move into their residence halls.
“We are so excited to welcome the largest freshman class in the history of UK,” said Sarah Nikirk, executive director of UK Auxiliary Services. “The residence halls are where students have access to everything right out their front door. Everything from free tutoring to numerous dining halls to a myriad of services and support are just a short walk for students who live on campus. We can’t wait to have their energy on campus. Move-in is when the residence halls truly come alive.”
Most students will participate in Fall 2023 Big Blue Move-In 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, through Wednesday, Aug. 16, prior to the beginning of K Week.
“Move-in makes me excited to meet my roommates and go through K Week,” said incoming freshman Paige Kelly, who moved into Jewell Hall on Monday. “So far everyone has been so nice and it’s been a lot of fun. Although the rain wasn’t enjoyable, the Wildcat Welcome Team makes it easy to get everything inside. I really appreciate their help.”
“Our daughter Paige has always loved Kentucky, and when we first came to campus, we felt very safe and fell in love with it,” said Kelly’s father, James Kelly. “She is our first child to go to college, so even though I’m nervous as her dad, we are so excited for her."
Nothing compares to the sense of community you feel when a new semester begins. Thanks to almost 700 volunteers, including more that 475 staff, not including UK Residence Life employees, new students and their families are settling into life on campus and in Lexington.
“Move-in was easy,” said incoming freshman Nate Kasdan, who also moved into Jewell Hall on Monday. “When we first got here everyone was so helpful and it was overall a seamless process.”
In addition to being greeted by friendly volunteers, those moving in have access to hydration stations. Provided by Auxiliary Services, UK Sustainability and UK Recycling, the eight stations provide chilled, filtered water and reusable water bottles to those participating in move-in.
With so many new and returning students coming on campus, the public should be aware of changes to parking and traffic flow during Big Blue Move-In. More information about traffic and parking is available here.
Find more information about Big Blue Move-In here.
Watch the video above and view the gallery below to see some of our favorite scenes from this year's Big Blue Move-In.
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 health care. 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 $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.