UK Welcomes Students, Staff From Universities Across the Country This Weekend

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 9, 2015) — The UK campus is coming back to life this weekend as college students from around the country visit Lexington to sharpen their hospitality skills for when they welcome visitors to their own campuses. 

UK’s Office of Enrollment Management is hosting the second annual Collegiate Information and Visitor Services (CIVSA) Student Development Institute Friday and Saturday. 

More than 60 professional staff members who work in campus visitor and information services across the United States will teach over 150 college students who serve as ambassadors, tour guides and information center staff members at their institutions.  Attendees represent institutions from 25 states and the District of Columbia.

“We’re very honored to be hosting these students and staff members for the 2015 Student Development Institute,” said Stephen Barnett, senior associate director of admission and senior associate registrar at UK.  “It’s very exciting to see college students showcasing their experiences as tour guides and ambassadors at their institutions while also learning how they can better themselves in the work they’re doing.“

CIVSA is a professional association for staff members working to coordinate campus visits and provide information services to visitors on college campuses.  The association comprises more than 300 institutions both inside and outside the United States. The University of Kentucky has been a long-standing member of the association and also hosted the 2010 Annual Conference in Lexington. 

“On behalf of CIVSA, we are thrilled to come to Lexington for our Student Development Institute and we’re grateful for the work that has taken place to make this event a success,” said CIVSA President Cindy Singley, from Auburn University.  “The University of Kentucky hosted our 2010 Annual Conference and we couldn’t be happier to bring our students back to the Bluegrass to take in the great hospitality and experiences that Lexington and its people have to offer.”

During their time in Lexington, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in educational sessions with topics that include everything from leadership development and tour guide management to working with special populations and staff selection, training and evaluation.  They will also take tours of Lexington, the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University as a part of the program.   

“We’ll see a large exchange of ideas among the students and staff and along the way we hope they enjoy the hospitality and sites of Lexington and our campus,” Barnett said.

 MEDIA CONTACT:  Amy Jones-Timoney, (859) 257-2940, amy.jones2@uky.edu