Volunteer for Technology Takeover and help welcome UK’s newest Wildcats
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 11, 2025) — The University of Kentucky is calling on campus partners to help make a meaningful impact this fall as we welcome the Class of 2029. Volunteers are needed for Technology Takeover, UK’s annual distribution event for student iPad kits. Setup will take place on Aug. 18, and distribution will occur 8-11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, to Thursday, Aug. 21, at The Cornerstone.
All UK faculty, staff and team members are encouraged to sign up for a shift and help create a warm, supportive experience for our newest Wildcats.
To sign up, fill out the volunteer sign-up form.
Using the sign-up form, you can select your volunteer role and preferred day. Descriptions of each shift type are available in the form. All volunteers are asked to arrive 15 minutes early for a short training session. For questions, please contact smartcampus@uky.edu.
Since Fall 2019, UK has provided every incoming degree-seeking, first-time undergraduate student with an iPad Air, Apple Keyboard and Apple Pencil — a personalized technology kit designed to empower students in and beyond the classroom. Each device is preloaded with apps tailored to academic success, productivity and connection.
This initiative is a cornerstone of UK’s Smart Campus strategy, and reflects the university’s broader vision of becoming one of the country’s most innovative campuses. By integrating technology in a strategic and coordinated way, UK is working to:
- Support student learning and success;
- improve graduation and retention rates;
- shrink the digital divide;
- equip faculty with tools that match their expertise;
- foster career-ready skills in digital literacy, creativity and coding;
- promote physical, mental and financial wellness; and
- create a seamless transition into college life and community.
“At UK, we want technology to do more than connect students — we want it to propel them,” said members of the Smart Campus team. “This program helps ensure every student starts on equal footing, with access to the tools they need to thrive in today’s world.”
By volunteering for Technology Takeover, UK faculty and staff have the opportunity to play a hands-on role in one of the university’s most impactful traditions. Whether it’s helping students unbox their iPads or simply offering a friendly welcome, each interaction helps set the tone for a student’s college journey. Together, we can ensure that every Wildcat begins their experience feeling supported, connected and ready to succeed.
To learn more about the university’s Smart Campus initiative, visit smartcampus.uky.edu/ipad-initiative.
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.