Volunteers needed at Big Blue Move-In 2026
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 1, 2026) — The University of Kentucky is calling on the Wildcat community to help welcome more than 8,000 students to campus during Big Blue Move-In 2026. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and campus partners are encouraged to volunteer and play a role in one of UK’s most visible traditions.
Volunteers help create the first impression many students and families will have of the university — assisting with unloading vehicles, directing traffic, greeting families and helping students feel at home from the moment they arrive. It becomes a lasting impression for families to meet professors, clubs and advisors on their first day here.
“Move-in at the University of Kentucky is one of the best days on campus because it is a clear display of the care that the Wildcat community has for students,” said John Roberts, director of the Engineering Living Learning Program. “Not every university has their community — alumni, administration, faculty, staff, students, student organizations and mascots — show up to make the move-in experience enjoyable and less stressful for new students. UK does this and does this well, making Big Blue Move-In special.”
Big Blue Move-In is Aug. 16-19, Sunday through Wednesday, ahead of K Week and the start of fall classes on Monday, Aug. 24.
Last year, approximately 600 volunteers helped make move-in possible. Organizers hope even more members of the campus community will participate this year. Volunteers who support us during Big Blue Move-in will receive a free meal card, special move-in t-shirt and be entered to win additional prizes.
Those interested in volunteering can learn more about available roles and sign up through the Campus Housing volunteer page.
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 healthcare. 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 $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.