Professional News

2021 UK Appreciation Day Set for Aug. 4

Staff member posing with the CATS sign.
A UK employee participates in 2019's UK Appreciation Day, an event that thanks employees for their service to the university. Mark Cornelison l UK Photo.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 26, 2021) — All University of Kentucky employees are invited to attend the 2021 UK Appreciation Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4 at the Gatton Student Center. This year’s event may look a little different than events in the past, but one thing that remains the same is the gratitude to all UK staff and faculty for their hard work and dedication to the university. 

Supervisors are encouraged to adjust schedules accordingly without requiring leave to be utilized. UK HealthCare employees should notify their supervisors in advance if they would like to attend, so schedules can be adjusted accordingly not to impact patient care.

All Appreciation Day activities are free and include:

  • lunch;
  • Bluegrass Photobooth;
  • cornhole; and
  • UK Department and Vendor Exhibit.

Employees can join UK HR Health and Wellness for opportunities to relax your mind and body during UK Appreciation Day. Come loosen up with a gentle 15-minute yoga routine — no special equipment or clothes are needed. Sessions begin at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., so plan to arrive just a few minutes before to sign in. A brief walking meditation between yoga sessions on the new portable labyrinth also will be available if you are short on time. Both opportunities will be located in the back section of the GSC Grand Ballroom.

Parking at the Gatton Student Center is limited so employees are encouraged to utilize UK’s on-campus bus routes. UK Appreciation Day attendees may utilize the Blue Route and White Route provided by Lextran.

Campus buses can be tracked in real time using the TransLoc Rider app on iPhone and Android devices or by visiting the website here, allowing users to plan for delays caused by traffic, accidents or inclement weather.

T-shirt Distribution

Department order T-shirt distribution is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 6. Pickup locations will be at Kroger Field and UK HealthCare PAV A. Department order contacts will be receiving emails on Monday, Aug. 2, that will contain the confirmation number and pickup instructions. Pickup instructions will be based on the pickup location selected when the order was placed earlier in the year. You must have your confirmation number and UK ID to pick up your departmental T-shirt order. No individual shirts will be available on Aug. 4 or 6. Pickup is limited to orders previously placed.

Mask Policy

Per university guidelines posted here, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask or face covering in campus outside spaces or inside non-UK HealthCare campus buildings. Mask requirements for non-vaccinated individuals will remain in place.

The UK Staff Senate extends a special expression of thanks to the Office of the President, exhibitors and University of Kentucky entities whose support makes UK Appreciation Day possible.

UK Appreciation Day is sponsored by the Office of the President, coordinated by the UK Staff Senate.

For more information on UK Appreciation Day, click here.

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.