How the UK Housing Team is Preparing for Students

UK Photo | Mark Cornelison
UK Photo | Mark Cornelison

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 10, 2020) — The University of Kentucky Campus Housing team is excited to welcome students back to campus and is well prepared for Move-in 2020, which started this past weekend.

“We can’t wait to see our Wildcats rolling onto campus,” said Sarah Nikirk, executive director of UK’s Auxiliary Services. “We have been working hard creating protocols to make move-in efficient and safe.  This residential experience is going to be different than before, but we believe it’s the best place for students to live and learn.”

Below are updates to policies that have been put in place to ensure everyone has a healthy and successful move-in experience and year ahead in the residence halls.

Safety and Cleaning. UK Campus Housing is preparing the residence halls for your return. Each room will be deep cleaned and ready for students to move in upon arrival. Plexiglass shields are being installed at front desks and all administrative offices. In addition, signage is being installed to help students navigate buildings safely and easily.

Masks are a Must. All UK Campus Housing staff will be wearing masks, practicing physical distancing and washing their hands often — residents will be required to do the same. Before you arrive on campus, please review our campus restart plan.  UK is following CDC and local guidelines.

Education. Residence hall staff members are participating in ongoing training, education and communication regarding state, local and CDC health and safety guidelines.

Wellness Kits. Every resident in UK Campus Housing will receive a wellness kit from UK. The kit includes a thermometer, two masks, hand sanitizer and other healthy living tips. 

Community. UK staff is dedicated to providing fun, engaging and safe events throughout the semester. Common areas will remain open where possible to allow for student engagement and community building.

Physical Distancing. Great thought and preparation have been given to the logistical side of move-in. Protocols are in place to make sure students and their families have a safe and welcoming experience. 

Visitation Policy. The normal visitation policy has been slightly modified, but students’ UK friends and family can still visit. The 2020 UK Campus Housing visitation policy will still allow residents to have two guests after Sept. 7. However, guests will need to have a valid UK I.D., and non-UK students and minors will not be allowed to visit or stay overnight in the residence halls.

Students may have two guests help them move into the residence halls.

For more information about UK’s housing for the fall, please visit Campus Housing FAQ’s or contact ukhousing@uky.edu.

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.