K Week Traditions Are Back
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 19, 2021) — Last year, University of Kentucky students were not able to celebrate a traditional return to campus. This year, K Week is back to offer students a safe way to feel connected to their new home.
For all students, coming to a college campus can be a difficult transition. First-generation students, international students and out-of-state students feel this change from the very start — many may come here knowing no one. K Week, offered through the Office of First Year Experience in Student Success, was created to help all students build community from the very moment they step onto campus. This year, in addition to events for first-year students, returning second-year students (who missed out on an in-person experience due to the pandemic last year) are encouraged to participate in K Week.
New students are placed in K Teams, which allows them to get to know their neighbors and gives them people to attend K Week events with. Each team has a returning UK student to guide them through the experience, and who is there to help answer any questions about the semester ahead. To find out which K Team you are on, download the mobile app.
“We like to think that K Week showcases the best of the UK community and is a taste of the things students will get to experience throughout their time on campus,” said Nancy Stephens, who oversees New Student and Family Programs in the Office of the First-Year Experience. “That’s why students are given so many events to choose from. There are events that help students prepare for their academic experience, focus on their overall health and wellness, and connect with a variety of campus resources.”
Survey responses and data gained through the retention efforts in Student Success have shown that sense of belonging and a connection to the UK community is key to students retaining and thriving at UK.
This year’s list of K Week events includes something for everyone. Below are some of the main events — but there are hundreds more to choose from on the full K Week schedule.
Campus Ruckus: 8 p.m. to midnight Thursday, Aug. 19, at Kroger Field (enter at Gate 1)
Campus Ruckus is a unique event in that it is hosted by students, and it is for the benefit of students. Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) are encouraged to showcase their organization by creating an activity that will engage incoming students during K Week. RSOs can table, chat with students and explain why being involved at the University of Kentucky is so important. There will be tons of activities, and the event will close out with a fireworks show!
Wildcat Welcome Ceremony: 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, at Kroger Field
Join President Eli Capilouto and other members of the university community to commemorate the start of a new school year. All new students are expected to attend this annual university celebration where they will be officially inducted into the UK family; attendance will be taken. Parents, families, and guests are encouraged to watch the livestream on YouTube at https://youtu.be/E3soqHefBhc. Afterwards, students are invited to attend Big Blue U to learn UK cheers and songs, hear from UK coaches and get their class photo taken on the football field.
Kentucky @ Kroger: noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at Kroger on Euclid Avenue
Stock up on items for your room, soft drinks, snacks, school supplies and anything else you might need to be at home at UK. You'll be able to buy all this and more while enjoying free food, cool activities and prizes! Sponsored by Kroger, the official grocery partner of Move-In.
Cat-A-Palooza: 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, at the Gatton Student Center
Grab free food, snag some make-and-takes and listen to live music! Representatives from student organizations and other resources inside the GSC will be around to introduce themselves and answer your questions about life as a student.
UK is committed to keeping its community healthy and safe always, but especially as our students return to campus. For information on campus COVID-19 guidelines, refer to the UK Fall 2021 playbook.
“Despite this being our second K Week with COVID in the backdrop, we have continued to innovate and consider meaningful ways we can support the transition of our incoming students,” Stephens said. “While providing social connection has always been a priority during K Week, we especially wanted to create those opportunities this year. I hope our new students will take full advantage of K Week; we truly think it is the best way for them to get started at UK!”
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.