The University of Kentucky announced Integrate Blue, a program designed to combat its rapid growth by “bringing together” jobs from across campus and integrating them into one. 

On Friday, Sept. 5, UK President Eli Capilouto sent an email to the campus community detailing the new project, saying it was established last week to align people “who perform similar, important functions and services.”

The program, led by UK HealthCare Chief Financial Officer and Beyond Blue CEO Craig Collins, will initially focus on information technology services, student success, and marketing and communications, according to the email.

Collins will be meeting with teams from across campus, including deans and other administrative leaders, to discuss the integration process and create a timeline for how and when they can bring “functional areas together,” according to the email.

More areas will be looked at with the same “strategic focus and process” over time.

According to Capilouto’s email, Integrate Blue is not designed to reduce staff or a byproduct of budget cuts.

“Today, UK has more than 33,000 employees. I expect that number to continue growing as we seek to do and be more for Kentucky,” Capilouto said in the email. “In the last 15 years, our budget has roughly tripled as we have educated, treated and served more people.”

Next week, a web page will be available where students and staff can receive further details on Integrate Blue, found at integrateblue.uky.edu.