The University of Kentucky held a Board of Trustees meeting on Friday, Sept. 12, discussing new changes for academic degrees, athletic facility construction project and additional construction updates. 

The agenda included launching a new artificial intelligence (AI) academic degree program, new basketball practice facility, UK HealthCare Sports Medicine ambulatory space and additional delivery units at UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital.

President Eli Capilouto addressed the record number of 7,012 first-year undergraduate students this semester, a 499-student increase since last year. 

“I look forward to the day Kroger Field is no longer big enough for the first-year students,” Capilouto said. “More importantly, I know we all eagerly think about the generational change that these students, when they leave this place, will make possible for communities throughout Kentucky.”

Academic certificate and degree changes

All seven degree changes were approved at the Board of Trustees meeting, including the new AI degree program.

The board approved the deletion of two College of Fine Arts certificates, including the certificate in dance and the certificate in voice.

According to the Academic and Student Affairs Committee report (ASACR), the two certificates have been added as track programs under the existing undergraduate certificate in musical theater, combining it into a single certificate.

The board also approved the removal of the graduate certificate in tobacco treatment specialist in the College of Nursing.

According to ASACR, the reason behind the removal is due to low student demand and decreases in enrollment.

The College of Nursing got approval for a new clinical graduate certificate in addictions.

The certificate is designed to prepare graduate students on skills in assessing, diagnosing and treating addictions.

The Gatton College of Business and Economics got approval on an applied economics academic degree and an undergraduate certificate in accounting, ethics and technology.

The academic degree is designed to address the demand for critical thinking and applications of economic principles to solve problems across various industries, according to the ASACR.

Basketball facilities

The board approved the predesign phase of construction for a multi-use facility, including a basketball practice facility, a UK HealthCare Sports Medicine ambulatory space and a sports-related research space.

According to the Financial Committee report (FCR), this phase will include developing floor plans, conceptual renderings and cost estimates of the project.

The predesign phase will not exceed $1.25 million and has been authorized by the Kentucky General Assembly, according to the board.

UK Chandler Hospital project

The board approved a 34,000 square foot increase for the labor and delivery units and more space for advanced endoscopy services.

According to the FCR, the project would renovate operating rooms, post-anesthesia care units and other public areas.

Observation rooms are planned to be built in Pavilion A Emergency Department.

The project budget increased to $115 million from $82 million, according to the FCR. 

The next Board of Trustees meeting will be on Oct. 16-17.