Mission
Since the mid-1990s, UK has pursued an ambitious goal set by the state legislature to become a top-20 public research university by the year 2020. UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. has embraced this goal in a way that promises an impact on every Kentucky resident.
"As the state's flagship institution, the university is mindful of its responsibility to help all Kentuckians," Todd says. "UK has an obligation to be inclusive and accessible to all segments of our society by providing scholarships and financial assistance to ease the tuition burden. Through education, Kentucky will move forward."
The university is working aggressively to achieve its top-20 goal. During fiscal year 2004, UK faculty received a record-breaking total of $238.3 million in extramural funding for grants and contracts. The achievement marked an increase of 7 percent from last fiscal year and the third year in a row UK exceeded the $200 million level in sponsored project awards. The majority of grants and contracts - 60.3 percent - were awarded by federal agencies and totaled $143.8 million. These federal awards increased by 9.7 percent. During fiscal year 2003, the university placed 52nd on the National Science Foundation's list of all institutions and 36th among public universities.
Learn more about the University's mission and vision in the Strategic Plan 2006-2009.
