O
ne of the great strengths of the University
of Kentucky is the richness of a campus that brings together undergraduate,
graduate and professional students in an unusually comprehensive array of
programs. This variety encourages shared ideas across disciplines, promotes
multidisciplinary endeavors, and enriches the educational and social experiences
of a highly diverse and talented student body. While the richness and variety
of campus life are among UK's greatest strengths, the University's
progress depends upon a well-conceived concentration of its resources. The
full implementation of the Provost model will facilitate the University's
ability to capitalize on its intellectual diversity through the integration
of all its resources.
As
we strive to become one of America's 20 best public research universities,
some programs will build upon or attain national recognition and will serve
a global constituency. Other programs will advance the land-grant mission
by creating the professional, educated citizenry and scholarship needed to
serve Kentucky . Although particular areas will be emphasized, comprehensive
excellence is essential to the mission of serving as the premier teaching,
research and land-grant institution for the Commonwealth. This level of excellence
also will be required in other endeavors for which we can serve as a national
model, including the creation of a prosperous and mutually beneficial “college
town” environment. Over the next three years, we will support our faculty
and staff in delivering a comprehensive array of academic programs and other
activities and services as we reach for national prominence in priority
areas.
Objectives:
- The University will increase the prominence of
faculty scholarship. Our faculty defines the academic enterprise. The quality and achievements
of the faculty determine the prominence of the University and the degree
to which our missions are accomplished. We must adequately support our
faculty while strategically allocating resources to priority areas for
future development.
- The University will enhance the excellence and
sustainability of the clinical enterprise. The successful fulfillment of the health
affairs (clinical) mission is vital to the realization of our dreams.
We must identify clinical priorities and re-focus resources on those
areas with the best opportunities for national recognition and preeminence
in clinical service and research. The core medical areas must include
those where the University can bring excellent programs to the fore,
including cardiovascular, cancer, infectious disease, neurosciences,
and similar disciplines revolving around high-technology interventional
and diagnostic work.
- The University will increase its resources in
order to offer high-quality instructional, research and service programs. The University’s
progress in reaching its aspirations requires significant new investments
in areas of strength and promise. Our primary sources of support are:
state funds, grants and contracts, tuition and fees, clinical income,
gifts, and endowment income. We must increase the generation of resources
and the contributions of our numerous partners and supporters.
- The University will strengthen the link between
funding decisions, plans and results. Our mission necessitates wise stewardship
of existing financial support, including the reallocation of resources
to support priority programs. We must align planning and budgeting processes
more closely to provide the resource and infrastructure needs identified
in the Top 20 Task Force Report. We must evaluate our progress regularly
and redirect our efforts to ensure success and continuous quality enhancement.
- The University will streamline its business and
information technology services. Advancement of the academic and clinical enterprises
depends on the effectiveness and efficiency of administrative, business
and information technology support. We must reduce bureaucracy and other
barriers to our success, while maintaining accountability for institutional
assets and resources. We must provide integrated information technology
solutions to enhance the University’s overall competitiveness and
to ensure high levels of faculty, student, staff and customer satisfaction.
