By Kelley Bozeman

During the bus trip between tour sites, the faculty members will engage in discussions about the geography, history and culture of Kentucky with the "dean" of the faculty tour, UK geography Professor and Chairperson Karl Raitz, who has accompanied the faculty on all the previous tours.

May 14, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) Twenty new University of Kentucky faculty members are attending school across Kentucky during a bus tour that will travel throughout the Commonwealth May 13-17.

The faculty members, representing most of UK's colleges including arts and sciences, business and economics, engineering, fine arts, the medical school, and Lexington Community College, will visit many Kentucky towns during the 11th UK Faculty Tour of the Commonwealth.

During the bus trip between tour sites, the faculty members will engage in discussions about the geography, history and culture of Kentucky with the "dean" of the faculty tour, UK geography Professor and Chairperson Karl Raitz, who has accompanied the faculty on all the previous tours. The tour is sponsored by the UK Provost's Office and is staffed by the Office of University Extension. Tour director this year is Michael Kerwin, associate dean, University Extension.

The new faculty members boarded the tour bus at 7:30 a.m. Monday, May 13, at the Carnahan Conference Center on Newtown Pike where they departed for their first destination, the David School in Floyd County. From there they traveled to the Pevler Mine Site where they will tour the site and hear a program on coal mining. The tour ended the day at the Greenbo State Resort Park where they enjoyed dinner and a program on Jesse Stuart.

Today, stops include Maysville, Thomas More College and Louisville. The group will take a historical and architectural walking tour of Downtown Maysville and then travel to Thomas More College where they will be welcomed by the college's president, Joseph Lee. An evening reception will be hosted by the University of Louisville at the Rauch Planetarium where Mike Nietzel, UK's acting provost, will join the group.

On Wednesday, May 15, the group will tour the United Parcel Service and hear a program on the Metropolitan College. The group will travel to Central High Magnet Career Academy in downtown Louisville where they will have lunch with the students. UK has an academic partnership with Central Magnet. The group will hear from a panelist that includes Central Magnet Principal Harold Fenderson; Lauretta Byars, UK's vice provost for minority affairs; Bernard Minnis, assistant superintendent of equity, poverty and compliance at VanHoose Education Center; Roger Cleveland, director, equity division of the Kentucky Department of Education; and Skip Kifer, professor, UK College of Education. Later, the group will travel to Fort Knox and then to Hawesville to tour the Coleman Power Station.

On Thursday, May 16, the faculty members will enjoy breakfast and a program hosted by the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Office. The group will then tour Miles Enterprises and enjoy lunch at Owensboro's famous Moonlite Bar-B-Q restaurant. After lunch, the group travels to Bardstown where they will tour the Maker's Mark Distillery. Later, the group will hear a panel discussion on economic development moderated by Jack Blanton, UK's acting senior vice president of administration. Other panelists include Eric Thompson, associate director of the Center for Business and Economic Research; John Kinney, human resources manager for United Parcel Service; and Bill Samuels Jr., president, Maker's Mark.

Friday, May 17, the tour group will learn about Kentucky history and government during a visit to the Kentucky History Center and State Capitol in Frankfort. After a history presentation by Tracy Campbell, UK history associate professor, the tour group will travel to the State Capitol for lunch and a discussion of Kentucky politics moderated by Tony Goetz, associate dean for community development UK College of Medicine. UK President Lee T. Todd Jr., along with other state officials, will join in the discussion.

The tour will return to Carnahan House Friday afternoon.