Contact: Ralph Derickson

The Hazard public forum will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at the UK Center for Rural Health, located in the former Appalachian Regional Hospital building on Airport Gardens Road in Hazard. The Pikeville forum will be held in room 125 Public Library, 119 College Street, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.14.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan 5, 2004) -- The University of Kentucky will conduct public forums in Hazard and Pikeville to review and revise the mission of the UK Appalachian Center.

The Hazard public forum will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at the UK Center for Rural Health, located in the former Appalachian Regional Hospital building on Airport Gardens Road in Hazard. The Pikeville forum will be held in room 125 Public Library, 119 College Street, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.14.

In the forums, UK will seek input from the public about the role the Appalachian Center should play in the state’s 51 Appalachian counties and the Central Appalachian region.

The effort is being led by Joe Fink, vice president for research and economic development at UK. Fink will also serve as acting director of the Appalachian Center while a new mission statement is being drafted. A new director for the Appalachian Center will be chosen based on the revised mission statement.

In addition to participating in the forums, members of the public can offer input about the Appalachian Center on the “Feedback” link at the Appalachian Center’s Web site.

Comments can also be directed to Joe Fink via e-mail, by fax at (859) 323-1023, or to Joe Fink, vice president for research and economic development, University of Kentucky, A256 ASTeCC Building, Lexington, KY 40506-0286.