April 11 , 2005 1B Mathews Building, Lexington, Ky. 40506 The University of Kentucky faculty/staff newspaper

State budget demonstrates commitment to education

Citing the commitment to higher education by Gov. Ernie Fletcher and the General Assembly, UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. recently recommended, and the Board of Trustees adopted, a proposal to decrease by 2 percent, a proposed tuition increase, reducing the overall tuition hike to 12.5 percent.

Other priorities in the budget that UK will propose in June will likely include a faculty and staff merit salary increase pool of 4 percent. Additionally, a “Fighting Fund” will be created to retain the best faculty. The total cost of the personnel initiatives is $14.5 million.

UK will increase its contribution to employee health-care coverage by 9.4 percent, about $2.7 million for state-funded positions. (more)

College of Agriculture dean named interim provost

University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. recently announced that Scott Smith, dean of the College of Agriculture, will assume the position of interim provost effective May 15.

On an interim basis, Smith will replace Michael T. Nietzel, who last month announced his resignation as UK provost to assume the presidency at Southwest Missouri State University this summer. (more)

BIG BLUE Glider Zooms to New York exhibition

Experimental wings designed by University of Kentucky engineering students for Mars exploration will be part of an exhibition focused on technical textiles at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York.

BIG BLUE, which stands for Baseline Inflatable-wing Glider, Balloon-Launched Unmanned Experiment, is a series of high-altitude test experiments to demonstrate new inflatable-wing technology. Like the current Mars rover airbags, the UK-developed wings are designed to be delivered to Mars in a compact package and would be deployed in the upper Martian atmosphere while descending under a balloon or parachute that would permit the wings to inflate and harden in sunlight. (more)