Dear Colleagues,

The University of Kentucky is poised to expand our reach and impact throughout the region and beyond. Our reputation for innovation and education is upheld by each graduating class of students who go on to solve new challenges in our communities. To stimulate this innovation, and to foster new transdisciplinary efforts, we must recognize the excellence already at UK. 

Last year, the Office of the Provost launched the Institutional Multidisciplinary Paradigm to Accelerate Collaboration and Transformation (IMPACT) program to inspire greater ingenuity and elevate the world-class work you perform. The eight inaugural IMPACT Award recipients are each transforming learning and discovery at the university in unique ways. They are enhancing what it means to engage in life-changing research at UK. These teams and their projects encompass:

• Accelerating cultural transformation in business and engineering to support mental health.
• Developing a curricular partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to promote a curriculum of creative social entrepreneurship.
• Expanding soft goods specializations and material research.
• A Wildcat Teacher Residency program.
• A data applications librarian.
• A faculty exchange program.
• An AI and machine learning hub.
• Dental Integrated Research Education and Clinical Training (DIRECT).

Each team has submitted a six-month report on their progress, and their next update will come this summer. Their stories, their impact and their journeys will be highlighted in upcoming editions of UKNow.  

This year, I am excited to share that IMPACT will award even more funds for projects that you and your colleagues envision. Your efforts to advance our Commonwealth are why we can continue growing our impact throughout Kentucky in all areas. I will communicate with the leadership of each college about the 2024 IMPACT Awards and how we can amplify your meaningful contributions to our communities. 

Thank you for all you continue to do for UK and our students.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

For more than a decade, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) has celebrated the accomplishments of distinguished faculty members through the SEC Faculty Achievement Awards. This annual awards program was established in 2012 with the intent to celebrate the accomplishments and commitment of faculty across all SEC campuses in areas of teaching and scholarship. Each university nominates a recipient for the award, and one of those recipients is then chosen as the SEC Professor of the Year.

This year, UK’s winner is Sherali Zeadally, Ph.D., in the College of Communication and Information. Dr. Zeadally continually upholds the university’s dedication to teaching, research and service, and he embodies our commitment to our leadership role in Kentucky. Read more about Dr. Zeadally’s work here. 

Much like our campus supports the athletic endeavors of our Wildcats, the SEC is committed to highlighting and investing in its universities, particularly the faculty doing exceptional work every day. The SEC Academic Initiatives house collaborative programs for SEC students, faculty and staff, including the Faculty Achievement Awards Program, the SEC Acade­­­mic Leadership Development Program and the SEC Faculty Travel Program. These awards and initiatives help us to honor the essential work that you do at UK. Read more about them here.

Dr. Zeadally’s recognition underscores his commitment to our mission at UK: to advance Kentucky in everything we do. I know you join me in congratulating Dr. Zeadally on this esteemed honor. 

We are particularly appreciative of such an awards program for faculty, as we have enhanced multiple efforts for faculty advancement through our Office for Faculty Advancement (OFA). OFA has developed many mechanisms of support across the full career span of a faculty member. Additionally, OFA serves as­­­­ a mechanism for faculty to have input. We are also meeting with every college this year so that faculty can give input directly to myself and other leadership in the Office of the Provost as we work to enhance areas that matter to faculty. 

Thank you to all our faculty for the remarkable work you conduct at this powerful university. We are proud to support all that you continue to achieve. 

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Campus Community,   

The College of Design strives to be a leading force in the design disciplines, dedicated to building a collegial environment committed to excellence. The college embraces significant growth in enrollment, the development of multiple forms of scholarship and a transformation of facilities as part of the institution’s strategic imperative and mission to advance Kentucky.  

I am pleased to announce that a national search process for a permanent dean of the College of Design will begin next month. In accordance with Governing Regulation VIII, which states that I shall request a recommendation on matters of appointments from a committee, and as part of our efforts to enhance communication, transparency, inclusion and shared governance, we are seeking nominations for members of the search advisory committee, comprising faculty, staff and learners. All recommendations and justifications are treated confidentially. 

If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else to serve on the search advisory committee, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact Shavonna Ross, director of operations (shav.ross@uky.edu). Please submit your nominations by Friday, March 1, at 5 p.m. 

I look forward to working with you and listening to your input as we work through the search process. 

Thank you for all you do as we work together to advance Kentucky. 

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D.  
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

As the semester progresses, I encourage you to consider what you are passionate about in your role at the University of Kentucky, as you all have great impact on our state with meaning and purpose. Examine the principles that reinforce your purpose for being here and striving to advance our Commonwealth. Use those reasons and motivations to inspire even greater innovation in your field and among our community.

At UK, we are guided by our strategic plan, The UK-PURPOSE. The first principle of the plan calls on all of us to put students first in everything that we do. They are an essential component of our mission to drive progress for the state and the world we live in. By preparing our students for lives of meaning and purpose, we ensure they can address the challenges we face on a local, national and global level.

To continue leading in teaching and inspiring our students to flourish and thrive in their learning environments, I encourage you to communicate with them about the resources and services available to help them achieve success in their educational journeys. The Office for Student Success houses an incredible group of units to assist students in a variety of ways. To learn more about connecting students to these important resources, visit this site.

As your students prepare for their upcoming midterm exams, also be mindful that they could be experiencing stress and pressure from not only exams, papers and projects, but also factors outside of their academic pursuits. Ensure that they know that their holistic well-being matters and that they are encouraged to use our campus resources focused on their overall wellness.

As faculty, you guide our students’ educational experiences. The Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) supports your work as engaging and innovative instructors for our learning communities. The Office for Faculty Advancement provides routes for your development as professionals and leaders in your fields. And UK Human Resources Work-Life and Well-Being empowers us to prioritize our own well-being to ensure we can be our best selves. 

Our community requires all of us — students, faculty, staff and others — to take part, fully and wholeheartedly. Additionally, our commitment to our work, and to one other, requires us to lean on each other when necessary. As we move further into this semester, remember this — we stand together in our mission to advance Kentucky.

Thank you for your efforts in helping our students, and each other, succeed.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

The power of a globally interconnected community cannot be overstated — our work is that much more impactful because of the diverse perspectives we bring to our table. Including different perspectives is vital as we build a more inclusive and welcoming campus. As the University for Kentucky, we hold an important leadership role in our state to contribute to the economic development and quality of life across the Commonwealth — and beyond.

UK’s International Center leads internationalization efforts, and their efforts impact students, faculty and staff across our campus. 

This past summer, the Explore First program, developed by the UK International Center and the Office for Student Success, took its inaugural cohorts of first-generation students abroad to Europe. The opportunity for education abroad helps develop our students as global citizens, able to contribute to Kentucky and our larger world. Students earned credit hours while learning crucial skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and adaptability. 

UK’s International Center also recognizes the importance of faculty contributions to the university’s global engagement efforts with Global Impact Awards. Recent recipients include UK faculty members who demonstrated excellence in education and research abroad and innovative teaching in our classrooms. These awards highlight the important global work that you perform.

As we advance our Commonwealth, we embrace our collective experiences and shared diverse perspectives — this is who we are. And you, alongside UK’s International Center, enrich our campus by doing so. To learn more about their work and the services and opportunities the UK International Center offers, visit their website here.   

Thank you for your efforts in continuing to build a community of belonging.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

I want to extend my gratitude to those who have attended the College Town Halls we held in the fall semester — we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to interact and discuss your ideas, questions and concerns.

To enhance communications and hear the thoughts of faculty and staff within each college, we will continue to conduct College Town Halls throughout the spring with those colleges we have not yet had a chance to visit. These town halls are open to all faculty and staff and are designed to offer face-to-face interaction that is invaluable as we move forward to advance our mission — a mission made possible by you.

Our town halls are organized to facilitate connections between the Office of the Provost and colleges and programs. The sessions typically begin with brief updates, such as introducing members of the provost’s leadership team and providing updates on ongoing initiatives. But the most vital portion of each town hall is our conversations — the topics and questions that are most pressing to you, the members of our campus who help drive institutional progress. We want to hear and understand the challenges that our colleges face across campus; we want to hear from you.

In the fall 2023 semester, we spoke with the following colleges:

• Agriculture, Food and Environment
• Arts and Sciences
• Communication and Information
• Education
• Engineering
• Fine Arts
• Health Sciences
• Pharmacy
• Social Work

During this spring semester, we plan to hold town halls with the following colleges:

• Business and Economics
• Dentistry
• Design
• Honors
• The Graduate School
• Law
• Libraries
• Medicine
• Nursing
• Public Health

Additionally, we will cycle back with a schedule so that in subsequent town halls, we can report on progress related to your prior input. We will share more details as we finalize plans for each town hall. We appreciate the time, commitment and engagement of all, and we encourage you to reach out to the Office of the Provost with any questions, ideas or suggestions.

We welcome and value these conversations and look forward to seeing all of you.

Thank you for everything you do.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D.
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Office of the Provost, the Vice President for Research (VPR), UK HealthCare and the College of Medicine about an exciting initiative at our university designed to further accelerate our research efforts to advance our state.
 
This document outlines a new initiative we have dubbed the EXCEL (Executive Clinical Expert Leadership) Research Initiative. As the call for proposals outlines, our goal is to enhance the clinical and community impact of the incredible research underway at the University of Kentucky. These awards will support EXCEL research teams that develop research proposals that give our patients new opportunities. 
 
As one of only eight universities in the country with the full range of programs and disciplines on one contiguous campus with an academic medical system, we have a distinctive opportunity to engage in transformative transdisciplinary research — research that changes lives and improves communities.
 
That’s the idea behind the EXCEL Research Initiative. 
 
We are seeking proposals from faculty across every college on our campus. Our units will provide startup funding to teams with innovative proposals that demonstrate, for example, a transdisciplinary approach, focus on health disparities or that in some way further one of our existing Research Priority Areas (RPAs), to begin new clinical trials, among other factors.
 
We have utilized institutional incentives in other initiatives to help jumpstart important research efforts. Typically, that takes place within a college or an administrative area. What makes this program unique is the partnership among our units — the Office of the Provost, the Office of the VPR, the College of Medicine and UK HealthCare — and the call for a transdisciplinary approach with a focus across the institution. This approach can, and should, leverage our clear strengths — a land-grant mission embedded in an institution with clear depth and breadth across many disciplines.
 
Our mission as Kentucky’s university is to advance this state in everything that we do. 
 
Research that leads to discovery, solutions, healing and that addresses gaps in access to care is critical to who we are and what we do.
 
I hope you will consider this opportunity.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues, 

Last semester, I announced a new leadership role being developed within the Office of the Provost and in alignment with our mission: vice provost. This position will partner with colleges, their leaders and other senior leadership on campus for decision-making purposes and special initiatives. The leadership of the International Center and the Provost Budget Office will report to the vice provost.

The position will provide strategic leadership of resources, compliance and service excellence, and demonstrate the ability and commitment to advance the university’s philosophy and practice relative to creating an inclusive environment.

I am pleased to announce that a national search process for a vice provost will begin in February. In accordance with Governing Regulation VIII, which states that I shall request a recommendation on matters of appointments from a committee, and as part of our efforts to enhance communication, transparency, inclusion and shared governance, we are seeking nominations for members of the search advisory committee, comprising of faculty, staff and learners. All recommendations and justifications are treated confidentially.

If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else to serve on the search advisory committee, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact Shavonna Ross, director of operations (shav.ross@uky.edu). Please submit your nominations by Monday, February 5, at 5 p.m.

I look forward to working with you and listening to your input as we work through the search process.

Thank you for all you do as we work together to advance Kentucky.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost

Dear Colleagues,

Last week, I had the honor of meeting with the second cohort of participants in the Research Leadership Development Program within the Research Leadership Academy, supported by the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR). Our discussion centered on building and cultivating a climate of trust, an essential element to continue our mission to serve our Commonwealth.

As we cultivate — and maintain — a climate of trust, it is vital that we continue collaborating on issues such as shared governance and our collective goals to instill in each other a greater sense of trust.

The UK-PURPOSE, the university’s strategic plan to advance Kentucky, calls upon all of us to ensure greater trust, transparency and accountability in everything that we do.

And to demonstrate the importance of this strategic plan principle, we have expanded our efforts to communicate more openly with you and the rest of the campus community. Through these weekly Faculty Focus newsletters, we improve and strengthen the channels of communication between your offices and ours. Further, by hold­­­ing our regular College and Chairs’ Town Halls, we strive to provide each faculty member the opportunity to discuss concerns and ask questions that inform the important work you perform every day.

It is through this demonstration of trust that true innovation springs — transdisciplinary collaboration allows us to focus on putting students first. Only by tapping into that well of innovation can we build upon our shared mission to be Kentucky’s university.

Thank you for all your efforts in advancing our Commonwealth.

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D.
Provost

Dear Colleagues, 

To prepare our students to be the future of the workforce — in Kentucky and beyond — we must also focus on supporting you, our esteemed faculty, as we accelerate that mission. The Office for Faculty Advancement provides that support by recognizing faculty accomplishments and building resources for development and promotion. 

Faculty — at all stages of their careers — can rely on support from the Office for Faculty Advancement.  

When faculty seek promotion and/or tenure, it may seem like a mystifying and complex process. As such, the Office for Faculty Advancement offers a series of workshops aimed at clarifying the details of this process, including sessions covering the preparation of a successful promotion dossier. The first session is Feb. 2, 9:30-10:30 a.m. You may register for these workshops at this link. 

Other sessions include helpful information for college and departmental leaders assisting faculty through the promotion/tenure process. The first of those sessions is on Feb. 6, 2-3 p.m. You may register for these workshops at this link. 

The office also has Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) leadership available to help with guidance and support for instruction. 

As we focus on moving our Commonwealth forward, we remain committed to ensuring the mutual advancement of our own campus community. We encourage you to utilize these resources to grow alongside your students.  

Thank you for all that you do. 

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D.
Provost