Memorial Day Login to comment

Tuesday, May 29 2012 03:49:22 PM

Over the last year, the University has set in motion, with uncommon expediency and infectious resolve, a process to meet the goals of our Kentucky Promise. Most of us recognize Monday as the official start of our much anticipated summer. The date also holds deep significance for our state and nation.

Once called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is the day we recognize the brave Americans who have fallen while in service to our country - giving what President Lincoln called the, "last full measure of devotion."

I am honored to be a part of a university family with close ties to our men and women in uniform.  As a state Land-Grant institution, we have always been an integral part of our nation’s defense. Within our founding doctrines is the noble purpose to provide military training and general sciences.

Throughout our nearly 150 year history, UK's Air Force and Army ROTC programs have produced thousands of leaders. Our iconic Memorial Hall and Memorial Coliseum stand as a hallowed testament of our heartfelt appreciation of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Let us not forget that the price of freedom costs dearly and let us not forget those willing to pay it.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said eloquently, “Your silent tents of green, We deck with fragrant flowers; Yours has the suffering been, The memory shall be ours.”

I am humbled and emboldened by your hard work and dedication to our students, faculty and staff here at UK; and the citizens across our Commonwealth. Let our continued commitment to the Kentucky Promise pay homage to the profound gift of opportunity that has been given to each of us. I wish you all a very pleasant and safe holiday.

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Greetings from China Login to comment

Thursday, May 24 2012 09:49:02 AM

Greetings from China, where along with leaders from UK in International Affairs, Education, Fine Arts and energy research, I am exploring work we’re doing and areas where we can grow our efforts.

What I’m seeing reinforces for me in profound and powerful ways the opportunities here for our students, faculty, commonwealth and country.

Already, I’ve met UK students studying abroad in China. I’ve seen firsthand how their opportunities are expanding horizons and strengthening their education. I again came away knowing the University of Kentucky can offer a unique experience that prepares them for a 21^st century economy and global marketplace of ideas and commerce.

I had the fortune of meeting the Chinese Vice-Minister of Education to discuss further growth in our professional development programs for teachers abroad. Vice-Minister Hao Ping was instrumental in the approval process for UK’s Confucius Institute – a jewel of UK’s international profile.

Important to our delegation visit is finding endeavors can yield significant opportunities for Kentucky. In the first three days, I’ve enjoyed substantive conversations that can potentially impact our equine and energy industries.

Very few places outside of the Bluegrass Region have as high of a concentration of expertise and preeminence in all areas of the equine industry. Breeding, raising, training, competition, research and sales are critical to central Kentucky’s economy. For many years, the University of Kentucky has been an important research partner in the equine economy, and our collaborations with Keeneland and the Kentucky Horse Park have been mutually beneficial.

Early in my visit, I shared lunch with the leadership of the Chinese Equestrian Association and Capital University of Physical Education and Sports. We discussed opportunities for UK, alongside Keeneland and the Kentucky Horse Park, to lend our expertise to China’s growing equine industry.

I just concluded a meeting with the representatives of the largest power company in the world.  Thanks to Rodney Andrews and Kunlei Liu with our Center for Applied Energy Research we were able to describe our exciting work in the development of clean coal technology and discuss partnerships and exchanges of students as part of the US-China Clean Energy Research Center.  

As we met, Rodney described power plants being built in China that are using technologies 50 years ahead of what is being deployed in our country.  

To put research into a further context, the Chinese government has ordered power companies here to invest $1 trillion in coal utilization research and development over the next 5 years.  In comparison, the entire research budget for the U.S. Department of Energy for next 5 years is estimated to be $2-2.5 billion all together. 

That underscores the competitive landscape our country and our students will face now and in the coming years as our global economy continues to be transformed.

But it also underscores the opportunity for our university and faculty as we develop further ties to this important economic, cultural and educational partner. As we move into an innovation economy, the investment in ideas and cutting-edge technology is critical to remaining competitive and building a better future. Universities across the country need to lead in a time of intensive research and development.

In this context, we must create more experiences for our students on this exciting frontier. Given the work our faculty already are doing here, and the relationships being built, I’m confident that we will.

I look forward to my return where we can discuss even more the potential ahead for our university as we explore partnerships and collaboration that bring the world closer to our students.

Until next time, see blue.

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Dean Tim Tracy to Serve as Interim Provost Login to comment

Wednesday, May 02 2012 12:12:25 PM

Below is an email that I shared with campus last week announcing that Dr. Tim Tracy, of UK's College of Pharmacy, has agreed to serve as Interim Provost. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Tracy on his service in a capacity essential to our continued progress as a University.

I am pleased to announce that Dean Tim Tracy of the College of Pharmacy has agreed to serve the University of Kentucky as our Interim Provost.

Dr. Tracy brings a wealth of administrative and academic experience to this role, having served as Dean of the College since August 2010. He came to our University having spent six years as Department Head and member of the faculty at the University of Minnesota. Prior to that, Dr. Tracy spent 11 years on the faculty at West Virginia University. He earned his Ph.D. in clinical pharmacy from Purdue University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical pharmacology at Indiana University.

In addition to the day-to-day operations of the Provost Office, I have asked Dr. Tracy to focus his time and energy on:

• Providing leadership as the University absorbs budget reductions in 2012-13 and prepares for 2013-14.
• Overseeing the continued strengthening of the University’s undergraduate education.
• Preparing the University to transition to a new budget model effective in 2013-14 (Dr. Tracy will continue to chair the University’s Workgroup on Financial System of Accountability).
• Evaluating changes to the organizational structure of the Provost’s Office.

Dr. Tracy will begin his duties as Interim Provost May 7. Dr. Patrick McNamara will serve as Acting Dean and will oversee the day-to-day operations of the College. Dr. Tracy will be available to the College of Pharmacy (and all colleges and units) to provide counsel on strategic initiatives.

I will begin as soon as possible the process of conducting a national search for a permanent Provost. I aim to have this position filled by the beginning of the Spring 2013 semester.

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