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LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 30, 2026) — The University of Kentucky budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year is positioning UK to extend and enhance its mission to advance Kentucky, driven by continued growth in its healthcare system and investments in students, employees and communities across the state.

The budget — the largest in UK history at $9.6 billion — reflects an institution expanding its reach in education, research and healthcare while creating jobs and increasing access to affordable higher education.

“While this is the largest budget in our institution’s history, the numbers alone don’t tell the story,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “What matters most is what those resources allow us to do — serve more students, care for more patients and strengthen communities across Kentucky.”

Growth fueled by healthcare, workforce Impact

UK’s healthcare enterprise continues to be a major driver of the university’s expansion, alongside steady growth in academic and research programs.

• About 5,400 jobs have been added over the past five years, bringing UK’s workforce to over 35,000 people.

• UK hospitals are treating tens of thousands more patients annually, with outpatient visits numbering in the millions in recent years.

“Behind these numbers are real stories — patients receiving care closer to home and families across Kentucky benefiting from a stronger health system,” Capilouto said.

Expanding access, keeping college affordable

The university continues to see strong demand from students, projecting another incoming class of more than 6,000 and total enrollment exceeding 38,000.

• More than $190 million will be invested in scholarships and financial aid this year.

• More than 90% of in-state undergraduate students receive some form of grant or scholarship support.

“Nothing is more important to Kentucky’s future than the success of our students,” Capilouto said. “We are committed to making a UK education accessible and preparing graduates for careers that strengthen our state.”

Investing in employees

The budget includes a 3% salary increase for eligible employees, with a minimum raise of $1,500.

It’s the 13th year out of 14 that some increase in compensation has been funded for UK employees.

“This budget is about more than growth,” Capilouto said. “It’s about impact and at the University of Kentucky, our mission has always been clear: everything we do is in service to this state.”

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It’s all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 2, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees today accepted a $150 million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation to construct a new arts district, including a new College of Fine Arts building and a several-hundred seat theater.

The gift is the single largest in UK’s history.

“This gift will realize a vision to create an arts district on the western edge of our campus,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “There, we can integrate art into an area of Lexington that is an increasingly vibrant and vital intersection of campus and city, town and gown.”

The gift will make possible:

• Relocation and construction of a new College of Fine Arts Building along South Broadway next to the newly constructed Gray Design Building.
• Construction of a several-hundred-seat theater that will house performances of dance, music and theater.
• Creation of a pavilion, with a park that will connect several blocks on and near South Broadway and Bolivar Street, near UK’s existing School of Arts and Visual Studies (SA/VS) Building and a short walk from the city’s Gatton Park at Town Branch, Rupp Arena, Central Bank Center and the Distillery District.

More information about the gift and the initiative can be found at pres.uky.edu/bill-gatton-foundations-historic-gift. Construction will require legislative authorization to issue bonds. Capilouto said discussions have already begun with legislative leaders about the project.

The College of Fine Arts community, Capilouto said, will also be engaged in discussions about programming for the new arts district as well as planning for the future of facilities like the Singletary Center and UK Art Museum.

“We have much work to do, which will require engagement, discussions and planning with a large number of stakeholders,” Capilouto said. “That is in front of us and we are committed to that process.”

“This $150 million gift — the largest in UK’s history — will help not only the university but also Lexington and Kentucky, as it creates a vibrant, welcoming arts district for students, Kentuckians and visitors to enjoy,” said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. “Education and the arts fuel our economy and our workforce, and investments like these are how we keep working to build a bright future for generations.”

“I’m anxious to authorize bonds so that construction can begin quickly,” said Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers. “This expansion may be the impetus for more students pursuing a fine arts degree and perhaps working in the film industry, a growing industry made possible by Senate Bill 1 of the 2025 session.”

“Bill Gatton’s extraordinary generosity has transformed lives across Kentucky, and today’s historic gift continues that legacy,” said Kentucky House Speaker David Osborne. “His vision for education, community and the arts reflects the very best of our Commonwealth’s values. It celebrates our incredible heritage and makes way for an even more promising future. This arts district will not only enrich the University of Kentucky, but will also strengthen Lexington and our entire state.”

Today’s gift is another milestone in an era of remarkable giving on behalf of UK alumnus Bill Gatton and his foundation. Gatton’s previous gifts to UK total more than $200 million on behalf of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, the Gatton College of Business and Economics, the Gatton Student Center and scholarship programs such as UK LEADS, which serve to close the gap for students with unmet financial need.

“Place matters. And Mr. Gatton’s place was always Kentucky,” Capilouto said. “More than most, Mr. Gatton understood so well that we advance as a state in so many ways — health and education, the economy and the well-being of our people.

“But he knew, too, that there must be places and spaces to gather, to convene, to come together, to share and have our horizons expanded and our souls replenished. Today, we mark acceptance of a remarkable gift, made through the generosity of a remarkable man, who always returned to the thing that mattered most: Kentucky.”

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It’s all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 14, 2025) — University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto today announced the launch of CATS AI, an initiative designed to coordinate and advance artificial intelligence efforts and expertise across the UK campus and throughout the Commonwealth.

About CATS AI

CATS (Commonwealth AI Transdisciplinary Strategy) AI will serve as a central hub to integrate AI activities across UK’s 17 colleges, libraries, research centers and institutes, as well as its academic and health care enterprises.

“Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping our world — expanding access to information, transforming workplaces, reimagining research and innovation, and revolutionizing health care,” Capilouto said. “At the University of Kentucky, we are committed to becoming an AI university — where AI enhances how we teach, learn, research, heal and serve the Commonwealth.”

Goals and impact

The initiative builds on a recent resolution by the UK Board of Trustees, charging the university to become Kentucky’s “partner of choice” for the responsible use and expansion of AI. CATS AI will leverage AI to advance UK’s mission of improving health and well-being through the Advancing Kentucky Together (AKT) Network.

To do this, CATS AI will support a range of efforts, including:

• AI literacy, training and tools for all UK employees to improve workplace efficiency.

• AI-enabled resources for students, including academic support tools and exploration opportunities.

• Potential development of an AI-themed residence hall.

• Health care innovation through expanded use of ambient listening tools and improved rural access to care.

• Enhanced research collaboration using digital discovery platforms and advanced computing infrastructure.

“AI is changing every part of our economy, and Kentucky must guide that change responsibly and purposefully. The University of Kentucky’s CATS AI initiative gives our commonwealth a partner that can help us prepare students, support workers and modernize services in a way that strengthens public trust of this rapidly advancing technology,” said state Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe. “As co-chair of the AI Task Force, I’m encouraged to see our higher-education institutions stepping up to lead in this moment. This will prove a positive example of how to utilize and integrate AI, and it will prepare future members of the workforce on how to make the most of it in a beneficial way.”

“Artificial intelligence isn’t just a buzzword. It is a transformative tool that is reshaping how we live, work and deliver care,” said state Rep. Josh Bray, who is co-chair of the state’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force. “The University of Kentucky’s CATS AI initiative will help ensure Kentucky leads in the responsible use of AI, from improving health care access in rural communities to advancing research, education and workforce training. I appreciate UK taking this forward-looking approach that keeps innovation grounded in service to people and progress for our Commonwealth.”

Governance and leadership

A steering committee of university leaders will oversee five subcommittees focused on education, research, student experience, health care and workplace administration. Initially, the CATS AI hub will be led by interim co-directors Ian McClure, UK vice president for innovation, and Heath Price, associate vice president for partnerships. A search for a permanent director will begin soon.

“This is an inflection point to lead, just as those who came before us did when they created institutions to respond to transformative technologies,” Capilouto said. “This is our moment to ensure Kentucky not only keeps pace with change but helps shape it.”

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It’s all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.