University of Kentucky - Striving to Be the Best

Dr. Lee Todd became the 11th president of the University of Kentucky on July 1, 2001. He is a native of Earlington, Kentucky and a graduate of UK and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). President Todd is the sixth UK alumnus to hold the presidency. He is a former UK engineering professor and a successful businessman who launched two worldwide technology companies both based in Kentucky. As Dr. Todd spoke about his experiences as the President of the University of Kentucky, he gave Rotarians a glimpse at what it means to strive to be among the best.

After accepting his leadership position at UK, Dr. Todd immediately began work on the Top 20 Challenge - an initiative that seeks to make Kentucky a top-20 public research university by 2020. The goal is ambitious. It will require significant funding and growth. At the time he accepted this mission, there were no plans and no budget for such a project. In a period of 18 months the university, under the leadership of Dr. Todd, developed a full business plan paving the pathway to success.

This year several milestones have been met illustrating progress towards meeting these goals. Over 60 new faculty members have been added, the student to teacher ratio has improved, and new programs are in place which illustrate the university's commitment to its students. Dr. Todd illustrated how these achievements have resulted in changes to both the internal and external culture at UK.

As a result of national media recognition (such as a recent feature story in the New York Times) the university has recruited top notch talent from premier universities such as Harvard, Yale, Purdue, Ohio State, and MIT. The acquisition of such talent will only further UK's efforts of being ranked a top-20 public research university. As Dr. Todd explained, "you have to get the right ones on the bus and in the right seats if you are to reach your objectives."

Dr. Todd explained that at UK research is not done simply for the sake of research. Research is done as part of the university's ongoing commitment to give back to the state of Kentucky. There are a number of projects proposed that specifically address problem areas within the state in an effort to make a difference to overcoming state challenges.

How has UK differentiated itself from other universities? Per Dr. Todd, last year there were over 48,000 media citations that referenced the work of UK faculty. The university set a new record in research dollars acquired, last year having $324 million available to projects. In an effort to involve undergraduate students in the research project, UK now offers discovery seminars in which undergraduate students have the ability to work directly with and from faculty members to participate first-hand in current research projects.

Financially, the university is faring well also. Last year UK was able to raise over $1 billion. The schools endowment fund has increased from $195 million to $925 million within the last decade. Among other things, the interest earned off this endowment funds scholarships to recruit talent to the state of Kentucky. A new scholarship is now available that will allow students acquiring their associates degree from a community college who maintained a 3.5 or greater GPA the ability to complete their bachelors program at UK at tuition levels equivalent to what they paid to the community college system!

Whether the University of Kentucky will win the Top 20 Challenge remains to be seen. Regardless, the University has already illustrated its commitment to its students, its faculty and residents of the state of Kentucky.

NEXT WEEK

October 17, 2007 - Scott McGee - News anchor for WPSDTV.