Working with alumni, faculty, staff, and students, the College of Arts & Sciences introduced a dynamic college-wide initiative, Envision 2020, which has allowed us to describe what a college of excellence will look like by the end of the decade. Through Envision 2020, A&S has created a place where the major issues of today and tomorrow are explored, studied, and solved, where the next generation is future-ready and prepared to inherit and lead our society, and where the college builds upon an active community engagement program not just locally but internationally.

Building upon four characteristics of innovation, creativity, connectivity, and action, A&S is introducing programs that are designed to take teaching, research, and engagement in the college to a whole new level. Currently our top Envision 2020 funding priorities include:                                                                     

A&S Wired Residential College

A&S Wired is an exciting new residential college designed around the concept of a 21^st century liberal arts education. Located in Keeneland Hall and open only to first year students, A&S Wired will link curricular and extra-curricular activities as well as facilitate the transition to college. Students will understand connectivity on all levels – from virtual to face-to face, local to global – creating a solid foundation for their academic career.

The common areas and classrooms in Keeneland Hall will be equipped with interactive smart boards and wall displays streaming real-time updates. Several of the A&S Wired classes, discussion sections, tutoring, and advising outlets will be located in the dorm to facilitate student engagement.

In addition to traditional three-credit hour courses, students will also have the opportunity to participate in co-curricular activities in the community. These experiences will show students how classroom instruction can easily translate into real-world contexts and uses.

The goal of A&S Wired is to inspire and prepare students to excel in scholarship, research, and service – providing them with a dynamic skill set that will instill social responsibility and enhance their ability to shine in their future careers. The college is eager to have alumni, friends of the college, and donors get involved in the A&S Wired Residential College. Opportunities for mentoring students, offering internships, or donating to the project are available.

STEM Education and Science for Kentucky’s Future

Success in STEM disciplines is critical to the future of the U.S. to remain an economic and technological leader in the 21^st century. A&S is committed to providing students at UK and throughout the commonwealth the resources necessary to enter college ready to excel.

In order to provide high school students across the commonwealth with the tools needed to excel in the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the college supports a wide range of innovative outreach programs. A sample of programs include the Kentucky Early Mathematics Testing Program (KEMTP), which determines the students’ preparedness for learning college-level mathematics, the Appalachian Math and Science Partnership which unites the efforts of teachers, administrators, and parents with faculty from local colleges and universities, the Appalachian Collaborative Center for Learning Assessment and Instruction in Mathematics (ACCLAIM), ALGEBRA CUBED which focuses its efforts in Rowan and Bath counties, and High School Mathematics Day which encourages students to visit UK’s campus and learn about math.

In an effort to educate future generations on the importance of the sciences, the STEM departments in A&S will continue to conduct and expand workshops for local teachers and will support science-related events at local elementary, middle school and high schools. 

A&S will also create an undergraduate project fund (ASURES – AS Undergraduate Research Excellence and Service) that will support individual students’ research projects in their majors. The fund will not only encourage students to think critically about the conceptualization and pursuit of research, but also train them to think critically in the process of identifying of and applying for funding.

Campus & Community

A new course in A&S, Campus & Community will allow students to participate directly in their new community. Exploring Lexington’s history, the relationship between UK and the city, importance of the horse industry, and Lexington’s fascination with sports, among many other topics, will lead students to a better understanding of the city they will call home for the next four years, if not many more.

This course will expose students to many aspects of city governance, public-private partnerships, public services, and cultural relations that will serve them well as engaged citizens no matter where they call home after leaving UK. Each course will culminate with a tangible, purposeful assignment which can be tailored to the students’ major.Topics selected may range from specialized services for homeless veterans with substance abuse problems to historic preservation projects. The skills acquired as a result of the class project will equip students throughout their life to feel empowered to learn about their community and contribute to the issues they are passionate about.

Passport to the World

The college offers exciting international programming each academic year connecting A&S, the university, and the Commonwealth to the world. The Passport to the World Program enables the college to embark on year-long explorations of the culture and history of a particular region or country. The program engages our community in crucial global conversations, sparks an ongoing exchange of ideas, and promotes awareness of our collective similarities and differences. Public lectures and cultural events, coursework, exchanges, and travel all foster the creation of global awareness and participation. Students, faculty members, and alumni will also have unique opportunities to study aboard. International collaborations and exchanges will be facilitated through travel, faculty exchanges, and technology-mediated conferences and consultations.

During the inaugural year of this program, the college sponsored South Africa and Kentucky: Different Lands, Common Ground. Upcoming international programming will highlight China – with many more exciting options to come.

The Institute for 21^st Century Scholarship

By establishing the Institute for 21^st Century Scholarship, we are creating an avenue to bring together the best minds to solve the most pressing issues of our time. Advances in data collection, management, and analysis, as well as a myriad of new research approaches, techniques, and methods allow our scholars to address and understand larger and more complex issues. 

We envision that the Institute will be a place to explore and solve critical problems through an interdisciplinary lens. It will be a place to bridge basic research with applied research. With the help of donor support, we will facilitate the collaborative work of our finest faculty and graduate students from across the college and university by offering seed money for grant and projects development. The Institute will also develop new courses and outreach programs and offer public lectures and seminars to connect the university with the community.

For more information on Envision 2020 and to stay up-to-date with the latest news from the College, please visit: envision.as.uky.edu