UK President Underlines University Needs

{Kentucky}...In a campus-wide email message sent Thursday, University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto underlined the university's most urgent needs. Capilouto said that as he has traveled the state and gotten to know the UK campus, he has seen a deep appreciation for the education, research and service that UK provides. Capilouto said a review committee, chaired by university Senate Council chairwoman Hollie Swanson, noted gains and growth in the quality of students and faculty, the medical center and the amount of research, but it said there are crucial areas that need immediate attention. Those areas include improving undergraduate education, facilities, faculty and staff salaries and research and graduate education. The report says UK's faculty salaries now rank near the bottom in comparison with their peers, and the committee recommends that the president review those salaries and bring them more in line. The report also says UK has facility needs that top $1 billion, including antiquated residential dorms. The committee said the president needs to review the construction priority list, expand and improve housing, expand and innovate classroom space with new technologies, and expand research and laboratory space.