UK Trustees Approve Capilouto's Plans

{Lexington, Kentucky}...The University of Kentucky is in talks with a Tennessee real estate firm about taking over campus dormitories. Memphis-based Education Realty Trust could spend as much as $500 million over the next several years to tear down and rebuild most of UK's student housing that now accommodates up to 6,000 people. UK Vice President for Budget and Finance Angie Martin says UK has roughly $1 billion in construction needs across campus, from dorms to classrooms to research space. UK's housing department has an annual budget of $30 million, but its deferred maintenance needs top $200 million. Tuesday, the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees approved President Eli Capilouto's sweeping plans for nearly every corner of the school with no questions or discussion. In other business, the board gave final approval to replace the UK Athletics Association Board with an athletics committee as part of the Board of Trustees and approved spending $7.5 million from UK Athletics to upgrade UK's softball facilities, among other things.