The expansion is supported by renewed funding from Class Act Federal Credit Union, which has committed $450,000 to support scholarships and programmatic needs.

The Louisville Teacher Residency, the first program of its kind in Kentucky, provides college graduates who did not major in education the opportunity to earn a master’s degree and Kentucky teaching certification in just one year, in exchange for a commitment to teach in a high-needs JCPS school.

“UofL is deeply grateful for our partnership with Jefferson County Public Schools to implement a teacher residency program that recruits, retains and elevates future educators,” said President Gerry Bradley. “We are also grateful to Class Act for their generous scholarship support, which enables us to create new pathways for educators pursuing careers in Early Childhood ����ֱ�� and Special ����ֱ��.”

During the residency year, participants spend four days each week embedded in JCPS classrooms, gaining hands-on teaching experience under the guidance of master teachers. On Fridays and throughout the summer, residents attend classes at UofL, completing coursework co-designed by JCPS and university faculty to ensure alignment with classroom realities and district needs. Upon completion, residents transition into full-time teaching roles within JCPS.

“I am thankful for Class Act’s continued support, which plays an important role in providing our residents with the guidance, resources, and preparation needed to succeed in the classroom,” said Stefanie Wooten Burnett, assistant dean at UofL’s College of ����ֱ�� and Human Development. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the teacher pipeline and supporting students in JCPS.”��

Class Act Federal Credit Union has now committed more than $1 million to the Louisville Teacher Residency program since its creation.

“Supporting the Louisville Teacher Residency aligns with our credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people,’ and specifically with Class Act’s mission of supporting education in our community” said Tom Anonson, president and CEO at Class Act Federal Credit Union. “By partnering with UofL and JCPS, we are helping prepare educators who will make a lasting difference for students and families across our community.”

“This initiative establishes UofL as a national leader in educating its students about intimate partner violence,” said President Gerry Bradley. “Our hope is that the project helps to curb instances of abuse and violence in our community and across the nation.”

Dean and Professor of Law Melanie B. Jacobs said the new Mary Byron Endowed Chair “will not only lead IPV law and policy education but also engage in unprecedented transdisciplinary collaboration to provide opportunities for UofL students to help those impacted by IPV and, just as importantly, to learn how to prevent IPV.”

The 1993 murder of 21-year-old Louisville resident Mary Byron by her estranged ex-boyfriend who was unknowingly released from jail led to the creation of — Victim Information and Notification Everyday. First used in Louisville, VINE from Equifax is a national automated notification service that provides crime victims, survivors and other concerned citizens with near real-time, anonymous alerts regarding changes to an offender’s custody status. VINE is available in more than 45 states, and according to Equifax, delivered nearly 21.5 million notifications in 2025.

The Mary Byron Project’s mission since 2000 is to foster innovations and programs to prevent intimate partner violence. It accomplishes this through public advocacy, funding groundbreaking IPV initiatives throughout the United States and becoming a national thought leader.��

The project’s board wanted to preserve and institutionalize this legacy and selected the Brandeis School of Law to extend the work through the Mary Byron Endowed Chair.

“This chair will advance legal education and policy related to intimate partner violence and help integrate IPV-focused learning throughout the law school and university curriculum to train professionals to better understand and ultimately prevent, IPV,” said Mary Byron Project Founding Executive Director and Board Chair Marcia Roth.

“There is no more fitting partner than the Brandeis School of Law at UofL to carry forward this legacy of thought leadership as we work to break the cycle of intimate partner violence for generations to come,” said Mike Davis, developer of VINE in collaboration with Yung Nguyen.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said this work will impact residents throughout the city.

“The top priority of my administration is public safety – ensuring that all our residents are safe and feel safe in their neighborhoods. We know that all too often, this begins with making sure people are safe in their own homes.��I applaud the Mary Byron Project, Equifax and many others for supporting this center and endowed position at UofL. It will help end domestic violence not just here in Louisville but across the country, and it will continue the powerful legacy of the Byron family,” he said.

“Mary Byron’s story inspired a new era of safety and support for victims of crime, starting with the notifications provided by VINE,” said Equifax Senior Vice President and General Manager of Public Safety, Jarrod Carnahan. “We are proud to support the Brandeis School of Law and the Mary Byron Endowed Chair to extend our mission beyond notification technology and help empower a new generation of leaders to identify early warning signs and intervene before intimate partner violence leads to tragedy.”

Building upon the existing Robert and Sue Ellen Ackerson Law Clinic, which was created in 2009 and represents clients who have suffered from IPV in Jefferson County, the new Mary Byron Center’s collaborative partners will include:

• College of Business
• College of ����ֱ�� and Human Development
• Department of Classical and Modern Languages
• Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science
• School of Dentistry
• School of Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry
• UofL Health—UofL Hospital

The center will grow into an interdisciplinary entity designed to make systemic changes, provide wrap-around services for clients and teach those providing services their role in combatting IPV, a learned behavior passed on from generation to generation. By teaching about its breadth and impact in all areas of academia, students will learn how to disrupt the pathways that have historically triggered IPV.

The Mary Byron Center will also facilitate an annual conference designed to bring together aspiring and practicing law professionals from across the globe. This conference will provide opportunities for other universities to learn about UofL’s unique approach to teaching and addressing IPV so that they, too, can integrate IPV studies into their core curriculum.

“My daughter Mary’s name lives on,” said Pat Byron. “The important work begun by the Mary Byron Project will continue, helping train the next generation of advocates – lawyers and lay people, alike. With each of these important steps we get closer to making ‘no more’ a reality.”������

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Last year was the first time UofL received the QS global ranking, and it was established relying solely on publicly available information.

“This is the first year that sustainability data was intentionally gathered and reported to QS with the encouragement and assistance of the Office of Institutional Research,” said Justin Mog, assistant to the provost for sustainability initiatives.

Mog said this newest metric complements the steady progress UofL has attained every three-year measurement period under the framework developed by the AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher ����ֱ��).

President Gerry Bradley said a sustainability mindset is critical to a university’s policies, procedures and culture. “Anything else means that we are not actually creating the better world that we say we want for our students and our community.”

According to STARS, UofL has remained in the top 100 most sustainable schools on the planet, consistently maintaining the highest STARS rating of any school in Kentucky and ranking fourth among its official benchmark institutions. The next STARS ranking will be announced in April.

Recently, UofL was also granted two core recertifications. For a fourth time, UofL was named a�� (a rating valid 2025-2029) by the League of American Bicyclists, and for the 16th consecutive year recognized as a Tree Campus Higher ����ֱ�� institution by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Since UofL first signed onto the Climate Commitment and formed the university-wide Sustainability Council in 2008, it has launched a wide variety of campus sustainability initiatives making meaningful impacts on the lives and learning of our campus community. A few of these include: ��

• Degree programs in sustainability
• Slashing greenhouse emissions by half
• UofL Free Store and Cardinal Cupboard
• Campus gardens and community composting
• Farmers Markets and CSA programs
• EcoReps and Ecolympics
• Sustainability Roundtable
• Kroger Zero Hunger Zero Waste Scholars

Mog said rankings like STARS and QS help UofL recruit sustainability-minded students and employees and help to prioritize and better understand where to invest limited resources.

“If you think about it, UofL ‘s reason for being is to create a better future for our students, to conduct research that will make the world a better place, and to engage the community in mutually beneficial ways,” Mog said. “Sustainability is key to crafting that future every day.”

Interested in finding out more about sustainability and what you can do to help? Visit ��

DIU works with companies to rapidly prototype and scale technologies for national defense and currently operates OnRamp Hubs across the U.S. in Arizona, Hawaii, Kansas, Ohio and Washington. The addition of OnRamp Hub: Kentucky presents an opportunity for talent and technology companies across the state.

“The University of Louisville is establishing itself as a national leader in defense technology and innovation,” said Senator Mitch McConnell, who supported UofL’s selection for the hub. “Today’s announcement will bring a Defense Innovation Unit OnRamp Hub to Kentucky with UofL as the commonwealth’s delivery partner. I am proud that UofL will create new opportunities for defense companies, researchers and students to contribute directly to our national security.”

Multiple areas of established infrastructure at UofL will contribute to the hub’s mission, including a nationally ranked research enterprise, particularly assets within the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, such as defense-focused facilities in additive manufacturing, robotics, cybersecurity and micro and nano technology. Support mechanisms for innovation commercialization and existing partnerships with regional defense and manufacturing entities also will contribute to the hub’s goals.

“We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to engage the talents and assets at the University of Louisville to strengthen our nation’s security, while elevating manufacturing businesses and innovators across Kentucky,” said UofL President Gerry Bradley.

UofL has demonstrated success in outreach and education for Kentucky’s manufacturing businesses through the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership (KY-MEP), which provides support and networking for Kentucky manufacturers. This expertise will translate directly to OnRamp endeavors, giving UofL a leg up in launching the hub’s collaboration and programming efforts.

“Kentucky has a long and proud history of contributing to America’s security and the launch of this DIU OnRamp Hub builds on that legacy. It will be a game-changer, speeding innovations to our warfighters and providing a dedicated space for innovators to receive mentoring and rapidly deploy tech that strengthens national defense,” said Will Metcalf, UofL associate vice president for research development and strategic partnerships.

William Fortune, a Kentucky native, has been named director of the Kentucky’s Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub, bringing more than two decades of military and civilian leadership experience and a strong background in deploying and operationalizing new technologies.

Kentucky’s Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub, overseen by and supported with funding from the DIU, is located in a dedicated, state-of-the-art collaboration space at 300 East Market St. on UofL’s J.D. Nichols Campus for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Fortune will lead a team of full-time personnel, in offering a suite of comprehensive programming at the hub designed to lower barriers to entry and speed development of new innovations. These services will disseminate the expertise present at UofL for the benefit of Kentucky businesses, building a unified defense innovation ecosystem to support warfighter needs.

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The Defense Innovation OnRamp Hubs are a strategic initiative by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) designed to lower barriers to entry for the talent and technology found in academia, startups and commercial companies. Recognizing that the best-of-breed technology can be found across the country, DIU currently has OnRamp Hub locations approved in eight states. These hubs serve as accessible entry points – local “front doors” – for innovators to collaborate directly with the DoW.

That work will continue and expand at UofL thanks to $11.5 million in new funding from the National Institutes of Health. The funding will support continuing research in the CCII to investigate therapies that activate the immune system against cancer and to train the next generation of cancer researchers and oncologists.

Since its launch, the CCII has helped four young researchers obtain independent federal funding and doubled the immune-oncology faculty at UofL from 10 to 20 members. The center’s faculty and research facilities also support highly successful clinical trial program.

“The power and impact of our clinical and translational research in cancer immunotherapy are undeniable. This work provides hope for people facing a cancer diagnosis,” said UofL President Gerry Bradley. “I am grateful to our researchers and clinicians who devote their careers to advancing innovative therapies that benefit cancer patients in Kentucky and beyond and I am excited to see what the next phase brings.” ����

The CCII was created with an initial five-year Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (CoBRE) grant of $11.5 million in 2020. The new $11.5 million CoBRE grant announced today will support the center’s work for an additional five years.

An essential component of the CCII’s mission is translating research into the clinical realm, making UofL Health an essential part of its work. CCII supports and is supported by Brown Cancer Center.

“UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center has been developing novel immunotherapies since the early 2000s and our collaboration with UofL’s research and educational programs has translated into lives saved not only in our region but also throughout the country,” said Jason Smith, chief executive officer of UofL Health. “This grant highlights the advantage of academic health care. We are able to leverage life-changing research from the University of Louisville and elsewhere, and put it to work to save and improve the lives of our patients.”

UofL and UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center are leaders in translating scientific discoveries to patient care and conducting clinical trials that bring new therapies to patients and improve chances of recovery for patients. Brown Cancer Center has led multiple clinical trials of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) therapy, and in 2024, the cellular therapy was for metastatic melanoma.

“The UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center has been a leader and innovator when it comes to novel therapies like TILs,” said Jason Chesney, director of Brown Cancer Center and . “We started offering TILs in clinical trials back in 2016. We have seen many patients who were told elsewhere that they had no other options, but they’ve come to us, and their lives have been extended for years. This grant has allowed us to continue this research so more of our patients can make it to weddings, graduations and meet their grandchildren.”

Julie Reynolds, 69, was the first patient treated with commercial TILs for metastatic melanoma after its FDA approval in February 2024. The retired teacher and Indiana resident was treated at Brown Cancer Center with TILs therapy in June 2024 and is alive and well today.

“The clinical trials of TILs that were conducted by Dr. Chesney at UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center led to the FDA approval of TILs last year which in turn led to me being alive so that I can enjoy spending more time with my family,” Reynolds said.

Training the next generation of investigators

One key goal of CoBRE programs is to train talented young investigators to become the next generation of research leaders. At CCII, young investigators benefit from project grants and mentoring by senior investigators, supported by CoBRE funding. All four of the young investigators who led projects under the first round of center funding have now obtained major federal funding of their own, including:

• Chuanlin Ding
• Qingsheng Li
• Corey Watson
• Kavitha Yaddanapudi

“When we launched this center, our mission was ambitious: to build a vibrant community of scientists who could bridge fundamental immunology with translational and clinical research, ultimately bringing new hope to patients with cancer,” said Jun Yan, director of the CCII. “Through this next phase, we will continue to provide a nurturing environment where junior investigators can develop cutting-edge research programs, gain access to advanced technologies and receive the mentorship and resources they need to succeed.”

As a first-round project leader in the program, Yaddanapudi’s translational research supported the clinical immunotherapy program at Brown Cancer Center. She investigated immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance in lung cancer patients to improve treatment and worked with the TILs clinical trial team. Now, Yaddanapudi is a mentor for other young investigators in CCII as they build their research programs.

Junior investigators currently receiving support and training include:

• Sharmila Nair
• Jian Zheng
• Joseph Chen

The center also houses research instruments in its Functional Immunomics Core facility. The equipment supports research by the CCII faculty, the junior researchers and other investigators at the university. It houses a Helios CyTOF instrument and a Hyperion Imaging Mass Cytometry, among other resources. To date, investigators within the program have secured approximately $33 million in research grants made possible by the core.

As part of its next phase, the CCII plans to add a tumor organoid fragment culture platform. The platform uses human tumor specimens and mimics the human body environment for more precise testing.

View photos from the announcement on .

This celebration of generosity spans 1,798 minutes, a tribute to UofL’s founding year, and invites Cardinals everywhere to come together in support of the university they love.

Timed to energize Homecoming week, Raise Some L rallies the Cardinal community around the initiatives, programs and people shaping UofL’s future.

“Your support of the UofL family ignites transformative opportunities for our students, patients and community. It empowers the next generation of Cardinals to reach their full potential,” said President Gerry Bradley. “We are building a brighter tomorrow and moving forward together.”

Recent Major Gifts and Commitments

This year’s Raise Some L celebration has already been bolstered by several significant gifts and commitments that will make an immediate and lasting impact across the University of Louisville. Highlights include:

• Anonymous –��Inspired by the legacy of two strong women who championed education and opportunity for themselves and their children, a gift of $500,000 to the University of Louisville was made by a family of first-generation immigrants who began their American journey with hope, determination, and a deep belief in the power of learning. This investment creates a safety net for students, helping cover essential needs like housing, food, and childcare, so they can focus on achieving their degrees and building brighter futures. Their story is one of perseverance, gratitude, and a shared belief that education transforms lives.

• Phoenix Controls – An in-kind gift valued at $382,258 to enhance the new program, providing state-of-the-art technology and resources for hands-on learning.

• SEW-EURODRIVE – An in-kind gift valued at $358,000 to support the program, providing state-of-the-art technology and resources for hands-on learning.
• Suraj and Rachel Alexander – A $100,000 gift establishing a new Centennial Scholarship fund within the to support student opportunity and innovation, complemented by a $50,000 planned gift to sustain and advance the Speed School’s mission for years to come.
• Autodesk – $75,000 in support of state-of-the-art technologies and resources for the J.B. Speed School’s program.
• St. James Court Neighborhood Association – A renewed commitment totaling $74,375 to benefit the , including the establishment of the St. James Court Neighborhood Association Scholarship Honoring Bill Holladay, Jr.,��to support students pursuing art and design.
• Lyle and Linda Graham – A $50,000 contribution to the Graham Student Philanthropy Endowed Fund and an additional $5,000 gift to the Graham Math Scholars Program, continuing their long-standing support for student engagement and success.
• Anonymous Planned Gift to the Speed School – A planned commitment valued at $50,000 to advance the mission and programs of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering.
• Genentech, Inc. –A gift of $43,421 to the . Genentech is a pioneering biotechnology company committed to innovation, equity, and health. This gift helps prepare the next generation of leaders to tackle the world’s most pressing health challenges.
• Dr. Paul Kelty – A $25,000 pledge to the Golden Alumni Scholarship at the J.B. Speed School of Engineering. (Securities transfer processed by Baird Financial.)
• Anonymous Gift – A $12,500 matching gift to the UofL Writing, Editing and Publishing Lab, expanding resources and opportunities for students in the program.

“Raise Some L helps keep UofL accessible and affordable, fuels breakthrough research, enhances medical care and drives our momentum as a leading metropolitan research university,” said Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Vice President Jim Broschart. “We are profoundly grateful to the alumni, faculty, staff and friends who answer the call year after year. Your generosity makes it all possible.”

To learn more, make a gift or become a Raise Some L advocate, visit .

Campus Events & Student Energy

The Student Organization for Alumni Relations (SOAR) and the Student Activities Board (SAB) will host Raise Some L block parties on the Belknap and HSC campuses on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 12-2 p.m., featuring snacks, games, music and opportunities to get involved. Don’t miss the action at the campus quads and help spread the word using #RaiseSomeL on social media.

Last Year’s Impact

In 2024, more than 2,000 donors gave an incredible $5.4 million to support UofL, UofL Health and UofL Athletics. For the fourth consecutive year, Cardinal family members from all 50 states took part, showing the nation what it means to Raise Some L.

To see what else is happening during Homecoming week, visit

Graycarek comes to UofL from the University of Indianapolis, where he has been executive vice president of finance and administration since February 2024. During his tenure, he led the university to consecutive years of improved finances, including a 70% increase in cash balances and a 10% increase in endowment market value. Graycarek also eliminated a $17 million budget deficit while resourcing funds for cost-of-living increases, enhanced student mental health services, increased student financial aid and improved residence hall experiences. He also successfully led a $79 million housing transaction that secured long-term university ownership of three apartment complexes and provided significant upfront and ongoing financial benefits.

“We’re excited to bring Rick back home to UofL,” said President Gerry Bradley. “He is an accomplished and experienced financial leader with a proven track record in budget management, capital planning and leading successful teams. Best of all, he knows the opportunities and realities here at UofL. We’re confident in his ability to address a challenging financial climate.”

Graycarek has a master’s degree with a public administration/public finance concentration from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He also completed the Fellows program with the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

At UofL, Graycarek replaces Charlie Perusse, who had been serving as EVPFA/CFO in an interim role. Perusse presented a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026 despite considerable pressures and worked on a new affiliation agreement with UofL Health.

Graycarek previously worked under UofL EVPFA/CFO Dan Durbin, who passed away earlier this year.

“I am deeply grateful and excited to return to the Cardinal family,” Graycarek said. “I look forward to working with President Bradley and his team, the Board of Trustees and the entire UofL community to advance the university’s strategic plan. I am also incredibly thankful for my family, friends and Dan Durbin whose support and inspiration have meant the world to me.”

On Oct. 10, the university celebrated a new era as Bradley was inaugurated as its 20th president. Filled with music, tradition and Cardinal pride, the ceremony at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium was to a global audience, marking a historic milestone in UofL’s 227-year story.

Now at the helm of a $1.6 billion university and its $2.5 billion UofL Health system, Bradley steps into his role with both experience and vision, ready to guide the university into its next chapter.

“As we look forward, we are mindful of the responsibility placed upon us. Our task is not simply to preserve this legacy but to propel it boldly into the future,” Bradley said. “Together we will ensure that the University of Louisville takes its rightful place among the great public universities of our nation.”

Bradley’s family, including his wife Kim and five sons, attended the ceremony alongside a platform party of distinguished guests. Among those present were Senator Mitch McConnell, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Lori Stewart Gonzalez, previous provost and interim president.

“Gerry isn’t just making decisions behind the desk in the office, he’s making it a priority to get out in the community,” said McConnell, who graduated from UofL in 1964 and established the McConnell Center on campus in 1991. “He puts students first and understands keenly that UofL is part of the fabric of our community.”

Greenberg also praised Bradley for his commitment to progress and working together.

“The success of UofL is so important to the success of our city. When UofL offers a world-class education, it keeps young and bright people – our future leaders – right here in Louisville,” Greenberg said.

Coleman, who is a ’08 alumna, congratulated Bradley on behalf of Team Kentucky and Gov. Andy Beshear and shared that she was honored to speak at the institution that cultivated her values.

“Ceremonies like this demonstrate the respect we have for institutions of higher learning, the unique impact an educational experience has on each of us and the responsibility that we all share to steward this university for the next generation,” said Coleman. “Now more than ever, our world needs creative and thoughtful leaders who can build bridges of understanding and can lead through tough times with empathy and compassion.”��

Momentum

The inauguration comes at a time of incredible momentum for the university. This fall, UofL celebrated a historic milestone as for the first time. UofL also set a record with an 84.1% fall-to-fall retention rate, proving that students are not only choosing Louisville, but thriving here.

“These are not just numbers, they are lives and families transformed by higher education,” Bradley said.

The momentum doesn’t stop there. UofL also earned its highest ranking ever in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges list.

Additionally, the university continues to distinguish itself as a top-tier Research 1(R1) institution, earning hundreds of millions annually in competitive research funding and addressing challenges in health, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.

UofL is also one of only 11 universities nationwide to earn the R1, Opportunity College & University in Student Access and Carnegie Community Engaged classifications. These designations underscore the university’s dual role as a powerhouse of innovation and a deeply rooted community partner.

Forward Together

Earlier this month, Bradley shared his fiscal year 2026 goals with the Board of Trustees. With the board’s approval, he will focus on priorities which align with the pillars of our – learn, work, discover and connect.

“We believe we can become national leaders in these areas, and we have the momentum to do it now,” Bradley said. ��

With three campuses, 12 schools and colleges, over 25,000 students, 170,000 alumni and a mission that blends teaching, research, health care and service, UofL remains committed to shaping Kentucky’s future while driving progress on a national and global scale.

The inauguration marked a celebration of Cardinal pride, purpose and progress – proof that the UofL is moving forward together, and the best is yet to come.

Learn more about Bradley in UofL News. View photos from the inauguration on and watch the inauguration ceremony on . Stay up-to-date with President Bradley on and .

The largest of these gifts, a $3 million investment��in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at��,��will help create eight new private family rooms designed to improve outcomes for medically fragile newborns.

“Through their investment in UofL and UofL Health, Kosair for Kids makes it possible for us to provide critical care to pediatric patients and their families—from the NICU, to Frazier Rehab��Institute, to the School of Dentistry,” said University of Louisville President and Chair of the UofL Health Board of Directors Gerry Bradley. “Family-centered care is proven to improve outcomes, and these investments will truly change lives. We are honored to join Kosair for Kids in making this care possible for the children of our region.”

Each year, the NICU at UofL Hospital provides care for more than 400 newborns, with nearly 90% coming from low-income households.��The NICU expansion will convert outdated open-bay nursery space into private rooms, allowing parents to stay with their infants, strengthening family bonds and supporting improved medical outcomes.

“We are deeply grateful to Kosair for Kids for their extraordinary generosity and continued partnership with UofL Health and UofL. This investment in our NICU is transformational,” said UofL Health Interim CEO Jason Smith. “It means more families can remain together during critical moments of care and more babies will have the best possible chance at a healthy start. Thanks to Kosair for Kids, we can extend hope and healing to the youngest and most vulnerable in our community.”

In addition to the NICU expansion, Kosair for Kids will also be supporting two additional initiatives:

• $47,300 to����to purchase specialized pediatric rehabilitation equipment, including the Bioness L300 Go Plus System, which helps children with neurological conditions strengthen mobility and independence.
• $50,000 to the , ensuring children and families experiencing financial hardship continue to receive essential oral health services.

For more than a century, Kosair for Kids has been dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of children in Kentucky and southern Indiana. These latest gifts build on its longstanding collaboration with UofL and UofL Health, helping ensure every child has the best opportunity to grow, heal and thrive.

The university also boasts a record high fall-to-fall retention rate of 84.1%, showcasing student satisfaction and success.

“Our enrollment and retention numbers send a clear message – students want to be here at the University of Louisville,” said President Gerry Bradley. “This remarkable growth is a powerful vote of confidence from thousands of students who have weighed their options and chose UofL and Louisville as their home. We’re committed to providing an outstanding education that prepares them for the careers and challenges of tomorrow.”

Enrollment highlights

Preliminary figures show that 3,373 first-time college students enrolled for the fall 2025 semester, a nearly 8% increase from the previous year.

Other highlights of the Class of 2029 include:

• 38.6% are first-generation college students
• Nearly 27% are from other states
• Top five majors are engineering, nursing, biology, education and business

Overall undergraduate enrollment increased by nearly 1,000 students, with notable gains in the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, the College of Business, the School of Nursing and the College of Arts and Sciences. Graduate and professional enrollments also rose, particularly in the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.

This year’s student body also includes representation from every Kentucky county, a testament to UofL’s statewide impact and reach.

Expanding student opportunities

Behind these record numbers are intentional efforts to expand access and affordability. The university has invested in targeted recruitment, launched new and innovative academic programs and increased financial aid opportunities. For example, the is one opportunity that makes college more affordable for many out-of-state students. In-state tuition is available to students from Illinois, most of Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and select counties in Tennessee starting next fall.

“I chose UofL because coming here gave me the opportunity to become debt free after college,” said Casey Beck, a third-year College of Business student from Cincinnati, Ohio. “The Border Benefit cut out-of-state tuition in half, and UofL quickly became a top pick in college choices due to the jumpstart on college expenses.”

Final enrollment numbers will be available in November 2025. For more information, visit .