Drafts of the plan were shared with the trustees in May and June 2025. Each draft reflected suggestions submitted by students, faculty, staff and other constituencies. The campus community was also invited to strategic plan update Town Halls throughout the process.

“This plan belongs to all of us,” said President Gerry Bradley. “The decisions we make, how each unit operates, the allocation of financial, human and other resources will all apply directly to our strategic goals.”

The university’s academic programs and operating units will have until May 2026 to begin incorporating the plan’s goals and action items into their own strategic initiatives. Additionally, recommendations from the President’s Commission on Climate, Culture and Well-being will be applied to the plan as appropriate.

Approval of the strategic plan was accompanied by the affirmation of the revised . These revisions also reflect input from the university community.

Bradley will further discuss the strategic plan in his Feb. 12 State of the University Address, which will take place at 4 p.m. in the School of Music’s Comstock Hall. The event will also be livestreamed on

Value of shared governance

The Board of Trustees constituency representatives – Andrew Winters (Faculty Senate), Kevin Ledford (Staff Senate) and Macy Waddle (Student Government) – presented a to the board. The statement emphasizes the value of shared governance, open dialogue, belonging and well-being, faculty and staff stability and investment in American innovation and global competitiveness among UofL students, faculty, staff, administration, strategic partners and state government.

Though not an actionable measure for the trustees, the board’s constituency representatives felt the statement was appropriate and necessary given the complex challenges that face higher education in Kentucky.

“We certainly welcome this statement as it properly reflects the collaborative nature between the Board of Trustees and the university’s constituencies,” Bradley said. “I think it is important to point out that not all university boards of trustees include or involve constituency groups in their decision-making. At UofL, all voices are heard. All voices matter.”

The UofL Board of Trustees regular committee meetings will take place Thursday, March 19, 2026. Meeting minutes, schedules and other information are available on the .Ěý

The meeting began with a presentation by Vice Provost Bob Goldstein outlining the results of 2022-23 climate surveys based on the experiences and assessments of faculty, staff and administration. The surveys revealed the university’s strengths in the areas of cost-of-living within the region, supervisor effectiveness and work-life balance. Themes around compensation, quality of facilities, budget cuts and administrative recognition were among the areas of needed improvement. Goldstein concluded with information on overlapping results across all surveys and highlights of progress, including modernization of facilities, Employee Success Center initiatives and establishment of strategic budget principles.

Goldstein emphasized the goal to “map climate surveys into the Strategic Plan process.”

Strategic Plan co-chairs Cherie Dawson-Edwards and Alma Ljaljevic-Tucakovic talked with the audience about the effort to wrap up the current plan and the process underway for the university’s next roadmap.

“We decided to continue with the four pillars in the current Strategic Plan because they reflect the core values of the university,” Ljaljevic-Tucakovic said.

The areas of focus: learn, discover, connect and work are each led by a different committee chair or co-chairs who each spoke briefly about their work.

Interim Provost Katie Cardarelli underscored the importance of university-community input throughout the development process of the .

She outlined the following tentative timeline:

• Mid-May – Initial draft to UofL senior leadership
• June – Initial review by the Board of Trustees
• Late August – First full draft to campus community with opportunities for feedback
• October – Completion of second draft
• Late November – Final draft to Board of Trustees with a vote in December

Additional resources:

• Watch the complete Town Hall on .
• The Climate Survey Report, Executive Summary and a feedback form are available on a . (Log in to your UofL account to access these materials.)
• Learn more about the . (This site will be updated as the Strategic Plan develops.)
• View the photo gallery from the Town Hall on .

Within the University of Louisville’s (LEARN, strategy 2, action 1) the was established to provide a resource for all undergraduate students to participate in at least one external learning experience by graduation. The center’s new specifically considers unpaid opportunities within 501(c)(3) nonprofits or government organizations, and provides an avenue for students to apply for funding in the form of a stipend received via their financial aid. This means experiential learning need not be limited to paid positions, and that students can more likely have their practical needs met while working and learning in their preferred environment.

“Research shows that students who participate in engaged learning have a better understanding of the classroom material, gaining real-world applications of what they’re learning,” said Gail DePuy, senior vice provost who oversees the program. “Research also shows these students often have higher GPAs and higher likelihoods of graduating. Not only is WINGS beneficial to the student, but also to the community, as our talented and energetic students have a lot they can now give to these non-profit organizations.”

Erica Gabbard, director of experiential learning, noted that many nonprofits might not advertise for an internship if they do not have the funds. However, if a student is able to approach them with interest and having the option to apply for financial support from WINGS, more possibilities could become available. The experience also does not need to be directly related to the student’s major; they can apply for support to investigate other areas of interests beyond their particular school.

“We will continue to develop additional programs in the future, all in line with the mission to incentivize and support students toward engaged learning,” said Gabbard. “We want to create a culture in which students are choosing to attend UofL because of the abundance of these opportunities.”

For questions, details and to apply to the WINGS program see the orĚýemail the Center for Engaged Learning.

Schatzel and her team will regularly provide updates on strategic initiatives as part of her report to trustees. She outlined her strategic priorities at a previous trustees meeting. Updates from the provost’s office and community relations were given at the Oct. 25 meeting.

Interim University Provost Gerry Bradley was first up with his report, which focused on how the university will establish and implement a five-year undergraduate success plan to advance inclusive student success and raise UofL’s six-year graduation rate from 62% to 70%.

According to Bradley, the undergraduate success plan will prioritize eight key areas: advising systems and services; course catalog and scheduling; first-year experience; financial aid; key predictive analytics; living-learning communities; degree navigator software; and transfer and dual enrollment pathways. Unit meetings with deans and vice provosts to identify specific initiatives are under way.

Vice President of Community Engagement Douglas Craddock provided insight on the establishment and implementation of a university-wide community engagement plan. This plan will further the university’s efforts to serve as a premier metropolitan university – one that, “facilitates the use of university knowledge and resources to support partnerships advancing the mutual needs of the university and the community.” Craddock said this is an important initiative for UofL to maintain its status as a Carnegie Research 1 and Community Engaged Institution.

The community engagement plan will focus on the institutionalization of community engagement, strategic partnerships, assessment and evaluation of community engagement initiatives and being an anchor institution for workforce development.

The committees of the UofL Board of Trustees will meet Dec. 14, 2023, and the next full Board of Trustees meeting will take place Jan. 25, 2024. Meeting minutes, schedules and other details are available on the .

This year’s honorees, representing nine UofL schools and colleges, include researchers, scholars and artists, along with those who provide critical support as administrators.ĚýTheir work over the past year helped to advance health, grow our technology workforce, improve equity and more.

“I continue to be impressed by the bold and dauntless sense of curiosity and exploration that’s so foundational to our campus and what it means to be a Cardinal,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel, speaking at the event. “Each and every one of you here tonight brings a passion and energy to that work, and it’s just incredible.”Ěý

At the event, hosted by the , several major awards were presented to:Ěý

• • , of the College of łÉČËÖ±˛Ą and Human Development, who won Researcher of the Year for his work to shape mental health practice, especially for adolescent trauma-informed care and treatment;
  • , of the Schools of Dentistry and Medicine, which won Center of the Year in part for its recent $12 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study links between the human microbiome and disease, which could lead to better treatments for a range of conditions;Ěý
  • , of the College of Arts and Sciences, who won the inaugural Creative Works Award for her innovative work to marry technology and art, via an artificially intelligent painting collaborator;
  • Cheri Hildreth, of , who won the Unsung Hero Award for leading the launch and growth of the environmental health and safety programs over her 30-plus years of service to UofL;
  • Natalie Christian, of the College of Arts and Sciences, who won Early-Career Researcher of the Year for her work to harness plant-associated microbiomes to improve crop health;
  • and , of the Kent School of Social Work, who won the Grand Challenger Award in Empowering our Communities for their work to create supports for youth and their families most impacted by community violence and racial trauma;
  • , of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, who won the Grand Challenger Award in Advancing our Health for work to integrate biological and clinical information, paving the way for personalized medicine;
  • , of the College of Eduacation and Human Development, who won the Grand Challenger Award in Engineering our Future Economy for her commitment to workforce up/re-skilling in the field of technology, including via innovative badging programs; and
  • Joan Scott, of the School of Dentistry, who won Research Administrator of the Year for providing integral research support to her school and department for more than 20 years.Ěý

In the past year, UofL researchers and scholars submitted 1,075 proposals and received nearly $176 million in external grant funding to support groundbreaking discovery and exploration.Ěý

“I believe what we celebrate is what we value as an institution,”Ěý said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “With awards like these, we show that we value research, scholarship and creative activity. And, that we value you. The work you do is the backbone of UofL’s knowledge enterprise.”

UofL ranked #219 in the nation, one spot behind Eastern Kentucky University and just ahead of the University of Kentucky in the rankings, which take into account how much schools enhance their students’ social mobility. The study “rewards universities that take in the highest proportion of students coming from lower-income families, while maintaining high graduation rates and having a positive impact on graduate salaries and minimizing the costs of attending the college,” according to the publication.

Berea College ranked #3 nationally and led all Kentucky colleges and universities in the rankings.

“Our ranking reflects our strong commitment to our mission as a metropolitan research university and the impact we make not only on Louisville, but on the entire commonwealth,” said President Kim Schatzel. “We take great pride in the difference we are making for first-generation and underrepresented students and others for whom a college degree is life changing.”

Earlier this week, UofL topped all national universities in Kentucky in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Value Schools ranking, moving up 15 spots to #131 overall.Ěý

The rankings reflect UofL’s commitment to provide accessibility to and affordability of a college degree and narrowing the opportunity gap between majority and minority students. UofL has shown consistent improvement in its six-year graduation rate, from 52% in 2014 to a 62% rate in 2022.

UofL also has increased the six-year graduation rate among Pell grant recipients, up 6% from 2020, and has made significant improvement in its student/faculty ratio, which dropped from 14.0 to 1 in 2020 to 12.7 to 1 in 2022.

In addition, UofL has increased the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to underrepresented students by 15.2% since 2020-21 and posted a significant increase in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to low-income students.

“We believe the most recent data demonstrate the role the university plays in moving all students forward,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel. “It underscores our dedication to student success and our commitment to educational equity and inclusivity. We will continue to build on the progress by expanding engaged learning opportunities to ensure that all UofL students are well prepared for the careers, workplaces and complex challenges of tomorrow.”

“More than 1,200 people — students, staff, faculty, alumni, donors, business and community partners, legislative leaders in Frankfort and D.C. — participated in those sessions,” said Schatzel, who began her tenure at the university in February and will be . “I hope that you take away from my remarks that I did not just listen, but that I heard from you during my listening sessions and that I’m committed to these eight presidential priorities.”

The eight priorities are:

1. To improve communications on our campus and trust in our community;
2. To enhance UofL’s research and innovation enterprise;
3. To advance inclusion and institutional equity;
4. To realize student success inclusive of all students;
5. To establish “s˛â˛őłŮ±đłľ˛Ô±đ˛ő˛ő” by standardizing and centralizing key systems and processes throughout the university;
6. To retell . “We are no longer a commuter school,” she said, calling UofL a “university with international impact and influence, an anchor institution for Louisville and Kentucky, and renown for our excellence in collegiate athletics.”
7. To create a coordinated community engagement plan to focus efforts for the best impact and become the foundation of UofL’s 2024 application for recertification as a .
8. To begin addressing concerns from the recently released faculty/staff compensation study. Reiterating that she is firmly committed to a deadline of Oct. 1 to present an initial plan that will address some concerns, she said, “Despite how we got there, addressing those concerns is now my responsibility.”

Schatzel also pointed to three items from the approved by the Board of Trustees earlier this year.

The first is the five-year Undergraduate Success Plan to advance inclusive student success and raise UofL’s six-year graduation rate from 62% to 70%. The plan also focuses on eliminating completion gaps for several demographic groups, such as Pell-eligible students who graduate approximately 10 percentage points below the overall student population.

The second is to complete and begin implementation of an Institutional Equity and Inclusion Plan that emphasizes UofL’s commitment “that all members of our community — inclusive of all identities, demographics, life experiences, abilities and ideologies — will be welcomed and supported so they can thrive and reach their fullest potential.”

Finally, she highlighted the new Five-year Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Plan. It is aimed at retaining UofL’s coveted status as a with very high research activity by using benchmarks from other members of the . The AAU is made of the nation’s 71 leading research institutions.

“This is indeed one of the greatest universities in our nation and has created tremendous opportunity for thousands of students through the transformative education UofL offers,” she said. “… UofL graduates teachers, police officers, doctors, legislative leaders, entrepreneurs, pastors, engineers, accountants, artists, musicians and farmers. All our neighbors. … There is much to be proud of here at UofL and working together, there is indeed further greatness in our future.”

View photos from the Sept. 5 campus update event on .

Watch the entire address:

Tied to UofL’s strategic plan, the FY 2023-24 budget is $1.65 billion — the largest operating budget in the university’s history. It includes a number of key initiatives.

For students, the budget:
• includes an undergraduate resident tuition rate increase of 2.5 percent, below the 3 percent cap imposed by the Council on Postsecondary łÉČËÖ±˛Ą;
• adds $3.5 million in institutional financial aid to support affordability for students and their families;
• increases the graduate stipend pool by $600,000 to help attract and retain outstanding students;
• invests in more student mental health services, supported by an SGA-approved request to increase the Student Services Fee by $15 per semester per full-time student. This is offset by the elimination of the current university facility fee of the same amount;
• raises the student minimum wage to $15 per hour so more students can work on campus while working toward their degree.

UofL faculty and staff will benefit from:
• a 2 percent cost of living (COLA) increase for eligible regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff who were hired on or before January 3, 2023, with a 0.4 FTE or greater, effective July 1, bringing total COLA increases to 6.5 percent over the past two years;
• a $5 million pool to implement Phase 1 of the university’s Compensation and Total Rewards Study;
• no increase in parking permit rates, as well as continued full tuition remission benefits for eligible employees and their dependents.

Other highlights include:
• almost $77 million in state support for asset preservation, including replacement of HVAC systems, roof repairs and other improvements to aging buildings;
• continued investment in the university’s website, which serves as the front door to prospective students and the community and provides key services and information to current students, faculty and staff;
• state funding for the construction of a new engineering building, which will begin in spring 2024.

More information on the 2023-24 budget is available on the .

“This is a budget of which we all should be proud,” said President Kim Schatzel. “Thank you to our Budget Office staff, who built this responsible, impactful plan. Thanks also to our faculty and staff for your hard work on behalf of the university. And to our students, I cannot thank you enough for being part of the Cardinal Family.”

UofL is conducting the study in partnership with Segal, a human resources consulting firm with expertise in higher education, to provide fair and equitable faculty (nonclinical) and staff compensation programs as identified in the university’s 2019-22 strategic plan. The university will use the results of this study to:

• Provide opportunities for career development and advancement;
• Provide a comprehensive and competitive compensation and benefits package; and
• Follow “best practice” philosophy and align the university’s job and pay structure with the market.

According to Mary Elizabeth Miles, vice president for human resources, the two-year evaluation is on schedule to finish in July, at which time the committees will report findings to university vice presidents, deans and vice provosts for implementation strategies. Cherie Dawson-Edwards, vice provost for faculty affairs and an associate professor for the Department of Criminal Justice, added that the market assessment for the faculty portion of the study will finish in March and noted that the study only considers faculty base pay – not administrative supplements.

Learn more on the Compensation and Total Rewards Study .

Col. Steven Green, director of public safety and chief of the University of Louisville Police Department (ULPD), provided an update on department initiatives. Green said that more RAVE alerts are being sent due to a recent decision to include incidences of crime on the outskirts of UofL’s campuses. While on-campus crime rates remain stable, ULPD felt it important that visitors to/from campuses be made aware of any safety concerns in the immediate areas.

Learn more about ULPD services on the department’s .

In other action …

• The senate approved a measure to close the Master of Arts degree in teaching of art history due to lack of enrollment. There are no students currently enrolled in the program, so no teach-out plan is necessary.
• Senator Michael Cunningham introduced a matter to consider revision of Red Book rules that apply to how faculty are consulted in the selection of university senior administrators. The Red Book Committee will consider the matter.
• Senate President Eugene Mueller asked senators to send him their thoughts on how to address the emergence of artificial intelligence-generated programs, such as Chat GTP.

Committee reports and other information from the March 1, 2023, UofL Faculty Senate meeting are available on the senate’s . The next meeting of the UofL Faculty Senate will take place Wednesday, April 5, at 3 p.m. in the Elaine Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library, Belknap Campus.