That sense of momentum took center stage Feb. 12 when President Gerry Bradley delivered the at Comstock Hall in the School of Music. He emphasized a shared institutional roadmap focused on strategic goals, academic excellence, expanded research impact and deeper community partnerships.

A strategic plan for 2026-2030

Central to that vision is UofL’s , which outlines efforts to make the university a great place to learn, work, discover and connect. Along with each of the strategic plan areas, Bradley noted that the university intends to sharpen its focus on key student‑centered metrics including enrollment, six‑year retention rates, degrees awarded and experiential‑learning opportunities.

Bradley outlined several long‑term priorities that will shape the university’s growth, including:

• New residence halls
• New academic and research facilities (including STEM‑H and Honors)
• A comprehensive campaign for scholarships, buildings and research
• Development of an innovation park
• Intentional workforce and leadership development
• Continued accountability to core values

He also underscored the university’s critical role in improving health outcomes in Kentucky through , calling attention to the training of physicians and UofL’s place as part of the state’s medical safety net.

To Bradley, the plan reflects a collective vision and “roadmap,” noting that “it’s not my strategic plan; it’s our strategic plan.”

Commitment to the vision

Even as higher education institutions across the state and nation face significant challenges, Bradley emphasized that UofL continues to perform well, is financially stable and offers a strong value proposition for Kentucky students and those beyond the Commonwealth.

As part of the strategic plan, Bradley said the leadership team is committed to:

• Funding initiatives outlined in the strategic plan
• Incubating new academic programs
• Advocating for and securing external funding
• Minimizing the impact of financial mitigation on the campus community
• Supporting and continuing student success initiatives
• Holding the team accountable for outcomes in strategic plan

“I am really optimistic for the future,” Bradley said. “We are on the road. It’s going to require us to be disciplined and have a laser focus.”

Bradley also celebrated 2025 as a year of Cardinal success, pointing to record enrollment, retention, housing and accomplishments across colleges, schools and research, along with advancement of critical capital projects.

In closing, Bradley expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the university.

“It’s been an honor and privilege to be your president,” he said.

With a clear strategic direction and a commitment to student and community impact, he said UofL enters its next chapter positioned for continued growth and excellence.

Watch the complete .Ěý

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 .