• New main UofL website 

Students, faculty, staff and community partners can now more easily find important information on UofL’s , which launched just in time for start of the 2024-2025 academic year. This effort is part of the university’s . The site includes overview pages for departments and strategic areas linking back to their existing sites. All other websites will launch on the new Drupal system by Nov. 22.

• Building updates throughout campus

Major progress has been made on our next-generation engineering hub, and many of our longstanding facilities have upgrades aimed at improving their functionality, comfort and safety. Among these include the renovation of the Ernst Hall auditorium, with a new stage, seats, flooring, painting and lights. The corridor also received a refresh of lobbies and other student spaces. Work on an addition will get underway this academic year. The project, expected to be completed in summer 2025, will provide additional space for students to study and collaborate, along with more office space and archive space to preserve the history of the university and Commonwealth of Kentucky.

• Cardinal Marching Band to debut new uniforms
  

  

The will return to L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium this fall with a brand-new look. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the band will step out in new uniforms. The design showcases a two-toned red and white jacket with a metallic gradient sash, accentuated by a small red gothic “L” on the right sleeve. Positioned prominently, the iconic Cardinal bird adorns the left chest, while the “Louisville” wordmark spans across the upper back.   

• University Safety App: Card Armor

UofL students, staff and faculty can now download the new . This will allow access to several important resources. When visiting your preferred app store, search for the safety app by typing “cardarmor” as one word. Card Armor replaces the previous version of Rave Guardian but does not replace the Rave Emergency Notification System. All traditional methods of communicating with the also are still available.

• Blackboard Ultra

UofL has transitioned to for all fall 2024 classes. Blackboard Ultra is more modern and mobile-friendly. Some features have changed. As you gear up for this semester, take a few moments to .

• New immigration clinic at the law school

The will launch a new immigration law clinic this fall to provide critical legal services to the growing immigration population, teach law students necessary skills to successfully practice law, and develop a pipeline of immigration law attorneys. The clinic will serve clients who are authorized to be present in the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky but do not have the requisite documentation to prove it. Law students, working under the supervision of a licensed, full-time attorney with extensive experience in immigration law, will take responsibility to represent clients and assist them in completing the required paperwork.  

• New outpatient clinic and simulation operating room at the nursing school

The is opening a new simulation outpatient clinic and simulated operating room to provide the most up-to-date tools and experience for students in its nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist programs. The space located on the first floor of the school has been repurposed from a former pediatric clinic. The new rooms will provide a modernized hands-on learning environment for students preparing to enter these specialties. This space will add to the already existing simulation and clinical training labs within the nursing school and Health Sciences Center campus, bolstering the educational opportunities for our students.

Cardarelli is currently senior associate provost for academic affairs at the University of Kentucky. In her ten years at UK, she has served as associate dean, college diversity officer, department chair and assistant/senior assistant provost for faculty affairs. Her research focuses on community-engaged approaches to enhancing health equity, and she has served as principal investigator on more than $10 million in grants funded by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Department of Agriculture and other sponsors.

A professor of health, behavior and society, Cardarelli received her Master of Public Health degree at University of North Texas School of Public Health Fort Worth. She went on to earn a doctorate in epidemiology at University of Texas School of Public Health Houston and completed the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine fellowship at Drexel University.

Cardarelli is a member of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health’s Inclusive Excellence through an Anti-Racism Lens expert panel. Her commitment to advancing women and faculty of color in the academy is reflected in a two-year term as State Chair for the Kentucky chapter of the American Council on ����ֱ�� Women’s Network, where she grew institutional membership and professional development programming.

“Dr. Katie Cardarelli is an accomplished leader, researcher, and dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion in academia. Her distinguished background and extensive academic experience have led to multifaceted contributions, spanning administrative leadership, impactful research, excellence in teaching, and commitment to equity, making her a formidable force in shaping the landscape of public health,” said Interim Provost Gerry Bradley.

Cardarelli said the impressive track record of SPHIS faculty, staff, and students in advancing health equity in the Commonwealth and beyond was a key factor in her decision. “My passion for social justice was instilled in me from an early age by my mother, who was a nurse,” she said. “Public health strives to assure that all individuals have an opportunity to live a healthy life. I am excited to build upon the accomplishments of the school and build a vision for the next chapter.”

The ambassador program will provide concierge, cleaning and safety services to this vital downtown district.

“We are looking forward to having our LOUMED Ambassadors be additional positive representation for the employees, patients and students that call LOUMED home,” said Nadareca Thibeaux, executive director LOUMED. “It’s important for visitors and locals alike to experience a friendly, clean and safe downtown, and we expect this program to amplify those efforts.”

The LOUMED ambassadors play an important role in improving the experience of the public spaces within the district for visitors, employees, students and patients. The LOUMED ambassadors will be responsible for the following:

• Visible Presence – Ambassadors will circulate throughout the district daily to create a highly visible, accessible, outgoing and inviting presence, with an attitude of friendly professionalism, superior customer service and hospitality. Ambassadors will be on foot and will be deployed in a manner that ensures resources are placed strategically to address critical issues or needs at key times of day, days of the week and as needed. All ambassadors are trained in ‘situational protocol’ to handle situations appropriately and courteously.
• Reduced Impact of Quality-of-Life Issues & Safety Risk Aversion – Ambassadors will discourage aggressive solicitation and other prohibited behaviors, report crimes to the proper authority and provide information and support as it relates to improper behavior in the district. Ambassadors will build respect-based relationships with all persons to educate on ordinance violations, discourage problematic behavior and serve to connect individuals to available resources and assistance.
• Hospitality and Wayfinding – Ambassadors will actively greet pedestrians and provide general assistance, wayfinding/directions, information on historic sites, shops, restaurants, public transportation, other places of interest and general information that may be helpful and welcoming. They will provide help and support to the public to address a wide range of situations and needs, such as assistance with the use of parking meter stations, repairing a flat tire, opening a door, escorting employees to parking garages and by offsetting any potentially negative experience with a positive interaction.
• Property/Business Owner Networking & Cross Communication – Ambassadors will interact directly with property and business owners, managers and security personnel to build a network, provide and receive information relevant to LOUMED safety and hospitality and to raise public awareness of the program.

For more information about the LOUMED District, visit