Through the new agreement, UofL – who already partners with (JCTC) and (ECTC) – is working with all 16 KCTCS schools across the commonwealth to help students complete their general education requirements before they transfer. The university is also offering scholarships and providing additional financial aid and advising programming to help transfer students hit the ground running when they get to UofL. This includes the merit-based UofL KCTCS Scholarship, which awards $1,000-$3,000 to KCTCS students with a 3.25 cumulative GPA and 40 or more credit hours.

“We’re proud to be a premier destination for transfer students from both inside and outside the state and we’re excited to build even more opportunities for students from KCTCS to complete their degree at UofL,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel. “This expanded agreement will make it easier for students to launch their careers and find success in our community and state.”   

“UofL has led the way with this,” said Sara Wheeler, associate director of transfer services at UofL. “We’re building more transfer pathways for majors where students can start at a two-year institution within KCTCS and then follow transfer pathways into UofL to finish their degree.”

Wheeler explains that transfer students often experience transfer shock, and this programming aims to create a seamless transition from two-year to four-year institutions so that when students transfer to UofL they are ready to go and feel confident.

“At KCTCS, we’re focused on providing access to education to all Kentuckians. Our students come from all types of backgrounds and experiences, and we prioritize providing them with every resource they need to obtain a higher education,” said Ryan Quarles, KCTCS president. “We are excited to reaffirm this transfer partnership with the University of Louisville to offer seamless opportunities for all KCTCS students from our 16 colleges across the state. We look forward to this partnership that will encourage our students to continue their education at UofL and improve their career prospects.”

UofL provides advising, admissions counseling and one-on-one appointments to help KCTCS students navigate the transition. With over 200 degree programs, 13 of which are offered online, UofL is accessible to any student across all 16 KCTCS campuses.

“We’re making it easier for students to come into UofL,” Wheeler said. “So part of this expansion is figuring out how to get students into a four-year degree so they can continue climbing in their profession and make them more marketable when they go into the workforce.”

UofL recently launched a satellite advising office on the ECTC campus with a full-time advisor readily available to help guide ECTC students completing UofL degrees. UofL previously established a similar office located at JCTC’s downtown Louisville campus, with full-time advisors and benefits for JCTC students aiming to transfer to UofL.

Any student at a KCTCS institution is eligible to benefit from this expansion. For more information and to learn about UofL’s admission requirements, go to .

Funded by the Gheens Foundation, the UofL Office of Admissions has developed a plan that carries out the university’s strategic goals for reaching the “some college, no degree” population. Through it, eligible former UofL students can apply for a grant that will help them complete their remaining educational pursuits.

“As of 2020, there are more than 118,000 adults aged 25+ just in Jefferson County with some college and no degree and nearly 625,000 in Kentucky,” said Hannah White, assistant director of adult services. “There are so many reasons for this – life happens. Many stop due to lack of an alignment with their degree program or university, or due to the difficulty of balancing family, work, life and more with school. We also know that finances and student debt play a huge role.

“Eligible students must have been away from college for a minimum of two academic years and must owe a balance of $4,000 or less on their UofL account. Comeback Card grant recipients can earn up to $1,000 per semester if they complete program requirements. Already 60 participants have taken advantage of the grant, and the Office of Admissions hopes to grow that number.”

“The program provided the motivation I needed to return and complete my degree; it’s incredibly fulfilling to know that I’m finishing something I started years ago,” said Ashley Arkels, a participant in Comeback Cards. “Being a first-generation college graduate, I now fully understand the impact of education — not just for myself, but for my family and future generations.”

Comeback Cards is only one of the many opportunities offered by the Transfer & Adult Student Services team, along with numerous university-wide resources to support non-traditional students.

“We offer over 60+ online programs — designed with adult learners in mind — with some even offering college credit for work, life, or military experience,” White said. “This new program aligns with our university’s goals and responds to an unmet need within post-secondary education.”

To apply for the grant, fill out the Comeback Cards interest form at

Last year, University of Louisville officials began an of the 28-year-old , offering students more than 112,000 square feet of additional or renovated dining, retail, meeting and office space.

As part of that project, there will be a new campus visitor space in the SAC – the Herman and Heddy Kurz Visitors Room – where potential students will meet admissions officials, pick up campus information and embark on campus tours. For many potential students and their families, this space will be their first impression of UofL.

Project directors envision placing two murals on walls there that creatively represent UofL’s personality and traditions, while generating a sense of pride and excitement.

UofL is issuing a request for submissions for mural concepts from the creative minds who know the institution best: our own. Artists and designers who work at UofL, are currently enrolled or have graduated from UofL are encouraged to submit concept proposals. 

“We hope to highlight the talent and creativity of our alumni working within the fields of art and design and bolster ties to the community,” said Kim Butterweck, director of communication initiatives. “If designed by UofL students or alumni, then the murals become an interesting talking point for our tour guides. Our hope is the campus visit area in the SAC becomes one of UofL’s most unique and often-photographed spots on campus, while also contributing to our city’s public art offerings.”

One goal is to harness the power of social media with one of the murals. It’s envisioned as a ‘selfie wall’ – a backdrop that will inspire students and potential students to take their photos and proudly share them to their social media accounts.

As currently conceived, the two interior murals will be two-dimensional and printed on vinyl, with UofL vendors handling installation. However, project directors are open to other, more innovative types of murals, installations or materials that achieve project goals.

If interested in submitting a concept, click here to request the official Request for Submissions, which contains additional project information and guidelines. The project is a paid opportunity. 

Admissions has hosted this event before, but took a few years off before bringing it back in 2017. Attendance last year more than doubled and is expected to be strong again this year.

Megan Adams, assistant director of Admissions, said the event was initially created as an opportunity for admitted students to visit on a Saturday and to see campus again or maybe even for the first time. It is also an opportunity for them to meet faculty and staff and take care of administrative needs that are required prior to freshmen orientation.

“We hope that students who have not yet made their college decision choose to come to UofL in the fall, and we hope that students who have already decided on UofL can get some things checked off their to-do list and feel good about their decision,” Adams said.

Full schedule

Admitted Students Day is just one of the office’s special events. In addition to hosting daily and twice-per-month Saturday visits, Admissions hosts about a dozen events on campus each year, not including orientation programs or off-campus programs. These include targeted events, such as out-of-state and transfer student day, UofL family and friends campus visit day or LGBT day. The busiest events are Accolade and Cardinal Preview Day, both of which bring more than 1,000 visitors to campus.

Admissions keeps its schedule full and diverse on purpose.

“We consistently hear from attendees, regardless of what program they attend, that everyone is so friendly and that they didn’t just feel like a number but were able to really make connections with faculty and staff. Having more programs that attract a smaller number of guests that all have something in common really allows us to maintain that atmosphere,” Adams said. “UofL is also very committed to enrolling a diverse class and having events focused on African American families, LGBT students, Hispanic and Latino, out-of-state students, etc., demonstrates to families that we truly value every student and what they bring to our campus.”

To achieve these objectives, the Office of Admissions relies on its visits and events team. The six employees are directly involved with planning and hosting each event.

“However, we couldn’t possibly host these programs without the support of our entire office and other offices on campus. We count on support from faculty, academic advisers, parking, catering, facilities, IT, Financial Aid, Honors Program, Housing, Communications and Marketing and many more departments,” Adams said. “We want to make sure that UofL makes a great impression – from sending out invitations to hosting the event to the post-event follow ups.”

In addition to making a great impression on prospective and incoming students, Admissions’ objective is to be as transparent as possible. Adams said this is important for students and their families who are navigating an overwhelming experience and often trying to choose between multiple schools.

“We are up front about academic programs, admissions requirements, costs and scholarships,” she said. “We want them not just to choose UofL for their freshman year, but to stay with us and graduate.”

To help students succeed during their time here, the Office of Admissions offers the following suggestions:

• The time students spend on campus is about them – what do they want to see? Who do they want to meet? What questions to they have?
• Spend time with current students and talk to them about their UofL experiences, whether that means going on a campus tour or eating at the Ville Grill;
• Trust your gut reaction. Do you feel at home on campus? “We will do everything we can to ensure that the answer is yes,” Adams said.

Facebook Live event

** Update: Because of Wednesday’s snowstorm, Admissions has rescheduled this event to March 29.

Prior to Admitted Students Day, UofL’s Office of Admissions will host a Facebook Live Q&A from 7-8 p.m. March 21 for admitted students and their families. Executive Director of Admissions, Jenny Sawyer, and two current UofL students will be answering questions during a livestream from the office’s Facebook page.