Soon, the building that now houses a laundromat and food mart will be torn down to make way for green space.

“We will work to determine the best permanent use of the space and given that it is within the residence hall district, that will be the priority consideration,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel. “This project will redefine Cardinal Center and benefit the entire neighborhood while completing an inviting student epicenter.”��

���Ǵڳ�’s housing demand was marked by a record-breaking 97% occupancy rate in fall 2024, with more than 3,900 housing assignments. Of these, nearly 1,900 first-year students unpacked their belongings in their new college homes, contributing to the unprecedented demand for on-campus housing.

The university has considered this property for 20 years, as the new use of the land aims to transform the Belknap Campus.

This purchase falls within ���Ǵڳ�’s overall which establishes a comprehensive vision that guides future development and transformation on the Belknap Campus and Health Sciences Center to support the university’s mission, vision and strategic plan. The Campus Plan serves as a 20-year framework, strategically strengthening ���Ǵڳ�’s distinct identity as both a top-tier research and community engaged university.

Incoming students get their first taste of that as they push, pull, carry and drag their necessities to their new residence halls at the University of Louisville during the start of the fall semester. Family members beaming with pride and brimming with tears trail behind.

This year, University Housing and the Resident Experience is projecting almost 100% occupancy, with more than 3,900 University of Louisville students moving campus housing to begin their college years.

As has been the case in recent years due to COVID-19, move-in dates and times were staggered over a few days to alleviate crowding.��

UofL President Kim Schatzel and her husband, Trevor, were on hand Thursday to greet newly arriving students and families on Belknap Campus. They were stylishly attired in their bright red “Move-In 2023” t-shirts and posted a selfie on .

The Robinson family of Louisville were pleased with the ease of moving into Belknap Village South, saying the only holdup they experienced was as traditional as it gets — at the elevators.��

Tatyana Robinson, 17, who plans to major in criminal justice, said she chose UofL because of its diverse student population and it was close to home.

“I’m a big people person,” she said. “I’m just glad to see people from all different experiences.”

UofL has long been a part of dad Chris Robinson’s life, he said, and he was happy his daughter would be continuing that tradition.��

For Tatyana’s mother, Rana, UofL’s proximity to home made all the difference.��

“If we want to see her, if I need a hug, I can come see her real quick and I can go back home and she can go back to her college life,” she said.

Pre-business freshman Chris Mills said his move-in was “not as chaotic as I thought” and he liked the spacious residence hall rooms. He also said he likes UofL’s campus “and how you can walk from one end to the other in about 10 minutes.”

For more photos, visit UofL’s Flickr page and .��

In addition to some of the newest residence halls on Belknap Campus (the two halls of Belknap Village — primarily for first-year students — and Denny Crum Hall), other residence halls bustling with activity during Move-in Week are Unitas Tower, also primarily for first-years; the suites in Community Park, Kurz Hall, Louisville Hall and Billy Minardi Hall, and apartments in Cardinal Towne, Bettie Johnson, University Pointe and University Tower.

Dozens of have been planned for incoming first-years, commuting students and transfer students.

Just some of the activities (most involving snacking opportunities) include a Cardinal Kickoff Picnic with Schatzel and other administrators; yard games and Bingo Like Never B-4; UofL night at Kentucky Kingdom; sunrise yoga; nachos at Ekstrom Library; a Louisville bike tour; a Sustainability Free Sale; puppies (!);�� a “Taste of Louisville” lunch; a “Looking for Louie” scavenger hunt; an outdoor movie and a night pep rally at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.��

Classes begin Aug. 21.

Gabrielle Lawless and Tony Piedemonte contributed to this story.

Watch the video:

As you navigate the college experience, UofL has your back. You’re never alone in the Cardinal Community. Whether your needs are related to academic success, personal wellness, general well-being or recreational activities, there are resources available to enhance your overall student experience and to ensure a thriving future. Check out these 10 helpful campus websites:

1. ��–��UofL hosts over 400 student organizations that cover a wide variety of student interests. These groups provide a wonderful opportunity to become involved in campus life and to connect with other students on campus who enjoy some of the same things you do. Find the list of contacts on the��.��
2. –The Student Recreation Center (SRC) offers the latest fitness facilities and equipment, complete with basketball and racquetball courts. Campus Recreation also offers activities ranging from group fitness classes to competitive intramural sports to sport clubs.
3. ��–��The Cultural Center supports and offers programs that acknowledge and reflect the experiences of underrepresented populations. It also provides educational opportunities for all members of the campus community to examine their individual and group experiences within a culturally diverse society.
4. ��–��The counseling center offers services such as individual or group counseling, workshops, couples therapy, urgent consultations and psychiatric referrals. Some of the services are covered by student fees and do not require additional payment. The website also provides a list of��
5. ��–��The Cardinal Station and Health Sciences Center (HSC) Campus Health Services (CHS) offices provide basic primary care including physical exams, immunizations, allergy shots, travel medicine, flu and COVID-19 shots, sexual health and contraception and more. CHS has an insurance advocate who assists students enrolled in the UofL student health insurance program.
6. ��–�����Ǵڳ�’s����provides community-building socials with other first-gen students, workshops and individual coaching. Participants can earn completion grants toward their UofL bill.����matches first-generation, first-year students with faculty and staff for individual mentoring in the��.��
7. ��–��The University Writing Center offers one-on-one or group consultations to both undergraduate and graduate students with a trained writing consultant. The center also provides a range of online resources.
8. ��–��This is where many students can find out about outside-the-classroom learning opportunities, whether they are work-related (internships, co-ops) or research-focused. The Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) is an on-campus resource for UofL, the community and industry partners that helps Cardinals better prepare for academic and success.
9. ��–��What’s going on today? You’ll find happenings from Belknap to HSC listed on the official UofL Event Calendar.
10. ��–��The ITS HelpDesk provides technology support to the Cardinal community. The ITS website features a Knowledge Base, Service Catalog and FAQ section with answers to questions like “What software is free for enrolled students?” and “What digital storage options are available?”

Several of these resources are sanctioned by ���Ǵڳ�’s or the . The Office of Student Involvement is a hub for cultural, social and recreational programs, while the Student Success Center provides resources related to advising, academics, financial well-being and belonging.

According to the UofL Student Success Center, whether a student is in need of a laptop, exploring a new major, facing a financial barrier or simply looking for a peer who’s been there before, the SSC is the place to turn.

We urge you to explore the wide array of programs and activities at UofL. We’ll be here every step of the way!

The first opened in 2021, and the second opened this fall. While the new residence halls are outfitted to meet 21st-century students’ needs, both were missing one important element — proper names.

University of Louisville Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez provided that last key element at the Sept. 23, 2022, meeting of the university Board of Trustees, when she announced that the new resident halls will bear the names Belknap Village North and Belknap Village South. Gonzalez’s announcement was met with the trustees’ approval. In her remarks, Gonzalez noted the proximity of the residence halls to other university facilities, such as the Swain Student Activities Center, the Interfaith Center, Ekstrom Library, numerous classroom buildings and outdoor common areas. Further, the new Center for Engaged Learning, where students can find hands-on job and research opportunities, will open on the bottom floor of Belknap Village South.

“Both the placement of these new facilities as well as consideration of students’ needs in the planning, design and construction exemplify the university’s commitment to strength of community,” said Gonzalez. “Our new residence halls, which 900 primarily first-year students call home, are indeed part of our campus village.”

Other Highlights

Trustees approved the creation of a Public Health Training Graduate Certificate and a Franchise Management Undergraduate Certificate. The Public Health Training Certificate will provide foundational public health knowledge to working professionals who may not be ready to fully commit to a traditional Master of Public Health degree. The Franchise Management Undergraduate Certificate will prepare students to work in franchising, whether that involves becoming a franchisee, working for a franchisee, working for a franchisor or working in the industry.

According to Interim Provost Gerry Bradley, both new certificate programs align with growing market interest in their respective fields and will provide stronger connections between the university and leaders in the public health and business franchise sectors.

The School of Medicine’s request to rename the Diabetes & Obesity Center to the Center for Cardiometabolic Science was unanimously approved. “Diabetes and obesity” focus on risk factors and disease; however, the center’s members also work on fundamental explanation of cardiovascular/cardiometabolic health. The center’s new name encompasses members’ interests in both health and disease.

Bradley notified trustees of two program closures. During a program review, the Kentucky Council for Postsecondary ����ֱ�� identified the Bachelor of Arts in art history degree program for closure due to low and declining enrollment, low degree conferrals and low student market demand. The art and design faculty are converting the BA (Bachelor of Arts) in art history to an art history track within the BA in art degree program.

The Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Distribution will also close due to low enrollment with no students enrolling in the program since Fall 2016. Consequently, the industrial engineering faculty will transition the certificate to an interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management in partnership with faculty in the College of Business.

���Ǵڳ�’s new Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) will celebrate its grand opening Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ���Ǵڳ�’s newest student resource is located on the first floor of the Belknap Village South residence hall. Paul DeMarco, interim director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, gave a presentation about the value of engaged learning at UofL. In doing so, he emphasized how the university’s many different engaged learning opportunities, such as internships, study abroad programs, co-ops and research assistant programs, illustrate how the student experience goes beyond the classroom. The CEL will work on partnership with ���Ǵڳ�’s existing engaged learning resources, such as the University Career Centers, Office of Community Engagement, Office of Study Abroad and International Travel, academic programs and several other units to connect students with engaged learning activities.

Jacoby Banet, Madison Cicha and Afi Tagnedji, who all recently participated in the Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP), were also on hand to share the positive outcomes of their engaged learning experiences.

“The center is an exciting resource that will greatly benefit our students,” said Gonzalez. “Students who have had engaged or experiential learning opportunities ask richer questions in class and are prepared after graduation to tackle complex problems in any workplace setting.”

The next meeting of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees will take place Friday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m. in the Jefferson Room, Grawemeyer Hall. Meeting information, committee reports and meeting minutes are available on the Board of Trustees .

“She’s going to do big things so watch out for her!” said Ted Sauer, who was pushing a cart filled with dorm essentials for his daughter Kelsey Tyler at Belknap Residence Hall.��

Tyler, accepted into the School of Nursing, is one of about 2,000 first-year students moving into campus housing for the 2022-2023 academic year. Almost half of them are settling into twin residence halls that are part of an $87 million construction plan to transform the heart of Belknap Campus. One opened last fall, the other opened Tuesday near the Swain Student Activities Center.

Alli Edwards and her mother, Mary Edwards, of Cincinnati, couldn’t contain their excitement — or their tears — as they hugged.

“I was really excited that she picked Louisville because the campus seems very safe and the opportunities here, it seems like there’s a lot of them,” Mary Edwards said, holding a shopping bag filled with items.

Nolan Macklin, a track star from Dallas, Texas, who committed to UofL about six weeks ago, walked around Belknap Campus with his mother, Elisa Macklin. He is eager for track season to start, he said.

Mom’s best advice to her only child?��

“I want him to really enjoy college life. I want him to make sure he focuses on his studies. I know he is going to run track but the important thing is getting the grades and getting a good education and everything else will fall into place,” she said.

Other residence halls on Belknap Campus are Unitas Tower, also primarily for first-year students; the suites in Community Park, Kurz Hall, Louisville Hall and Billy Minardi Hall, and apartments in Cardinal Towne, Bettie Johnson, University Pointe and University Tower.

UofL Athletics has also opened a new residence hall this year on Belknap Campus near the basketball practice facility and closer to Cardinal Stadium, where the UofL football team plays and practices. Denny Crum Hall, named for the legendary UofL men’s basketball coach, will be dedicated in September.

Dozens of have been planned for incoming first-years, commuting students and transfer students.

Just some of the activities include a Cardinal Kickoff Picnic with UofL interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez; the traditional SOUL community service day; a pep rally and late-night outdoor games at Cardinal Stadium; a “Taste of Louisville” lunch; a “Looking for Louie” scavenger hunt; yoga classes and late-night ice cream treats.

Classes begin Aug. 22.

Gabrielle Ayers, marketing communications coordinator for UofL’s Office of Communications and Marketing, contributed to this story.

UofL Housing Director Julie Weber says students expect nice amenities because “housing has become a key element in the recruiting process and it is now an asset to have this type of upscale housing.”��

Weber said it’s part of today’s competitive marketplace to offer students such amenities.��

Check out these new housing options:��