Out of the 1,800 institutions that participated in the Military Friendly survey, UofL was one of only 37 Carnegie Research 1 institutions to earn a “Designated” status, and the only institution in the Atlantic Coast Conference to earn “Gold” status.

For the past 11 years, UofL has achieved designated status; however this is the first time UofL has received “Gold” status, identifying “leading practices, outcomes and effective programs.” 

Institutions are evaluated in six weighted areas: Academic Policies & Compliance, Graduation & Career Outcomes, Culture & Commitment, Military Student Support & Retention, Admissions and Orientation and Financial Aid & Loan Repayment. 

“Earning this designation is validation of our ongoing work to make UofL a great place to learn. I want to recognize the hard work and contributions of the many people across campus who made this designation possible,” said UofL Interim President Lori Gonzalez. “While we celebrate this achievement, we remain committed to continually improving how we serve this important population.”

Examples of UofL’s commitment to serving this population include the key functions provided by the Office of Veteran and Military Student Services, creation of a Military-Connected Student Advisory Council to build on efficiencies and to share best practices in serving this population, working with veterans to reactivate the Student Veterans Association chapter, creating a virtual military-connected student resource website and offering waived undergraduate and graduate application fees, and offering priority course registration to this population.

This year, UofL is creating a Center for Military-Connected Students. It will enable the institution to increase military-connected student persistence and success rates, enhance our ability to attract military-connected students and enhance the experience of this student demographic.

The Center will include office space for fulltime staff, flexible office space for support staff from student services areas, a meeting space, a military-connected student lounge and kitchen and a military-connected student study space. Renovation of Honors House is expected to begin in Fall 2022 and to last through Summer 2023.

In 2021, the Kickoff Kids for UofL home football games were all children of local military members. They had the important job of retrieving the tee after the game’s opening kick. While the 2021 edition featured Kickoff Kids from U.S. Army families from Fort Knox, next year the program will expand to include children from the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Kentucky Air National Guard.

This initiative is part of UofL Athletics’ wider Salute to Service program. The program shows recognition and appreciation to the institution’s more than 1,000 veteran students and approximately 10% percent of staff and faculty who are veterans, as well as to the local military community.

“We are thrilled that so many veterans are fans of the UofL football program. The Salute to Service program is a way to keep our veterans and their families involved in our games and in the community. We owe our veterans a huge debt of gratitude and this is our way of saying thank you,” said Rocco Gasparro, UofL’s associate sports information director, football. 

One of the cornerstones of the Salute to Service programs is UofL Football’s annual open practice event for veteran student, staff and faculty. This group is afforded a behind-the-scenes tour of the football facility, including Lamar Jackson’s Heisman Trophy. The group then attends practice and meets the coaching staff and players. It culminates with attendees being provided tickets for themselves and up to three guests for the military appreciation football game, where the veterans are recognized on-field.

A separate component of the program sees a veteran student, staff, or faculty member identified as the Salute to Service Honoree for home football games. The honoree and guests receive tickets, are invited to the President’s pregame tailgate, and then the honoree is recognized on the field.

The annual military appreciation game is also part of the program, featuring numerous activities and events recognizing and celebrating members of the Armed Forces and veterans. In 2021, the honorary captain for the game was an active-duty U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant who is a UofL Online Student chosen from amongst dozens of nominations. The individual who sounded the team’s train horn was an active-duty U.S. Army Sergeant First Class from Fort Knox. She was nominated by her chain of command for superior performance.

Each year, Athletics distributes several hundred tickets to the veteran students, staff and faculty and the local military community for the military appreciation game. This year’s military appreciation game coincided with the retirement of Lamar Jackson’s number 8 jersey.  

Expansion of the Salute to Service program to include military children as Kickoff Kids comes on the heels of the football team visiting Fort Knox this past summer. While there, they conducted the Field Leadership Reaction Course, competed against the U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s E-sports team, and signed autographs for the local community.

Salute to Service has also since spread from just the football team to numerous other teams, including men’s and women’s basketball. Both teams host a specific Salute to Service-themed game, and both recognize a veteran student, staff, or faculty member at select home games. The men’s team also hosts an open practice event, where veterans tour the facility, meet players and coaches, and then attend practice. Like football’s event, these attendees are provided tickets to a subsequent game for themselves, and guests and they are recognized on-court.

“We are proud that many veterans choose to make UofL home. The sacrifices they make every day for our country and all of us cannot be overstated, and we are honored by their presence on our campuses,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “The Salute to Service program is one small way we recognize and celebrate our veteran community, and hopefully contribute to our strategic goal of making UofL a great place to work.”