• 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.

• Included a request in the upcoming budget for increased student support services, including for our LGBTQ and other diverse groups;
• Provided key training in transgender issues for student leaders, Physical Plant employees and officers in our UofL Police Department, with future training planned for additional members of the campus community;
• Assessed and begun to make changes to our housing procedures to ensure fairness to all students.

I want to make sure to recognize and appreciate the heroic actions of those in our community who responded quickly, bravely and professionally in the early moments of the horrific attack and throughout the day.��

I know you all join me in offering our tremendous gratitude to the courageous officers of Louisville Metro Police Department who rushed into the Old National Bank Building, saving lives while putting themselves at great risk.

Within minutes, officers from our own UofL Police Department arrived to support LMPD. These brave members of our community worked quickly with LMPD to secure the scene itself as well as throughout the hospital district. I cannot say it often enough how greatly I appreciate our colleagues – the officers of ULPD – as each day they work tirelessly to keep our community safe.

We all recognize with deep gratitude the efforts of our colleagues at UofL Health – UofL Hospital��– the trauma doctors, nurses and staff – who provided outstanding emergency medical care to those injured in the attack and continue to care for them. In our darkest moments, these heroes, as well as other first responders, exhibited true bravery and professionalism in serving their fellow citizens. I feel, as I know we all do, humbled by their actions and grateful to all of them.��

I want to remind everyone that asking for help, especially in times of trauma and stress, is a most important part of recovery. Help is available for those needing additional support. Students can call our����at 502-852-6585 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or access�� other options at��. Counseling for our faculty and staff is available through our Employee Assistance Program provider, Anthem EAP. Call��800-865-1044 or go to����> Select “Member Log In” > Type “University of Louisville.”����

As we all work to find a path forward in the midst of this tragedy, although I have only been a part of UofL for less than three months, I have great faith in our Cardinal and Louisville communities. I have quickly learned that Cardinals stick together, especially when they need each other most. Please take an extra moment to care for yourself, your classmates and your colleagues, and don’t hesitate to reach out to the university for support.

Sincerely,

Kim Schatzel, Ph.D.
President

Those were the horrific words from a patient’s sister who stopped by P. Gay Baughman’s dental practice to deliver the tragic news several decades ago.��

“I was a young dentist at the time and didn’t know what to do when the patient told me during an appointment prior to her death that she’d been hit by her boyfriend, and ever since I’ve been trying to make amends for what happened,” said Baughman, a professor at the School of Dentistry.

Baughman now teaches dental students to look for signs of domestic partner abuse, educating them to ask questions of patients including whether they feel safe at home, and helping students understand what resources are available to get help quickly for individuals at risk.

Annually, Baughman and a group of dental students, including members of the student chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists, join with the��PEACC Center��in Take Back the Night activities, an effort to protest sexual and relational violence and honor those who’ve been victimized.

This year, UofL’s Take Back the Night events kick-off with a resource fair April 4 at the Kornhauser Library Auditorium on the Health Sciences Center Campus. Scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m., the event includes representation from the , , , , and . A workshop begins at noon and will educate participants on how to help a friend who has experienced power-based personal violence. The event also provides an opportunity to��honor dental school alumna , who lost her life due to relational violence.

On April 6, a resource fair will be held at the Red Barn Plaza from noon to 2 p.m., followed by the “How to Help a Friend Workshop” at�� 2 p.m. in the Floyd Theater. Students, faculty and staff also are invited to take part in Chalk the Walk on the Belknap Campus beginning at 1 p.m. A virtual Take Back the Night tribute begins at 7 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. Learn more on the .

“If every student is equipped to help one person, what a difference that would make,” Baughman said.

The University of Louisville Police Department reminds faculty, staff, and students that there are plenty of simple actions everyone can take to reduce the chances of being the victim of a crime and to make walking, biking, or driving in traffic a safer experience.

Here are 10 tips from ULPD:��

• Call 911 for all emergencies��needing Police, Fire or EMS.
• If you see something, say something. We need your help keeping our campus safe. Call the University Police at 852-6111 to report suspicious activity.��
• Sign up for the Rave Guardian Safety app and Rave text alerts. .��
• Use the L-Trail. Walk in groups or pairs. Stop and look before crossing any street or parking lot. Don’t be too consumed with your cell phone to be unaware of your surroundings.
• Use the shuttle system. Use the ULPD campus escorts, available between dusk and dawn, at 852-6111.
• Be responsible for yourself and your belongings. Do not meet any unknown individual on or off campus to purchase or retrieve items. Always maintain control of your purse, backpack, laptop, cell phone and wallet. Remember that alcohol and drugs impair
  your system and leave you vulnerable to others and crime.
• Always lock your vehicle. Don’t leave items in view within your car.
  Store important valuables in the trunk or another secure location.
• Always lock your housing unit’s or office’s doors and windows. Know who is at the door before opening. Do not allow unapproved visitors into a locked building.
• If you’re riding a bicycle, be diligent about pedestrians and obey all traffic laws. Always lock your bicycle to a designated rack with a secure lock (we recommend a “U” lock).
• If you’re driving a vehicle, be extra considerate of pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles. Remember that alcohol and drugs impair your system – plus, driving under the influence, no matter what the distance or time, is a serious crime.

More safety resources, including programs and classes offered by the ULPD, are .��

On Friday, from 3-4 p.m. in the University Club’s Ballrooms B & C, a reception will be held to celebrate Hall as he retires from UofL after a total of 47 years of public safety service.

Prior to joining UofL, Hall spent 21 years with the Louisville Metro Police Department in four patrol districts, the narcotics unit, criminal investigations division and crimes against children unit. He applied to UofL after his retirement with the LMPD.

“During my time (with the LMPD), I got to know several university police officers. They were always telling me how great a place UofL was to work. They were right,” he said. “UofL has been a great place to work. I have enjoyed my time here tremendously.”

UofL News had the opportunity to talk to Hall about his favorite memories, what has changed most during his career and what he will miss most about UofL.

UofL News: In your time here, do you have one or two specific stories that stand out as your favorites?

WH: After the police involved shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, there was a great deal of animosity toward police officers. A public forum was held here at UofL to discuss how to move forward. Afterwards students told me they liked their university police officers. The students felt the officers cared about them and their safety. It made me very happy to hear the students recognized the officers cared about them and work hard to keep them safe.

UofL News: What has been the biggest challenge about working on a college campus, if it’s possible to pinpoint just one?

WH: A big challenge is the ever evolving roles and responsibilities of campus police officers to meet the needs of an increasingly complex community. Many of society’s ills are now placed on the shoulder of police to address. Campus police have to be trained to respond and mediate incidents involving active shooters, domestic violence, sexual assaults, mental and behavioral health, drug overdoses, public disturbances, etc.

What has changed the most about law enforcement since your career began?

WH: The relationship between law enforcement and the community they serve. I believe there is a ‘bucket’ of good will between law enforcement and the community. When that bucket is full, the community is willing to support an officer and give them the benefit of the doubt. In many communities that bucket is empty so the support is not there. I think it is imperative that law enforcement agencies have an intensive community-oriented policing environment. Through community-oriented policing law enforcement can work with the community to fill and maintain the ‘bucket.

UofL News: What is your favorite part of campus?

WH: My favorite location is Parrish Court on Belknap Campus. Even though it is in the center of campus it is a serene place to sit and relax.

UofL News: What will you miss most about working at UofL? Least?

WH: I will miss the people. They are like family. We have gone through a lot together the past 26 years.

I will not miss the late night and early morning phone calls to discuss whether to cancel or delay school due to in-clement weather.

UofL News: UofL has repeatedly been recognized as one of the country’s safest campuses; to what do you attribute that recognition, from your vantage point?

WH: I attribute a large part of our success to the community–oriented policing/problem solving philosophy adopted by the Department of Public Safety. The Department partnered with the Dean of Students Office, Residence Life, and Student Government to provide safety programming.

The Department and the University are fortunate to have one of the most experienced and best trained departments in the Commonwealth. The police officers use this experience and training to keep the university community safe.

��The university administration has allowed the Department of Public Safety the resources through tough budget times to increase the number of police officers and security officers. The increase in resources has allowed the Department the flexibility to assign personnel in areas of concern.

UofL News: Finally, what are your retirement plans?

WH: Short-range plans are a cruise to Alaska in May. Also,my wife and I celebrate our 50^th anniversary in June. No long-range plans at this time.