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Good morning.
At this moment, I am in Frankfort with Governor Beshear and legislative leaders.
They are announcing their strong support for our proposal to self-finance three vitally
important facilities on our campus ...
facilities that will accelerate the transformation of our university.
This is the first step.
The General Assembly, which began its work this week, must authorize us to move forward.
We have much work to do over the next few months as legislators consider this proposal.
However, today's announcement by the Governor and legislative leaders is a critically É
important É step.
And we have reached a potentially transformative turning point in the life of our campus.
First, we are proposing to use private fund-raising dollars to significantly renovate and expand
the Gatton College of Business and Economics.
The $65 million dollar project will allow us to educate more students É add more faculty
and staff É and construct a new high-tech conference center, auditorium and MBA executive
training center.
Second, the financial success of our athletics program is enabling us to propose the construction
of a $100 million dollar, 263,000 square foot Academic and Science Building.
Nearly two thirds, or 65 million dollars, of this construction will be paid for by Athletics
revenues.
We will also use private fund-raising efforts.
The current Chemistry-Physics Building is the second most used classroom space on campus.
It is outdated.
It contains neither the necessary learning nor research space.
We can change that with a new facility, infused with technology É built and funded through
our innovation and creativity.
There are few, if any, athletics programs in America making this kind of commitment
to an institution's academic success and to its future.
Finally, we are proposing a $110 million dollar renovation of Nutter Training Facility and
Commonwealth Stadium.
The renovation will be paid for by Athletics using revenues generated by new luxury suites
and club seating.
We already have a waiting list for suites.
This is critical.
The success of our football program is how Athletics remains one of the handful of financially
self-sufficient programs in the country.
It's how athletics funds millions of dollars in academic scholarships and other university
needs each year.
You can learn more about these projects at a special web site -- w-w-w É B-B-N-United.com.
There, you can also sign up for updates and learn about how you can thank our elected
leaders for their support.
Their support and partnership are essential.
We are today a Big Blue Nation United -- united with one voice around one vision -- to transform
our campus and our Commonwealth.
More than one year ago, I stood before you as a campus community for the first time.
I acknowledged the challenges associated with trying to do cutting-edge 21st century work
and learning in 19th century facilities.
Because of your work É your commitment É your passion for education;
because of the devotion and wise counsel of our Trustees;
because of the affection and confidence of alumni, donors and friends;
because of the support of our Athletic Director and his department we have the opportunity
to make a giant step forward in reinventing the academic core of our campus.
Our elected officials, with the support of the Big Blue Nation, want us to make a down-payment
on UK's future.
This investment will change Kentucky.
In that way, we once again will honor the Kentucky Promise that has guided us for nearly
150 years.
It's the Promise that guides us still.
We are a Big Blue Nation United.
Thank you for being such a valued part of this.
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