Applying for Housing
It is recommended that students apply to Campus Housing as soon as they are accepted to UK. It is important to note that applying for admission to the University and applying for housing and the Living Learning Program (LLP) are separate processes.
On-campus housing will be provided for those who meet all University of Kentucky and Campus Housing qualifications and deadlines.
Questions regarding the housing application should be directed to Campus Housing, which processes housing applications, assigns students to residence hall rooms, and notifies students of assignments (see Contact Information below).
Apply Online
Apply by logging into myUK using your Link Blue credentials. Select “Undergraduate Housing” on the “Student Services > myinfo” tab.
Living on Campus
The University of Kentucky has 17 residence halls and apartments designed in several different room types, including 4-person suites, 2-bedroom suites, 4-bedroom suites, as well as 2-bedroom apartments and 4-bedroom apartments. The on-campus residence halls and apartments house over 7,200 undergraduate students.
The residential setting at UK is intended to contribute to a student’s education by providing a living learning environment. There are several living learning communities within undergraduate housing. For more information about each living learning community, visit the Living Learning Program website at: www.uky.edu/housing/.
UK’s residence halls are the foundation upon which a solid college experience is built. Many current students believe that living in a residence hall is the best way to make friends, meet new people, and become involved in campus life. Studies on UK’s campus indicate that students who live on campus, particularly those in living learning communities, tend to have higher grade-point averages and have higher retention rates than students living off campus. Students are encouraged to apply to live on-campus during their sophomore, junior and senior years.
UK’s residence halls are staffed with professionally trained personnel, including full-time resident directors, hall directors, and resident advisors who live on each floor. The hall director and resident advisors assist in creating a safe, inclusive environment, helping students in their academic efforts, planning social and educational programs, and developing hall governments. Residents are encouraged to participate both within the hall and in the campus community.
All on-campus undergraduate residents are represented by the Resident Student Association, a group whose goal is to improve residence hall life by planning and directing social, educational and recreational programs, and by providing a unified voice for residents. The Resident Student Association is a member of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH), enabling interested residents to attend regional and national leadership conferences.
Room Assignments
Housing assignments are based on the application for admission track (Early Action or Regular Decision) and the student’s housing application completion date. Acceptance into a Living Learning Program designates the specific residence hall. Residents have the opportunity to select their room through the online Room Selection process. Applying early for housing is strongly encouraged.
If housing demand exceeds capacity, students may be placed on standby for housing until a permanent room assignment can be made. Each year, a number of housing recipients do not come to school, or come but do not stay, creating vacancies.
Roommates
Students may request roommates on the housing application. Two students who wish to share a room must indicate each other as the preferred roommate and request the same room types and area of campus. Living Learning Program participants will be expected to room with another student in the same LLP community.
Housing
UK’s residence halls and apartments have many attractive features. Housing rates include utilities, cable television, computer network connection and furniture. All residence halls are staffed by hall directors and resident advisors. Each front desk has a staff member monitoring the lobby area 24/7. Security cameras are placed in many areas of the halls. Residence halls provide convenient access to laundry facilities, game and television rooms, vending machines, lounges, and study rooms. Dining facilities are close to all areas of campus. Smoking and other tobacco products are not allowed on UK’s campus. UK Housing policies and procedures apply to all residents who sign a contract and live in one of the residence halls or Greek facilities managed by the University.
UK’s campus covers many acres. Students and faculty refer to the areas of campus as north campus and central campus. UK’s residence halls are located in both areas, and apartments are on central campus.
Students should learn about the facilities and the various living learning communities available.
North Campus
The north campus consists of five residence halls: Blazer Hall, Boyd Hall, Holmes Hall, Jewell Hall, and Wildcat Coal Lodge. North campus halls are close to many classrooms, the UK Bookstore, Memorial Coliseum, Rupp Arena, Singletary Center, downtown, many eclectic shops and restaurants, and the UK Gatton Student Center containing Champions Kitchen, the new residential dining facility that opened in spring 2018.
Central Campus
Central campus consists of 12 residence halls: Baldwin Hall, Chellgren Hall, Donovan Hall, Haggin Hall, Ingels Hall, Lyman T. Johnson Hall, Lewis Hall, Smith Hall, Don and Mira Ball Hall, Woodland Glen III, Woodland Glen IV, and Woodland Glen V. University Flats, with apartments for upper-class students, is also located here. These residential communities are located near the Fresh Food Company at The 90, William T. Young Library, the E. J. Nutter Field House and Training Facility, the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center, Lancaster Aquatic Center, Shively Field at Cliff Hagan Stadium, Bernard Johnson Student Recreation Center, and Kroger Field - UK’s football stadium.
Office of Residence Life
The Office of Residence Life intentionally creates values-based living and learning communities that empower students and staff to engage in active learning, global citizenship, and self-discovery as they shape their Kentucky experience. Through two major high impact programs such as, the Residential Curriculum and Living Learning Programs, the Office of Residence Life seeks to accomplish four major educational goals in the lives of both students and staff at UK:
- Academic & Career Preparedness
- Personal Wellness
- Community Responsibility and Involvement, and
- Sense of Belonging.
Currently the Office of Residence Life employs over 200 student and full-time staff members, including Resident Directors, Resident Advisors, Peer Mentors, and Desk Clerks who live and work in on-campus residential facilities. Each of these staff members receives extensive training in community development, on campus resources and skills-based training, in an effort to prepare staff in executing a residential curriculum throughout the academic year. As a result, all residence life staff are seen as a valuable resource in meeting the holistic needs students have throughout the academic year.
Also the Office of Residence Life is well known for coordinating 14 high impact practices called Living Learning Programs (LLPs). Living Learning Programs consist of two types of LLPs; residential colleges and living learning communities. Both programs offer students the opportunity to interact more with faculty both in and outside of the classroom as well as access resources related to their academic pursuits or thematic interests.
For more information about Living Learning Programs, the Residential Curriculum, or the Office of Residence Life, please contact:
Office of Residence Life
575 Patterson Office Tower
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0027
859-257-4784
email: residencelife@uky.edu
www.uky.edu/housing/
Rates
The cost for living in UK Housing is listed in the Fees section of this Bulletin.
Rate Changes
Rates are subject to change at any time before the beginning of the academic year, upon action by the Board of Trustees. Rates are normally established in May for the succeeding academic year.
Cancellations
If, after completing the housing application and the Housing and Dining Contract, a student chooses to cancel the Contract, the student is required to do so in writing to the Campus Housing office and UK Dining by email at ukhousing@uky.edu and contactukdining@lsv.uky.edu, through the University Housing Portal, or by mail to the following addresses:
- Housing Cancellations: Campus Housing 125 Funkhouser Building. Lexington, KY 40506-0054.
- Meal Plan Cancellations: Dining Center, Gatton Student Center, Suite A382, 160 Avenue of Champions, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508.
The Official Date of Cancellation will be the date the cancellation notification is received in the Campus Housing office and UK Dining. For information about refund schedule, cancellation dates, and other important facts, see the 2020-2021 Housing and Dining Contract.
Contact
For more information about Housing, contact:
Campus Housing
125 Funkhouser Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0054
859-257-1866
email: ukhousing@email.uky.edu
www.uky.edu/housing/
Graduate and Family Housing
The University provides convenient and affordable housing options for full-time graduate students, professional students, and non-traditional undergraduate students. Graduate and Family Housing may accept Visiting Scholars, Interns, Post-doctoral students, or others who have an educational association with the University if space permits.
Graduate and Family Housing offers internationally diverse communities which are open year-round. A variety of housing options are available including efficiencies, suites, one- and two-bedroom units, and a limited number of townhomes, all conveniently located on campus. Appliances, furnishings, utilities, Internet and cable are available in most communities. Laundry facilities are available in all communities. For convenience, monthly rent may be paid online.
Please visit the Graduate and Family Housing website to learn more about the amenities provided for each residential facility, rental rates and other important information. A parking permit is required and must be purchased through UK Transportation Services for all properties.
For more information, please visit us at: www.uky.edu/housing/graduatefamilyhousing or contact our office:
Graduate and Family Housing
300 Alumni Drive
Greg Page Apartments #156
Lexington, KY 40503
859-257-3721
fax: 859-323-1900
email: ukapthousing@uky.edu
UK Dining
UK Dining is about more than just food. It’s an experience. It’s a community. It’s a place to meet friends, to unwind, to celebrate, and even to study. When you dine on campus you’re sure to eat well and be well-nourished so you can excel in your classes. And if there’s ever anything the dining team can do to make your experience better, just ask. State-of-the-art facilities, restaurants you know and love, and people that care about what you eat are all on campus at the University of Kentucky. Let’s eat.
Commitment to Nutrition
UK Dining is committed to providing you a broad selection of great tasting, nutritious food and beverages. UK Dining offers an on-site dietitian who is available for consultations. Email contactukdining@lsv.uky.edu to schedule a meeting. The menus are created by experienced chefs who have a passion for food, and recipes feature fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low or nonfat dairy options. UK Dining also recognizes and accommodates special dietary needs in a personalized, sensitive manner, including developing a step-by-step guide: Your Guide to Managing Food Allergies & Celiac Disease, available on the dining website.
Restaurants
The University of Kentucky features two large, all-you-care-to-eat restaurants where students utilize the Meal Swipes from their meal plan. North campus and the academic neighborhood are closest to Champions Kitchen, a campus favorite with traditional and cutting-edge selections. Central and south campus are closest to Fresh Food Company at The 90, a state-of-the-art facility with an open kitchen design and an innovative menu prepared right in front of you, and includes various local restaurants from the Bluegrass. Across campus UK Dining provides so many options that you know and love like Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Panda Express, and Subway, along with local favorites like Common Grounds coffee shop, Wildcat Pantry convenience stores, and many more. What you see in every restaurant is a host of people that care about how your day is going and want to make sure you get a great meal. They’re here because of you.
Meal Plans
Every student, whether you live on campus, walk to campus, or drive to campus has the benefit of saving money to get great food with a meal plan. All students living in a residence hall must choose a meal plan as part of the fall 2020-spring 2021 housing contract (two All Access plans with varying levels of Flex and a Weekly 10 option). All students living off campus can choose any of the traditional meal plans or plans created especially for their varied needs. A full list is available on the “Meal Plans” page of the dining website: www.uky.campusdish.com. Students can get advice on how best to utilize their plan and map out locations close to their classes by visiting the UK Dining Center in the Gatton Student Center at 160 Avenue of Champions.
Meal plans include both “Meal Swipes” and “Flex Dollars” -
Meal Swipes: With a meal plan you receive credit for all-you-care-to-eat meals at Champions Kitchen and Fresh Food Company. This is where many students will eat the majority of their meals.
- To use a meal swipe at one of these locations, simply present your WildCard ID to the cashier upon entering the restaurant.
- Each time you swipe your card a meal swipe will be deducted from your remaining meals.
- Meals are reserved for the account holder. All Access plans offer “guest meals” that can be used to treat friends, family, or even yourself.
Flex Dollars: Flex Dollars supplement your meals and are included in each meal plan. Flex Dollars work just like a debit card and may be used at all UK Dining locations.
- Flex Dollars are not taxed at the time of your purchase.
- Flex Dollars can be added anytime in the semester and there is no fee to add Flex Dollars.
- Unused Flex Dollars will carry forward from fall to spring for students enrolled in the spring semester and expire at the end of the spring semester.
Meal plans are for the academic year. You will be automatically billed each semester. You will begin the spring semester on the same meal plan that you have at the end of the fall semester if it is not adjusted prior to the downgrade deadline. Unused Weekly Meals cannot be refunded, accumulated, or carried over for the next week. Unused Block Meals cannot be refunded or carried over to the next semester. All Flex Dollars are non-refundable, non-transferable and expire at the end of the spring semester.
Meal plans save time and are less stressful. With a meal plan you don’t have to worry about preparing your own food. There isn’t the hassle of shopping, cooking, and cleaning after every meal. We’ve got you covered. When you don’t have to worry and are well-fed from a meal plan, you’re better nourished and have more energy. We want you to succeed at UK by offering a plan that fits your needs best.
For more information about UK Dining, please contact:
UK Dining Center
At the Gatton Student Center
859-257-2220
email: contactukdining@lsv.uky.edu
www.uky.campusdish.com
Student Parking and Transportation
University of Kentucky parking permits are required for parking on campus. Permit control signs at the entrance to each parking lot display the type of permit required and the hours when the lot is controlled for permits. There are a variety of student permit types, including residential, commuter, periphery, remote and off-peak. Permit sales will begin in summer 2020, with an exact date to be announced on our website, located at: www.uky.edu/transportation.
The University of Kentucky also has a robust and growing alternative transportation network that all students are encouraged to use, regardless of whether or not they choose to bring a personal vehicle to campus. In fact, less than half of students bring a vehicle to campus, a decision from which everyone benefits - our campus, our community and our environment. With a variety of car-free options readily available, it’s easy to access the campus and explore Lexington without a personal vehicle.
For information on topics related to parking, permit application, motorist assistance, bicycle parking, bus routes and schedules, and alternative transportation, visit: www.uky.edu/transportation. Students can also register for and renew permits, check for unpaid citations, and pay and appeal citations online. Visit the website for hours of operation and for information on satellite office locations.
Transportation Services also sends vital information on campus parking and transportation-related matters to parents and students who subscribe to the department’s email newsletters. Stay informed by signing up for Transportation Services’ e-News at: www.uky.edu/transportation.
Campus Buses and Shuttle Routes
Over 40,000 people are on-site at the University of Kentucky campus each day, and the free campus shuttle system helps them get around campus. All buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts and most have bicycle racks.
All areas of campus are less than a 5-minute walk from a bus stop, providing easy access in either direction so that students and employees arrive at their destinations faster than it would take to walk the same distance. Buses serve stops every 7-10 minutes, with more frequent service during peak arrival times.
When the University is open but classes are not in session, campus transit continues to operate with a reduced number of buses.
All campus routes - as well as off-campus Lextran routes - are viewable in realtime on TransLoc Rider, UK’s GPS-based bus locating system. TransLoc can be accessed at http://uky.transloc.com/ and via the free Transloc Rider Android and iPhone apps.
Route and schedule information is available at www.uky.edu/transportation.
Late Night Bus Service
Buses traverse campus throughout the day, but as night approaches, UK’s bus service becomes increasingly important from a safety perspective. On-demand late-night bus service operates from midnight until 5 A.M., Monday through Friday, and until midnight on Sunday.
Kentucky Wildcab
Kentucky Wildcab is a free, late-night, on-demand transportation option for students, provided by UK Student Government and operated by student drivers through Transportation Services. Kentucky Wildcab operates Thursday through Saturday from 10 P.M. to 3 A.M. during fall and spring semesters. Rides must be requested through the Kentucky Wildcab app.
Lexington Bus Service
Students ride all Lextran city routes for free through the free city transit program. This program allows students to commute to and from campus, run errands and go shopping. Students simply show their Wildcard ID to the bus driver on any of Lextran’s routes. For more information on Lextran routes and schedules, visit www.lextran.com. For more information on free city-wide transit, visit www.uky.edu/transportation.
BreakShuttle
Transportation Services offers an alternative travel option for students and employees in visiting a variety of destinations during academic breaks. BreakShuttle operates at the start and end of Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring breaks. For more information about BreakShuttle, visit www.uky.edu/transportation.
Free Regional Airport Shuttles
Transportation Services offers free shuttles to Blue Grass Airport, Louisville International Airport and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport at the start of Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks with daily pick-up times. Return trip shuttles are also available from all three airports back to campus. For more information about this free service, visit www.uky.edu/transportation.
Car Sharing
Car sharing is a low-cost, short-term car rental option with an hourly rate for use of a car. UK Transportation Services has partnered with Zipcar to offer car sharing on campus. Unlike traditional car rental services, the minimum age allowed to use the car sharing program is 18. Car sharing is a great option for those who don’t have cars on campus, those who regularly use alternative transportation, and those who want to avoid wear and tear on their vehicle. For more information, visit www.zipcar.com/uky.
Motorist Assistance
Transportation Services has developed a motorist assistance program for students and employees who have valid parking permits, which includes free on-campus battery jump-start service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, the University offers other motorist assistance services at a discounted rate to valid UK parking permit holders. For more information, visit www.uky.edu/transportation.
Guest Parking
Guest parking is available in several locations on campus, including pay-by-the-hour lots. Guests or the students they are visiting can stop by Transportation Services, located in the Press Avenue Garage (PS #6), at the corner of Press and Virginia avenues, to obtain a temporary parking pass. After hours and on weekends, visitors can also park in lots not controlled for permits. A permit control sign at the entrance to each parking lot displays the hours when the lot is being controlled for permits.
Off-Peak Permits
Parking on campus does require a valid University permit until 7:30 P.M. in most instances. However, any valid permit can be used in most intermediate Employee (E) lots after 3:30 P.M. as a general rule of thumb. Refer to the permit control sign at the entrance to each parking lot for specifics. Students who choose to operate a vehicle on campus during evening hours as a safety measure, and don’t have another valid University parking permit, may consider the off-peak parking permit as an option. This permit is offered at a reduced rate compared to other student permits, and is valid in most campus lots after 3:30 P.M.
Football Game Day Parking Relocation
Students and employees who park in the following areas must move their vehicles prior to home football games:
- Red, Blue, and Orange lots at Kroger Field
- Commonwealth Drive Lot
- College Way East and West lots
- Sports Center Garage (PS #7)
- Sports Center Drive
- University Drive
- Wildcat Court lots
More information about vehicle relocation times and requirements is available at www.uky.edu/transportation. Failure to move any vehicle from these areas may result in a citation or impoundment at the owner’s expense. Please refer to the Game Day Parking map located at www.uky.edu/transportation for specific lot relocation information.
Bicycle Parking and Registration
The University of Kentucky recognizes bicycles as vehicles and encourages bicycling as a mode of transportation. In an effort to provide the campus community with a safe, secure, and efficient cycling environment, the University requires bicyclists to observe established regulations for operating and parking bicycles and campus and strongly encourages cyclists to obtain and display a bicycle permit, available at no charge. Visit www.uky.edu/transportation for more information.
Bicycles may only be parked at bicycle racks, located at all residence halls, classroom buildings, and throughout campus. This means that bicycles may not be parked on benches, railings, trees or anything other than a bike rack. Parking at locations that are not bike racks poses a number of safety issues, and bikes parked in such a manner may be cited or impounded.
All Lextran and some campus buses are equipped with bicycle racks for your convenience.
Bicycling on Campus and Beyond
Biking as a mode of transportation has a number of advantages: it’s good for you and the environment, saves you money and is often faster than other ways of getting around. The University of Kentucky is committed to educating its community about safe bicycling practices and improving bicycle facilities on campus through the Bicycle Advisory Committee.
Below is a list of campus and community bike resources to help you get started on two wheels:
Wildcat Wheels
The Wildcat Wheels Bicycle Library (WWBL) is a nationally-recognized educational resource that provides free bicycle use and repair assistance to students, faculty and staff at the University of Kentucky. The program has two main components:
- A bicycle library that takes abandoned bikes from campus and reuses them in the rental fleet, and
- A student-run bike shop to assist with and teach bicycle maintenance and repair. The on-campus bike shop is open five days a week during the fall and spring semesters to assist the campus community
For more information, as well as the shop location and hours, visit: https:// dib.uky.edu/transportation/bike/wildcatwheels.
Semester-Long Checkout
More than 80 bicycles are available through an online lottery at the start of each academic term to all students, faculty, and staff. Please visit our website for additional details. A limited number of bikes are also available for weekly checkout.
Big Blue Cycles
The Big Blue Cycles program is a fleet of more than 150 bicycles available to students living in campus housing who sign a commitment not to bring a car to Lexington. The bicycles for this program are 8-speed commuter bicycles equipped with fenders, a bell, and a lock. Participating students will be guaranteed the bicycle for the entire academic year with the requirement that they attend a hands-on safety training course, adhere to program requirements, and waive their ability to purchase a parking permit for the year. Online registration for the program is available on our website. If more than 150 students register for the program, bicycle recipients will be chosen through a lottery. In the event a student selected through the lottery has already purchased a parking permit, they will be able to return the permit for a full refund.
UK Transportation Services
Press Avenue Garage (PS #6), 721 Press Avenue
800-441-0555 or 859-257-5757
www.uky.edu/transportation
www.twitter.com/UKParking
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