Undergraduates at the University of Kentucky (UK) are truly remarkable, and they are a tremendous source of inspiration and pride for the University and the Commonwealth. Incredibly curious and creative, UK undergraduates demonstrate tremendous aptitudes for independent thought, ingenuity, research, and creative work.

The UK Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is driven to empower UK undergraduates with knowledge and skills critical to their development as citizens and leaders of their communities through experiential learning. To achieve this mission, the OUR vision is to provide all UK undergraduates opportunities to pursue mentored research and creative work to discover, invent, and create the never before.

Our mission, designed for holistic student achievement and excellence, is realized through OUR commitments to:

• Promote and facilitate undergraduate research and discovery

• Engage the campus community to enrich the undergraduate experience

• Ensure equitable and inclusive access to mentored research and creative scholarship through sponsored funding in partnership with UK colleges, centers, and units

• Provide leadership and outreach programming that allows undergraduate scholars to connect their research and the communities they impact

• Employ quantifiable metrics to demonstrate the impact of the research and creative work of UK undergraduates

• Showcase, celebrate, and disseminate the work of UK undergraduates and the indelible impact of their creativity

OUR Commitment to Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity

The University of Kentucky is committed to our core values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and human dignity, and a sense of community. We acknowledge and respect the seen and unseen diverse identities and experiences of all members of the university community. These identities include but are not limited to those based on race, ethnicity, gender identity and expressions, ideas and perspectives, religious and cultural beliefs, sexual orientation, national origen, age, ability, and socioeconomic status. We are committed to equity and justice and providing a learning and engaging community in which every member is engaged, heard, and valued.

OUR is committed to intentionally promoting and upholding equity, inclusion, and diversity through our programming, as true excellence can only be achieved when everyone is able to reach for their goals.