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the UK Board have been challenging and meaningful ones. It has been
an honor and privilege to serve with Chairman Breathitt and share his
dedication and commitment to quality education in Kentucky. I have
gained immeasurable appreciation of the importance and complexity of
the service the University provides for the citizens of Kentucky. Not
only do students gain a quality education, but the outreach through the
Rural Health Center, Medical Center, Agricultural Extension Service,
Sanders Brown Center, to name a few, touches the lives of thousands
of additional families. I have gained respect for the leadership of this
institution, administrative and academic. Charles Wethington's skill
in crafting policy to be implemented through the budget is remarkable.
The impact of the Robinson Forest Scholars Program for talented
Eastern Kentucky students will be a legacy to his commitment to using
University resources to benefit those with the greatest need. His vision
in creating a fiscal vehicle through which to build a library worthy of a
"flagship" university was itself instructive for the next chapter in
Kentucky higher education.

The concept for the next chapter was discussed as early as October 1981
when the Prichard Committee's report In Pursuit of Excellence was
presented to the Council on Higher Education at Spindletop. I
remember being part of that presentation and thinking we were being
ambitious in our recommendations, but resolute that we had come to
these conclusions for the benefit of the whole system of postsecondary
education. In Mr. Prichard's forwarding letter he said, "we trust...these
recommendations will send out a signal to the higher education
community for unity of action in the face of unprecedented challenge."
Those sentiments hold true as we face the process of implementing
House Bill 1. Concerns about duplicative programs for both
undergraduate and graduate levels were present sixteen years ago,
along with the recommendation that the University of Kentucky
assume the role as the state's comprehensive research university and
that appropriate state resources be provided to support this role.

The Lexington Herald's article in last week's paper cites the 15% growth
of research funding during 1996-97 bringing $125 million in contracts,
grants and gifts received to the University. This demonstrates the
direction we have been moving and Dr. Bramwell is to be commended
for his initiative and energy in continuing to expand this role for UK.
As we extend the focus of research at the University to embrace an
increasingly complex world, so might we consider the replication of a
Technology/Research Extension Service comparable to that of the
Agricultural Extension to translate current advances into daily practice
for professionals and businesses. As I see it, the opportunity for UK to
continue in developing its premier role in nurturing knowledge and