UK President Eli Capilouto said Friday that the spending plan is focused on maintaining the school's commitment to its staff despite uncertain times.
"This is a challenging time in which to craft a budget," he noted. "Health care costs are rapidly increasing. Inflation remains an obstacle. And there is the uncertainty of budget decisions in Washington still unfolding even as we must finalize our plans and projections for the coming year."
Still, the university is poised to authorize a 1.5 percent-across-the-board raise for all UK and UK Health Care Employees, along with expanded parental and elder care leave — doubling the former by two weeks and the latter by one week.
The university is also adding two more paid holidays, December 24 and January 2.
More info on budget:
1. A 1.5% across-the-board compensation increase for UK and UK HealthCare employees, with a minimum raise of $750.
- The proposed budget will include a 1.5% increase in compensation for all eligible UK and UK HealthCare employees, with a minimum raise of $750.
- If approved, this will mark the 12th time in the last 13 years the university has proposed compensation increases for our community — an unprecedented series of investments in the people who do so much to advance our state.
- The raises would take effect July 1 for UK employees and in October for UK HealthCare employees, the standard cycle for raises.
- To be eligible, employees must be in good standing in terms of performance reviews.
- UK HealthCare staff on the Nursing Step Scale who are eligible will receive either the designated step increase or a 1.5% salary adjustment — whichever amount is greater.
- This increase does not apply to clinical faculty and medical residents as they are under a different compensation structure.
2. Expanded Parental Leave and Elder Care Leave
- The university is proposing an expansion of our parental leave and elder care leave — from two weeks to four weeks for parental leave and from one week to two weeks for elder care leave. The expansion would take effect on July 1.
- The leadership of the Staff Senate has been pivotal on this issue. These staff leaders have consistently provided thoughtful feedback and engaged in important dialogue around the issues that matter most.
3. Two Additional Paid Holidays
- During the academic year, UK will observe two extra paid holidays on Dec. 24, 2025, and Jan. 2, 2026.
- Those extra days are in addition to the week the institution is traditionally closed between semesters.
- UK HealthCare employees will also receive two additional days off, though timing may vary to ensure continuity of patient care.
- The hospitals and ambulatory clinics, for example, must remain open — even during holidays — to care for patients.
- Managers and supervisors will work with team members to coordinate time off accordingly.