New things UofL students will see in the ’24-‘25 academic year

As students return to the University of Louisville this fall, there are several new things to look for both around campus and virtually. Check out the list as we embrace the excitement and promise of a new academic year.

• New main UofL website 

Students, faculty, staff and community partners can now more easily find important information on UofL’s new main website, which launched just in time for start of the 2024-2025 academic year. This effort is part of the university’s Web Improvement Project. The site includes overview pages for departments and strategic areas linking back to their existing sites. All other websites will launch on the new Drupal system by Nov. 22.

• Building updates throughout campus

Major progress has been made on our next-generation engineering hub, and many of our longstanding facilities have upgrades aimed at improving their functionality, comfort and safety. Among these include the renovation of the Ernst Hall auditorium, with a new stage, seats, flooring, painting and lights. The Life Sciences Building corridor also received a refresh of lobbies and other student spaces. Work on an Ekstrom Library addition will get underway this academic year. The project, expected to be completed in summer 2025, will provide additional space for students to study and collaborate, along with more office space and archive space to preserve the history of the university and Commonwealth of Kentucky.

• Cardinal Marching Band to debut new uniforms [caption id="attachment_61219" align="alignright" width="232"] Cardinal Marching Band uniform design.[/caption]

The Marching Cards will return to L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium this fall with a brand-new look. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the band will step out in new uniforms. The design showcases a two-toned red and white jacket with a metallic gradient sash, accentuated by a small red gothic “L” on the right sleeve. Positioned prominently, the iconic Cardinal bird adorns the left chest, while the “Louisville” wordmark spans across the upper back.   

• University Safety App: Card Armor

UofL students, staff and faculty can now download the new Card Armor app. This will allow access to several important resources. When visiting your preferred app store, search for the safety app by typing “cardarmor” as one word. Card Armor replaces the previous version of Rave Guardian but does not replace the Rave Emergency Notification System. All traditional methods of communicating with the UofL Police Department also are still available.

• Blackboard Ultra

UofL has transitioned to Blackboard Ultra for all fall 2024 classes. Blackboard Ultra is more modern and mobile-friendly. Some features have changed. As you gear up for this semester, take a few moments to learn the new layout.

• New immigration clinic at the law school

The Louis D. Brandeis School of Law will launch a new immigration law clinic this fall to provide critical legal services to the growing immigration population, teach law students necessary skills to successfully practice law, and develop a pipeline of immigration law attorneys. The clinic will serve clients who are authorized to be present in the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky but do not have the requisite documentation to prove it. Law students, working under the supervision of a licensed, full-time attorney with extensive experience in immigration law, will take responsibility to represent clients and assist them in completing the required paperwork.  

• New outpatient clinic and simulation operating room at the nursing school

The School of Nursing is opening a new simulation outpatient clinic and simulated operating room to provide the most up-to-date tools and experience for students in its nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist programs. The space located on the first floor of the school has been repurposed from a former pediatric clinic. The new rooms will provide a modernized hands-on learning environment for students preparing to enter these specialties. This space will add to the already existing simulation and clinical training labs within the nursing school and Health Sciences Center campus, bolstering the educational opportunities for our students.