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Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Enterprise Services Partnership

Why We're Exploring a Partnership

The University of Kentucky is growing — serving more students, more patients and more communities across our Commonwealth. 

​We are an enterprise — connecting the university, UK HealthCare, UK King’s Daughters and UK St. Claire. 

Higher education and health care are changing, and changing how we operate. ​We need better coordination and consistent service and standards across the enterprise.​ 

We have selected Compass Group as our preferred enterprise services partner and are in the process of formalizing the agreement. 

Compass Group will help us design, implement and manage an enterprise-wide service model. 

This is not about cutting jobs. This is an opportunity to better align our people who keep our campus and hospitals running every day. 

We are reviewing how certain support services are provided, including: maintenance, grounds, custodial services, dining and food services, in-patient transport and in-patient sitting services.

Our Commitments to You

These commitments are firm and keep you, our trusted employees, at the center:

  • You will keep your job.
  • You will remain a UK employee.
  • Your pay will not be reduced.
  • Your benefits will not change.
  • You will not be required to relocate.

This includes employees at UK, UK HealthCare, UK King’s Daughters and UK St. Claire.

If you are an employee of the prior dining partner impacted by this change, you will have the opportunity to continue your work with Compass with comparable pay and benefits. 

Where the Process Stands

We are currently in Phase 2 of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. 

We are exclusively negotiating with Compass Group and currently have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with them as our preferred partner. 

Your feedback from previous town halls and meetings is shaping the questions we're asking our preferred partner. 

It is still our goal to have a contract in place by July 2026. Any changes would happen in steps over time. ​

About Compass Group

Compass Group is not new to Kentucky. The company already employs more than 1,400 people supporting UK HealthCare and works in communities across the state. 

Compass Group teams have been on campus to get to know you and will continue to host meetings and orientations in the coming weeks to answer your questions and provide you with more information. 

You can learn more at WelcometoCompassatUK.com. 

Guiding Principles

These guiding principles explain what matters most as we look at better ways to support our employees and strengthen how services work across UK.

Advance Together: Retain our talent by creating opportunities for our teams to learn from one another, build shared expertise and contribute to excellence in service, maintenance and operations. 

Build Trust Through Transparency: Engage openly with employees, partners and stakeholders to foster understanding and confidence as we transition to an enterprise model, while respecting confidentiality and the integrity of contractual processes. 

Operational Excellence: Work with a qualified partner to establish consistent standards and requirements across the enterprise to deliver high-quality, reliable and sustainable services that support our mission of education, research, service and care. 

Maximize Financial Opportunities: Leverage private investment to maximize returns and strengthen long-term financial sustainability, supporting the institution’s continued growth. 

Mitigate Risk and Ensure Resilience: Design and implement systems that proactively manage operational, safety and financial risks — building resilient infrastructure and processes capable of adapting to future challenges across higher education and health care. 

Leverage Technology and Data: Use data-driven insights and modern systems to enhance preventive and predictive maintenance, optimize resource use and enable smarter decision-making across the enterprise. 

Value Partnership: Collaborate with a trusted third-party partner to bring specialized expertise, proven practices and external innovation that accelerate improvement and strengthen our capabilities. 

Request For Proposals

Phase 1

  • We released the Request For Proposals (RFP) on Dec. 4, which launched Phase 1 of the RFP.
  • Phase 1 is designed to notify and invite potential partners who may be interested in providing enterprise services across our institution.
  • The RFP describes the service areas and scope of a potential partnership broadly — not in deep detail. The goal is to determine who may have the interest, capacity and qualified experience to support the services we are evaluating.
  • Our evaluation committee assessed all the responses and made a shortlist of qualified potential partners to advance to Phase 2.

Phase 2

  • Phase 2 involves the university providing much more detailed information to those potential partners — including operational expectations, service details and financials — and the opportunity to get into the details of what a potential enterprise-wide service model would entail.
  • We will hold working sessions and negotiations with potential partners to evaluate their capabilities and alignment with our needs.
  • We will also assess how well each partner aligns with our mission, values and long-term vision.

Importance of Alignment, Seeking a True Partnership

We are seeking a long‑term partner — not just a service provider. That is why this process is detailed and thoughtful.

We are reviewing how well our preferred partner aligns with UK’s mission and values. 

Again, all UK employees will remain UK employees with no reductions in pay or benefits, including those at UK St. Claire and UK King’s Daughters.

More details are available in the FAQs below.

FAQs

Will current employees continue to have a job?

Yes. This initiative is not about eliminating positions or replacing UK employees. 

If the university moves forward with a partnership:

  • UK employees will stay UK employees — at UK, UK HealthCare, UK King's Daughters and UK St. Claire.
  • No one is being outsourced. You and your work stay where you are. 

Will pay or benefits change for employees?

No. There will be no reductions in pay or benefits.

Employees will continue working for the university with the same pay and benefits they have today.

Who would employees report to, and who would conduct performance evaluations?

If a partnership moves forward, the partner may help manage day‑to‑day operations.

A partner employee may take part in performance evaluations. A UK employee will also review those evaluations.

UK will continue to provide oversight and support.

What if there are changes to Major Job Responsibilities (MJRs)?

If there are changes to Major Job Responsibilities (MJRs) those changes would follow UK Human Resources policies and protocols. There will be clear communication and support.

Has a decision been made to partner with an external company?

We have selected Compass Group as our preferred enterprise services partner and are in the process of formalizing the agreement. 

We will still follow the RFP process as we work toward a final agreement.

Why is UK reviewing these services?

The University of Kentucky is growing and serving more students, patients and communities across our Commonwealth.

At the same time, higher education and health care are facing new challenges, and it's changing how we operate. 

We are reviewing how some services work across the enterprise — UK, UK HealthCare, UK King's Daughters and UK St. Claire — to make sure teams have the support, tools, and coordination they need.

Which services are part of this?

Services under review include:

  • Maintenance
  • Grounds
  • Custodial services
  • Dining and food services
  • In‑patient transport
  • In‑patient sitting services

These services operate across multiple locations, including the academic campus and UK HealthCare in Lexington, UK St. Claire in Morehead and UK King’s Daughters in Ashland. 

What could change over time?

Any changes will be phased, planned and communicated ahead of time.

Possible changes could include:

  • New tools or systems
  • Updated processes to improve coordination
  • Training to support those changes

These changes would be designed to support you and improve how services work.

How will this impact employees in the future?

Some employees may have optional growth opportunities over time that do not exist today.

The overall goal is to better support our people with:

  • Clear systems
  • Consistent tools
  • Better coordination across locations

How will an external partner be involved?

We are exploring whether an outside company could help design and manage a coordinated service model across UK.

UK has worked with external partners before through public‑private partnerships to support housing, dining, labs and other campus improvements.

Details are still being defined.

What is included in the Request for Proposals (RFP)?

The RFP has clear requirements, including:

  • Employees remain UK employees.
  • No reductions in pay or benefits.
  • Payroll and benefits costs reimbursed to UK.
  • Support for student employment where possible.

How will current partners be involved?

Yes. Some services already work with partners, depending on location.

Current partners are aware of this effort and may submit proposals through the RFP process.

Where are we in the process right now?

We are currently in Phase 2 of the RFP process. 

After receiving six proposals, the evaluation committee narrowed those down to two proposals that best met our guiding principles and were most qualified to perform the work.

We are talking to one company — Compass Group.

Who is making this decision?

A large group of UK leaders are working on this across four committees. ​

40+ people are collaborating, representing: ​

  • Facilities Management​

  • Staff Senate​

  • Human Resources​

  • Athletics​

  • Student Success​

  • UK HealthCare​

  • UK King's Daughters​

  • UK St. Claire​

Feedback you shared in meetings helped guide our next steps.​

When will a decision be made?

Our goal is to have a contract by July 2026. 

Any changes will happen in phases, and we will communicate next steps to you.

Who is on the evaluation committee?

The evaluation committee has broad representation from:  

  • Finance and Administration 
  • Facilities Management  
  • The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment  
  • Staff Senate 
  • Student Success  
  • UK Athletics 
  • UK HealthCare 
  • UK King’s Daughters 
  • UK St. Claire  
 
Your feedback shared during November town halls was also provided to the committee.
 

What if I missed a town hall or meeting?

Employees can reach out to their supervisors or leadership for the latest information on this process at any time. 

This website will stay updated.

If employees have questions, they can email servicepartnership@uky.edu. 

How will I get updates?

You will continue to receive updates through:

  • This website
  • Emails
  • Supervisors and leadership

You can send questions at any time to servicepartnership@uky.edu. 

We are committed to keeping you updated throughout this process.

What is the main goal of this initiative?

The goal is to build a stronger and more coordinated service model with the resources needed to support UK’s mission and growth.

This effort is focused on supporting employees and ensuring services continue to meet the needs of students, patients and the community.

Questions?

Questions?

If you have any questions about the Enterprise Services Partnership, please email  servicepartnership@uky.edu. 

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