The college's research, teaching and outreach programs encompass farms, forests, food, fiber, families and communities.

[3] On May 25, 2023, the college announced a $100-million gift from late University of Kentucky alum and former trustee Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton.

The Kentucky University had been granted substantial initial funding from the federal government through the Morrill Land-Grant Act.

[citation needed] There are fourteen departments in the college offering 27 academic programs: School of Human Environmental Sciences In addition to the above departments, the college oversees the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (you can find the location of the KY County Extension Offices on an interactive map separated into seven districts).

Established in Fayette County in September 1885 after UK President Patterson and two Board of Trustees members attended a meeting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.