WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (LEX NEWS) — The Council on Postsecondary Education accepted a new academic structure for Kentucky State University at its June assembly, marking a major step within the college’s transformation to a polytechnic institution below Senate Bill 185.
The Council accepted 6 newly outlined areas of research for KSU: Applied Sciences, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences and Technology. Together, these areas will set up the college’s academic portfolio round extremely technical, industry-based utilized studying aligned with Kentucky’s workforce wants, in accordance to the council.
Under the new structure, KSU will proceed 28 academic applications that help the college’s revised mission and long-term academic technique, the council reported. The accepted applications embody:
- Applied Sciences: Agriculture, Food, and Environment; Aquaculture; Environmental Science and Technology; Exercise Science; Interdisciplinary Studies; and Social Work.
- Engineering: Biological and Agricultural Engineering; Manufacturing and Agricultural Engineering; and supporting STEM applications designed to strengthen KSU’s utilized, technical and land-grant mission.
- Health Sciences: Nursing; Nursing Practice; Exercise Science; Psychology; and Social Work, which help rising workforce wants in well being, behavioral well being and human providers.
- Humanities: Elementary Education; Special Education; Music and Industry; Mass Communication; Interdisciplinary Studies; and Criminal Justice, which protect core liberal research {and professional} pathways whereas aligning with utilized studying and workforce preparation.
- Natural Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food, and Environment; and Environmental Science and Technology.
- Technology: Computer Science – Cybersecurity; Mass Communication with expertise and digital media integration; Business Administration; and different applications positioned for on-line development, workforce alignment and utilized studying.
The advice adopted a complete evaluate of every academic program’s monetary stability, enrollment viability, workforce demand, academic outcomes and alignment with KSU’s new polytechnic mission, the council detailed.
As a part of the identical motion, the council accepted the closure of 4 undergraduate applications: music schooling, music efficiency, political science and youngster improvement and household research. KSU will develop teach-out plans for affected college students, which have to be submitted to the Commission on Colleges and Universities, previously the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
“Today’s action helps Kentucky State University move forward with a clearer academic identity, stronger alignment to workforce needs and a more focused path for student success,” CPE President Aaron Thompson mentioned. “KSU’s future as a polytechnic institution must be built on programs that are sustainable, mission-driven and connected to opportunity for students and the Commonwealth.”
The Council additionally accepted a monetary obligation and expenditure approval coverage for KSU to streamline processes created by Senate Bill 185, which requires KSU to search prior approval from CPE for expenditures over $20,000, the council added. The coverage requires KSU to submit an annual working funds to CPE for monitoring functions and permits KSU to submit a grasp place checklist and checklist of contractual obligations every academic yr for one-time approval by CPE.
The board additionally took the next actions on the June assembly:
- Approved proposed tuition and charge will increase for academic yr 2026-27 for the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University and Western Kentucky University. The proposals fall inside accepted CPE ceilings, which state that will increase shall not exceed $675 over 2 years or $450 in anyone yr for analysis universities, and $630 over 2 years or $420 in anyone yr for complete universities. The board additionally delegated approval authority to the CPE president for tuition and charge charges for Northern Kentucky University, KCTCS and the University of Louisville, offered their proposed charges adjust to CPE parameters.
- Approved two new academic applications on the University of Kentucky — a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry — and one new program at Eastern Kentucky University, an Applied Associate of Science in Air Traffic Management.
- Approved a $1.5 million interim capital mission to create a well being sciences simulation lab at Somerset Community College.
The board will maintain its subsequent assembly on Sept. 28 on the Owensboro Convention Center along with the biennial Postsecondary Education Trusteeship Conference, which can happen Sept. 28-29.