Dive Temporary:

  • Kentucky lawmakers this thirty day period approved above $600,000 to study no matter whether a new community university must open in the state’s Southeast area.
  • Legislators approved the research in March. It will also study if obligation for classic academic subjects should transfer from the Kentucky Community and Technical University System to the state’s regional community establishments.
  • The analysis — which guide Ernst & Younger will perform — is because of again to policymakers Dec. 1. 

Dive Insight:

Conversations in the greater ed globe are much more generally about which colleges are closing, not opening. 

That’s in portion mainly because economic and pandemic-connected stressors have squeezed institutions’ finances as several stare down a shrinking share of regular higher education age college students in areas of the region. 

Consequently, these are not ripe conditions for fledgling colleges.

But none of Kentucky’s 8 public 4-calendar year universities are in the southeastern element of the condition, “hindering its capacity to make the similar economic development as other regions of the condition,” in accordance to a legislative resolution setting up the analyze.

That resolution suggests the state’s Council on Postsecondary Instruction will mull about three options — opening a new 4-calendar year public institution, setting up a satellite campus of a 4-yr community college, or attaining an current private university in that place.

Private nonprofit faculties in southeastern Kentucky incorporate Union Faculty, Alice Lloyd College or university and the University of Pikeville.

The council will forecast the desires of the point out, including workforce traits, in excess of the upcoming two a long time. 

Lawmakers this month earmarked $632,952 to fork out Ernst & Younger for the analyze.