CPE approves president’s evaluation, agency work plan, tuition

Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) approved a very positive performance evaluation for President Bob King, a 39-point work plan for the agency and tuition proposals from the universities and the Kentucky Community Technical College System at its meeting at Spalding University.

The Executive Committee conducted King’s performance evaluation and sought input from representatives of six constituent groups—the governor and his staff, statewide education and policy organizations, the Kentucky General Assembly, as well as campus presidents, council members and leadership staff.

King received a composite score of 4.3 on a 1-5 scale with 5 being exceptional and 4 exceeding expectations. Results were tabulated by CPE’s auditor, Blue and Co., LLC. King will not receive additional compensation.

Chair Sherrill Zimmerman praised King for shepherding the new rational funding model for higher education, advancing the strategic agenda, moderating tuition and for launching a training program for new members of boards of trustees.

“It is gratifying to know that people appreciate the work the Council does. I am just the visible tip of a small iceberg -- a group of people dedicated to bettering the lives of Kentuckians through postsecondary education. I am honored to have the opportunity to contribute,” said King.

In other business, the Council approved a 39-point work plan that will guide the work of King and agency staff for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1. The plan is aligned to the state’s strategic agenda which is aimed at boosting the skills and productivity of the current and future workforce and strengthening the economy through higher levels of education attainment.

Tuition and mandatory fees

The Council gave approval to the tuition and mandatory fee proposals from seven of the eight public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. All proposals complied with the in-state, undergraduate ceilings set March 31 by the Council as earlier reported.

The University of Louisville’s proposal for zero percent increase was also approved. The Council will take action on Kentucky State University’s proposal following approval from its board, which meets later this month.

The Council also approved market-competitive tuition and fee rate proposals for resident and nonresident graduate, professional and online courses for each university.

In other tuition action, the Council approved a tuition reciprocity agreement with Indiana and three tuition reciprocity agreements with Ohio.

New academic programs

The Council approved nine academic programs at four of the state’s public universities.

• Eastern Kentucky University: Master of Arts in American Sign Language.
• Murray State University: Master of Science in occupational therapy.
• Northern Kentucky University: Bachelor of Science in neuroscience, Bachelor of Science in health informatics, Bachelor of Science in radiation therapy, Bachelor of Science in mechatronics engineering technology and Bachelor of Arts in health communication.
• University of Kentucky: Bachelor of Arts in dance and Master of Science in sport exercise psychology.

Administrative regulations

The Council approved two new administrative regulations and updated one:

• 13 KAR 2:120: Comprehensive funding model for the allocation of state general appropriations to public universities, which operationalizes the provisions of SB 153 by outlining the process and details of how general fund appropriations will be allocated.
• 13 KAR 2:130: Comprehensive funding model for the allocation of state general appropriations to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System institutions, which operationalizes the provisions of SB 153 by outlining the process and details of how general fund appropriations will be allocated.
• Amendment to 13 KAR 3:050, which would allow a 17-year-old state agency child to take the GED exam with approval from the local school district and passage of the official readiness exam in accordance with House Bill 522.

Additionally, the Council:

• Amended the statewide education attainment goal in the 2016-21 Strategic Agenda for Postsecondary and Adult Education from 58 percent of Kentuckians with a postsecondary degree or certificate in 2025 to 60 percent by 2030.
• Approved campus-submitted board member orientation and training programs that require new campus board members complete an orientation and education program within their first year of appointment.
• Adopted the agency’s operating budget that allocates 17 percent to agency operations, while the remaining 83 percent supports statewide educational programs services.
• Approved 2018 campus meeting dates.
• Appointed members to the Budget Development Work Group: Ben Brandstetter as chair, Carol Wright, Lucas Mentzer, faculty representative Robert Staat, student representative Sebastian Torres and Chair Zimmerman, ex-officio.
• Approved resolutions for outstanding service to Gary Ransdell, president, Western Kentucky University; Geoffrey Mearns, president, Northern Kentucky University; Wayne Andrews, president, Morehead State University; Aaron Thompson, interim president, Kentucky State University; Jay Morgan, vice president for academic affairs, CPE; and Rana Johnson,  senior associate for diversity, outreach and special projects, CPE.

The Council heard the following reports: Eastern Kentucky University’s 2017 Strategic Agenda report, CPE President, Committee on Equal Opportunities, Kentucky College and Career Connection Coalition, Stronger by Degrees update on the success policy area.