UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1633
Page 1 of 3
XXXX 2/9/2024 3:38 PM Jacketed
AN ACT relating to comprehensive universities. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
ď˘Section 1. KRS 164.295 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) The six (6) state comprehensive universities: 4
(a) Shall provide, upon approval of the Council on Postsecondary Education, 5
associate and baccalaureate programs of instruction; 6
(b) Shall provide, upon approval of the Council on Postsecondary Education, 7
graduate programs of instruction at the master's-degree level in education, 8
business, and the arts and sciences, specialist degrees, and programs beyond 9
the master's-degree level to meet the requirements for teachers, school 10
leaders, and other certified personnel; and 11
(c) Shall provide research and service programs directly related to the needs of 12
their primary geographical areas. 13
(2) A comprehensive university may provide: 14
(a) Programs of a community college nature in their own community comparable 15
to those listed for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, as 16
provided in KRS 164.580; 17
(b) Upon approval of the Council on Postsecondary Education, an advanced 18
practice doctoral program in nursing in compliance with KRS 314.111 and 19
314.131;[ and] 20
(c) Upon approval of the Council on Postsecondary Education, one (1) or more 21
additional advanced practice doctoral programs; and 22
(d) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6)(b) of this section, upon 23
fulfilling the requirements promulgated by the Council on Postsecondary 24
Education in accordance with subsection (7)(a) of this section, no more 25
than five (5) research doctoral degree programs, including but not limited to 26
Doctor of Philosophy degree programs, in areas that the council determines 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1633
Page 2 of 3
XXXX 2/9/2024 3:38 PM Jacketed
directly affect the workforce and economy of Kentucky. 1
(3) The Council on Postsecondary Education, in consultation with the Advisory 2
Conference of Presidents pursuant to KRS 164.021, shall develop criteria and 3
conditions upon which an advanced practice doctoral degree program may be 4
approved. The criteria shall include but not be limited to a determination of the 5
academic and workforce needs for a program, consideration of whether the program 6
can be effectively delivered through a collaborative effort with an existing program 7
at another public university within the Commonwealth, and the capacity of a 8
university to effectively offer the program. A university requesting approval of an 9
advanced practice doctoral program shall be required to provide assurance that 10
funding for the program will not impair funding of any existing program at any 11
other public university. 12
(4) The council shall promulgate administrative regulations setting forth the agreed-on 13
criteria and conditions identified under subsection (3) of this section. 14
(5) The council shall review advanced practice doctorates consistent with its review 15
schedule for all other academic programs. 16
(6) A comprehensive university shall not: 17
(a) Offer the terminal degree[degrees] of [Doctor of Philosophy or ]Doctor of 18
Musical Arts; doctor's degrees required for professional practice and licensure 19
in medicine, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, pharmacy, law, or 20
optometry; or the primary degree required for professional practice and 21
licensure in architecture. The existing school of law at Northern Kentucky 22
University is exempted from the requirements of this paragraph; or 23
(b) Describe itself in official publications or in marketing materials as a research 24
university or research institution until the comprehensive university fulfills 25
the requirements promulgated by the Council on Postsecondary Education 26
in accordance with subsection (7)(b) of this section. Nothing in this 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1633
Page 3 of 3
XXXX 2/9/2024 3:38 PM Jacketed
paragraph shall be construed as precluding a comprehensive university from 1
conducting basic, applied, or translational research. 2
(7) The Council on Postsecondary Education shall promulgate administrative 3
regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to establish requirements for a 4
comprehensive university to be eligible to: 5
(a) Offer research doctoral degree programs, including but not limited to 6
Doctor of Philosophy degree programs; or 7
(b) Describe itself in official publications or in marketing materials as a 8
research university or research institution. 9