UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2087
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A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Council on Postsecondary Education to 1
conduct a feasibility study on expanding postbaccalaureate program offerings at 2
comprehensive universities. 3
WHEREAS, postbaccalaureate offerings of Kentucky's comprehensive universities 4
are restricted by KRS 164.295; and 5
WHEREAS, the restrictions on the comprehensive universities have been in place 6
for over a decade; and 7
WHEREAS, certain changes to the postbaccalaureate offerings of a comprehensive 8
university would require action by the General Assembly; and 9
WHEREAS, the General Assembly should regularly evaluate the evolving 10
workforce needs of this Commonwealth, the ability of Kentucky's existing postsecondary 11
education system to serve those needs, and the feasibility of expanding postbaccalaureate 12
offerings at comprehensive universities to better serve those needs; 13
NOW, THEREFORE, 14
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 15
Section 1. The Council on Postsecondary Education shall meet with the 16
president of each comprehensive university to identify a regional economic or workforce 17
development need that may be addressed by a postbaccalaureate initiative for the 18
comprehensive university that would either expand an existing postbaccalaureate 19
program or create a new postbaccalaureate degree program. 20
Section 2. The Council on Postsecondary Education shall contract with an 21
outside entity to conduct a study on the postbaccalaureate initiatives of each of the 22
comprehensive universities. The council shall study the following and develop specific 23
recommendations for the General Assembly to consider for action during the 2025 24
Regular Session: 25
(1) Each comprehensive university's capacity to expand or create the 26
postbaccalaureate degree program that is the focus of the postbaccalaureate initiative 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2087
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without jeopardizing the university’s ability to fulfill its statutory responsibilities. This 1
evaluation shall include but not be limited to consideration of the recent performance 2
history of each university in the comprehensive funding model established by KRS 3
164.092; 4
(2) The alignment of each postbaccalaureate initiative to the economic and 5
workforce needs of the Commonwealth and the projected ability of the postbaccalaureate 6
initiative to meet or exceed those needs; 7
(3) (a) A potential annual budget for the transition and initial implementation of 8
each postbaccalaureate initiative; 9
(b) The various revenues that the comprehensive university could expect upon 10
implementation of the postbaccalaureate initiative based on conservative and moderate 11
projections; 12
(c) The projected recurring costs of each postbaccalaureate initiative, including 13
retirement and health care for employees; 14
(d) Anticipated tuition and fee charges and projected gross and net tuition and fee 15
revenue for each postbaccalaureate initiative; 16
(e) The projected enrollment for each postbaccalaureate initiative; 17
(f) The projected ability of the comprehensive university to attract high-quality 18
faculty to support each postbaccalaureate initiative; 19
(g) Federal funds that each comprehensive university would access or seek in 20
order to support each postbaccalaureate initiative; and 21
(h) Private funds that each comprehensive university would solicit or seek in 22
order to support each postbaccalaureate initiative; 23
(4) The projected economic impact of each postbaccalaureate initiative; and 24
(5) A proposed implementation timeline for each postbaccalaureate initiative. 25
Section 3. The results of the study and recommendations required by Section 2 26
of this Joint Resolution shall be submitted to the Legislative Research Commission by 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2087
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December 1, 2024, for referral to the Senate Committee on Education, House Committee 1
on Education, Senate Committee on Appropriations and Revenue, and House Committee 2
on Appropriations and Revenue during the 2025 Regular Session. 3