CHAPTER 199
Legislative Research Commission PDF Version
1
CHAPTER 199
( SJR 170 )
A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Council on Postsecondary Education to conduct a feasibility study on
expanding postbaccalaureate program offerings at comprehensive universities.
WHEREAS, KRS 164.020 directs the activities of the Council on Postsecondary Education; and
WHEREAS, through KRS 164.020(15), the General Assembly requires the Council to define and approve the
offering of all postsecondary education technical, associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and professional degree,
certificate, or diploma programs in the public postsecondary education institutions; and
WHEREAS, KRS 164.295 restricts the postbaccalaureate offerings of Kentucky's comprehensive universities;
and
WHEREAS, KRS 164.295 requires action by the General Assembly to approve changes to the
postbaccalaureate offerings of a comprehensive university; and
WHEREAS, many of Kentucky’s comprehensive universities have requested that the General Assembly
approve expansion of their postbaccalaureate programs and degree offerings; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly should regularly evaluate the evolving workforce needs of this
Commonwealth, the ability of Kentucky's existing postsecondary education system to serve those needs, and the
feasibility of expanding postbaccalaureate offerings at comprehensive universities to better serve those needs;
NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
Section 1. (1) The Council on Postsecondary Education shall meet with the president of each
comprehensive university to identify regional economic and workforce development needs that may be addressed by
a postbaccalaureate initiative to expand an existing postbaccalaureate program or create a new postbaccalaureate
program at the comprehensive university.
(2) The Council on Postsecondary Education shall contract with an outside entity to conduct a study on
each comprehensive university's postbaccalaureate initiative and develop and present specific recommendations for
the General Assembly to consider for action during the 2025 Regular Session. Each study shall take into
consideration the accreditation needs of the postbaccalaureate initiative.
(3) The studies shall, at a minimum, include separate studies on establishing each of the following
postbaccalaureate programs:
(a) A doctoral program for professional practice and licensure in veterinary medicine at Murray State
University;
(b) A doctoral program for professional practice and licensure in osteopathic medicine at Eastern Kentucky
University; and
(c) Doctoral programs to obtain an R2 "High Research Activity" designation from the Carnegie
Classification of Institutions of Higher Education at Western Kentucky University.
(4) The evaluation of a potential expansion or creation of a postbaccalaureate offering at a comprehensive
university shall include but not be limited to the following factors to inform a recommendation to General Assembly
on whether to pursue that postbaccalaureate initiative:
(a) Consideration of the recent performance history of the university in the comprehensive funding model
established by KRS 164.092;
(b) The university’s capacity to expand or create the postbaccalaureate degree program that is the focus of
the postbaccalaureate initiative without jeopardizing the university’s ability to fulfill its statutory responsibilities;
(c) The alignment of the postbaccalaureate initiative to the economic and workforce needs of the
Commonwealth; and
(d) The projected ability of the postbaccalaureate initiative to meet or exceed those needs in an efficient
manner. ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2
(5) Any recommendation for an expansion to postbaccalaureate offerings at comprehensive universities
shall include the following information in regard to each recommended offering:
(a) A potential annual budget for the transition and initial implementation;
(b) The various additional revenues that the comprehensive university could expect upon implementation
based on conservative and moderate projections;
(c) The projected additional recurring costs, including retirement and health care for employees;
(d) Anticipated tuition and fee charges and projected gross and net tuition and fee revenue;
(e) Projected enrollment;
(f) The projected ability of the comprehensive university to attract necessary high-quality faculty;
(g) The availability of federal funds and private funding that might offset the identified costs;
(h) The projected economic impact; and
(i) A proposed implementation timeline for each postbaccalaureate initiative.
Section 2. The results of the study and recommendations required by Section 1 of this Resolution shall be
submitted to the Legislative Research Commission by December 1, 2024, for referral to the Senate Committee on
Education, House Committee on Education, Senate Committee on Appropriations and Revenue, and House
Committee on Appropriations and Revenue during the 2025 Regular Session.
Signed by Governor April 17, 2024.