UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS SJR 179/EN
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A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Kentucky Community and Technical 1
College System to determine and report findings and actions to improve and advance the 2
existing system. 3
WHEREAS, the Kentucky Community and Technical College system (KCTCS), 4
created by House Bill 1 of the First 1997 Special Session, is the state's largest 5
postsecondary education institution, educating more than 100,000 students annually; and 6
WHEREAS, the KCTCS mission is to enhance the quality of life and economic 7
vitality of the Commonwealth by serving as the primary provider of college and career 8
readiness, transfer education, workforce education, and employment training; and 9
WHEREAS, KCTCS is composed of 16 colleges, a system office, and more than 70 10
campuses; and 11
WHEREAS, the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) conducted a 12
comprehensive higher education study in 2023 as directed by Senate Joint Resolution 98 13
of the 2023 Regular Session; and 14
WHEREAS, KCTCS is in the process of concluding a comprehensive system 15
review with the Huron Group with more than 40 findings to be considered for 16
implementation by the KCTCS Board of Regents and system leadership; and 17
WHEREAS, an audit of KCTCS by the Auditor of Public Accounts, concluded in 18
December 2023, made multiple findings concerning financial transparency and accuracy; 19
and 20
WHEREAS, the Auditor recommended that a forensic audit was needed, which is 21
set to occur during 2024; and 22
WHEREAS, as of January 1, 2024, Dr. Ryan F. Quarles became KCTCS President; 23
NOW, THEREFORE, 24
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 25
Section 1. KCTCS, in collaboration with CPE, shall analyze the findings of the 26
study that resulted from SJR 98 and the Huron Group recommendations, and shall present 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS SJR 179/EN
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specific action steps on the following topics: 1
(1) Academic programming and training offerings, including the quality of 2
credentials and program relevancy; 3
(2) A comprehensive statewide KCTCS workforce plan which may include 4
financial and academic supports, comprehensive career counseling, and experiential 5
learning elements; 6
(3) The KCTCS geographic footprint, including but not limited to the need for 7
mergers and consolidations; 8
(4) Single system accreditation versus individual college accreditation; 9
(5) Governance reform, including the KCTCS Board of Regents and the 16 10
college boards of directors; 11
(6) The KCTCS funding model and its adequacy, including state appropriations, 12
existing performance funding, the funding of the system office, and modern outcome-13
based funding structures; 14
(7) Tuition rates, with a commitment to ensuring affordability and return on 15
investment; 16
(8) The personnel system for KCTCS employees; 17
(9) Effectiveness and affordability of dual credit course offerings; 18
(10) Transferability of associate's degrees to four-year institutions; and 19
(11) Outdated or conflicting statutory language. 20
Section 2. The results or the analysis under Section 1 of this Joint Resolution 21
shall be submitted to the Legislative Research Commission by December 10, 2024, for 22
referral to the House and Senate Committees on Education and Appropriations and 23
Revenue, for consideration during the 2025 Regular Session. 24