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News Update From the Council on Postsecondary Education
COUNCIL NEWS:

Council engages institutions in long-term funding discussion

Council staff presented a draft outline of the 2020 Double the Numbers Plan at the June 21 Budget and Finance Policy Group meeting. The Double the Numbers Plan is a long-term finance plan outlining the investment and outcomes needed by the postsecondary system to lift Kentucky to the national average on a number of educational and economic indicators. Meeting participants also discussed the framework for the Council's 2008-10 budget request, which is altered this year to improve the transparency and clarity of the recommendation. Council staff will continue to meet with the policy group and institutional representatives to refine the plan and budget request, with possible budget hearings planned for September. Opportunities to review subsequent drafts of both documents will occur in August, September, and October, with final Council action scheduled for November.

Kentucky Adult Education unveils new framework for adult education

KYAE recently introduced a new framework for adult education, which strongly refocuses adult education policies on increasing student achievement and strategically repositions local adult education programs to accomplish the goals of the Kentucky Adult Education Act of 2000 and the Council's Public Agenda. Over the course of a year, KYAE engaged adult educators in discussions on enrollment, performance, student outcomes, family literacy, corrections education and workplace education and completed extensive data analysis in these areas. Taking into consideration provider feedback and relevant data, KYAE staff developed the new framework, which was introduced to great enthusiasm at regional meetings attended by nearly 450 adult educators in May 2007. Central to the new framework is a refocused emphasis on the core business of helping adults gain academic skills for success in postsecondary education and highly skilled jobs. The new framework includes more emphasis on quality student learning outcomes, more flexibility in providing adult education services, higher performance expectations and new opportunities for local programs to earn additional funding based on student outcomes.

New scholarships available for adult first-time college students

Adult Kentuckians who have never taken college classes but would like to enroll may be eligible for a new Go Higher Grant funded by the General Assembly and administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). Designed to give adults a taste of college and encourage them to continue their education, Go Higher Grants are available to adults age 24 or older with financial need who have enrolled for fewer than six credit hours at a participating Kentucky college or university. The maximum award amount is $1,000 and covers tuition plus a book allowance of $50 per credit hour. Any grant funds left over from the fall semester may be used in the spring semester for any number of credit hours up to the $1,000 maximum award amount. The grants are only available for the 2007-08 school year.

Research universities collaborate to lead statewide principals' academy

The Kentucky Principals' Academy, a collaborative enterprise among Kentucky universities with education leadership programs, will launch this fall led by UK and UofL. The Council awarded funding for the KPA as part of the Education Leadership Redesign Initiative funded by the 2006 General Assembly. The primary goal of the KPA will be to improve P-12 student learning through specialized professional development for public school principals. In conjunction with Council staff, UK and UofL will be creating an advisory committee of representatives from school districts, postsecondary education faculty, colleges of business, departments of communication, leadership programs and other appropriate disciplines, as well as the Kentucky Department of Education and the Education Professional Standards Board. The first cohort will be recruited fall 2007 and spring 2008 and will begin work early summer 2008.

Committee on Equal Opportunities hears KSU plans for improvement

Kentucky State University president Mary Evans Sias presented an implementation plan to the Council's Committee on Equal Opportunities at its June 18 meeting detailing the university's efforts to implement strategies to increase enrollment, retain more students and address student support programs and campus environment initiatives. The plan was in response to recommendations made by the CEO after a campus visit at KSU in February. President Sias reported that student enrollment has steadily increased since 2004 and applications for fall 2007 are up. To increase retention, KSU is focusing on improving student advising and continues to expand the Academic Bridge Program to support first-year students.

Business leaders seek new solutions for Kentucky

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce recently launched the "New Agenda for Kentucky" project. The goal is to "develop a new action plan of ideas and innovations that represent the best thinking of Kentucky's business and civic leaders, young entrepreneurs and other citizens." All Kentuckians are welcome to participate by visiting the New Agenda for Kentucky Web site, where an idea exchange invites users to submit new ideas and react to others through a five-star rating system. To determine a fair evaluation of the ideas, a task force of established business executives and young entrepreneurs from throughout Kentucky is providing the oversight and guidance needed to ensure the innovation of the project.

RESEARCH TOPICS IN EDUCATION:

Opening the Door to the American Dream: Increasing Higher Education Access and Success for Immigrants

This groundbreaking study from the Institute for Higher Education Policy examines the systemic barriers that prevent immigrants from entering college and/or completing bachelor's degrees, and whose needs are not met when they do enter the university system.

College and University Ranking Systems: Global Perspectives and American Challenges

This report from the Institute for Higher Education Policy acknowledges that while college and university rankings are growing in their frequency and popularity, greater understanding about how these ranking systems function is needed to ensure accountability and greater transparency.

2007 Southern Regional Education Board Annual Report: From Goals to Results

This annual report presents SREB's chief accomplishments and areas of focus during the last year.

State Teacher Policy Yearbook 2007: Progress on Teacher Quality

This report from the National Council on Teacher Quality identifies six key areas of states' teacher policies in need of policy attention and provides a grade for each state on its performance in each area.

Part-time undergraduates in postsecondary education: 2003-04 (NCES)

This descriptive analysis report from the National Center for Education Statistics provides an overall picture of part-time students and takes a closer look at a subgroup of part-time students who exhibited some characteristics commonly found among full-time students.

State Higher Education Finance FY 2006 (SHEEO)

This annual report of the State Higher Education Executive Officers is designed to help policymakers and educators address broad public policy questions related to state funding for postsecondary education, tuition, financial aid, and increased productivity.

 

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