APRIL 2008

RECENT NEWS RELEASES

Council to scrutinize tuition proposals

Council names Brad Cowgill permanent president

At 10-year anniversary, report shows gains in postsecondary education reform, challenges ahead

UPCOMING EVENTS

CPE tuition hearings
April 31 – May 1, 2008
CPE Offices, Meeting Room A

CPE meeting
May 9, 2008
8:30 a.m. (EDT)
CPE Offices, Meeting Room A

Kentucky Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
May 21-22, 2008
Marriott Griffin Gate Resort
Lexington, KY

To receive News From Frankfort e-mail updates, contact Kimberly Millerd

COUNCIL NEWS

At 10-year mark, report shows progress and challenges in postsecondary reform

Kentucky’s colleges and universities have made significant progress toward the goals of postsecondary education reform according to CPE’s 2006-07 Accountability Report released this month. The annual report shows that in the last year Kentucky improved on 17 of 26 performance indicators, held steady on five, and declined on four. In recognition of the 10-year anniversary of the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997, this year’s report also provides 10 years of trend data, where available, charting progress since the beginning of reform. Among its findings, the report shows significant increases in the number of students enrolling and graduating college, and in the number of college graduates remaining in Kentucky after they graduate. This year’s report also highlights challenges ahead, including in the area of affordability. Data show that the percentage of family income needed to pay for college and the average student loan debt have steadily increased since 2002, despite a 9 percent increase in the state’s investment in need-based financial aid.

General Assembly cuts postsecondary education funding an additional 3 percent

The 2008 General Assembly passed the Executive Branch budget bill (HB406) April 2, which restores approximately 75 percent and 83 percent of the Executive Budget cuts in FY09 and FY10, respectively. With these funds restored, state funding for public colleges and universities is still 3 percent less than the current year (FY08) budget, which already received a 3 percent cut ($32.5 million) earlier this year. The budget also includes a 3 percent cut to the CPE budget, in addition to the 3 percent reduction early this year. The General Assembly designated $60 million for the Bucks for Brains program, with $33.3 million for UK, $16.7 million for UofL, and $10 million for the comprehensive universities.

CPE reports record number of students transferring to universities

The CPE heard an update on the status of transfer in Kentucky at its April 14 meeting showing that a record number of students transferred from community or technical colleges to four-year colleges and universities in 2007. After a significant downturn in transfers following the restructuring of postsecondary education in 1997, the state has experienced steady but modest growth since 2003. The update indicated that transfer students succeed and get degrees at rates comparable, if not better, than students who begin college at a four-year institution. Despite the record 4,479 students who transferred in 2007, the system must dramatically increase transfers to 11,334 by 2020 if it is to meet its goal to Double the Number of college graduates. The report focused on the major challenges the state must meet to reach that goal including the improvement of transfer advising, the expansion of financial aid programs for transfer students, and the communication of the benefits of earning a bachelor’s degree to better motivate students to transfer. The report outlined CPE strategies to address these challenges and highlighted transfer best practices at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and Murray State University. BCTC is the lead source of transfers for four state universities and accounts for one quarter of all community college transfers in the state.

Statewide conference to focus on teaching and learning

The CPE will host the eighth annual Kentucky Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning May 21 - 22, 2008, at the Marriott Griffin Gate in Lexington. This annual conference brings together college faculty and administrators to examine topics related to adult and postsecondary education. This year's conference, "Challenging Students to Think Critically and Learn Deeply," features two keynote speakers- Jo Ann Rooney, professor of business administration and president of Spalding University, and Frank X Walker, Affrilachian poet, educator and Northern Kentucky University visiting writer. The conference also includes 61 breakout sessions covering a wide range of topics related to enhancing teaching and learning inside and outside the college classroom.

RESEARCH TOPICS IN EDUCATION

Should Colleges Focus More on Personal and Social Responsibility?

This report outlines initial findings from campus surveys conducted for the Association of American Colleges and Universities as part of its initiative, “Core Commitments: Educating Students for Personal and Social Responsibility.”

Inventing Hispanic-Serving Institutions

This brief from Excelencia in Education outlines the definition and characteristics of a Hispanic-serving institution and offers an overview of how these institutions are contributing to Latino student success.

Raising Graduation Rates in an Era of High Standards: Five Commitments for State Action

This Achieve, Inc., report identifies five key outcomes for simultaneously raising academic standards and graduation rates, and suggests strategies and action steps policymakers can take.

SREB States Lead Growth as U.S. Population Tops 300 Million

This Fact Book Bulletin from the Southern Regional Education Board shows that more than half of the nation’s population growth over the next 20 years will be in SREB states, which implies ongoing educational challenges for the region. This bulletin looks at projected changes in the regional population through 2030, including state-by-state data.

Crafting A New Vision for High School: How States Can Join Academic and Technical Studies to Promote More Powerful Learning

This SREB report outlines challenges states face in combining technical and academic studies for improved learning, provides actions states can take to overcome these challenges and highlights current best practices and policies.