Council's Duties and Responsibilities

The Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) is responsible for leading the reform efforts established by state policymakers in the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997. The Council carries a range of duties designed to promote a coordinated and efficient postsecondary education system. The list below offers a detailed overview of the statutory responsibilities assigned to the Council.

Postsecondary Education Coordination

• Approve minimum qualifications for college admissions - KRS 164.020(8)
• Define and approve all postsecondary education technical, associate, baccalaureate, graduate and professional degree, certificate or diploma programs in public postsecondary education institutions - KRS 164.020(15).
• Eliminate existing programs or make any changes in existing academic programs at the state's postsecondary educational institutions - KRS 164.020(16).
• Establish course credit, transfer and degree components, including a statewide course classification and transfer system to help ensure transferability of credit - KRS 164.020(14), KRS 164.2951.
• Ensure an integrated, cooperative postsecondary system - KRS 164.020(5).
• Serve as primary advocate and advisor on matters related to postsecondary education with the Governor and General Assembly - KRS 164.013(4).
• Create and manage advisory groups of campus representatives - KRS 164.020(31).
• Receive reports and updates from campuses on the performance of their duties - KRS 164.020(12).
• Implement and manage various funding programs as required by statutory or budget language.
• Manage Kentucky participation in the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Academic Common Market.
• Make recommendations to the Governor regarding the creation of new public universities - KRS 164.020(18).
• Coordinate conferences and professional development around issues of student access and success.
• Serve as the portal agency for Kentucky colleges and universities seeking to participate in the national State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), which authorizes member institutions to offer distance education courses in member states - KRS 164.540(3).
• Provide fiscal oversight of Kentucky State University with required updates provided to the Legislative Research Commission (LRC) - SB 185, 2026 Regular Session.
• Establish a common online application to be used by prospective students applying to public postsecondary institutions and maintain a website where students can apply and explore postsecondary and workforce options. KRS 164.020(37).

Planning, Research and Accountability

• Develop and implement a strategic agenda and strategic implementation plan for postsecondary education - KRS 164.020(1),(2), KRS 164.0203.
• Review, revise and approve institutional missions - KRS 164.020(4).
• Prepare accountability and status reports for the Governor and General Assembly - KRS 164.020(3), (30).
• Develop planning documents required by federal legislation and serve as the "single state agency” - KRS 164.020(7).
• Conduct research on performance to determine the needs of postsecondary and adult education in Kentucky - KRS 164.020(6).
• Develop a system of public accountability to monitor performance and evaluate the effectiveness of postsecondary institutions - KRS 164.020(3), KRS 164.095.
• Maintain a comprehensive database of postsecondary student data - KRS 164.095.
• Compile and distribute annually employment and salary data for graduates of public postsecondary institutions, information on high-demand jobs, and information on cost of attendance and student debt - KRS 164.0284.
• Administer the Endowed Research Fund to fund the work of research consortiums at public universities - KRS 164.038, KRS 273.600.

Finance, Budget and Tuition

• Develop and manage strategic investment and incentive funding programs, including “Bucks for Brains,” the “Workforce Development Trust Fund,” the “Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund,” the “Aerospace. Aviation, and Defense Investment Fund,” and the “Postsecondary Education Asset Preservation Pool” - KRS 164.7911-7927, KRS 164.0402-0404, and KRS 164.7011-7019.
• Develop and advance a unified postsecondary education funding recommendation to the Governor and General Assembly - KRS 164.020(9), (10).
• Determine annual tuition levels for all public postsecondary institutions - KRS 164.020(8).
• Manage tuition reciprocity agreements for Kentucky residents with border states.
• Review and approve all capital projects for postsecondary education, establish capital priorities and develop a biennial recommendation - KRS 164.020(11).
• Maintain a comprehensive database of capital projects and conduct capital studies and space utilization analyses as required.
• Develop and maintain a financial reporting system for public postsecondary institutions - KRS 164.020(26).
• Implement a comprehensive funding model for the allocation of general fund appropriations to public postsecondary institutions - KRS 164.092.
• Review financial health disclosure statements for all postsecondary institutions licensed or overseen by CPE and conduct financial investigations in the event of failed compliance - KRS 164.096.

Private Colleges

• License private postsecondary education institutions to operate in the state, monitor ongoing compliance with state regulations, and review and facilitate the resolution of student complaints - KRS 164.945-947.
• Ensure maximum cooperation and limited duplication between public and private systems - KRS 164.020(13), (30).

P-20 Partnerships and Teacher Quality

• Develop and lead implementation of a unified strategy to improve college readiness and improve college completion rates, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) - KRS 164.020(35).
• Coordinate with KDE and postsecondary education institutions to ensure that academic content requirements for successful entry into postsecondary education programs are aligned with high school content standards and establish the college readiness benchmark score - KRS 164.020(33), KRS 158.6455(1)(b).
• Develop guidelines and regulations for awarding dual credit and Advanced Placement - KRS 164.098.
• Approve all teacher education programs that comply with standards set by the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) - KRS 164.020(20).
• Coordinate teacher professional development redesign, in partnership with KDE, to align with Senate Bill 1 (2009) readiness standards - KRS 164.020(34)
• Facilitate the development and implementation of a statewide standardized articulation agreement between public colleges and universities and KDE for each approved high school career pathway that leads to a postsecondary credential, certification, license, or degree - KRS 164.2951
• Administer Kentucky’s federal GEAR UP program, with direct outreach and support services to lower income middle and high school students
• Assist in the administration of a proactive admissions program for public colleges and universities – HB 307, 2026 Regular Session

Technology Support and Coordination

• Develop and implement a statewide technology plan to ensure coordination and connectivity of technology among campuses - KRS 164.020(19).
• Collect and maintain student level, finance and facilities data from Kentucky’s postsecondary institutions.
• Partner with the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS) in activities supporting the Kentucky Longitudinal Data System - KRS 164.020(35), KRS 151B.131-134.
• Coordinate and facilitate Kentucky postsecondary involvement in state and national technology initiatives (KyRON, Internet 2, Connect Kentucky, Commonwealth Tech Council, Distance Learning Advisory Committee, etc.) - KRS 164.020(20), KRS 164.800.
• Manage joint purchasing technology agreements.
• Manage the Kentucky Virtual Library with membership to include all public postsecondary institutions, K-12 schools, public libraries, and private colleges (includes KY digital library, statewide, interlibrary loan program and virtual library databases) - KRS 164.800.

Educating Adult Kentuckians

• Facilitate partnerships with the Office of Adult Education, KDE, KCTCS, Workforce Investment Board and other organizations to assess the need for technical assistance, training and other support to assist in the development of adult education and workforce development - KRS 164.035.
• Coordinate Kentucky’s “Project Graduate” program–located on all public and several private college campuses–to encourage adults to return to college and complete degrees.

 Other Key Duties

• Promulgate regulations as required by statute - KRS 164.020(29).
• Coordinate annual reporting and institutional compliance with the campus safety (Minger) act - KRS 164.948-9495.
• Maintain information regarding the designated receiver of student records for closed institutions and respond to student requests - KRS 164.020(22).
• Administer the Equine Revolving Trust Fund and staff the advisory committee - KRS 138.510.
• Contract with a public postsecondary institution to operate a state autism training center - KRS 164.9811.
• Develop a comprehensive orientation and education program for members of KCTCS and university boards comprising six hours of instruction delivered in person and electronically - KRS 164.020(25).
• Investigate and make non-binding recommendations to the Governor regarding the removal of individual institutional board members and full institutional boards for cause - KRS 164.020(38).
• Respond to postsecondary education-related information requests from the legislature, governor, media and other organizations, and to consumer complaints/questions that have not been resolved by the attending campus.