Board Training
To prepare citizens for their roles on college boards, the Council provides training to new appointees to increase their understanding of their responsibilities and the structure of postsecondary education in Kentucky.
Board Training a State Priority
While many board members have expertise in their respective fields, most do not work in higher education and are unfamiliar with the industry and unsure of their role. Training helps members approach their jobs with more confidence and prevents them from making mistakes that could negatively affect their institutions.
Per legislation passed in 2016, all newly appointed or elected board members of the Council, the public universities and KCTCS must complete six hours of orientation and training within their first year of appointment. The training is designed to provide board members with a basic understanding of higher education governance and their roles as a trustee or regent.
For information about campus board appointments, roles and responsibilities, view the following legislation:
- Boards of directors for community colleges and community and technical colleges - KRS 164.600
- Boards of Regents of Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, Murray State, Western Kentucky, Kentucky State, and Northern Kentucky Universities, and Kentucky Community and Technical College System - KRS 164.321
- Board of Trustees of University of Kentucky - KRS 164.131
- Board of Trustees of University of Louisville - KRS 164.821
Council Implementation
The Council provides both new and continuing board education and training in a number of ways.
New Board Member Education and Orientation Program
The Council and the appointed institution share in this responsibility of providing orientation to new board members. The state-level training provides you with high-level overviews of CPE, higher education governance, and the role of a trustee. The campus-level training focuses more specifically on institutional information needed to carry out duties. Both trainings will touch on legal issues such as open meeting and open record laws, and both must be completed within one year of appointment or election date.
The state-level training is offered through our eLearning platform in two courses that are accessible on your desktop, tablet, and phone. When accessing the site, create your own log-in credentials using your email or your Facebook, LinkedIn or Google credentials. If at any time you need to leave the course, the program will document your progress and allow you to pick back up where you left off. Progress and completion are tracked by your individual login and then reported to CPE staff.
- State-level Course 1: Postsecondary Education Governance in KY & Effective Board Leadership - This course discusses the structure of postsecondary education in Kentucky and
provides an overview of effective board leadership, and can be accessed at: https://bit.ly/3nQ7oiU.
- State-level Course 2: Statewide Strategic Agenda for KY Postsecondary Education -
This course gives an in-depth look at CPE’s strategic agenda, Higher Education Matters, A Statewide Strategic Agenda for Kentucky and Postsecondary
Education and goals for higher education in Kentucky, and can be accessed at: https://bit.ly/3uzSXTK.
Continuing Education Opportunities
- Postsecondary Education Trusteeship Conference - The Council hosts an annual Postsecondary Education Trusteeship Conference in the fall of each year. The event is a key opportunity to hear from higher education experts on a variety of relevant topics. It also provides ample opportunity to meet and network with regents, trustees and institutional leaders from the other campuses, as well as the state’s top educational stakeholders. Information regarding the latest trusteeship conference can be found here.
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Governing Board Equity in Student Success Project - With a goal of improving student retention, graduation, and employment rates – especially students from low-income, rural, and historically marginalized race/ethnicity backgrounds - the project consists of two integrated governing board-related and equity-focused components to be applied in Kentucky through 2024. It is a joint effort of the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, and Ascendium Education Philanthropy and it began in the fall of 2021. You can find additional information here.
- Webinar and Policy Briefs - The Council conducts and releases research that is important for trustees, regents, and higher education leaders. In addition to the CPE's online data portal, board members are encouraged to review the numerous publications available and sign up for related webinars.
Guiding CPE Policies
- New Board Member Orientation and Training Policy
- New Board Member Orientation and Training Form: Approval of Campus Programs
Guiding Legislation
To access other legislation about Kentucky's postsecondary education boards, visit LRC's postsecondary webpage.
Those with questions about board training should contact Heather Faesy.
Last Updated: 12/2/2022