KCTCS Board of Regents reviews plans for recurring raises, approves new strategic plan, votes to raise tuition
HAZARD, Ky. – The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Board of Regents met March 25 at Hazard Community and Technical College. The board continued its focus on faculty and staff raises with a goal of bringing employees closer to the market value of their positions. Several proposals were discussed, and the board will vote on which to move forward with at its next meeting in June.
“As I visited our colleges all across the state last fall with KCTCS President Czarapata, the number one issue we heard was that our people need raises,” Board Chair Lisa Desmarais said. “The board is committed to making that happen and we want to make sure that we not only provide meaningful raises but also make sure those raises are sustainable within our budget. It’s a tight rope we have to walk, but our folks have had no recurring raises in five years. It’s past time to rectify that.”
A new four-year strategic plan was approved focusing on three major goals to:
- Increase Learner Success
- Increase Employment Success
- Increase Organization Success
The plan also updates the Mission, Vision and Values of KCTCS.
Additionally, the board voted to raise tuition by $3 per credit hour for the 2022-23 academic year bringing the rate to $182 for in-state students, $364 for students living in counties contiguous to Kentucky and $637 for other out-of-state students. The board did not raise tuition last year. KCTCS tuition remains the lowest in the state and about half the cost of university tuition.
The board also heard presentations from Dr. Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech, Dr. Dean McCurdy, interim provost of Ivy Tech, and Sally Johnstone, president of NCHEMS, regarding accreditation and consolidation options. Ivy Tech is Indiana’s community college system with 40 locations. NCHEMS is a nonprofit whose mission is to improve strategic decision-making in postsecondary education.
The board asked that a special committee be formed to review and gather initial information around single accreditation. The committee would include four KCTCS college presidents, four regents and the KCTCS chancellor.
In other business, the board:
- Heard budget scenarios for the next biennium. The board will vote on the budget at the next meeting.
- Received updates on building utilization.
- Recognized outgoing Regent Damon Allen for his service to the board.
- Approved 6,384 academic credential requests between October 2, 2021 – January 7, 2022
(associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates). These credentials include:
- 4,038 candidates for certificates;
- 318 candidates for diplomas; and
- 2,029 candidates for associate degrees.
The next meeting of the KCTCS Board of Regents is scheduled for June 9 and 10 at Owensboro Community and Technical College in Owensboro.
