KCTCS board receives updates on colleges’ flood damage, Workforce Solutions annual report, president’s goals
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Board of Regents received an update last Friday about flood damage to two colleges in eastern Kentucky. Hazard Community and Technical College President Jennifer Lindon and Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College President Vic Adams said the colleges sustained millions of dollars in damage to their properties in Hindman and Whitesburg. Both presidents thanked KCTCS employees and others for the donations and words of encouragement they’ve received.
“We’re thankful that our employees and students are back on campus and have received so much support from people all across the Commonwealth,” KCTCS Board Chair James Lee Stevens said. “Just like last year when tornadoes struck the western part of the state, the KCTCS family pulled together to help those in need.”
The board received a newly released annual report showing KCTCS Workforce Solutions had its best year since it was created in 2000. Workforce Solutions helps meet the needs companies across the Commonwealth face in retaining, recruiting, reskilling and upskilling their workforce.
“This is great news for Kentucky employers,” Stevens said. “Part of the KCTCS mission is preparing Kentuckians for careers, and today’s business needs change quickly. We’re educating and training people for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”
KCTCS President Paul Czarapata presented his goals for 2022-2023, which the board will use to evaluate his performance next year. Czarapata will focus on 1.) Ensuring the system’s culture is welcoming and equitable to all in terms of advancement opportunities, compensation, benefits and diversity and inclusion; 2.) Optimizing all resources including human, physical and fiscal; and 3.) Making sure each college is a trusted leader in education and workforce development.
Two new student regents were welcomed to the board. They were elected earlier this month by student leaders. Elected to a one-year term were:
- Richard Smith, Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College
- Brittanie Bogard, Hopkinsville Community College
The board also received updates on the internal audit and new statewide advertising campaign.
In other business, the board:
- Approved project scope increases for projects at:
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Gateway Community and Technical College
- Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Approved 13,531 academic credential requests between April 9-July 15, 2022 (associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates). These credentials include:
- 10,210 candidates for certificates;
- 507 candidates for diplomas; and
- 2,814 candidates for associate degrees.
The next Board of Regents meeting is scheduled for December 1 and 2 at the KCTCS office in Versailles.
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The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth’s largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. We also are Kentucky’s largest provider of workforce training, dual credit classes and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, we align our programs to meet the needs of local employers. Our colleges are united in their commitment to making life better for our students, communities, and the citizens of Kentucky. To date, KCTCS has served more than one million Kentuckians.
