THE PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY COUNCIL ON POST SECONDARY EDUCATION BELIEVES THAT GREATER STUDENT SUCCESS IS BEST ACCOMPLISHED WHEN THERE IS A WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE TRADITIONAL SERVICES THAT YIELD MORE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES.

WE TALKED TO PRESIDENT AARON THOMPSON ABOUT THAT.

HOW COVID HAS IMPACTED THE HIGHER ED AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO STATE LAWMAKERS NEXT YEAR AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE STATE'S ONLY PUBLIC HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY, KENTUCKY STATE.

ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS AND MORE NOW ON CONNECTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTIONS TODAY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

WE ARE GLAD TO BE JOINED AGAIN.

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY COUNCIL OF POST SECONDARY EDUCATION AARON THOMPSON TO DISCUSS HIS MAIN GOALS REDUCING FINANCIAL BARRIERS, EQUITY AND IMPROVING ACADEMIC READINESS FOR COLLEGE, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF COLLEGE DEGREE EARNERS AND MAKING SURE GRADUATES ARE WELL POSITIONED TO LAND GOOD PAYING JOBS.

Dr. THOMPSON TOUTS THE VALUE OF HIGHER EDUCATION WHICH HE HAS MADE A CENTRAL FOCUS OF TALKS WITH PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS, EMPLOYERS, PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

Dr. THOMPSON, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE.

>> RENEE, I SEE YOU ALL THE TIME ON TV.

>> Renee: YOU ARE ON TV, TOO.

TAKING ABOUT EDUCATION.

SO YOU ARE ON JUST AIS MUCH AS I AM.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I LOVE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO PERIOD.

>> Renee: IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE HAVE HAD YOU ON.

IT IS GOOD TO GET AN UPDATED AND WE'LL DIVE RIGHT IN WITH 26 MINUTES IT GOES BY SO FAST.

SO THE DAY THAT THIS INTERVIEW THAT WE TAPED IT, THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT MADE ABOUT A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THAT WAS COMING TO KENTUCKY TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION FROM HIGHER EDUCATION TO THE WORKFORCE.

SO PUT THAT IN CONTEXT, WHERE THE DOLLARS WILL GO TO WORK AND WHY IS IT NEEDED MORE THAN EVER.

>> FIRST OFF, I APPRECIATE COMPLETE COLLEGE AMERICA AND LUMINA AND THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

MY STAFF AND THE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK AT LOOKING AT EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS TO HELP STUDENTS GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B AND IN THE PAST WE DEALT WITH IT FROM THE BACK END THEY COME TO US AND TELL US WHAT THEY WANT AND WE LET THEM DO IT.

PURPOSE FIRST, WHICH THIS IS WHAT THIS GRANT IS GOING FOR, TURNS IT ON ITS HEAD.

PUTS IT IN THE BEGINNING COLLEGE CAREER OF A STUDENT AND ALSO WITH THAT TRADITIONAL INTRUSIVE ADVISING SO WE PLAN OUT.

>> Renee: TRADITIONAL INTRUSIVE ADVISING.

[LAUGHTER] >> CODE WORDS THERE, RIGHT.

>> Renee: RIGHT INTRUSIVE ADVISING IS WE CALL YOU UP AND SAY HEY, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE.

COME AND SEE US.

>> Renee: YOU ARE CONSTANTLY FOLLOWING UP.

>> EVEN WHETHER THEY DON'T FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

IT'S SAYING THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND FOR STUDENTS TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, WE NEED TO HELP THEM DECIDE WHERE THEY WANT TO GO, EMOTIONALLY, CURMTLY, ACADEMICALLY CULTURALLY, THIS ALLOWS US TO REALLY PLAN THE CAREER AT THE SAME TIME WE PLAN THE ADVISING.

>> Renee: BUT A LOT OF KIDS DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO BE WHEN THEY'RE A FRESHMAN OR HAVE ANY IDEA.

THEY WANT THE TWO YEARS TO FIGURE IT OUT BEFORE THEY TO SEE OPTIONS ARE I MEAN WE ARE GOING TO BE FAR MORE INTRUSIVE, I'LL CALL IT, AGAIN TO HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR CAREER ALIGNS WITH THEIR MAJORS, WHERE THEY WANT TO GO AND WE WANT TO STOP THIS TRADITIONAL, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO MAJOR AND THEN WE FOUND OUT THAT I DIDN'T REALLY LIKE THE JOB THAT CAME TO ME WITH IT.

>> Renee: AND K-12 IS DOING SOME OF THIS WITH THE CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAMS, RIGHT?

GIVING KIDS EXPERIENCE AND EXPOSURE TO FIELDS TO HELP THEM KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND HOPEFULLY BY THE TIME THEY GET TO COLLEGE, THEY HAVE A CLEARER IDEA WHAT THEY WANT TO BE WHEN THEY GROW UP.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE WORK TOGETHER IN TANDEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I CALL IT PROCESS PATHWAYS PIPELINES AND POT HOLES, RIGHT?

WE ALIGN ALL THESE THINGS.

AND MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, BASED ON WHERE THEY COME FROM.

IN MANY CASES, SOME STUDENTS ARE PREPARED, KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

BUT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS AREN'T AND THE MORE DISENFRANCHISED YOU ARE HISTORICALLY, THEN THE GREATER OPPORTUNITY YOU MAY NEED MORE HELP IN HELPING YOU TO GET TO THE SAME PLACE.

WE CALL THAT EQUITY.

SO AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, RIGHT?

I MEAN IT ALLOWS YOU TO REALLY BE ABLE TO VOICE, BELIEVE, SEE EXACTLY THE RICHNESS THAT IS OUT THERE BASED ON WHAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN.

WE ARE NOT TELLING YOU TO GO IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION, WE JUST WANT TO HELP YOU IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT.

>> Renee: INDIE VISION IS COSTLY.

WHAT CIEMED OF TOLL HAS THE PANDEMIC TAKEN ON.

THERE HAS BEEN FEDERAL MONEY TO HELP THEM OUT BUT HAS THERE THE BEEN ENOUGH AND WHAT MORE IS NEEDED?

FEDERAL MONEY HASN'T COVERED THE COST, NO WAY.

AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT THERE IS SO MUCH THAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW AND I TELL PEOPLIN' VAIX IS BUILT AT THE TIME.

WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT ON DATA TO TELL US, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE ACADEMIC LOSS.

WE KNOW THERE ARE FEWER STUDENTS GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL GOING TO COLLEGE.

MANY WERE NOTED PREPARED TO GO TO COLLEGE OR HAVE THE INFORMATION TO GO AND K-12 WERE OUT, MANY DIDN'T FILL OUT FAFSAS BUT WE ALSO KNOW THIS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AS WELL AS A CULTURAL TOLL.

TO WHAT DEGREE WE DON'T KNOW BUT WE KNOW WE HAD SOME MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITH OUR STUDENTS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WITH THE PANDEMIC IT HAS INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY SO THESE ARE ALL ADDED COSTS THAT THE WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE BEFORE WE LOOK AT GETTING SOME OF THE DOLLARS FROM THE FEDS.

THAT IS COVERING THE BASIC COST WHETHER IT'S PPE, THE STUDENT WHO HAD TO DROP OUT AND WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE THEM MONEY TO PAY FOR THEIR BILLS LIKE WE DID AT KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY THIS YEAR WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE COMING TO US PROBABLY NOT AS PREPARED TO GO TO COLLEGE.

NOT JUST ACADEMICALLY.

>> AND TO GET TO THE POINT, THE DAY THAT WE TALKED, THE DAY THE STUDENT REPORT CARD BY THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WAS RELEASED AND A LOT OF STATISTICS, ONE I WANTED TO HONE IN WITH YOU, ALMOST 30% OF HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS MET KENTUCKY COLLEGE READINESS BENCHMARK IN MATHEMATICS.

39.9% IN READING, 42.3% IN ENGLISH.

HOW CONCERNING ARE THOSE NUMBERS TO YOU AND WHAT IS THE CPE LOOKING TO DO TO HELP THOSE KIDS REBOUND ACADEMICALLY SO THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION?

>> EXCELLENT QUESTION AND IT ONLY COVERS HALF WHAT HAVE WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COLLEGE READINESS.

IT'S NOT JUST ACADEMICS ONCE AGAIN BUT THE ACADEMICS, THEY SHOW THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

WE ARE NOT HAVING HALF OF THEM COLLEGE READY AND IF YOU LOOK AT BROKEN DOWN BY RACE AND SO ON, WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO WE ARE WORKING WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND WITH THE COMMISSIONER LOOKING AT THOSE POT HOLES I MENTIONED EARLIER.

THIS IS A POT HOLE.

SO WE IN HIGHER ED, WE WANT TO DO THINGS LIKE OFFER MORE BRIDGE PROGRAMMING.

>> Renee: WHAT IS BRIDGE PROGRAMMING.

>> BETWEEN THE SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL AND THE FRESHMAN YEAR OF COLLEGE.

WE WANT TO OFFER A WAY THAT STUDENTS CAN CATCH UP.

>> Renee: THAT'S CALLED REMEDIAL EDUCATION, RIGHT?

>> YOU CAN CALL IT REMEDIAL IF YOU WANT TO BUT IF THEY'RE GRADUATING WITH THESE NUMBERS, BOTTOM LINE IT'S ESSENTIAL EDUCATION, RIGHT?

BECAUSE IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THIS, EVERYTHING THAT WE SEE NOW AT EVERY LEVEL ALL THE DATA AND ANALYTICS ARE SHOWING THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER, EMPLOYMENT THAT PAYS SUSTAINABLY PAYS, YOU ARE GOING HAVE TO HAVE SOME COLLEGE CREDENTIAL.

FOR ME THIS IS ESSENTIAL.

YOU CAN CALL IT AREY MEDIAL, FINE BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO OUR PART WITH HIGHER HIGHER ED ALONG WITH P-12 AND SAYING THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE GIVING US AN INDICATOR THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOME WORK AND DO THE WORK FAST TO HELP STUDENTS CATCH UP.

>> Renee: FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T COMPLETE COLLEGE, WE KNOW THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE ADULT POPULATION THAT MAYBE HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COLLEGE CREDITS BUT THEY HAVEN'T QUITE GONE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE COME BACK INTO THE FOLD AND FINISH THEIR HIGHER ED EXPERIENCE?

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE HIRING A NEW PERSON COME ON IN MY SHOP NOW TO REALLY FOCUS PARTICULARLY ON THAT ADULT LEARNER, THAT COMEBACKER.

I DID A PROGRAM YESTERDAY, A NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT TALKED ABOUT THAT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DO THREE OR FOUR ITEMS HERE.

ONE IS WE HAVE TO USE OUR DATA AND ANALYTICS TO SAY NOT ALL THESE FOLKS ARE THE SAME.

A 22-YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF THREE THAT NEEDS CHILD CARE LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN SOMEONE WHO IS 45-YEAR-OLD MALE THAT REALLY HAS TO GET ANOTHER CREDENTIAL TO KEEP UP WITH HIS JOB TO MAINTAIN HIS JOB.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE IN A CULTURALLY CONFIDENT WAY.

WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK STRONGLY AT HOW WE CAN BE MORE FRIENDLY AND THE TIME WE ARE OFFERING PROGRAMS, THE OTHER WRAP AROUND SERVICERS THAT THEY NEED, THEY NEED ADVISING AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING WHEN THEY GET OFF WORK, MAYBE NOT AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON THAT MANY OF OUR TRADITIONALLY POPULATION GROUPS ARE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL PIECES.

COMPETENCY BASED EDUCATION, USING THE TALENTS, STRENGTH AND KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY VERY HAVE AND GIVING THEM CREDIT FOR IT.

A LOOK AT OTHER CONNECTORS WITH EMPLOYERS.

I'M THE CHAIR OF CORPORATE BAPTIST HEALTH AND WE NEED HEALTHCARE WORKERS, ESPECIALLY NURSES TREMENDOUSLY.

WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH HIGHER ED IN K-12 TO BUILD THAT PIPELINE WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, ADULT LEARNERS IN PARTICULAR, WE KNOW WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT IN A WAY OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED AND LOOKING AT EACH INDIVIDUAL AS NEEDING THE SERVICE AND NOT AN AGGREGATE GROUP THAT WE CALL ADULT LEARNERS.

>> Renee: TO RETURN BACK TO THE COVID CONVERSATION WITH KIDS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES NOW I GUESS THE MITIGATION MEASURES ARE WORKING?

THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR ALL OF THE UNIVERSITIES, YOU SIGN A LETTER SAYING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE MASKED HAVE THERE BEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT VACCINATION AND I GUESS WE WOULD HAVE READ IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOME MASSIVE OUTBREAK SO APPARENTLY THE MITIGATION MEASURES ARE WORKING.

>> LAST YEAR WHEN EVERYBODY WAS WORRYING THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE RAMPANT WITH COVID CASES, WE TOOK THE NECESSARY STEPS TO HELP THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLDER PEOPLE STAY IN AN ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY COULD LEARN EITHER VIRTUAL OR IN PERSON.

BUT WE ALSO TOOK THE STEPS TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

WE DID WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO: TESTING, ISOLATION, A VARIETY OF THINGS.

WE CAME WAY UNDER THE POSITIVITY RATE THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

THIS YEAR WE DID THE SAME THING.

WE AGREE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MASKING POLICY.

WE ARE GOING TO DO CERTAIN STEPS AND ALL THE PRESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENTS IN THE SYSTEM, WE ALL AGREED TO DO THAT SO WE HAVE STAYED IN LINE WE ARE PUSHING VACCINATIONS NO DOUBT AND I'M TELLING YOU NOW, GET A VACCINATION.

THIS IS THE CLEAREST WAY WE KNOW HOW TO KEEP YOU SAFE.

WE ARE DOING INCENTIVES.

WE ARE NOT REQUIRING A MANDATE ON VACCINATION.

>> Renee: YET.

DO YOU SEE THAT COMING?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS ARE FALLING.

I SEE IT COMING LESS NOW THAN I WOULD HAVE A WHILE BACK.

SO WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT NOW.

NO.

>> Renee: BUT IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF FEDERAL ACTION LIKE WE'VE HEARD FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, COULD THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHAT HIGHER ED DOES FOR FACULTY, STAFF AND THOSE TYPES OF PERSONNEL?

>> IT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT.

WHAT I WOULD DO THOUGH, HONESTLY, IS TO WORK WITH OUR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS I WOULD WORK WITH OUR CAMPUSES AND FIGURE OUT A PATH THAT WE WOULD TAKE IN HIGHER ED ALONG THOSE LINES.

THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY, THEY TOOK THE PATH OF REQUIRING VACCINATIONS IN FACT I'M GLAD THEY DID.

>> Renee: SOME ALSO LEFT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE FORCED TOCK VEAD, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT AND SOME CAME WHO WANTED TO BE IN A ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY REQUIRED VACCINATION.

WE LEVELED OUT ON THAT.

SOME PEOPLE SAID WE ARE NOT GOING STAY HERE BECAUSE OF THAT AND WE HATE TO LOSE THOSE FOLKS BUT WE ALSO KNOW THE FOLKS EMPLOYED HAVE A RIGHT TO STAY SAFE.

>> Renee: LET'S PIVOT AND TALK ABOUT KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY.

WE RECENTLY LEARNED THEY'RE IN NEED OF A BAILOUT AND TO STAY OPEN TO THE END OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR.

IT WAS REVEALED K STATE OWNED $13 MILLION AND MAYBE THAT NUMBER IS HIGHER OR LOWER IN UNPAID INVOICES AND CONTRACTUAL IMPLICATIONS.

THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT RESIGNED, YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN CALLED TO DO AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF KSU'S FINANCES AND CORRECT THAT AND PROVIDE OVERSIGHT.

FIRST QUESTION IS HOW DID KSU GET INTO THIS MESS YET AGAIN BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAVE BEEN UNDER SCRUTINY AND IN THE HOT SEAT OVER FINANCIAL MISAPPROPRIATIONS?

>> YES, GREAT QUESTION.

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW UP TO THIS POINT AND I HAVE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT EVERY YEAR ABOUT THIS WE KNOW THE BASELINE BECAUSE I WAS INTERIM PRESIDENT WHEN THEY GOT INTO ISSUES BEFORE AND WE LEFT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DOLLARS IN THE RESERVE FUND AS WELL AS PAYING OUR BILLS AND IN FACT HAVING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS PAY FOR THEIR BILLS.

>> Renee: THAT WAS AN ISSUE WITH DELINQUENT STUDENT PAYMENTS.

>> AND I LEFT THEM WITH A BALANCED BUDGET AS YOU REMEMBER.

ALL THE DOLLARS COMING IN.

>> Renee: AND THAT WAS 2016-2017.

>> AND WE KNOW SINCE THEN WHAT LOOKS LIKE NOW, RENEE, WE ARE STILL ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING ALL THINGS OUT, BUT WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE DOWN TURN, IF YOU WILL, HAS HAPPENED SINCE 2018-2019.

>> Renee: WHEN THE MOST RECENT PRESIDENT WAS IN OFFICE WE ALSO KNOW THAT NOT ALL THE STUDENTS WERE PAYING AGAIN WE KNOW MANY BILLS WERE NOT PAID AND WE KNOW THERE WERE PEOPLE CALLING A LINE OF CREDIT.

IT'S NOT REALLY CALLED THAT.

THE MONEY WAS BORROWED ON THAT AND WAS OWED BACK TO THE STATE.

WE ARE FINDING OUT NEW REASONS ALL THE TIME WHERE SOME OF THE MONEY HAS GONE.

BUT WE ARE STILL IN PROCESS OF FINDING IT ALL OUT.

WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO 20 MILLION IS MY GUESS DOWN NOW, THANK GOODNESS FOR THE STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR AND HIS OFFICE.

THEY'VE ALLOWED US TO BORROW OUR FOURTH QUARTER DOLLARS TO PAY FOR PAYROLL BECAUSE WE WERE IN NEED OF PAYING FOR OUR PAYROLL.

SO WE ARE TAKING NECESSARY STEPS TO GET THIS BACK IN CONTROL.

BOTTOM LINE, IT CAN'T HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE PEOPLE ON CONTRACT.

WE HAVE THINGS THAT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO.

AND WE'VE GOT STUDENTS IN THE RESIDENCE HALLS, STUDENTS COMING IN ON CAMPUS WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

AND ALL OF THOSE ITEMS ARE IN PLACE SO THIS IS A LONG-TERM FIX.

NOW WE ARE GOING TO OBVIOUSLY ASK OUR LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO SUPPORT US IN GETTING BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

BUT... >> Renee: THERE IS ANY INDICATION THERE WAS SOME INTENTIONAL MALFEASANCE.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT YET.

I MEAN INTENTIONAL.

>> Renee: SUCH AS BAD BOOK KEEPING.

>> INTENTIONAL IS A TRICKY WORD.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THERE WERE BOOK-- NOT GREAT BOOK KEEPING, YES, WE KNOW THAT.

NOW IF YOU ARE INTENTIONAL AS CRIMINAL, NO, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THAT YET.

NOW WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT EVERYTHING.

WE HIRED THE FORMER TREASURER FROM UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY TO BE A THIRD PARTY LOOK AND SHE IS WORKING, SUSAN KRAUSE IS WORKING IN MY OFFICE, LOOKING AT EVERYTHING KSU IS DOING, SPENDING.

GREG RUSH AND HIS FOLKS ARE SPENDING.

AND SO WE ARE VERIFYING ALL THE DOLLARS.

SO WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER.

AND PRETTY SOON WE SHOULD HAVE A FULLER REPORT.

AND.

>> Renee: AND YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO, RIGHT, BY NOVEMBER?

>> NOVEMBER 15 WE WILL HAVE A FULLER REPORT.

WE WILL PRESENT AT A SPECIAL MEETING ON OCTOBER 19, TO THE KSU BOARD, WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR.

AND WHAT WE ARE IDENTIFYING SO FAR AS A REMEDY FOR SOME OF THE LOSSES.

WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE PUTTING TOGETHER WHAT REALLY STRATEGICALLY IS A CONCERN FOR ME, IS A WAY FOR TO US REALLY MAKE KSU SOMETHING WAY BEYOND WHAT KSU POSSIBLY HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

WHAT ARE THOSE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE STRATEGICALLY TO BUILD OUT THAT WOULD OFFER KENTUCKY A UNIQUENESS THAT NO OTHER UNITED STATES TUITION IS OFFER HOA-- NO OTHER INSTITUTION IS OFFERING.

WE WILL BE FILLING THAT OUT.

>> Renee: RENOWNED PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM, NURSING PROGRAM, AQUA CULTURE, SO THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING AT KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY AND WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE BOARD, MANY PEOPLE WOULD ASK, HOW DID THE BOARD NOT KNOW ANY OF THIS WAS GOING ON FOR THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS OR DID THEY KNOW AND JUST ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE?

AND WILL THE BOARD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND POSSIBLY TOTALLY STRIPPED AND REASSEMBLED?

>> WELL, I'LL LEAVE IT-- >> OR CONSTITUTED.

>> I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO THE GOVERNOR WHO HAS THE POWER AND OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE THE POWER TO DECIDE ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE BOARD.

THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR.

WE KNOW THAT THE BOARD HAD SOME INDICATION THAT THERE WERE SOME FINANCIAL ISSUES AND THEY ASKED THE CURRENT PRESIDENT, THE PRESIDENT AT THE TIME, AND CFO TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION AND INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE SO FAR.

THAT INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED SAID THEY WERE NOT IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE.

SO WE DO KNOW THAT.

WHETHER THE BOARD IS-- DO I THINK THE BOARD WAS ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS?

I DO.

NOW.

>> Renee: THEY JUST WEREN'T GIVEN ALL THE INFORMATION.

>> THAT ITSELF THE WAY IT LOOKS NOW, NOT ALL THE INFORMATION WAS FULLY GIVEN.

I KNOW AT CPE, THEY WERE RECORDED US UNDER THE LAST MANAGEMENT CONTRACT AND WE HAD QUESTIONS AND WE ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS AND WERE GIVEN ANSWERS THAT WE NOW KNOW THAT WERE NOT FULLY DISCLOSED ANSWERS.

>> Renee: WHERE IS THE PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH RIGHT NOW?

WE KNOW THERE IS AN ACTING PRESIDENT, CLARA STAMPS, BUT ACTING IS NOT THE SAME AS INTERIM?

>> IT'S NOT.

>> Renee: TELL US THE DIFFERENCE ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH.

>> Renee: THE ACTING PRESIDENT IS INDICATED TO BE A SHORT-TERM, YOU KNOW,.

>> Renee: AND NOT CONSIDERED TO BE RUNNING FOR THE PERMANENT.

>> INTERIM IS ONE THAT IS REALLY FILLING THE FULL JOB OF THE PRESIDENT DOING ALL OF THE THINGS AND POSSIBLY COULD BE, IN MANY CASES, GOING FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

WE HAVE SEEN INTERIMS THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

THAT'S NOT THE INTENT HERE.

THE INTENT HERE IS TO DO A NATIONAL SEARCH AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS MY OFFICE IS CONDUCTING THAT AND WE WILL BE PUTTING TOGETHER SEARCH COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCING TO THE BOARD ON OCTOBER 19.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A SEARCH CONSULTANT TO HELP US.

SO BY DECEMBER 1, RENEE, WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE THE SEARCH IN FULL BLOWN GOING STARTING IN THE SPRING FOR THE FIRST OF JULY.

>> Renee: NEW FISCAL YEAR.

RECENTLY CHRIS McDANIEL HAD SUGGESTED AT A RECENT LEGISLATIVE HEARING THAT KENTUCKY STATE SHOULD CLOSE.

HE REALIZED AS MANY LEGISLATORS DO THE VALUE KENTUCKY STATE WHO WOULD NOT HAVE A HIGHER ED EXPERIENCE ANYWHERE ELSE.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THE TEMPERATURE FOR THE LEGISLATURE IS TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY AND DO YOU FEAR THAT IT WILL BE SHUT DOWN.

>> FIRST OF ALL, KENTUCKY STATE SHOULD BE A VIABLE INDEPENDENT HBCU AND IT SHOULD REMAIN THAT WAY.

WE SHOULD DO ALL THAT WE CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT IT DOES.

NOW, THAT MAY MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOME BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY THAN WE'VE EVER DONE IT.

NOT SHOULD.

WE WILL NEED TO.

I'VE TALKED WITH THE SENATE LEADERSHIP, HOUSE LEADERSHIP AND ALL ARE IN SUPPORT OF KSU, EVEN SENATOR McDANIEL IS.

HIS FRUSTRATION IS OBVIOUSLY A FRUSTRATION THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE FEEL BECAUSE KSU HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE.

WHAT I DO BELIEVE IS THAT SENATOR McDANIEL AND OTHERS IN THE LEGISLATURE AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WILL DO ALL THAT THEY CAN DO TO SUPPORT KSU TO BECOME A VIABLE INSTITUTION.

>> Renee: ON ITS OWN, NOT CONSUMED BY EKU OR U.K. >> I BELIEVE THAT 100%.

ANYTHING COULD CHANGE, RIGHT.

I THINK THEY'RE COUNTING ON CPE AND THE GOVERNOR DID THIS WITH HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, TO REALLY BE, YOU KNOW TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF ENSURING IT HAPPENS.

SO THINKING THAT WE PUT OUT THERE, WE ARE GOING TO PUT IT OUT IN A WAY THAT IS TRUTHFUL TRUTHFUL AND STRATEGIC, BUILDING A PLAN OF ACTION THAT WILL HELP KSU NOT ONLY SURVIVE BUT TO THRIVE IN THE FUTURE.

AND I THINK THEY'RE COUNTING ON US TO DO THAT AND NOW DO I THINK ANY MONEY GIVEN TO US, WHETHER IN THE FORM OF A GIFT OR FORGIVABLE LOANS OR LOANS WILL HAVE A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS AND A LOT OF GUIDELINES AND A LOT OF ACCOUNTABILITY?

ABSOLUTELY.

I WOULD WANT THAT TALKING WITH THE BOARD AT KSU AND INTERIM ADMINISTRATION, THEY FEEL THE SAME WAY.

SO I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SUPPORT IN CREATING A VIABLE STRATEGICALLY STRONG INDEPENDENT KSU.

>> Renee: SO WHAT WOULD BE LOST IF KSU, WHICH IS THE ONLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, PUBLIC FUNDED HBCU IN KENTUCKY.

WHAT WOULD BE LOST IF IT WAS NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WE WOULD LOSE THE SUBSTANTIAL HISTORY THAT MATTERS.

LET ME JUST SAY AND I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE TIME ON THE SHOW FOR ME TO GO INTO THAT BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

>> Renee: I DO.

>> THE OTHER THING IS IT'S A LAND GRANT INSTITUTION THAT REALLY SERVES A LOT OF KENTUCKY.

THE OTHER IS THAT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS OF COLOR THAT ARE COMING BACK TO AN HBCU.

WE HAVE GOOD ENROLLMENT RIGHT NOW.

WE HAD TO TURN SOME PEOPLE AWAY FOR, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH RESIDENTIAL HALL SPACE AND SOME HADN'T PAID, TRUE ENOUGH BUT IF WE HADN'T DONE THAT, WE WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN UP SOMEWHAT IN ENROLLMENT.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT YOU STILL HAVE KSU IN A CULTURALLY SET MILL LIEU THAT IS WORTHY OF TODAY'S CONVERSATION.

I WOULD ARGUE THIS IS FRANKFORT'S UNIVERSITY.

THIS IS STATE CAPITOL UNIVERSITY... >> Renee: AND A LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY.

>> CAN WE DO MUCH MORE TO LIVE OUT THOSE STANDARDS?

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING FORTH SOME STRATEGIC ITEMS THAT WILL HELP US TO DO THAT.

SO LET ME TELL YOU, FOR THOSE JUST BECAUSE WE ARE INTO SOME FINANCIAL TROUBLES NOW THAT WE HAVE TO FIX, THAT DOESN'T GET RID OF THE VIABILITY, NOR THE VALIDITY OF A CAMPUS LIKE KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY FOR KENTUCKY.

WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT IT NOT ONLY GETS STRONGER BUT REMAINS STRONGER FOR ANOTHER 139 YEARS.

>> Renee: THERE IS NOT ANOTHER GOOD QUESTION TO ASK WITH ONLY A MINUTE TO GO.

WHAT IS THE TOP PRIORITY?

WHAT MUST GET DONE FOR CPE IN THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> YOU KNOW THERE IS SOME MONEY NOW IN STATE COFFERS SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE VALUE STATE EDUCATION HAS TO THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE ARE FUNDING.

HIGHER HIGHER ED IS THE MOST DIRECT CORRELATION WITH A STRONG WORKFORCE AND STRONG ECONOMY.

LET'S REMEMBER THAT.

WE WILL BE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY FOR PERFORMANCE FUNDING.

ASKING FOR MORE MONEY THAN WE DID LAST TIME SOMEWHERE AROUND SIX OR 7 MILLION FOR FY'23 AND MAYBE, 90 MILLION OR SO FOR THE YEAR AFTER THAT.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME MONEY FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE MONEY FOR KSU LAND GRANT TO MATCH THAT.

SO WE WILL BE ASKING FOR THOSE BUT WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN BUILD THAT ED CONTINUUM THAT P-20 THAT PIPELINE TO MINORITY RECRUITMENT OR UNREPRESENTATION OF TEACHERS IN THE WORKFORCE AND SO ON.

ALL THAT WILL BE OUR PRIORITY.

>> Renee: OKAY.

WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND MAYBE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR CONSIDERING THERE ARE PIVOTAL DATES YOU MENTIONED IN THE INTERVIEW THAT WE WILL WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON.

Dr. AARON THOMPSON, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

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