♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" -- WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

THIS WEEK IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT'S DAY, WE INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR LOCAL PRESIDENTS, COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS THAT IS, Dr. KIM SCHATZEL JUST MARKED ONE YEAR AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE WHERE ENROLLMENT IS UP AND BIG CHANGES ARE UNDER WAY.

THE SAME CAN BE SAID ABOUT JEFFERSON COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE, OR JCTC HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

Dr. TY HANDY EXPLAINS HOW THAT CAMPUS IS TRANSFORMING NOT ONLY THE COLLEGE SYSTEM, BUT OUR DOWNTOWN IN GENERAL.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO BOTH PRESIDENTS, OUR LOCAL LEADERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

Dr. KIM SCHATZEL RECENTLY HAD AN ANNIVERSARY, ONE YEAR AS PRESIDENT OF U OF L. WHAT ARE YOUR TAKE AWAYS FROM BEING LEER ONE YEAR?

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN A YEAR.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

IT'S BEEN A FANTASTIC YEAR.

PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME, AND I CAN SAY THE ONE THING THAT STICKS OUT IS HOW WARM AND WELCOMING EVERYONE, BOTH IN THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY AND THE GREATER COMMUNITY, HAS BEEN TO ME AND TO MY HUSBAND.

THE PASSION FOR THE UNIVERSITY IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

THE ALUMNI BASE IS INCREDIBLE.

THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY IS FABULOUS.

WE ARE A R-1 IN RESEARCH.

AND DESIGNATED AS ENGAGED UNIVERSITY.

ONE OF 70 UNIVERSITIES NATIONALLY THAT ARE R-1 AND COMMUNITY ENGAGED DESIGNATION BY THE CARNEGIE FOUNDATION.

WE ARE THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE AND WE FEEL REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT THE SUPPORT THAT WE WANT TO GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AS WELL.

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT YEAR.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY KNOW THAT YOU CAME HERE FROM MARYLAND, BUT YOUR PATH TO HIGHER EDUCATION WASN'T EXACTLY TRADITIONAL.

YOU WERE IN BUSINESS PRIOR TO BECOMING INVOLVED IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT THAT PATH AND WHAT ULTIMATELY BROUGHT YOU TO U OF L. >> I'M ONE OF 2% OF UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS THAT HAS THIS EXPERIENCE.

I'M A BIT OF A UNICORN IN TERMS OF THE POSITION I'M IN.

THE FIRST JOB I HAD OUT OF COLLEGE, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS GRADUATED FIRST JOB WAS MANAGEMENT TRAINEE WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS A SECOND SHIFT TRIM FOREMAN MAKING PINTOS AT THEIR PLANT IN NEW JERSEY.

AND I WAS A FOREMAN BECAUSE BACK THEN, THERE WEREN'T GENDER NEUTRAL TITLES.

THEY NOW CALL THEM PRODUCTION SUPERVISORS.

IT WAS A PRETTY UNIQUE SITUATION.

I SPENT 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS.

I STARTED MY OWN COMPANY, PURPOSED A COMPANY FROM CHRYSLER, ADDED TWO OTHERS.

PATTERNED METAL COMPONENT COMPANY AND SERVED AS C.E.O.

FOR FIVE YEARS.

LARGEST POWDER METAL COMPONENT COMPANY IN THE WORLD, SECOND LARGEST IN THE WORLD WITH OPERATIONS ON FOUR CONTINENTS.

SOLD THE COMPANY.

TOOK A FEW YEARS OFF, A COUPLE YEARS OFF TO BE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO NEXT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO START ANOTHER COMPANY.

I DIDN'T WANT TO WORK FOR SOMEBODY ELSE SO I KNEW WHAT I DIDN'T WANT TO DO.

AND ENDED UP GETTING MY Ph.D. AND BECAME A FACT MEMBER AND-- FACULTY MEMBER AND FELL IN LOVE WITH HIGHER ED.

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH HAVING TWO FANTASTIC CAREERS AND FEEL REALLY LUCKY TO BE WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK THAT EXPERIENCE HAS BENEFITED YOU AS THE PRESIDENT OF A UNIVERSITY?

>> TWO THINGS.

THE MISSION OF A UNIVERSITY IS SO IMPORTANT.

YOU CAN'T HAVE A MISSION WITHOUT MARGIN.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING OF A BUSINESS MODEL, IN PARTICULARLY WHAT HAPPENED IS I CAME INTO HIGHER ED IN AROUND 2000 WHEN THE BUSINESS MODEL REALLY CHANGED.

USED TO BE YOU GOT 80% OF YOUR MONEY FROM THE STATE AND 20% FROM TUITION AND THEN IT FLIPPED.

SO BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO BE ABLE TO RUN A BUSINESS, BALANCE SHEETS, P & L STATEMENTS, UNDERSTANDING COST STRUCTURE SO WE COULD REALLY SUPPORT THE SUCCESS OF OUR FACULTY AND STAFF AND BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE STUDENT SUCCESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO I'M VERY USED TO RUNNING AND LEADING COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS.

AND REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH TEAMS MEAN TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND I'M REALLY BLESSED WITH A FANTASTIC TEAM AT U OF L AND THE TRUSTEES ARE FANTASTIC AS WELL.

I THINK THAT BUSINESS EXPERIENCE, UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ABLE TO RUN COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS AND LEAD THEM AND HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE THE ANSWER TO ALL OF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I BRING TO MY ROLE HERE.

>> SO GOVERNOR BESHEAR RECENTLY MADE A PITCH FOR MORE STATE FUNDING, AS YOU MENTIONED BASED ON A 5% ENROLLMENT GROWTH ACROSS THE STATE.

WHERE DOES U OF L STAND WITH ENROLLMENT NUMBERS RIGHT NOW AND HOW DO YOU KEEP THAT COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION DOWN?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY IS CORE WHAT HAVE WE DO.

IN TERMS OF ENROLLMENT, OUR ENROLLMENTS ARE VERY, VERY VONG.

WE ARE WORKING ON RETENTION RATES.

WE ARE WORKING ON ACCESSIBILITY.

30% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE TRANSFER STUDENTS.

WE ARE THE SINGLE LARGEST DESTINATION FOR TRANSFERS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH ITSELF.

SO ONE OUT OF FOUR STUDENTS, WHEN THEY TRANSFER, TRANSFER TO U U OF L. THE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS, WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

KENTUCKY DOES NOT HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST DAYCARES ATTAIN-- EDUCATION ATTAINMENT RATES IN THE NATION AND THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO ARE THAT ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY, TO DO THAT.

AND WE WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

I OFTEN-- WE OFTEN SHARE ON CAMPUS THE FACT THAT EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND EITHER COMES OUT OF THE POCKETS OF OUR STUDENTS OR COMES OUT OF THE POCKETS OF TAXPAYERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY SO WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THE RETURN THAT THOSE DOLLARS BRING.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ALSO, THAT YOU ARE A FIRST IN YOUR FAMILY TO GRADUATE COLLEGE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> HOW DOES THAT PERSPECTIVE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW YOU VIEW AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY?

>> VERY MUCH SO.

FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT, YOU KNOW, ALMOST 40% OF THE STUDENTS AT U OF L ARE FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS SO THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO THEM AND SO MUCH TO THEIR FAMILIES TO BE THAT PERSON THAT MAKES THAT TRANSITION AND SEES THAT OPPORTUNITY.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS IS COMMENCEMENT BECAUSE YOU JUST SEE THE JOY ON THE FACES OF THE GRADUATES AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES AND IT'S A REMINDER THAT GETTING A COLLEGE DEGREE MEANS SO MUCH TO PEOPLE, CONTINUES TO MEAN SO MUCH TO PEOPLE.

AND YOU CAN WATCH THE FAMILIES SEE THE FACT THAT THEIR CHILD OR THEIR SPOUSE OR THEIR SIS OTHER OR THEIR BROTHER OR THEIR GRANDCHILD IS REALIZING ONE OF THEIR FIRST ADULT GOALS AND WHAT JOY IT BRINGS TO THEM.

SO BEING FIRST GENERATION AND KNOWING WHAT IT MEANS, NOT JUST TO THE GRADUATE BUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE THEM, IT REALLY INSPIRES ME.

>> AND YOU KNOW THAT PERSONALLY.

>> YES.

>> SO ABOUT A WEEK INTO YOUR ADMINISTRATION, YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO EMBARK ON A 60-DAY LISTENING TOUR WITH STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

SO WHAT DID YOU HEAR DURING THAT TIME AND WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU HAVE PUT INTO EFFECT THIS FIRST YEAR BECAUSE OF THAT?

>> SO I HAD ALMOST 40 SESSIONS WITH ALMOST 1300 PEOPLE.

STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, ALUMNI, LEGISLATORS THAT WENT TO FRANKFORT, WENT ACROSS THE STATE, WENT TO D.C.

I TALKED TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND THERE WERE VARIOUS THEMES THAT EMERGED OUT OF THAT.

ONE AS I SAID, THE IMMENSE PRIDE PEOPLE HAVE FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND THE COMMITMENT.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY ALUMNI TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT BE WHERE THEY ARE TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE.

AND TEARS WOULD COME TO THEIR EYES ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES THEY HAD AND HOW IT WAS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE TO HAVE THE EDUCATION AND HOW, YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS HAD FACULTY MENTORS AND PEOPLE THAT THEY SAT IN CONTACT WITH OR STAFF MEMBER OR SOMEONE THAT WORKED IN THE DINING HALLS THAT WOULD ALWAYS ASK HOW THEY WERE AND HOW THAT CAUSED THEM TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE THE EDUCATION AND CONTINUE THAT EXCELLENCE.

WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT STUDENT SUCCESS AS A BIG OUTCOME THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO PELL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS; ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY, AS I SAID, AND RESEARCH.

REEMPHASIS ON RESEARCH.

WE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, TABLING A LOOK AT A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A RESEARCH PARK THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO POSSIBLY BUILD BETWEEN EASTERN PARKWAY AND THE STADIUMth.

IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO BRING INDUSTRY AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS IN.

SO WE ARE STARTING A PLAN AND LOOKING TO BRING SOME STUDIES IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW DO WE MATCH OUR SPIRES OF EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AT THE CAMPUS, WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES BOTH WITHIN THE REGION AND WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH ITSELF?

SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> THAT IS AN EXCITING PROJECT.

LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT U OF L HEALTH AND HOW YOU RECENTLY JOINED THE BOARD OF THAT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF U OF L HEALTH AND EXPANDING THE RESEARCH PARK IS A BIG PART OF THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M REALLY BLESSED WITH THE FACT THAT I'M NOW SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF U OF L HEALTH.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, WE ARE THE LARGEST EMPLOYER BETWEEN THE U OF L AND U OF L HEALTH WITHIN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE, ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS WITHIN THE STATE.

THE RESEARCH EXPANSION THAT WE HAVE, WHEN YOU PUT THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS IN THE BILLIONS IN TERMS OF THOSE TWO ORGANIZATIONS.

AND WE REALLY LOOK AT THE FACT OF ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

I WAS IN PADUCAH, I WAS IN COVINGTON, I WAS IN CLAY COUNTY THIS PAST SUMMER TRAVELING AROUND THE STATE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE THAT IS PROVIDED BY U OF L HEALTH ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL AS ACCESS TO MEDICAL STUDENTS AND TO INTERNSHIPS AND RESIDENCIES AS WELL.

SO IT'S A BIG PART OF WHO WE ARE AND THE EXCELLENCE THAT WE HAVE.

WE ARE AN ACADEMIC HEALTH SYSTEM, ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BRING THAT MISSION OF BRINGING HIGH QUALITY AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACROSS THE U.S. >> OVER THE PAST-- OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES U OF L HAS THRANS FORMED INTO MORE OF A RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS.

IT USED TO BE A LOT OF COMMUTER STUDENTS.

HOW DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT CHANGE THE FABRIC OF THE UNIVERSITY?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO, YEAH, 20 YEARS AGO IT WAS LARGELY A COMMUTER CAMPUS AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT OVER THREE QUARTERS OF THE STUDENTS LIVE ON CAMPUS OR WITHIN JUST THE SURROUNDING AREA ITSELF.

IF YOU DREW A CIRCLE AROUND THE CAMPUS, YOU WOULD PROBABLY HAVE SOMETHING CLOSE TO 10,000, 12,000 STUDENTS OR LIVING VERY, VERY CLOSE TO CAMPUS.

IT MEANS IT IS A VERY, VERY VIBRANT CAMPUS LIFE.

WE HAVE THE STUDENTS ALL OVER THE CAMPUS.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IS TO DO MOVE IN IN.

TO HAVE THE FRESHMEN MOVING IN EVERY YEAR, I DID IT THIS PAST FALL.

IT'S FANTASTIC TO SEE THE STUDENTS.

AND THEY'RE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

52 STATES THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING IN TO HAVE PART OF THE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT ITSELF.

AND IT BRINGS A LOT OF VITALITY TO THE CAMPUS AND THE FOCUS ON UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IT PROVIDES, THE TYPE OF EXTRACURRICULARS THAT WE HAVE, ALL THE DIFFERENT CLUBS.

WE HAVE OVER 100 CLUBS.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE ON THE CAMPUS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE STUDENTS ABOUT.

IT'S GOING TO BE 60° NEXT WEEK IS WHAT WE HEAR.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO BE ABLE TO SEE SPRING.

SPRING ON A CAMPUS WHEN IS YOU SEE STUDENTS ON SHORTS AND FLIP FLOPS, TO HAVE THE STUDENTS WALKING AROUND IS FANTASTIC.

>> SO ONE THING, AS WELL, IS THAT YOU KNOW, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO TOSIN, THEY'RE NOT GLOBALLY KNOWN AS AN ATHLETICS POWER HOUSE.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU COMING TO LOUISVILLE WITH SUCH A FOCUS ON ATHLETICS.

>> RIGHT.

SO IT WAS NOT A POWER FIVE SCHOOL AND L SCHOOL.

PART OF A FANTASTIC CONFERENCE WITH THE ACC.

WE'RE JUST SO PROUD OF WHAT WE DO.

WE ACTUALLY, THIS PAST YEAR, PERFORMED REALLY WELL IN THE DIRECTORS CUP FOR LEER FIELD WHICH EXAMS OUR COMPETITIVENESS ACROSS ALL OF THE SPORTS THAT WE HAVE, INCLUDING ALL THE OLYMPIC SPORTS.

THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM IS UNBELIEVABLE AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU TALK TO OUR STUDENT ATHLETES, THEIR TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS ARE JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE QUALITY IN TERMS OF COMPETITION.

WE HAVE QUALITY IN TERMS OF THE CLASSROOM, AND THE COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE RECENTLY HAD A DAY OF SERVICE IN HONOR OF Dr. KING'S BIRTHDAY.

AND THERE WAS ALMOST 250 STUDENT ATHLETES THAT SHOWED UP TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A DAY OF SERVICE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.

SO IT'S JUST BEEN FANTASTIC FOR ME TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT.

I'M A BIG FAN OF VOLLEYBALL.

I'M A BIG FAN OF FIELD HOCKEY.

A BIG FAN OF BASEBALL.

SWIMMING, DIVING, FOOTBALL, WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, MEN'S BASKETBALL.

EVERYBODY ASKS ME WHAT IS MY FAVORITE SPORT AND IT'S ALL OF THEM.

THE STUDENT ATHLETES ARE TERRIFIC.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE MANY PLACES THAT YOU HAVE LIVED.

I'M CURIOUS YOUR TAKEAWAYS OF LOUISVILLE AS A WHOLE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CITY?

>> YOU KNOW, AS I SEA, I WAS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS AND I WAS IN MICHIGAN.

ACTUALLY WHEN I FIRST INTERVIEWED WITH THE POSITION, I WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE SAID TO ME, YOU KNOW HOW TO DO LOUISVILLE.

I USED TO DO BUSINESS WITH I WORKED WITH FORD.

GOING BACK ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, I HADN'T BEEN HERE RECENTLY TO BE ABLE DO IT.

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH IT.

IT'S A GREAT TOWN.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO WARM AND WELCOMING.

THERE IS A LOT TO DO.

IT IS A FOODIE TOWN AND WE ARE FOODIES.

WE ENJOY THAT.

IT IS FABULOUS.

IT REALLY IS.

>> ANY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS?

>> I DO.

I HAVE TO GIVE "SHOUT OUT TO-- WE LOVE BREAKFAST.

WE ARE A BIG BAD BREAKFAST BRAN TO DO THAT ON BARRETT.

AND HIGHLAND MORNING ON BARDSTOWN ROAD IS ANOTHER ONE AND THE BIGGEST SHOUTOUT IS DAVE'S COFFEE ON BARDSTOWN ROAD.

MICHAEL AND JORDAN ARE TWO OF MY FAVORITE BEAR BARRITSAs.

IT'S A GREAT WAS I TO START THE THE DAY.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT PLACES.

>> WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL TALK TO THE PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE, Dr. TY HANDY.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Dr. TY HANDY HAS SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SINCE 2016.

WE JUST SPOKE TO Dr. SCHATZEL WHO WHO IS JUST COMPLETING HER FIRST YEAR.

YOU ARE GOING INTO YOUR NINTH YEAR.

SO HAVE YOU SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES ALONG THE WAY.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST?

>> PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR ME HAS BEEN SEEING THE ATTITUDE AND CULTURE OF THE COLLEGE SHIFT OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

WHERE WE NOW FOCUS ON OUR STUDENTS SO INDIVIDUALLY AND WE DO OUR BEST TO GET EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT TO SUCCEED.

SO OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, WE HAVE TRIPLED OUR GRADUATION RATE.

WE HAVE QUADRUPLED THE GRADUATION RATE OF OUR UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY STUDENTS.

WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE INSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF STUDENT SUCCESS AND THE WORK OUR FACULTY AND STAFF HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND THAT CHANGE IS THE MOST DRAMATIC CHANGE THAT I WOULD HIGHLIGHT.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SYSTEM IN GENERAL.

AND HOW THIS IS A PART OF 16 COLLEGES ACROSS KENTUCKY.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> I'M PROUD TO SAY WE ARE THE LARGEST OF THE 16 COLLEGES.

WE REPRESENT ABOUT 15% OF THE ENROLLMENT FOR THE OVERALL SYSTEM.

WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL.

Dr. RYAN QUARLES IS OUR NEW PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE BEEN ON A TEAR AS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS WE EMERGE FROM THE COVID CIRCUMSTANCES AND WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE REALLY ON TRACK FOR A REALLY GOOD FUTURE.

WE HAVE BECOME THE WORKFORCE PROVIDER, SO SO MANY JOBS TODAY REQUIRE SOME LEVEL OF POST SECONDARY TRAINING.

AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAVE STEPPED IN ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE ABOUT HALF OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IN TECHNICAL PROGRAMS, LOOKING FOR THAT GREAT HIGH WAGE JOB AND SO WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST.

RUNNING AS FAST AS WE CAN TO MEET THE INDUSTRY NEED.

>> THOSE ARE THE JOBS THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ENROLLMENT THAT YOU MENTION.

ENROLLMENT WAS UP IN THE FALL AND SPRING?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN TWO, BUT MOST RECENTLY TWO REALLY GOOD SEMESTERS AS WE EMERGE FROM COVID.

WE ARE THREE YEARS OUT.

THOSE STUDENTS WHO WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL ARE NOW OUT AND MAKING CAREER DECISIONS AND REALIZING MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE IN COLLEGE.

WE WERE UP ABOUT 5% OVERALL IN ENROLLMENT IN THE FALL AND I'M PLEASED TO SAY RIGHT NOW, NUMBERS ARE NOT FINAL, BUT WE ARE UP ABOUT 8% THIS SPRING.

AND THE NICE THING ABOUT THAT IS MANY, MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE NEW STUDENTS, SO WE'VE GOT THEM IN THE PIPELINE.

WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THEM IN THE PIPELINE AND THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THIS COMMUNITY BEFORE TOO LONG.

>> AND THIS FALL WAS YOUR HIGHEST TOTAL TERM HEAD COUNT.

>> HIGHEST TERM HEAD COUNT AND THIS SURPRISES US, WE HAD OUR HIGHEST RETENTION RATE OF STUDENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE.

LAST YEAR'S STUDENTS WHO STARTED IN THE FALL CAME BACK THIS FALL.

HIGHEST RETENTION RATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE.

WE KNOW WE ARE ON THE BACKEND OF COLLEGE BECAUSE THOSE-- OF COVID BECAUSE THOSE NUMBERS DIPPED DURING COVID AND WE STRUGGLED TO MAKE SURE EACH STUDENT HAS A CHANCE TO SUCCEED.

AND I'M PLEASED WITH WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE SITTING BEFORE.

>> WE RECENTLY HEARD FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR FOR A PITCH FOR MORE FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND HIGHER EDUCATION.

HOW WILL THAT APPLY TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING, PARTICULARLY TO KEEP THE COST OF COLLEGE DOWN AND KEEP IT AFFORDABLE?

>> SO WHAT WE REALLY TRY TO DO, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THIS SO MUCH STRATEGICALLY, BUT WE ARE VERY COGNIZANT OF WHAT THE PELL GRANT PROVIDES STUDENTS.

IT PROVIDES STUDENTS WHO FULLY QUALIFY AND MANY OF OUR STUDENTS DO, ABOUT TWO OUT OF THREE ROUGHLY QUALIFY.

ABOUT 6500 A YEAR.

AND WE WANT TO KEEP OUR COSTS WELL UNDER THAT.

BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO FIND, TO BUY THEIR TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER LIVING EXPENSES OF THE OUR ALL IN COST PER YEAR IS ONLY ABOUT $4R5 00 FOR A STUDENT.

A THIRD OF OUR OTHER COMMUNITY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, LESS THAN HALF OF PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS.

AND THEN WE HAVE THESE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THOSE SCHOOLS.

U OF L BEING PREEMINENT AMONG THOSE WHERE THE STUDENTS CAN TRANSFER AND FINISH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS, IT COSTS THE STATE LESS MONEY TO SUPPORT STUDENTS THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

IT COSTS THE STUDENTS LESS MONEY AND WHEN THEY TRANSFER AND GRADUATE, THEY WILL HAVE A LOT LESS DEBT BUT CAN STILL GET A FOUR-YEAR CREDENTIAL FROM A SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE.

A PIECE OF DATA THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTING.

WE GRADUATED LAST YEAR 1106 STUDENTS WITH AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE.

80% GRADUATED DEBT FREE.

NO DEBT AND TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE UNDER THEIR BELT.

THE OTHER 20% HAD ON AVERAGE LESS THAN $5,000 IN STUDENT LOANS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CRISIS NATIONALLY, WHAT IS LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION IS THE IMPACT COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAVE ON THAT.

AND WE ARE HELPING STUDENTS REACH THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT PARTNERSHIP YOU MENTIONED WITH U OF L AND HOW DOES THAT WORK AND YOU MENTIONED THAT Dr. SCHATZEL HAS BEEN KIND OF KEY IN BRINGING THAT TOGETHER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WHENEVER YOU GO IT NEW LEADERSHIP SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT, YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW THE TRANSITION MIGHT HAPPEN AND ARE YOU GOING TO LOSE SOME OF THE PROGRESS.

SHE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

WE HAD HER ON CAMPUS.

SHE MET WITH OUR FACULTY AND TALKED ABOUT HER VISION FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP GOING FORWARD.

WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE Dr. SCHATZEL ON THE SCENE HERE AND I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG AND PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.

THEY OF RUNNING A PROGRAM CALLED ULTRA.

THAT HELPS FOR STUDENTS TO SEAMLESSLY TRANSFER TO U OF L. FOR MANY YEARS, WE PUT ON IT STEROIDS OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT STUDENTS WHO WANT A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE TO HAVE A PLACE TO START, LOW DEBT AND MAKE THAT TRANSITION AND WE SEND 700 TO 800 STUDENTS START ALT U OF L WHO HAVE A TRANSCRIPT FROM JEFFERSON.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE GRADUATED BUT THEY GET WHAT THEY NEED AND MOVE ON.

WE ARE SPEND SENDING THAT MANY STUDENTS.

WE ARE THE LARGEST SENDING INSTITUTION TO U OF L. THIS PARTNERSHIP WORKS BOTH DIRECTIONS.

THEY ACTUALLY HELP AWES WARD DEGREES TO STUDENTS WHO TRANSFER EARLY.

AND WHEN THEY GET TO U OF L, ONCE THEY FINISH OUR REQUIREMENTS, WE AWARD THEM THEIR DEGREE EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AT U OF L. A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP AND I SEE GREAT THINGS GOING FORWARD.

>> SHE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE UNIVERSITY.

YOU HAVE A BIG WHAT'S NEXT COMING UP -6789D SO THIS IS CALLED JEFFERSON RISING.

IT IS A $90 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT'S TRULY GOING TO CHANGE HOW BROADWAY AND THAT PART OF DOWNTOWN LOOKS.

>> SURE.

SO FROM DAY ONE AS A FOUNDING OF A COLLEGE, WE HAVE BEEN LAND LOCKED A LITTLE BIT GIVEN OUR LOCATION.

IT'S THE PERFECT LOCATION RIGHT OFF I-65 FOR ACCESS.

BUT IT HASN'T BEEN THE PERFECT LOCATION TO BUILD THIS CAMPUS WITH THIS COLLEGE FEEL.

AND WE HAVE THIS LARGE 500 CAR PARKING LOT IN THE CENTER OF CAMPUS, WHERE EVERY OTHER COLLEGE WOULD HAVE A QUAD OR SOMETHING THAT FELT LIKE A COLLEGE AND WE ARE FINALLY, AFTER, YOU KNOW, 50 YEARS OF EXISTENCE, 20 YEARS AS PART OF KCTCS THE CHIPS HAVE FALLEN IN PLACE, STARS HAVE ALIGNED AND WE ARE MAKING THIS INVESTMENT.

WE WILL BE STARTING CONSTRUCTION IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS ON A SCIENCE BUILDING THAT'S GOING TO HAVE ALL NEW SCIENCE LABS, TAKE UP A THIRD OF THAT PARKING LOT.

ON THE OTHER THIRD, ON THE McDONALD'S SIDE OF SECOND STREET OVER THERE, WILL BE A 500 CAR PARKING GARAGE.

WE HAD TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO GET RID OF THAT PARKING LOT.

IT'S GOING TO BE GOING UP SIMULTANEOUSLY.

AND THEN DOWN THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THAT IS GOING TO BE WHAT CITY LEADERS TELL ME WILL BE THE LARGEST GREEN SPACE IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE NOT CALLED WATERFRONT PARK.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE TWO SOCCER FIELDS LONG, A SOCCER FIELD WIDE.

TREED, PARK-LIKE FEEL WITH INTERACTIVE FEATURES FOR STUDENTS SO IT WON'T JUST BE A WALK THROUGH PLAZA.

IT WILL BE ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS.

AND THEN BECAUSE IT'S UP AGAINST BROADWAY, IT'S GOING TO TRANSFORM THE WAY BROADWAY LOOKS AND FEELS DOWN THROUGH THERE.

SO SO MANY PEOPLE COMING TO LOUISVILLE IF THEY COME UP I-65, THEY GET OFF AND FORM THEIR FIRST IMPRESSION OF DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE RIGHT THERE AT THAT INTERSECTION AND WE ARE GOING TO TRANSFORM THAT INTERSECTION.

AND MAKE IT WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE.

AND THEN AS PART OF THAT, ALSO, THERE IS A 12 STORY BUILDING AGAINST THE INTERSTATE THAT ONCE WE ARE DONE WITH THIS PIECE, ABOUT $50 MILLION INTO THIS PIECE, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT BUILDING DOWN.

THAT WILL BE FUN RIGHT UP AGAINST THE INTERSTATE.

AND THEN PUT A HUMANITIES AND MATH BUILDING IN ITS PLACE ALONG WITH A SKYWAY BETWEEN THE TWO NEW BUILDINGS ACROSS FIRST STREET.

AND SO THAT WHOLE AREA IS GOING TO START TO FOAL LIKE A COLLEGE, LOOK LIKE A COLLEGE.

AND THEN JUST TRANSFORM THE WAY THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FEELS.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WITH THE MAYOR'S BROADWAY ALL THE WAY PROJECT, ALSO ABOUT TO GET UNDER WAY, TRANSFORMING BROADWAY IN FRONT OF OUR CAMPUS, WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A DRAMATIC CHANGE FOR THE CITY.

>> IT WILL BE A DRAMATIC CHANGE AND THAT'S SO IMPORTANT, TOO, RIGHT NOW AS DOWNTOWN IS STRUGGLING.

HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO THAT?

>> SO WE KNOW OCCUPANCY RATES ARE CHALLENGED.

WE KNOW THAT GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN IS A CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE OUR ISSUES BECAUSE STUDENTS QUITE FRANKLY DON'T WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN AT NIGHT TO TAKE NIGHT CLASSES.

WE NEED TO FIX THAT UP FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH LIGHTING AND SAFETY AND WE NEED THE AREA TO FEEL SAFE AND WE ARE WORKING HARD WITH THE LUM-ED REGION THAT HAS STARTED.

WE ARE ONE OF FOUR ANCHOR TENANTS FOR THAT AND WE HAVE A BIG NOTION OF SAFETY.

WE HAVE A COLLECTION OF BUSINESSES OVER A MILLION DOLLARS INTO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IN TERMS OF PROVIDING SAFETY SERVICES TO TRANSFORM IT AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

SO THINGS ARE IN THE WORKS.

MORE THING WILL BE HAPPENING AND WE WANT THAT AREA OF THE COMOO UBT TO POP LIKE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN LOUISVILLE DO AND IT'S TIME FOR THAT AND WE ARE MAKING THE INVESTMENT TO DO IT.

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

WHAT IS THE TIMELINE ON THAT?

>> THE BUILDINGS, THE FIRST PHASE WITH THE CENTRAL PARK AND ALL THAT, THOSE BUILDINGS WILL BE FINISHED AND BE IN USE BY FALL OF 25.

ONE YEAR TO BUILD AND OPEN IT UP IN THE FALL.

THAT CENTRAL PARK AREA THEN WILL BE BUILT IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS FOLLOWING THAT AND THEN WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THIS, GETTING OUR APPROVAL FOR THE TAKING DOWN OF THAT HARTFORD TOWER AND REPLACEMENT.

FIVE YEARS FROM NOW IT WILL ALL BE DONE BUT WITHIN 18 MONTHS WE WILL SEE PHASE 1 COME TO FRUITION SO WE ARE EXCITED.

WE HAVE BEEN WAITING MANY, MANY YEARS FOR THIS KIND OF OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WALK THIS EPISODE AND ALL OF OUR EPISODE STREAMING AT AT KET.ORG/INSIDE LOUISVILLE.

Dr. SCHATZEL TELLS US IF SHE COULD TAKE ONE COLLEGE COURSE, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND HER LOUISVILLE FOODIE RECOMMENDATIONS.

COMPLETE-IN-LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

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