Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

From Kentucky Today

Total degrees and credentials awarded by Kentucky public and private institutions in 2023-24 increased 6.4 percent over the previous year, driven by substantial increases in undergraduate certificates and graduate degrees, up 9.9 and 9.4 percent, respectively.

The report, prepared for the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) Board, included data on degrees and credentials awarded to students underrepresented in postsecondary education, calling attention to efforts to close achievement gaps between select student populations. Undergraduate degrees and credentials awarded to low-income students rose 4.1 percent, while undergraduate awards to minority students saw a 7.9 percent gain.

“Across the board, Kentucky is seeing strong improvement in degree and credential production, a reflection of higher education’s efforts to bolster completion through enhanced student supports and other initiatives,” said CPE President Aaron Thompson. “Bachelor’s degree production is the only area that didn’t see a substantial increase, rising 0.7 percent.”

Additionally, the CPE Board approved the following items:

–A new master’s degree in applied behavior analysis at Murray State University.

–Two new doctoral degrees, one in biomedical informatics and data science at the University of Kentucky and one in translational bioengineering at the University of Louisville.

–An interim capital project at Kentucky State University to renovate the Betty White Health Center.

–CPE’s annual financial audit for year ended June 30, 2024, for which there were no findings.

–The re-election of Madison Silvert as CPE chair and Elaine Walker as vice chair.

–The extension of CPE President Aaron Thompson’s employment contract to the year 2030.

The Council Board also heard highlights of a report prepared by the University of Kentucky’s Center for Business and Economic Research on Kentucky’s return on its investment in higher education. It found that tax revenue generated from Kentucky’s college graduates is four and a half times greater than the state’s initial investment in higher education. Consumer spending generated by college graduates in local communities is 17 times greater than the initial investment.