Dear Thorobred Family,
Earlier this month, I wrote to you about the state budget process and the House proposal’s
potential impact on Kentucky’s public universities. Since then, the process has continued
to move forward, and the Senate’s version of the budget has taken a more favorable
approach to higher education. That is an encouraging development, even as the process
continues and final decisions still lie ahead.
At the same time, recent public comments in Frankfort have placed renewed attention
on two significant University contracts entered into before my tenure as president
began on July 1, 2023. Because Kentucky State University is a public institution,
scrutiny of how taxpayer dollars are used is appropriate. Kentucky State supports
transparency, will cooperate fully with any appropriate review or investigation, and
will continue taking seriously its responsibility to strengthen oversight, accountability,
and sound stewardship across the institution.
That responsibility is not abstract. It is directly connected to the trust placed
in us by students, families, employees, alumni, lawmakers, and the people of Kentucky.
It is also connected to the work we do every day. When the Commonwealth invests in
Kentucky State, that investment supports teaching and advising, campus operations,
student services, and the broader land-grant mission that reaches communities across
the state. As I noted in my earlier message on the budget, those public dollars remain
essential to the University’s work, even as enrollment, fundraising, and competitive
grants continue to strengthen our overall position.
Kentucky State University’s path forward requires both advocacy and accountability.
It requires making the case for public investment while also demonstrating that such
investment is managed with care. Those two responsibilities are not in conflict.
In fact, they belong together.
That work also calls each of us to a higher standard. Meaningful change requires a
culture of accountability across the University community — one in which how we manage
resources, carry out our responsibilities, and uphold the public trust helps shape
Kentucky State’s future. This must be a moment not simply for response, but for reflection,
discipline, and action that charts a stronger path forward for our institution and
brighter days ahead.
As the General Assembly continues its session, Kentucky State will remain engaged,
transparent, and focused on what matters most: serving students well, advancing our
land-grant mission, and strengthening the Commonwealth through education, research,
and service. Thank you for the work you do each day to help move this University forward.
Onward and Upward,
Koffi C. Akakpo, Ph.D.
President
Kentucky State University