Onward and Upward

Onward and Upward

Information, updates, and resources on Kentucky State University’s future

Related Links | Understanding SB 185 | Dr. Akakpo's Messages | Alumni President Remarks | FAQ
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Kentucky State University is at an important and historic moment. With Senate Bill 185 now signed into law, many understandably have questions about what this direction means for Kentucky State’s future. At its core, this is not a departure from who we are. It is an effort to build on the University’s strengths and position it for long-term sustainability, innovation, and service.

Simply put, this kind of academic direction, with its polytechnic emphasis, combines strong academics with hands-on learning, applied research, and career-connected programs that prepare students to solve real-world problems. That broad direction can also be seen across leading HBCUs, where institutions such as Howard University, North Carolina A&T State University, Florida A&M University, Morgan State University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Tuskegee University have built strong reputations in STEM, health sciences, research, medicine, and the preparation of future scientific and professional leaders. In the broader higher education landscape, many people also recognize that model through institutions such as MIT, Caltech, and Georgia Tech, where rigorous study is also closely tied to innovation and practical application.

Our repositioning along these lines is part of a much longer history of evolution at Kentucky State. Since our founding in 1886 and our designation as an 1890 land-grant institution just four years later, the University has continued to grow and change in response to the needs of Kentucky. From a normal school, to a land-grant college, to a university, Kentucky State has never stood still. Relevance has always been part of our DNA.

That direction is already visible in longstanding strengths in agriculture, food security, clean water, and other applied areas of public need, as well as growth in STEM, nursing, health science, manufacturing engineering technology, biological and agricultural engineering, aquaculture and aquatic science, sports analytics, geospatial and drone technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, online learning, and other emerging fields. The University’s 2025 Carnegie classification as a Research Colleges and Universities institution, together with its standing as home to Kentucky’s third-largest university research portfolio, underscores that momentum.

Viewed in that context, this direction affirms and sharpens a path already underway. It strengthens the connection among research, academic opportunity, and career preparation while preserving Kentucky State’s historic mission as an HBCU and 1890 land-grant university.

University News Release: A Bold, New Chapter Begins at Kentucky State University

Related links:

Understanding SB 185

Senate Bill 185 is now law. It redefines Kentucky State University in state statute as Kentucky’s only public HBCU and an 1890 land-grant university, while establishing the University as a four-year residential polytechnic institution focused on highly technical, industry-based applied learning. The law also makes clear that Kentucky State will continue to offer both liberal studies and polytechnic programs aligned with the workforce needs of the Commonwealth and consistent with the historical mission of an HBCU.

The law declares a state of financial exigency at Kentucky State University for five years from its effective date, or until the General Assembly affirmatively declares, based on a recommendation from the Council on Postsecondary Education, that the University’s finances are stable, whichever occurs first. During that period, the University is subject to expanded financial oversight by the Council on Postsecondary Education. Kentucky State may not enter into an obligation or make an expenditure of $20,000 or more without prior CPE approval, and the University must provide monthly financial reports, fully cooperate with CPE oversight, transition all financial transactions to monthly EMARS reporting and reconciliation by July 1, 2027, and avoid incurring a budget deficit during the period of financial exigency.

SB 185 also requires a thorough academic program review. The Kentucky State University Board of Regents, in consultation with the Council on Postsecondary Education, must identify which academic programs the University proposes to maintain and which it recommends for closure or other substantive change, along with corresponding teach-out plans or teach-out arrangements for affected students. Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year and continuing for five academic years thereafter, Kentucky State may offer no more than 10 academic areas of study, excluding programs that are exclusively online, programs in the College of Education, and programs determined by CPE to be necessary to the University’s mission as a polytechnic institution.

The law also makes significant changes affecting staffing, admissions, and student balances. During the financial exigency period, the president has authority to terminate university employees, including tenured employees in accordance with university policy, upon 30 days’ notice. For undergraduate admission, new applicants must generally meet minimum academic standards, though the law also provides alternative discretionary admission pathways for certain groups of students, including qualifying transfer students, veterans, graduates of nonpublic schools meeting the testing standard, nontraditional-age students with demonstrable professional experience, and dual-credit students.

In addition, the law restricts admission, readmission, enrollment, or continued participation for individuals with an outstanding balance to the University in excess of $1,000 that has been due and owing for more than 60 days. It also clarifies that, for students on an approved payment plan, the full balance is not deemed due unless one or more payments under that plan have been overdue for more than 60 days. Kentucky State must report qualifying debts quarterly to CPE, and debts in excess of $1,000 that have been due and owing for more than 90 days must be referred to the Department of Revenue for collection.

The law does not rename the University. It does, however, replace older statutory language that described Kentucky State as a four-year residential institution emphasizing liberal studies appropriate to its size and resources. It also changes the treatment of Greek life from earlier bill drafts. Under the enacted law, fraternities and sororities currently in good standing maintain their charter recognition, while the Board of Regents may establish policies for periodic review of student organizations consistent with policies at other Kentucky public universities, provided those policies respect freedom of association and apply equally to all student organizations.

Messages from Dr. Akakpo

Remarks by Barry C. Johnson, Jr.
President, Kentucky State University National Alumni Association

The following remarks were delivered by Barry C. Johnson, Jr. on April 1, 2026, during legislative consideration of amended Senate Bill 185. // House Standing Committee on Appropriation and Revenue (34:45-39:55)

Good morning. On behalf of the Kentucky State University National Alumni Association, I am Barry Johnson, representing many thousands of proud Thoroughbreds across the Commonwealth, the nation, and globally. It is my distinct honor to appear before this distinguished body today.

Let me begin by thanking the General Assembly collectively, and Republicans and Democrats alike. To Senator McDaniel, Chair Petri, Representative Bray, and the A&R Committee: Thank you for the leadership you provide. Your stewardship of the Commonwealth’s resources is not taken lightly, and I acknowledge the work you do on behalf of all Kentuckians, including myself, which I am a Kentuckian.

To Senator Neal, Senator Givens, House Minority Leader Stevenson, Representative Brown, Representative Hancock, and House Minority Whip Watkins: We are grateful for your presence, your advocacy, and your commitment to the students of Kentucky State University — current and future.

We also wish to extend our appreciation and thanks to Dr. Aaron Thompson, president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, and his entire team. His vision for a stronger, more inclusive postsecondary system lifts up all Kentucky colleges and universities, and we are grateful for his partnership with KSU.

To University President Dr. Kofi Akakpo and his dedicated team: We say thank you. KSU is charting a bold course forward, one rooted in academic excellence and an unshakable commitment to student success. I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Kelly Cunningham, Andrea Houston, Cassandra Gray, and their respective teams; the KSU students; and the National Alumni Association leadership team.

And finally, to every KSU alum, every friend of Kentucky State University, and those whose names we know and those whose names we do not, thank you. I took the time to thank and acknowledge all of those because we are all here today because of your collaborative spirit and partnership with KSU.

We believe in the future of KSU. KSU is primed for success. KSU is more than an institution — it is a promise. A promise founded in 1886, KSU has stood for more than a century, a beacon of educational opportunity. Our alumni are teachers, nurses, engineers, public servants, community leaders. We live and work in every county in the state.

When you invest in Kentucky State University, you invest in Kentucky itself; in the communities that need it most; in the students who have the most to gain; and the future of our Commonwealth is working so hard to build.

We are here today with hope grounded in the belief that when Kentucky State leaders and institutions work together, the Commonwealth rises. This amended legislation will not only solidify and propel Kentucky State fully into the future, it will forever retain and preserve its historical mission that has defined this institution for nearly 140 years.

KSU’s mission is not merely historical; it is essential. Essential to this Commonwealth. This legislation honors that legacy while empowering KSU to meet the demands of tomorrow.

So in closing, let this moment also stand as a testament to what true collaboration, genuine partnership can produce when legislators, university leaders, students, community advocates, alumni, and friends come together around a shared purpose. Great things become possible.

What we see in this amended legislation is not the work of any one person or any one office. It is the fruit of collective will, mutual respect, and a common love for KSU, this Commonwealth, and its people. May it serve as a model for what we can accomplish together.

For all of these reasons, I’m asking you to vote "yes" for this legislation in front of you today, and I look forward to building our collective partnership in the future. Onward and upward, and God bless. Thank you for your time.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

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What does SB 185 do overall?
SB 185 redefines Kentucky State University in state law as Kentucky’s only public HBCU and an 1890 land-grant university, while establishing the University as a four-year residential polytechnic institution focused on highly technical, industry-based applied learning. The law also places Kentucky State under expanded financial oversight, requires an academic program review, and makes changes related to admissions, student balances, and other institutional operations.

Has Senate Bill 185 become law?
Yes. Senate Bill 185 has been signed into law, and the 2026 legislative session has ended.

Did the law change Kentucky State University’s name?
No. Kentucky State University remains Kentucky State University. The law changes how the University is defined in statute, but it does not rename the institution.

Will Kentucky State still remain an HBCU and an 1890 land-grant university?
Yes. The law explicitly recognizes Kentucky State as Kentucky’s only public HBCU and an 1890 land-grant university. That does not change.

Is this a break from Kentucky State’s identity and history?
No. The law establishes a new academic direction, but it also expressly ties that direction to Kentucky State’s historic mission as an HBCU. The University’s identity, legacy, and public mission remain central.

Why this academic direction now?
In many ways, Kentucky State has already been moving in this direction. The University has grown in areas such as STEM, nursing, health sciences, engineering pathways, agriculture, aquaculture, cybersecurity, geospatial and drone technology, artificial intelligence, and other applied fields. The law formalizes and sharpens a direction that builds on those strengths while connecting academic programs more closely to workforce needs in the Commonwealth.

Will the law change Kentucky State’s academic offerings?
Potentially. SB 185 requires a thorough academic program review. The Board of Regents, in consultation with the Council on Postsecondary Education, must identify the programs the University proposes to maintain and the programs it recommends for closure or other substantive change, along with teach-out plans or teach-out arrangements for affected students.

Is it true that Kentucky State will be limited to only 10 majors?
No. The law does not say “10 majors.” It says Kentucky State may offer no more than 10 academic areas of study for five academic years beginning in 2026-2027, with exceptions for programs offered exclusively online, programs in the College of Education, and programs the Council on Postsecondary Education determines are necessary to the University’s mission as a polytechnic institution.

Will liberal arts disappear?
No. The law explicitly states that Kentucky State will offer both liberal studies and polytechnic programs aligned with workforce needs and consistent with the historical mission of an HBCU. As with other academic areas, the structure and delivery of those offerings will be shaped through the required academic review process.

Will Kentucky State expand online offerings?
Online programs remain an important part of the University’s future. Under SB 185, programs offered exclusively online are excluded from the limit on academic areas of study, which gives Kentucky State flexibility as it reviews and structures its academic offerings.

Will education and teacher preparation continue?
Yes. Programs in the College of Education are explicitly excluded from the limit on academic areas of study.

What happens to current students if a program is changed, moved online, or discontinued? Would they have to transfer?
No. No student will be left without a path to degree completion at Kentucky State University. The law requires teach-out plans or teach-out arrangements for programs recommended for closure or other substantive change, and those plans must go through the required review and approval process. Students will have time, communication, and support throughout that process.

Is enrollment limited to 1,000 students?
No. The law refers to an enrollment target of at least 1,000 in-person students. It does not establish a fixed cap of 1,000 students overall.

Will students enrolled in non-polytechnic programs still be able to live on campus?
Yes. Students currently in in-person courses and approved for housing, are able to remain in housing so long as they meet the requirements. Kentucky State University currently requires full-time first-year and sophomore students to live on campus, with certain exceptions, and that expectation will continue for in-person students. If a current in-person program is later moved online, students already enrolled in that program will still be able to live on campus through completion of their degree during the five-year teach-out period so long as they meet the other requirements.

Are athletics being cancelled?
No. Athletics remain a vital part of campus life. Kentucky State competes at the NCAA Division II level in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and nothing in SB 185 eliminates athletics.

Will longstanding traditions like the marching band and choir be discontinued?
No. The traditions and experiences that help define Kentucky State are not going anywhere. That includes the Mighty Marching Thorobreds, choir, athletics, Greek life, and other hallmark parts of campus life.

Will Greek life be banned from campus?
No. Under the enacted law, fraternities and sororities currently in good standing maintain their charter recognition. The Board of Regents may establish policies for periodic review of student organizations, but those policies must be consistent with policies at other Kentucky public universities, respect freedom of association, and apply equally to all student organizations.

Will the law change admissions requirements?
Yes. New undergraduate applicants generally must have a cumulative unweighted high school GPA of at least 2.5 and a composite ACT score of at least 18, or an equivalent score on the SAT or another nationally recognized college-readiness examination approved by CPE. The law also allows alternative discretionary admission pathways for certain groups, including qualifying transfer students, veterans, certain graduates of nonpublic schools, nontraditional-age students with demonstrable professional experience, and dual-credit students.

Will unpaid balances affect enrollment?
Yes. Individuals with an outstanding balance to the University in excess of $1,000 that has been due and owing for more than 60 days may not be admitted, readmitted, enrolled, or allowed to continue in a course, seminar, or program. For students on an approved payment plan, however, the full balance is not deemed due unless one or more payments under the plan have been overdue for more than 60 days.

Will the law change how University spending is approved?
Yes. Kentucky State may not enter into an obligation or make an expenditure of $20,000 or more without prior approval of the Council on Postsecondary Education.

Will unpaid debts be referred for collection?
Yes. Debts in excess of $1,000 that have been due and owing for more than 90 days must be referred to the Department of Revenue for collection.

Does accreditation still matter under the law?
Yes. SB 185 states that Kentucky State must abide by all instructions provided by SACSCOC that are required to maintain institutional accreditation.

What new funding opportunities are tied to this law?
Yes. Related budget action includes as much as $105 million in General Assembly appropriations: $50 million for a Health Sciences Center, $50 million for asset preservation, $2 million for expanded online learning, and $3 million for polytechnic transition support. This represents the largest state appropriation in Kentucky State University’s history.

What is the proposed Health Sciences Center opportunity?
The broader legislative and budget action includes a $50 million investment in a new 59,000-square-foot Health Sciences Center. The facility would expand training capacity in nursing, respiratory therapy, public health, and related disciplines, with simulation labs, classrooms, research laboratories, and clinic space to support community-facing public health services.

Updated April 20, 2026