Special-called meeting authorizes delivery to CPE ahead of June 1 deadline while emphasizing student completion and mission alignment

FRANKFORT, Ky. 鈥� The 网曝吃瓜 Board of Regents, at a special-called meeting on Thursday, May 28, approved the University鈥檚 academic plan required under Senate Bill 185 and authorized its delivery to the Council on Postsecondary Education by June 1.

The Board action moves 网曝吃瓜 into the next phase of work under SB 185, which establishes a five-year transition toward a polytechnic university focus. The plan reflects academic work already underway and positions 网曝吃瓜 to advance that focus through stronger alignment among programs, student pathways, applied learning, workforce needs, and long-term sustainability.

In a campus message on Thursday after the Board meeting concluded, 网曝吃瓜 University President Koffi C. Akakpo, Ph.D., emphasized that the plan builds on academic program review, reorganization of Academic Affairs into three colleges, reduced degree pathway complexity, advising improvements, DegreeWorks implementation, a multi-year catalog, and new programs connected to student interest and workforce demand.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 action reflects the seriousness of the responsibility before 网曝吃瓜 University,鈥� Akakpo said. 鈥淲e are working to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 185 while strengthening the academic foundation that will support students, serve the Commonwealth, and sustain the University鈥檚 mission.鈥�

Under the academic plan, programs would be organized around six academic areas of study: Applied Sciences, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Technology. The majority of the University鈥檚 existing majors fit within those areas.

The plan also includes proposed program actions that will continue through the CPE process. Those include recommendations related to Childhood Development and Political Science, as well as changes within music-related academic offerings. General Music as well as Music Industry and Technology would remain part of the transition, and anticipated academic program changes would have no impact on 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 Concert Choir or Marching Band. Both ensembles, Dr. Akakpo said, continue to actively recruit new and continuing members.

University leaders also have emphasized that the polytechnic university focus will continue to depend on the humanities and interdisciplinary studies, including critical thinking, communication, creativity, problem-solving, professionalism, and adaptability.

网曝吃瓜 remains Kentucky鈥檚 only public HBCU and an 1890 land-grant university. Additional information about SB 185 implementation will continue to be shared through the University鈥檚 Onward & Upward webpage.