[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6642668,"mediaKeyId","2539382-2bc10b89a8d93e127392d93af4c2a792","parentId",2539382,"title","Committee advances SJR 55 to address antisemitism at public universities after heated testimony","audioSeconds",3119,"startMs",1273000,"endMs",4392000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2539382-2bc10b89a8d93e127392d93af4c2a792&start=1273&end=4392","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2539382-2bc10b89a8d93e127392d93af4c2a792/thumbnail_1273000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6642668/Kentucky/Committee-advances-SJR-55-to-address-antisemitism-at-public-universities-after-heated-testimony","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642668-a7a88b55430fb683e0902a19ddfa0a89/orig.mp4?Expires=1770767339&Signature=FxChT8mDQ1q7Mu3xwnKGaP3JSF2oLCrkJN~DgnipBIVIxwVoYiM08GgniycnZ8OXx1v8heACpJa3MfATFp6foEQkCIgbJrhHV46pttpTM3WCD2heLZO5aTugNZNPvtcVMj-otrit8Wm3Iwtzxw~28CNVHzEwjKTad3a-dq4whwAyB1wtWwAwsV6fkJSYsWD9d06lwGRskWyq1JIaA9knLF1TAVPZSY8d3N2Ayh8rTjYKkt0b-neWUTbmGyKME4DG7Xbc~3H0nyw69oeNKVF11yMn2QWMuYU~Ka3QqpoTd0tpAXjqewWeeqbEhfK44AG7oi7jNK602-~SNe4qbzXhQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kentucky Legislature","date","2025-03-11T13:53:58.47Z","article","The Kentucky House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education voted to advance Senate Joint Resolution 55, a resolution addressing antisemitism on postsecondary campuses, after more than an hour of testimony and public comment that included sharply divided views on free speech, campus safety and the use of particular definitions of antisemitism.

Senator Lindsey Tichenor, sponsor of SJR 55, told the committee the measure responds to a surge in reported antisemitic incidents that followed the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel. \"This resolution is in response to that,\" Tichenor said, describing provisions intended to make Jewish students aware of their civil-rights protections, campus complaint options and community resources, and to require universities to disband and report student organizations that provide material support to designated terrorist organizations.

Key provisions in the resolution would ask campuses at the start of each semester to notify students of their rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and of KRS 344.450'Kentucky's civil cause of action for certain acts of discrimination'and to publish available community resources that serve Jewish students \"to the same extent\" other religious organizations are recognized. The resolution also directs institutions to collect reports of antisemitic incidents and have CPE publish aggregated reports on its website. The resolution contains a sunset clause of June 30, 2028.

Rabbi Shlomo Litvin, chairman of the Kentucky Jewish Council and director of the Jewish Student Center at the University of Kentucky, urged support. \"Antisemitism on campus is a global issue and is a national issue, and Kentucky is no exception,\" he said, recounting instances of threats, vandalism and what he described as a lack of institutional response at some campuses.

Sponsor Tichenor told the committee the resolution had been amended with input from First Amendment advocates to preserve constitutionality and to allow for legitimate criticism of Israel'but to limit conduct that targets Jewish students. Tichenor also said the sponsor intends to clarify by floor amendment that a school would rely on the U.S. State Department's list of designated foreign terrorist organizations when identifying organizations that provide material support.

The resolution drew sustained public comment in opposition from students and community members who said the measure would chill criticism of Israel and could be used to suppress pro-Palestinian speech. Sierra Hanks, who identified herself as from Louisville, told the committee: \"If your goal is to keep Jewish Kentuckians safe on college campuses, honorable goal for real, this bill is not the answer.\" Logan Robertson, who identified himself as president of Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Kentucky, urged lawmakers to reject the resolution and described the use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism as a tool that has been used to suppress criticism of Israeli policy.

Representative Wilner, Representative Stalker and other members raised concerns about distinctions between criticism of Israeli government policies and actions that constitute antisemitic harassment. Representative Doan asked how a \"designated terrorist organization\" would be defined; sponsor Tichenor and other supporters said the intent is to rely on federal designations (U.S. State Department/Justice Department). Representative Stalker and Representative Willner recorded no votes on the motion in committee.

The committee recorded the motion and second and reported SJR 55 favorably; the clerk read a committee tally as 11 yes votes, 23 pass votes and 2 no votes. Committee members and public commentators sharply disagreed about whether the resolution would strengthen protections for Jewish students or would restrict constitutional speech on campus. The resolution as advanced includes the sunset date and direction for institutions to notify students of existing federal and state civil-rights protections.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education (3-11-25)","oneSentenceSummary","The House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education advanced Senate Joint Resolution 55, which directs public postsecondary institutions to notify students of civil-rights protections and to report antisemitic incidents to the Council on Postsecondary Education, while requiring campuses to disband student organizations found to give material support to designated terrorist organizations.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature KY, Kentucky","taxId",77680,"location","Kentucky","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6642673,"House committee advances SB 77 with substitute to allow comprehensive universities to seek doctoral programs",1142,106000,1248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2539382-2bc10b89a8d93e127392d93af4c2a792&start=106&end=1248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2539382-2bc10b89a8d93e127392d93af4c2a792/thumbnail_106000.jpg","/articles/6642673/Kentucky/House-committee-advances-SB-77-with-substitute-to-allow-comprehensive-universities-to-seek-doctoral-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642673-e8e28e931e81f184f9a5ac013103aba4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770767339&Signature=GoaQHGfi80lJsWsmzS64ycezwRvK49ixJWjbz3Qt5ELPWQWhUc78RULtmqe5CHmtGBrsVduBO7E-Y~hBbJay2jNAFdQ5pBmE2c9SF-NWE8~3rbTXa19tOGCQIlG15b8QRbqeNCMnpL9atseLxgN~WeWQoApqsZYH7bceL3S-bLJ0JRL52TfiDCfZOrbOQ0UlYTtI1FupC~5Bvcn9d1x8GSJaTHJiqc0LlgdRLhOGd61JsXzxUfmBXJpX44jqAAFSm0114BwtBsjQbdihRvD3xrznv4zyrmxRXuSAhOX2cYIJLmpufrmlBLQj~HUm7lF~Nzs7QCnjahk0nc5D20roww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kentucky House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education voted to advance Senate Bill 77 with a committee substitute that would remove statutory language barring comprehensive public universities from offering certain doctoral degrees and set eligibility and review criteria for any new doctoral program.

Senator Matt Dinh, the bill sponsor who appeared before the committee, said the legislation also seeks to give smaller institutions a stronger voice on a related education board. \"Senate Bill 77 gives our small colleges and universities an opportunity, to serve on the EPSB board,\" Dinh said, noting some small campuses do not have a chief academic officer to send to that board and may want to designate another academic leader instead.

Representative James Tipton, who explained the committee substitute on the floor, said the sub removes statutory language that currently prevents comprehensive universities from offering terminal degrees such as doctor of philosophy or doctor of musical arts. \"That language is stricken in the sub,\" Tipton said, adding that the substitute replaces the ban with a set of eligibility criteria and guardrails that CPE would use in program approval.

Under the substitute, a comprehensive university would become eligible to seek approval for a new doctoral program only after meeting several thresholds, including maintaining a first-to-second-year retention rate at or above 77% in at least two of the last three years, a six-year bachelor's graduation rate at or above 56% in at least two of the last three years, and possessing unrestricted cash reserves and short-term investments sufficient to cover the institution's total operating and nonoperating expenses for three months, as calculated from the prior fiscal year's audited financial statements. The substitute also lays out separate review pathways depending on whether the proposal requires a general-fund appropriation.

Travis Powell, senior vice president and general counsel for the Council on Postsecondary Education, told the committee the retention and graduation thresholds were derived from national data. \"Those two numbers'the 77% and the 56%'are from national data that we pulled to put, for all comprehensive universities, that would put them in the 75th percentile,\" Powell said. He described a two-path review process: a program that requires general-fund appropriation would be considered in CPE's biennial budget request and, if funded, would return to CPE for expedited approval and programmatic accreditation tracking. Programs that do not seek general-fund appropriation would follow the normal CPE program-approval process.

David McFadden, president of Eastern Kentucky University, said comprehensive universities already offer a number of doctoral programs and praised a pathway that allows expansion while maintaining standards. \"All of the institutions who are pursuing a variety of different program offerings are committed to really moving Kentucky forward,\" McFadden said. He cautioned that setting numeric thresholds in statute requires careful analysis so the standards are both attainable and durable.

Representative Bratcher moved the substitute; Representative Truitt seconded. The committee adopted the substitute and later voted to report Senate Bill 77 with the committee substitute attached. The roll call as read into the record recorded affirmative votes from Representatives Baker, Banta, Bratcher, Brown, Decker, Doan, Groesel, Massaroni, McCool, Payne, Roark, Stalker, Thompson, Truitt, Wilner and Chair Tipton. The committee also adopted a title amendment prior to adjournment.

The substitute preserves CPE's authority to assess program alignment with an institution's mission, statewide and regional workforce needs, student and employer demand, use of existing resources, and programmatic accreditation requirements, and it establishes a three-year post-approval review cycle for programs that may require continuing appropriations.

If the general assembly funds a proposed program, CPE would be responsible for tracking programmatic accreditation and performance to ensure graduates meet licensure requirements where applicable. If the general assembly does not appropriate funds, the program must still meet CPE's normal program-approval standards.

The committee's action advances the substitute to the full House for consideration. The substitute language replaces an explicit statutory prohibition with eligibility criteria and procedural requirements overseen by CPE, while keeping a role for the Legislature through the biennial budget when additional state funding is requested.

","The Kentucky House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education voted to advance Senate Bill 77 with a committee substitute that would remove statutory barriers preventing comprehensive public universities from offering certain doctoral degrees and would set review and eligibility criteria managed by the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE).","actionData","errors"]

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Committee advances SJR 55 to address antisemitism at public universities after heated testimony

House committee advances SB 77 with substitute to allow comprehensive universities to seek doctoral programs