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Committee backs amended plan to reposition Kentucky State University as a polytechnic-focused HBCU
Summary
After testimony from sponsors, alumni and community members, the committee reported SB185 (as amended by PHS1) favorably to the House floor. The substitute declares a five‑year exigency to transition Kentucky State University toward polytechnic/STEM focus while retaining HBCU status, raises admission benchmarks, and directs multiple oversight and funding measures.
The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee voted to report Senate Bill 185, as amended by PHS1, after extensive sponsor testimony and public comment on April 1.
Sen. Christian McDaniel, sponsor of the substitute, told the committee the package is intended to preserve Kentucky State University (KSU) while charting a new path. He described a five‑year period of "exigency" to transition KSU toward a polytechnic mission focused on STEM and industry‑aligned applied learning, while retaining the university’s historical HBCU identity. Under the substitute, the minimum general admission GPA would be raised to 2.5 with an 18 ACT equivalency for first‑time freshmen; liberal‑arts degrees would be expanded online while polytechnic and STEM degrees remain in person.
Sen. McDaniel listed operational and financial provisions in the substitute: tenure and some employment protections could be modified during exigency with certain authorities given to the president; students owing more than $1,000 could be denied enrollment beyond 30 days unless on a payment plan; financial transactions would be transferred to the EMAR system; and the Department of Revenue would be authorized to work with federal authorities to intercept returns for debts owed to KSU. He also said several funding requests were under review, including an asset‑preservation request up to $50 million, $2 million in HB500 for expanded online offerings, $3 million for the polytechnic transition, and $50 million in the biennial budget proposed for a health sciences building.
Representative Joshua Watkins, who helped craft the substitute, emphasized that KSU’s status as Kentucky’s public historically black college and university (HBCU) remains intact, and that the substitute includes protections for certain student categories (veterans, nonpublic graduates with an 18 ACT equivalent, transfer students and non‑traditional learners). He noted reporting requirements changes (90 days to the Department of Revenue) and allowances for transfer credit up to 24 hours.
Several alumni and community speakers urged support. Barry C. Johnson Jr., president of the Kentucky State University National Alumni Association, urged the committee to vote yes and described the substitute as honoring KSU’s legacy while enabling a sustainable future. Kumar Rashad (2024 Kentucky High School Teacher of the Year and KSU alumnus) and Dr. Darling M. Davis Goodwine (clinical psychologist and KSU graduate) spoke in support while urging preservation of liberal‑arts content. Representative Brown highlighted KSU’s founding in 1886 as central to the committee’s deliberations.
The committee recorded 20 yes votes, zero no votes and zero passes to report SB185 (PHS1) favorably to the floor.
