More KY universities could award advanced degrees under new law
Legislation to create schools of veterinary and osteopathic medicine in Kentucky went nowhere in the recently-adjourned General Assembly, but lawmakers did open a path for more public universities to offer such professional and advanced degree programs.
Senate Bill 77, which received bipartisan support in the General Assembly and was signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear, allows the state's comprehensive universities for the first time to seek approval to start professional programs such as medicine or architecture and to offer doctor of philosophy degrees.
The new law also creates a framework for the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) to review a university's proposal and make a recommendation to the legislature about whether it is viable and should be funded.
Eastern Kentucky University wants to open a school of osteopathic medicine and aims to graduate its first class of physicians in 2034. Murray State University has been working to win approval to open a veterinary medicine school and got a boost last year when the legislature allocated $60 million to construct a new veterinary sciences building now in the design phase.
Western Kentucky University wants to start research doctoral programs.
All of those proposals were introduced as bills during the recently concluded 2025 regular session. None received a committee hearing; instead, lawmakers created a process for deciding when the state needs such programs and to consider the costs.
The framework outlined in the law allows lawmakers to have in-depth information, particularly about the financial stability and viability of a proposal, before voting to fund a new program, said Sen. Matthew Deneen, an Elizabethtown Republican.
In an interview, Deneen said the legislation 'was an opportunity to expand the opportunity' for comprehensive universities in the state to offer more doctoral programs. Besides EKU, Murray and Western, the comprehensive universities are Morehead State and Northern Kentucky universities.
'It's important to have a framework like this and guidelines in place so that we can make better decisions for the people of the commonwealth, for our students, because ultimately the things that we're doing here are going to impact the offerings at these comprehensive universities,' Deneen said. 'And it's going to allow them to meet the goals of not only their students but of the overall commonwealth.'
The new law directs CPE to review how the proposed program would align with the goals and mission of the university, the statewide or regional need for the program and demand by students and employers for the program. Universities must also show CPE how the program compliments existing programs, provide a five-year budgetary analysis, possible curriculum and more.
Before submitting a new proposal, the law says that a comprehensive university must meet some student success measures such as having a first-to-second year retention rate and a six-year graduation rate that is in the 75th percentile of all comprehensive universities nationwide and the 80th percentile of all comprehensive universities within the Southern Regional Education Board.
Now, CPE is creating policies to determine the eligibility for the new professional programs. Travis Powell, vice president and general counsel of CPE, said the process will likely be similar to how CPE has approved other academic programs in the past.
'Right now we are in the process of determining initial eligibility … to see who is even eligible to offer programs based on the student success measures that have to be in place and the reserve funding they have to keep,' Powell said.
Under the new law, CPE can recommend if proposals that will include a funding request to the General Assembly should be funded, Powell said. CPE already makes biennial budget requests to the legislature. The next state budget will be considered in 2026.
EKU's plan to open an osteopathic medicine school would include asking the legislature for nearly $50 million to meet accreditation requirements for reserve funds.
EKU President David McFaddin told the Lantern the university's work starts this spring to verify data needed for CPE's review of the proposal as well as gaining a pre-accrediation status with the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). While McFaddin acknowledged it is an 'aggressive timeline,' EKU plans to have the first class of students graduating in 2034.
The law does 'open the door' for all of the state's comprehensive universities to offer degrees that 'may connect back with the overall needs of Kentucky,' McFaddin said.
'I think at the end of the day for our public institutions, making sure that we're mapping those degree programs to our community needs to our workforce needs to our economic needs are critically important,' he added.
Murray State recently praised the passage of Senate Bill 77 as the university works toward opening a veterinary medical school.
In a statement to the Kentucky Lantern, Murray State said a task force will review the development of a course of study for the professional degree program and that the university is 'very grateful' to lawmakers and the governor for supporting the bill.
WKU also praised the passage of the new law, 'which moves WKU one step closer to offering PhD programs as we pursue Carnegie R2 status,' said Jace Lux, a university spokesperson in an email. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education in 1970 created a classification system for institutions. R2 designates mid-level research universities. R1 is the highest level and includes the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.
'The CPE is currently developing a process to review and approve new PhD programs,' Lux said. 'Once that process is finalized and shared with us, we will begin seeking approval for our first PhD in the field of Data Science.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
20 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Nebraska Republican is shouted down by hostile crowd at a town hall on Trump's tax cuts
LINCOLN, Neb. — Rep. Mike Flood has gotten an earful during a public meeting in Lincoln aimed at discussing his support for the massive tax breaks and spending cuts bill that passed Congress and was signed into law by President Trump. Flood, a second-term Republican who represents the GOP-leaning district that includes the University of Nebraska, on Monday braved the ire of a college town audience dominated by hundreds of people intent on expressing their displeasure chiefly with cuts to Medicaid benefits and tax reductions tilted toward the wealthy. He described the law as less than perfect but stood firm on its Medicaid and tax provisions, fueling a 90-minute barrage of jeers and chants in a scenario House Republican leaders have specifically advised GOP members to avoid. 'More than anything I truly believe this bill protects Medicaid for the future,' Flood said, setting off a shower of boos from the audience of roughly 700 in the University of Nebraska's Kimball Recital Hall. 'We protected Medicaid.' How voters receive the law, passed with no Democratic support in the narrowly GOP-controlled House and Senate, could go a long way to determine whether Republicans keep power in next year's midterm elections. Flood was resolute on his position but engaged with the audience at times. During his repeated discussions of Medicaid, he asked if people in the audience thought able-bodied Americans should be required to work. When many shouted their opposition, he replied, 'I don't think a majority of Nebraskans agree with that.' Dozens formed a line to the microphone to speak to Flood, most asking pointed questions about the law, but many others questioning moves by the Trump administration on immigration enforcement, education spending and layoffs within the federal bureaucracy. Some came prepared to confront him. 'You said in Seward you were not a fascist,' one man stood in line to say. 'Your complicity suggests otherwise.' Flood shot back, 'Fascists don't hold town halls with open question-and-answer sessions.' Asked if he would block the release of files related to the sex trafficking case involving the late Jeffrey Epstein, Flood said he supports their release as a co-sponsor of a nonbinding resolution calling for their publication. Flood also said he supports requiring a deposition from Epstein's convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, who argues she was wrongfully prosecuted. Flood's audience was gathering more than an hour before the doors opened. And as people lined up in the warm August air, he sauntered by, introducing himself, shaking hands and thanking people, including retired Lincoln teacher and school administrator Mary Ells, for attending. 'I believe Congressman Flood listened in a socially appropriate way,' Ells said after expressing concerns to Flood about her grandchildren's future. 'I do not believe he listens in a responsive, action-oriented way for citizens in Nebraska that do not agree with the national playbook written elsewhere but being implemented here.' Inside the hall, much of that decorum vanished. During Flood's discussion of his support of the law's tax provisions, which he argued would benefit the middle class, the audience exploded in a deafening chant of 'Tax the rich.' Other refrains included 'Vote him out!' and 'Free Palestine!' Hecklers often drowned out Flood, creating a rolling cacophony with only occasional pauses. Republican lawmakers' town halls have been few and far between since the bill passed early last month, in part because their leaders have advised them against it. Trump and others say the law will give the economy a jolt, but Democrats feel they've connected with criticism of many of its provisions, especially its cuts to Medicaid and tax cuts tilted toward the wealthy. Flood later downplayed the confrontation as 'spirited' but 'part of the process' during an impromptu press conference. 'It doesn't mean you can make everybody happy,' he said. 'But, you know, if you feel strongly about what you're doing in Congress, stand in the town square, tell them why you voted that way, listen to their questions, treat them with respect and invite them to continue to communicate.' Unlike dozens of other Republicans in competitive districts, Flood hardly has to worry, as Republicans brace for a challenge to their razor-thin majority in the House next year. Elected in 2022, Flood was reelected to the seat last year by winning 60% of the vote in a district that includes Lincoln in Democratic-leaning Lancaster County but also vast Republican-heavy rural tracts in 11 counties that ring the Omaha metropolitan area. Beaumont writes for the Associated Press.
Newsweek
21 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Republican Congressmen Make Moves to Block Trump-Backed Redistricting
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. GOP Representatives Kevin Kiley of California and Mike Lawler of New York have come out against efforts to draw new congressional maps before the 2026 midterm, which was started after President Donald Trump urged Texas to redistrict. Both Republicans represent swing districts and said they'll offer bills to curtail gerrymandering, framing their efforts as a bid to block Democratic-led states redistricting in response to the Republican effort. "Gavin Newsom is trying to subvert the will of voters and do lasting damage to democracy in California," Kiley said in a Monday statement, according to NBC News. "Fortunately, Congress has the ability to protect California voters using its authority under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This will also stop a damaging redistricting war from breaking out across the country." This is a developing story and will be updated with additional information.
American Press
an hour ago
- American Press
Rollins extends sugary drinks ban to six more states — including Louisiana
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins approved six waivers to exclude sodas and energy drinks from federal nutrition programs on Monday. Rollins signed waivers exempting soda and energy drinks from being included in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs in Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia. The six states join Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Utah and Nebraska in restricting sodas and energy drinks from SNAP. 'Since my confirmation, our department has encouraged states to think differently and creatively about how to solve the many health issues facing Americans,' Rollins said. 'One way is by not allowing taxpayer-funded benefits to be used to purchase unhealthy items like soda, candy and other junk food.' Critics of the new push to ban soda and energy drinks under SNAP say it unfairly targets lower-income families, limits consumer choice and won't result in better health outcomes. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is the first Democrat governor to request a waiver of sugary drinks from the states SNAP program. 'This is not red or blue, Republican or Democrat. We are discussing and working with every state. So (I am) really excited to continue to work with Gov. Polis,' Rollins said. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey joined Rollins for the announcement. Morrisey praised his state's inclusion as part of the SNAP waiver program. He said the lack of access to healthy foods in West Virginia contributes to the prevalence of chronic disease in residents. 'I'm happy now that West Virginia taxpayers are not going to be subsidizing soda and these sugary drinks, things that have no nutritional value and are directly linked to obesity, diabetes, and a lot of other terrible health care outcomes,' Morrisey said. HHS Secretary Kennedy agreed with Morrisey. He said the inclusion of soda and energy drinks in SNAP increases the cost to medicaid and medicare programs due to increased chronic disease. 'U.S. taxpayers should not be paying to feed kids foods – the poorest kids in our country – with foods that are the gift of diabetes. And my agency ends up through Medicaid and Medicare paying for those injuries,' Kennedy said. Kennedy also gave an update on the dietary guidelines for Americans that he is working alongside Rollins to complete. He said the guidelines will be complete in late September, 'three months ahead of schedule.' 'They will drive changes in the school lunch program, in prison lunches and military food, and they will begin to change America almost immediately,' Kennedy said. Not everyone agrees. 'Make no mistake, this waiver won't make an ounce of difference on health,' the trade organization American Beverage said when a waiver was being discussed in Ohio. 'Obesity has skyrocketed in the last two decades while beverage calories per serving have dropped by 42% – thanks to our industry's efforts to empower Americans with more choice and information. In fact, 60% of beverages Americans buy today have zero sugar due to our innovation.' The U.S. government spent $112.8 billion on SNAP in 2023, covering 100% of the cost of food benefits and 50% of states' administrative costs.
