CPE approves academic programs, sets tuition for new scholarship program

September 20, 2022

 The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary education approved two new academic programs for Eastern Kentucky University at its meeting Monday.

The first program is a Bachelor of Science in management information systems. This 120-credit hour program will prepare students for careers in a variety of fields, including project management, business analytics and database engineering. It will replace the current Bachelor of Business Administration in computer information systems.

The second is a Bachelor of Science in manufacturing engineering. This 120-credit hour program will be EKU’s first engineering program and will complement its existing programs in science, technology and mathematics.  In order to graduate, students will be required to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, which is meant to aid in ensuring success after graduation.

In other action, the Council approved the Kentucky resident rate of tuition for Kentucky Innovative Scholarship recipients. These new scholarships, funded by a $10 million appropriation by the General Assembly, cover the total cost of attendance at Kentucky colleges and universities for students displaced by crises in their home countries. This action will make each scholarship cost less, allowing the appropriated funds to support more students.   

The Council also approved a resolution thanking Council student member Colby Birkes for his service. Birkes was a Council member for two years serving as the voice of Kentucky students.

Two new Council members took their oath of office. Garrison Reed, the new student member, is a junior at Western Kentucky University. CB Akins of Lexington is the former pastor of First Baptist Church Bracktown and has served on the Kentucky Department of Education and University of Kentucky boards. 

In other business, the Council:

• Received reports from CPE President Aaron Thompson and Kentucky State University President Ronald Johnson.
• Heard reports from the Academic and Strategic Initiatives Committee, Executive Committee, Finance Committee and Good News reports from the campuses.
• Heard a summary of CPE’s 2022 Progress Report, which details public higher education performance for the 2020-21 school year. The report showed long-range gains in closing equity gaps, an increase in graduation rates and declines in enrollment and retention.

Council meeting materials are available here. 

The next meeting of the Council will be held Nov. 17-18 at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park.