KRS 164.295: Programs of state and comprehensive universities -- Criteria for

submission of proposal for new doctoral programs -- Review of proposals for

new doctoral programs -- Appropriations.

(1) The six (6) state comprehensive universities:

(a) Shall provide, upon approval of the Council on Postsecondary Education,

associate and baccalaureate programs of instruction;

(b) Shall provide, upon approval of the Council on Postsecondary Education,

graduate programs of instruction in education, business, and the arts and

sciences, specialist degrees, and programs beyond the master's -degree level to

meet the requirements for teachers, school leaders, and other certified

personnel; and

(c) Shall provide research and service programs directly related to the needs of

their primary geographical areas.

(2) A comprehensive university may provide, upon approval of the Council on

Postsecondary Education:

(a) Programs of a community college nature in their own community comparable

to those listed for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, as

provided in KRS 164.580; and

(b) Doctoral programs, including but not limited to Doctor of Philosophy degree

programs, advanced practice doctoral degree programs, and doctoral degree

programs for professional practice and licensure.

(3) In order to be eligible to submit a proposal for a new doctoral program to the

Council on Postsecondary Education, a comprehensive university shall maintain:

(a) A first to second year retention rate in at least two (2) of the last three ( 3)

years:

1. In the seventy -fifth percentile of all comprehensive universities

nationally; or

2. In the eightieth percentile of all comprehensive universities within states

that are members of the Southern Regional Education Board;

(b) A six (6) year graduate rate for bachelor's degrees in at least two (2) of the last

three (3) years:

1. In the sevent y-fifth percentile of all comprehensive universities

nationally; or

2. In the eightieth percentile of all comprehensive universities within states

that are members of the Southern Regional Education Board; and

(c) Sufficient unrestricted cash reserves and short-term investments to cover the

institution's total operating and nonoperating expenses for three (3) months as

calculated from the prior fiscal year's audited financial statement.

(4) (a) If a comprehensive university is seeking to offer a new doctora l program

which may require additional general fund appropriations for capital or

operating expenses beyond the university's regular appropriations, the

university shall submit a proposal to the Council on Postsecondary Education

for review and evaluation. The council's review shall include but not be

limited to:

1. The proposed program's alignment with the mission and goals of the

comprehensive university;

2. The statewide or regional need the proposed program seeks to fill and

how the comprehensive university, through the offering of this program,

would fill this need;

3. Student demand for the proposed program;

4. Employer demand for the proposed program, including any potential

industry partners;

5. Utilization of current institutional resources to deliv er the proposed

program and how the program would complement existing program

offerings and not shift resources away from those existing programs;

6. A five (5) year budgetary analysis of the proposed program, including

program costs, funding sources proje cted to support the program, and

the amount of general fund appropriations needed for capital or

operating expenses;

7. The proposed program curriculum;

8. Any specialized accreditation or licensure requirements for the proposed

program and analysis of how those would be met;

9. Admission and graduation requirements for the proposed program; and

10. Administrative oversight to ensure the quality of the proposed program.

(b) Any specialized resources needed by the council to evaluate a comprehensive

university's proposal for a new doctoral program submitted in accordance

with paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be funded by the comprehensive

university.

(c) A proposal submitted in accordance with paragraph (a) of this subsection shall

be submitted no later than January 1 of an odd -numbered year for

consideration in the council's budget request for the next biennial budget in

accordance with KRS 164.020(10) and 164.7915.

(5) The Council on Postsecondary Education shall review each proposal submitted in

accordance with subsection (4)(a) of this section and shall make a recommendation

to the General Assembly on the viability of the proposed program. The

recommendation:

(a) Shall identify whether a general fund appropriation should be made to fund

capital or ope rations for the proposed program amount. If the council

recommends a general fund appropriation, the recommendation shall include a

proposed amount for the general fund appropriation; and

(b) May provide recommendations regarding alternative options to mee t any

statewide or regional needs identified by the comprehensive university in its

proposal.

(6) If the General Assembly appropriates funds for a doctoral program proposed in

accordance with subsection (4)(a) of this section:

(a) The comprehensive univers ity shall submit the program approval request to

the council for regular review and approval. The Council on Postsecondary

Education may:

1. Provide conditional approval of the program to permit the institution to

begin the process of programmatic accredit ation as required for

professional practice; and

2. Condition final approval upon obtaining full programmatic

accreditation, as applicable; and

(b) The Council on Postsecondary Education shall review the doctoral program at

least once every five (5) years to ensure continued efficacy, productivity, and

quality and in conjunction with KRS 164.020(16).

(7) A comprehensive university seeking to offer a n ew doctoral degree program that

certifies that the new doctoral degree program will not require additional general

fund appropriations for capital or operating expenses beyond the regular

appropriations shall submit a proposal to the Council on Postseconda ry Education

for review and approval through a process developed by the council in accordance

with KRS 164.020(15). In developing its process, the council shall consider the

elements set forth in subsection (4)(a) of this section, as applicable.

(8) A comp rehensive university shall not describe itself in official publications or in

marketing materials as a research university or research institution unless

designated as such by a nationally recognized authority for the classification of

research universities. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as precluding a

comprehensive university from conducting basic, applied, or translational research.