KCTCS Proposes Major Reforms to Enhance Kentucky’s Two-Year College System

FRANKFORT – The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) has proposed a set of nearly a dozen recommendations aimed at enhancing the state’s two-year college system. The KCTCS Board of Regents approved these 11 recommendations during a recent meeting, with plans encompassing governance reforms, exclusive control over dual credit courses, and assessments for potential mergers among colleges.

These recommendations were developed in response to Senate Joint Resolution 179, which mandated KCTCS to conduct a comprehensive system review and present findings to the state legislature. The Interim Joint Committee on Education received the report during a session on Tuesday, where lawmakers were encouraged to submit questions via email due to time constraints.

Co-chair Representative James Tipton indicated that “any thing of substance that takes place is probably going to require some legislative action.” The General Assembly is set to reconvene next month, and while some actions could commence in 2025, others will likely need to wait until the budget legislative session in 2026.

KCTCS President Ryan Quarles expressed a commitment to “fix and improve KCTCS,” emphasizing the college system’s need to take charge of its direction rather than accepting external mandates. In his remarks, he described the recommendations as a “homegrown project” that reflects the aspirations of KCTCS leadership.

Currently, KCTCS serves over 100,000 students across 16 colleges in Kentucky. One significant recommendation is for KCTCS to become the sole provider of dual credit courses in the state, a suggestion met with skepticism from the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). CPE President Aaron Thompson stated that while he agrees with most recommendations, he believes the state should focus on expanding dual credit offerings rather than limiting them.

Additionally, the proposal to establish a common course numbering system for 100- and 200-level courses has raised concern. Thompson remarked that similar accreditation issues between institutions could still arise, questioning the necessity of a unified numbering system when the learning outcomes for KCTCS graduates and high school dual credit learners remain comparable.

As KCTCS navigates these recommendations and prepares for potential legislative changes, lawmakers plan to closely monitor the implementation process. The conversation surrounding the future structure of Kentucky’s two-year college system underscores ongoing efforts to enhance educational quality and accessibility throughout the state.