An examination of higher education access in southeastern Kentucky would come under review with the final passage of a Senate resolution. The call for a study is moving in the State Legislature.
The resolution asks the Council on Postsecondary Education to explore the feasibility of converting Hazard Community and Technical College into a four-year institution. It passed out of the Senate Friday. GOP Bill Sponsor Senate President Robert Stivers said there are no preconceived notions.
“I believe this is the process to ultimately get to a policy consideration. This is not policy. This is a process to see what the appropriate policy should be,” said Stivers.
The Senate leader said he’s hasn’t heard any comments about singling out HCTC for such a review, adding he’s not heard anything on this topic from other university officials.
It is one of three resolutions regarding higher education issues. Lexington Democratic Senator Reggie Thomas asked in committee, why not put all the issues in one measure?
“Let’s put everything on the table it seems to me and look at what kind of graduate programs we’re going to give them, look at what kind of tranches of money that we’re going to use to fund special projects,” said Thomas.
Two other resolutions deal with studying postbaccalaureate programs at EKU, WKU, and Murray and to examine significantly boosting overall research collaboration statewide. Robert Stivers said singling out the HCTC issue signals a clear direction and gives priority in a separate resolution.
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