The Richmond Chamber of Commerce and community representatives got an update from Eastern Kentucky University President David McFaddin on Thursday.
McFaddin outlined the connection between the community and the university, saying that 15 percent of all jobs in Madison County link back to EKU related activities. The Eastern president said attracting Madison County students to EKU is also a priority.
“If we’re not winning in Madison County, if we don’t have a great relationship with the school systems here in this community, then we’re not going to be as successful as we need to be and we’re definitely not fulfilling the obligation of being that provider of higher education that we need to be,” said McFaddin.
There are nearly 15 hundred students enrolled at EKU who are from Madison County. McFaddin said overall enrollment is up almost two percent from last year.
“First time we’ve been up year over year in total enrollment since 2015-16 so that’s a big move for us and things moving in the right direction.” Said McFaddin.
McFaddin also updated the community on the unfinished pedestrian bridge over the bypass in Richmond. The Eastern president said a height requirement needs to be addressed before construction can be completed.
While touting the successful funding of a new Model Lab facility, McFaddin warned that traffic around Lancaster and the bypass will be impacted once the construction phase begins.
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