Kentucky’s public higher education system is connecting with a national network of institutions to try to reach academic and economic-related goals. The official launch of the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative came Monday morning. State Council on Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson noted improving graduation rates, closing equity gaps, and enhancing the workforce are all linked. “We know the best way for us to move the agenda forward in this state is to have a variety of people, business and industry, as well as higher education leaders around the table early, to talk about how we can build the progress for Kentucky,” said Thompson.
Thompson said it’s the first such connection in the country involving both two and four-year higher ed institutions.
The James Graham Brown Foundation is committing $2.1 million to the collaborative. Foundation President Mason Rummel said little is accomplished in isolation and grant-making foundations find a shared agenda and common cause produce much greater results. “It’s our hope that each of the strengths and talents that these institutions bring to this effort will have a great impact on the students we serve and the outcome of our state’s higher education sector,” said Rummel.
Kentucky House Education Committee Chair James Tipton said the education system from pre-school through higher ed are comprised of many links in a chain. He said any break in that chain can harm the overall goal to improve education.
