EKU president says lawmakers kept funding intact in budget
By Curtis Tate
April 21, 2026 at 4:58 PM EDT
Eastern Kentucky University is now the state’s largest regional university, with an enrollment of nearly 16,000. President David McFaddin said he wants to keep it affordable for students.
The Kentucky General Assembly had considered cutting Eastern Kentucky University’s base funding for the next two years.
Working with lawmakers in the House and Senate, EKU President David McFaddin was able to head that off.
McFaddin said the goal is to get EKU’s fiscal 2027 budget before the board of regents for approval at the next meeting in May.
“There's still fixed and unavoidable cost increases at the university and so but this is one of the big puzzle pieces that we needed to fill,” he said. “So this week, we'll spend the remainder of the week scoring out the budget assumptions for next year.”
McFaddin said he wants to keep EKU affordable for students.
“We're the largest comprehensive university yet," he said. "We're one of the most affordable public universities in the state, and so keeping affordability front of mind is critical as well."
Working with lawmakers in the House and Senate, EKU President David McFaddin was able to head that off.
McFaddin said the goal is to get EKU’s fiscal 2027 budget before the board of regents for approval at the next meeting in May.
“There's still fixed and unavoidable cost increases at the university and so but this is one of the big puzzle pieces that we needed to fill,” he said. “So this week, we'll spend the remainder of the week scoring out the budget assumptions for next year.”
McFaddin said he wants to keep EKU affordable for students.
“We're the largest comprehensive university yet," he said. "We're one of the most affordable public universities in the state, and so keeping affordability front of mind is critical as well."