KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF REGENTS

• expands access to high-value digital and analytical competencies;
• strengthens career preparation and workforce readiness;
• supports agricultural innovation and rural economic development;
• creates interdisciplinary collaboration between Agriculture and Business;
• supports student recruitment, retention, and degree completion;
• provides opportunities for stackable credentials and transfer pathways; and
• supports Kentucky State University's emerging applied and polytechnic orientation.

The certificate may also be integrated with related certificates and degree pathways, including agriculture, business, management information systems, geospatial technologies, and related disciplines.

INITIAL THREE-YEAR FUNDING

Implementation is supported by approximately $298,895 in USDA/NIFA 1890 Capacity Building Grant funding.

Grant resources support activities associated with curriculum and course development, instructional capacity, faculty development, student support, applied learning, program implementation, evaluation, and supporting infrastructure.

This external funding substantially reduces the University's startup financial risk.

Importantly, the certificate does not initially require:

• creation of a new academic department;
• construction of new facilities;
• a new permanent full-time faculty line; or
• development of an entirely new curriculum.

The program is designed primarily around existing courses and instructional capacity, with grant-supported resources providing implementation support during the initial funding period.

PROGRAM ECONOMICS AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY

A Program Economics analysis has been completed to assess the financial implications of the proposed certificate.

The analysis concludes that the certificate has a favorable preliminary economic profile because four of the five courses already exist, only one new cross-listed course is required, substantial startup costs are supported by the USDA/NIFA grant, and the program can generate interdisciplinary student credit hours without initially requiring a new faculty line or facility.

Board of Regents Staff Report | Agricultural & Business Data Science Certificate Program