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KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF REGENTS ANNUAL RETREAT MEETING

*** Meeting Was Conducted in Person and by Teleconference *** Thursday, August 8, 2024 9:00 a.m. EDT

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce 464 Chenault Road Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 (Primary Physical Location)

MINUTES *****

• I.Call to Order
• The Board's Chair, Regent Tammi Dukes, called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m.
• II.Swearing-in of Student Regent

The Board's Secretary, Zach Atwell, swore in the newest Regent, Ms. Aury Rios-Alcantara.

III. Roll Call

Secretary Atwell called the roll:

Regent Tammi Dukes, Chair Present

Regent Michael Adams, Jr., Vice Chair Present

Regent Edward Fields Present

Regent Ernie Fletcher, MD Not Present

Regent Edward Hatchett, Esq. Present

Regent Jason Moseley Not Present

Regent Charles Moyer, PhD Present

Regent Robert Ramsey, Sr. Present

Regent Herman Walston, EdD Present

Regent Aury Rios-Alcantara Present

At least six (6) Regents were in attendance and present at roll call. A quorum was therefore established.

IV. Approval of the Agenda

MOTION by Regent Fields:

Move the Board to approve the agenda of the August 8, 2024, annual retreat meeting of the Board of Regents.

Seconded by Regent Adams and passed without dissent.

V. Election of the Board Chair and Vice Chair

Next, Chair Dukes called for nominations for the Board Chair and Vice Chair. Regent Moyer nominated Chair Dukes to remain as the Board's Chair, and Regent Walston seconded the nomination.

MOTION by Regent Hatchett:

Move the Board to cease nominations for Board Chair and elect Regent Dukes as Board Chair by acclamation.

Second by Regent Moyer and passed without dissent.

MOTION by Regent Fields:

Move the Board to nominate Regent Adams as Vice Chair.

Seconded by Regent Hatchett and passed without dissent.

VI. Board Governance Training

Ms. Rose Mercier of The Governance Coach, Inc., presented the Board’s annual training session. Her PowerPoint, titled Policy Governance Overview, examined levels of Board performance, explored the governance system, and provided an overview of policy governance. Next, Ms. Mercier discussed ten principles of policy governance and Board accountability, as well as detailed aspects of policy governance and design.

Ms. Mercier paused her presentation and invited questions from the Board. Hearing none, she resumed with the principle of group authority as well as lines of authority and accountability and myths/hearsay regarding Board structure and function. As she concluded her presentation, Ms. Mercier asked Board members to share which aspects of the presentation stood out for them and then invited questions.

Regent Moyer queried how the Board could monitor and stay informed without stifling creativity.

President Akakpo thanked Ms. Mercier for her presentation.

VII. Break

VIII. “Using Data to Measure University Impact” Presentation

When the Board returned from its break, Ms. Elizabeth Atkins of Gray DI presented “The Power of a Program Evaluation System: Using Data to Measure University Impact.”

Regent Fields sought clarification as to which services Gray DI was currently providing to the University.

Chair Dukes inquired whether there were any data comparing KSU to other HBCUs.

President Akakpo asked whether Land Grant faculty members were included in the data presented by Ms. Atkins.

Regent Walston queried whether Gray DI also provided summaries or specific recommendations based upon their analyses and findings, or strategies used by other institutions.

Next, Mr. Michael Hunter of Gray DI's Customer Success Team joined the presentation and assisted the Regents with activating their accounts and logging into the Gray DI website.

Chair Dukes thanked Ms. Atkins and Mr. Hunter for their presentation.

Ⅸ. Lunch

X. State of the University

Following the lunch break, President Akakpo presented his State of the University address, discussing the status of his first-year goals (ending the FY 2024 with a balanced budget, enhancing internal control, and growing enrollment). President Akakpo also shared highlights of the past twelve months, including enhanced financial stability, a balanced FY 2024 budget, realigned and expended academic programs, and the new College of Engineering.

Regent Walston inquired into the status of pending employment positions.

President Akakpo continued with a discussion of student support services, stating that several new advisors had been hired. Work also continues toward creating an inclusive campus. Dr. Akakpo celebrated the University's largest standalone grant ($7 million), as well as securing the largest investment from the State to date. He further reported on the largest graduating class at this year's convocation ceremony, increasing the number of high school partners from four to 19, and the launch of the KYSU Online program.

President Akakpo also shared challenges, including SACSCOC and audit-related issues, and the FY 2025 enrollment outlook.

Chair Dukes asked whether the University's admission process includes the Common Application.

Regent Walston sought clarification as to the total number of admitted students versus total students registered for the Fall 2024 semester, and further inquired into the impact of the number of faculty members on enrollment.

Regent Rios-Alcantara queried whether changes were planned regarding the enrollment process to allow incoming students to track the progress of their applications and enrollments via a portal.

Regent Walston asked how long incoming students with GPAs between 1.9 and 1.7 would be required to participate in the Excel Program.

Regent Rios-Alcantara inquired into the graduation process, specifically inquiring into the process for a student to receive their diploma.

As to graduation rates, Regent Moyer asked whether the University is heading toward higher six-year graduation rate numbers and whether KSU is on track to meet or exceed the six-year rate of recent years. Regent Moyer also asked whether course prerequisites had been cleared up, specifically in terms of requiring prerequisites that are not even offered by the University.

Vice Chair Adams requested President Akakpo to share his perspective regarding ways to improve the manner by which data is collected regarding students' experiences with various University departments and processes. Vice Chair Adams also asked whether President Akakpo had spoken with any potential major external partners regarding University reinvestment or investment, fundraising, programming, or scholarships.

Vice Chair Adams also inquired into the statement that culture remains a problem and asked what strategies President Akakpo was considering employing or deploying to improve interdepartmental collaboration.

Regent Moyer queried whether there was a specific graduation rate target.

XI. Break

XII. Strategic Plan: Thorobreds Leading for Impact

When the Board returned from a short break, Dr. Wendy Dixie, CIO, presented “Thorobreds Leading for Impact: Strategic Plan, Vision 2028.” Dr. Dixie explained that the day’s presentation was a distilled version of the strategic plan that would be presented in full detail at a future Board meeting. Dr. Scott Wicker also joined the presentation. Dr. Wicker reminded Regents that the strategic plan is a core SACSCOC requirement, then continued with a discussion of the University’s current mission and vision statements versus proposed mission and vision statements. He also shared a current versus proposed value statement and further discussed institutional planning and effectiveness.

Next, Dr. Dixie shared four proposed strategic priorities, asking Regents for feedback regarding the University's strategic plan development. A discussion regarding the use of the words "intentional" and "equitable" ensued.

Regent Walston inquired how faculty members would be involved in developing the strategic plan.

Finally, Dr. Michael Dailey, Provost, joined the presentation and led Regents in a Kahoot Q&A exercise regarding the University's strategic plan.

XIII. Break

XIV. Means v. Ends Proposal

This agenda item was presented by President Akakpo, who suggested that the four proposed strategic priorities discussed in Agenda item XII also be employed as end goals for the University, asking the Board to formally approve the strategic priorities as end goals.

MOTION by Regent Walston:

Move the Board to accept the four proposed strategic priorities as the strategic initiative and end goals for the University.

Second by Regent Moyer and passed without dissent.

XV. President's Performance Evaluation

Chair Dukes reminded Regents to complete their Presidential evaluations prior to the August 9 Board meeting.

XVI. Board Evaluations and Regent Certifications

This agenda item was briefly discussed and completed by Regents on their own time.

XVII. Adjournment

MOTION by Regent Walston:

Move the Board to adjourn.

Seconded by Regent Moyer and passed without dissent.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:29 p.m.