Dr. Wicker reported 327 students are eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony being held on May 10. Due to the large number of graduates and families, the graduation ceremony is currently scheduled to be held outside.

Regent Walston asked whether the number of students eligible for graduation might still increase.

Regent Hatchett sought additional information regarding high school students who had been taking courses at KSU and were going to be graduating this spring.

Regent Briggs queried whether there were any updates regarding commencement speakers.

Regent Dukes inquired whether anything was being done to curb stepping and other actions that distract from commencement. A deeper discussion followed regarding student celebrations during the graduation ceremony.

Dr. Dailey reported that summer courses would be offered on campus and online. Also, the transition to the new learning management system, Canvas, will be tested this summer before it is fully rolled out in the fall. All classes, regardless of the semester or session, must still meet a minimum enrollment of 15 students for the class to be held.

Regent Walston asked whether independent study courses would still be allowed since they do not meet that 15-student minimum requirement.

Dr. Wicker stated that the Dual Credit Office has met with over thirty high schools and reported on specific high school partnerships. The Dual Credit Office received a mini grant from CPE to host an on-campus event for dual credit students. Further, a four-week residential Summer STEM Academy is being planned.

As to the mini grant from CPE, Chair Walston inquired whether it is to be used for planning and orientation or for students to take courses. Chair Walston also queried whether students attending the dual credit orientation would be coming from the high school partnerships that Dr. Wicker had identified and whether multiple orientation sessions were being planned.

Dr. Wicker thanked the Committee for approving three substantive change prospectuses. He also explained that the University’s accrediting body, SACSCOC, has placed KSU on warning status. A monitoring report is due in September 2024, and a SACSCOC special committee team will be on campus in October. Dr. Wicker stressed the importance of having the FY 2022 and 2023 audits completed and submitted as part of the monitoring report due in September 2024.