The COVID-19 pandemic has provided Kentucky State University an opportunity to learn a great deal about our institutional capacity and our workforce. We have learned that amid profound challenges the staff has an ability to work cohesively to complete time-sensitive tasks. We have discovered the adaptability of our students to multiple modes of academic and social engagement. We have studied how to manage our campus facilities to comply with social distancing and health safety. Even more, we have confirmed that Kentucky State University has a core identity and set of values emblematic of the strong, focused, and swift thorobred.

These strengths are countered by challenges in staffing levels and workforce efficiency. The campus has identified areas that are overstaffed and areas that are understaffed. It is now very apparent that the aging complex of residence halls are not conducive to student health in the face of a pandemic. These facilities are also noncompliant with first responder needs in terms of bathroom facilities and current privacy models. These truths are a part of the fact that higher education is undergoing a set of changing circumstances and institutional operations must adjust to survive.

Resultingly, Kentucky State University is also closely tracking the substantial new expenses required to manage the impact of the COVID-19 virus. Like our postsecondary compeers, our campus faces the potentiality of significant losses in expected revenues due to numerous refunds and cancellations of programs. There are also the existential questions of when, how, and if our campus (or any campus) will resume normal operations. With these facts in mind, Kentucky State University is implementing a series of steps to address our immediate budgetary concerns and uncertain fiscal landscape.

address our immediate budgetary concerns and uncertain fiscal landscape.

As the administration plans for a murky future, we have elected to employ the following actions. While the below are not the full sum of possible management or operational adjustments, they are designed to accommodate what the campus can reasonably forecast and control at this time.

All discretionary spending is suspended immediately. This includes travel, food/meals, conferences and events, recognition banquets, and other expenditures that are not critical to the operation of the University. All divisions, colleges, schools, units, departments and programs must pause new non-salary expenditures, including (but not limited to): contracts, service or consulting agreements; computer, office and laboratory equipment; renovations; furniture; travel and entertainment; meetings and conferences. Any ongoing expenditure of University funds (including grant, gift and endowment funds) greater than $1,000 will require pre-approval by the Executive Vice President and President. Only essential expenditures that directly support the mission of Kentucky State University will be approved; even so, they will require both the signature of the Provost or Executive Vice President.

We have enacted a university-wide hiring pause on targeted vacancies. The only hiring permitted will be related to academic instruction, online-course delivery, accreditation, and/or revenue generating/oversight positions. Requests for exceptions to the above positions that are essential to the operation of