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The Office of Student Affairs has been focused on four priorities during this reporting period. They are: recruitment; retention; engagement of students, faculty, staff and alumni; and insuring that the perception of KSU is accurately reflected in our service counties and across the Commonwealth. Remarkable progress has been made toward each goal.

A minimum of two faculty members have represented each academic major on both Thorobred Express stops. Student attendance throughout the convocation series was steady and students were engaged throughout as interviewers, performers and moderators. Alumni were integrally involved in recruiting for the Thorobred Express, especially in Louisville. The alumni are actively involved in the nominating process for the All-Star Alumni Convocation Series. The Thorobred Express evaluations are overwhelmingly positive! The feedback on faculty members who were in the local high school classrooms was extremely positive. Recruitment, retention, student, faculty and staff engagement, and perception were all increased as a result of the Thorobred Express.

The Thorobred Express' inaugural and second stops were very successful for recruitment, student, faculty, staff and alumni engagement and righting KSU's perception. Faculty members have stepped up in grand fashion to share the responsibility for recruitment. Each academic unit had representation on the Express. Faculty members from computer science, nursing and agriculture presented in high school classrooms in Hopkinsville and in Louisville. This very important aspect of the Thorobred Express affords teachers, counselors and administrators in the local school systems an up-close opportunity to witness the caliber of instruction offered on "The Hill."

The Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Vernell Bennett, has joined forces with the Growing the Future of Frankfort Committee (GTFOF). GTFOF is a sub-committee of the Frankfort Kiwanis Club. It was this committee that initiated the request for the City and the County to issue a proclamation stating that Kentucky State University is Frankfort/Franklin County's University. This partnership is a strong networking opportunity and excellent conduit to improved community relations with KSU.

Two initiatives are underway that are focused specifically on improving our relationships with our service counties. “Operation Perception Correction” is a focus group of faculty, staff, counselors, teachers, principals and alumni. The dialogue will be focused on improving the perception of KSU and eventually our recruitment in our service counties. Frank dialogue is in order, and the various constituents’ input is vital to accomplishing this goal.

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