According to the National Science Foundation, nationally reports of federal funding for higher education indicates that “research and development funds declined by 1.7% between FY 2014 and FY 2015 and has fallen over 13% since its peak in FY 2011 (figure 1).1 Kentucky State University however, has defied this trend and in the 2014 Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey reported a KSU increase by eight (8) positions from the previous year position of 383. Currently ranked at 375, KSU also saw overall two percent increase in the amount of research expenditures reported. Among HBCUs KSU ranked 30th among 50 reporting institutions.

FIGURE 1. Higher education R&D expenditures, by source of funds: FYs 1972–2015

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