whose jobs may be eliminated can move over if they have the appropriate credentials. Faculty will essentially be uncut in this first round of reductions. We expect to reduce overloads and the use of adjuncts where appropriate based on enrollment.

We also have to make some additional adjustments in the 2013-2014 budget because we have $2.5 million in this year's budget that will not be carried over into next year's budget. The bottom line is that we have to cut a total of a little more than $7 million. That means that by the second round of adjustments in February, we will lose approximately 15 to 20 jobs. We are waiting for the spring's firm enrollment count to make those final adjustments. Any change in academic programs will also wait until next fall.

Now, let's look specifically at our strategic takeaways that will serve as the roadmap for KSU for the next three to five years, as we chart a new course to establish a culture of completion and to deal with the worst economic times since the Depression.

1 All activities and programs must be critical to KSU's mission. If it is not a part of the strategic plan we have built for ourselves, it probably needs to be evaluated, and maybe eliminated. We must recognize that we cannot be all things to all people. Our mission is to create access to a high-quality education for students who have historically been underrepresented in higher education, either because of their race or socioeconomic status.

2 We must identify and confront every issue impacting student success, retention, and graduation. Lagging completion rates are an issue here at KSU. We have to face that and aggressively address how we can improve our rates. While many of the reasons are financial, it is also true that the completion rates at KSU are negatively impacted by the fact that we have a large number of students who come out of high school not as well prepared for college as they should be. Let's own up to it and step up to provide more initial testing and more assistance for those students. More intrusive intervention and an ombudsman are being funded from Title III funds to make certain that we walk them and all students through to a satisfactory conclusion to their problems within 24 hours, whenever it is at all possible. Students are our business and we must serve them better. Our organizational structure must be realigned to be efficient and we must reduce unnecessary institutional rules and the time it takes to earn a degree. Our organizational structure is being realigned to be more efficient and effective. That realignment will go to the board in October. We are also working to reduce unnecessary institutional rules that hinder completion and the time it takes to earn a degree. We are reducing the number of student credit hours to graduation to 120 credit hours in most majors, and our liberal arts core is being evaluated with an expected outcome of reducing the number of hours in our liberal arts core down to 36-42 versus 53 hours. This will allow students more time for additional upper division courses in their major, which will make them better prepared for the marketplace when they graduate. Our academic programs at KSU must be efficient and should optimize the use of our faculty. Academic programs that are not recruiting or graduating the minimum prerequisite number of graduates will evaluate their programs internally and be prepared with plans to improve, quickly, or be eliminated. That time is here.

Our organizational structure must be realigned to be efficient and we must reduce unnecessary institutional rules and the time it takes to earn a degree. Our organizational structure is being realigned to be more efficient and effective. That realignment will go to the board in October. We are also working to reduce unnecessary institutional rules that hinder completion and the time it takes to earn a degree.

We are reducing the number of student credit hours to graduation to 120 credit hours in most majors, and our liberal arts core is being evaluated with an expected outcome of reducing the number of hours in our liberal arts core down to 36-42 versus 53 hours. This will allow students more time for additional upper division courses in their major, which will make them better prepared for the marketplace when they graduate.

Our academic programs at KSU must be efficient and should optimize the use of our faculty. Academic programs that are not recruiting or graduating the minimum prerequisite number of graduates will evaluate their programs internally and be prepared with plans to improve, quickly, or be eliminated. That time is here.

Developmental/supplemental education on our campus must be transformed as quickly as possible so college credit counts upfront for many of the students coming in underprepared. This can be done by designing hybrid courses that allow for some credit while students are in supplemental education courses. Our online program must grow – rapidly – as well as our use of technology to help in supplemental education and in our teaching in general. This is imperative. KSU must spend efficiently on financial aid, increase the opportunities for need-based assistance and increase the number and amount of aid for transfer students. We also plan to aggressively address what we can do to assist more of our out-of-state students in reducing their costs. They leave owing $40,000 plus on average more than in-state students. For a group of students who are 60 percent likely to remain in Kentucky and to expand the diversity of its human capital, something must be done to help them get through school with less debt.

KSU must spend efficiently on financial aid, increase the opportunities for need-based assistance and increase the number and amount of aid for transfer students. We also plan to aggressively address what we can do to assist more of our out-of-state students in reducing their costs. They leave owing $40,000 plus on average more than in-state students. For a group of students who are 60 percent likely to remain in Kentucky and to expand the diversity of its human capital, something must be done to help them get through school with less debt.