President Sias and Chairperson Karen Bearden welcomed attendees to the retreat meeting of the Kentucky State University Board of Regents at 8:30 a.m. on January 24, 2013.

President Sias informed the attendees that the agenda would be modified to allow the morning's guest speaker, Bob King from the Council on Postsecondary Education to address the board first.

Chair Bearden addressed the attendees by stating that the university has many challenges ahead and that the university's constituencies have the intellectual capabilities, hearts and willingness to serve in order to address those challenges.

President Sias offered remarks regarding the challenges of college completion for Kentucky and the United States. President Sias reminded attendees that this date was the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation which for many, including KSU, allowed the institution to train the descendants of slaves as teachers and this remains a critical mission of the university.

President Sias stated that the university's job, and that of the Board of Regents, is to make sure that the next generation of students remain on target for college completion and that the university is doing achieving this goal. President Sias pointed out that this task is challenging since 84% of KSU students come to the university in need of at least one (1) course in supplemental education. This number is high, but representative of African American students in Kentucky who need additional support. KSU has a long history of providing "access to opportunity." President Sias also stated that "access without completion is a promise broken" and that at KSU, we do not want to break this promise. KSU has a hard job ahead and that we will focus on access and completion as we continue to grow.

Chairperson Bearden asked the Secretary to the Board to conduct the roll call:

Regent Banks, Present

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