Kentucky State University underfunded by more than $172M in last 30 years, report finds
The state of Kentucky has underfunded Kentucky State University, the only public historically Black university in the state, by more than $172 million in the last 30 years, a letter from the U.S. departments of education and agriculture revealed this week.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack sent letters to 16 governors this week addressing the disparity of funding between land-grant Historically Black College and Universities and non-HBCU land-grant schools. Gov. Andy Beshear was one of the governors to receive a letter for the underfunding of KSU.
The university has produced “extraordinary graduates that contribute greatly to the state’s economy,” but the underfunding of KSU means it hasn’t advanced as quickly as the University of Kentucky, the other land-grant school in the state, the letter said.
“The longstanding and ongoing underinvestment in Kentucky State University disadvantages the students, faculty, and community that the institution serves,” the letter says.
There are more than 100 HBCUs in the country, but 19 are land-grant institutions designated for funding under the Second Morrill Act, which were the subject of the letters sent by Cardona and Vilsack. Land-grant institutions were designated under the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890 with funding to focus on education related to agriculture, science, military science and engineering. The University of Kentucky was designated as a land-grant under the first act.
The Second Morrill Act required states to establish separate land-grant institutions for Black students, and resulted in the establishment of several HBCUs across the country. KSU was founded in 1886, and became a land-grant college under the act in 1890.
Other states that received letters include Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
Cardona and Vilsack said it was “encouraging to learn that in recent years ... your state budget has taken steps to address this historic underinvestment, and it is our hope that we can work together to start a dialogue and develop a plan of action to make this institution whole after decades of being underfunded.”
“Unacceptable funding inequities have forced many of our nation’s distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities to operate with inadequate resources and delay critical investments in everything from campus infrastructure to research and development to student support services,” Cardona said.
The letter asks states to consider ways to address the underfunding, either through the state budget (which they called an “ambitious” route), or a combination of state allocations “combined with a forward-looking budget commitment for a two-to-one match of federal land grant funding.”
“We want to make abundantly clear that it is not necessary to reduce funding to other institutions, nor make a reduction in general fund allocations to Kentucky State University in addressing these disparities,” the letter said.
Beshear’s office did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday.
KSU’s recent budget challenges
In a statement Wednesday, KSU President Koffi Akakpo said he had received the letter and was reviewing it.
“As the President of Kentucky State University, I have the responsibility and the commitment to ensure the institution is strong and vibrant. ... The General Assembly demonstrated their support of KSU with House Bill 250 in 2022 and I look forward to partnering with the General Assembly and the Governor in the upcoming Legislative Session,” Akakpo said. “Kentucky State University must provide a positive impact on the Commonwealth and our students. I will work with everyone to achieve this.”
Kentucky State University has faced many budget and financial challenges in recent years. A special examination of the university’s finances by the Office of the Auditor of Public Accounts earlier this year found widespread overspending, a lack of financial control and misuse of credit cards and university funds.
That report came after KSU received $23 million from the state in 2022 to address its budget shortfall, and after the university’s board was replaced and the university came under supervision of the Council on Postsecondary Education.
The university was without a permanent president for nearly two years after M. Christopher Brown resigned in 2021, amid growing concerns about the university’s finances and leadership. Earlier this year, Akakpo, the former president of Bluegrass Community and Technical College, was hired as president of KSU.
Click the link below to view the letter.
This story was originally published September 21, 2023 at 1:14 PM.