FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Academic programs at all of Kentucky’s public universities are being evaluated to see how they align with student demand and employer needs, officials said Monday.
The new data-driven assessment is aimed at helping the schools gauge economic conditions and improve programs so students will succeed in a changing marketplace, the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education said in a statement.
The council said consulting and analytics firm Gray Associates will conduct the review on every baccalaureate program at each of the state’s eight public universities. Schools can use the results to determine if changes are needed.
Academic programs at public colleges and universities have been reviewed by the council for more than 20 years, but the process has taken different forms.
Officials hope the new assessment will help institutions prioritize programs that best prepare students for workforce opportunities and a meaningful civic life, Council on Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson said.
“This marks a fundamental shift in how CPE and campuses approach the mission of higher education in Kentucky,” he said. “We are focusing on student and market demand like never before, and this approach will provide important insights to develop and maintain programs that are consistent with our institutional missions and our state’s strategic objectives.”
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