Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1) The structure of higher education governance in the Commonwealth, including the current condition and projected needs of the state over the next 20 years in terms of postsecondary education attainment, workforce, and economic needs. The analysis shall consider population and demographic trends; economic and workforce conditions and needs; state of college preparation; extent of postsecondary access, completion, and affordability; student learning options; and education finance. The study shall include recommendations on needed changes to the state’s postsecondary governance structure that would be essential to meet identified needs and ensure the best delivery of postsecondary educational services to students. 2) The impact and feasibility of establishing a regional, residential, four-year public university in southeastern Kentucky. The study shall include a comprehensive review of the prospect of: a. Kentucky to serve the region as a new regional, residential, four-year public university, as an alternative to establishing an entirely new four-year university; b. Establishing a residential campus in southeastern Kentucky that is a satellite campus of an existing regional public university; and c. The Commonwealth acquiring an existing, private university in southeastern Kentucky to serve the region as a new regional, residential, four-year public university, as an alternative to establishing an entirely new four-year university; and 3) The feasibility and programmatic and fiscal impacts of having the Kentucky Community and Technical College System continue to be responsible for technical education programs but transferring responsibility for traditional academic subjects to the regional universities. The study shall include a comprehensive review of how this transition might impact each regional university and the potential implications on any proposal for establishing a four year university in southeastern Kentucky identified in subsection (2) of this section and the potential impact on prospective Kentucky Community and Technical College System students statewide.
