Home » KCTCS board hears update on alignment of curriculum

KCTCS board hears update on alignment of curriculum

Also approves new programs

VERSAILLES, Ky. (March 10, 2017) — During its quarterly meeting today, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Board of Regents received an update on the work being done to develop career pathways for high school students entering KCTCS colleges.

KCTCS and the Office of Career and Technical Education (CTE) have created a curriculum alignment project intended to develop common pathways and dual credit opportunities that can be implemented statewide; these pathways will serve as models for course alignment between secondary and postsecondary partners.

“Our goal is to get students on a path to a career in a high demand, high paying field as quickly as possible,” said board chair Marcia L. Roth. “Aligning our occupational curriculum with high schools allows students to get a jump start on both their education and getting a good job.”

To date, the curriculum alignment project has focused on updating the process for aligning curriculum and programs in the state’s top five industry sectors as determined by the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. These sectors are healthcare, advanced manufacturing, transportation/logistics, business services/IT and construction. CTE and KCTCS faculty and staff are currently working on curriculum alignment in welding technology and industrial maintenance technology programs.

The board also approved the request to rename the current Learning Resource Center at Hopkinsville Community College (HCC) to The Rotary Club of Hopkinsville Learning Resource Center. For over 67 years, the Hopkinsville Rotary Club has supported higher education in Christian County through its loans and scholarship program, providing more than 10,000 students over $10.6 million in student loans. Additionally, in 2007 they announced the creation of the Hopkinsville Rotary Scholars Program. Since 2012, this program has provided tuition-free education of up to 15 credit hours for four continuous semesters at HCC for every graduating high school senior in the local area. To date over 500 students have participated in the program.

In other action, the board approved four new program proposals:

  • Associate in applied science in education for Big Sandy Community and Technical College.
  • Associate in applied science in diagnostic medical sonography for Bluegrass Community and Technical College.
  • Diploma in construction carpenter for Hazard Community and Technical College.
  • Associate in applied science in air conditioning for Owensboro Community and Technical College
  • Ratified 17 certificate programs.

Approved 6,085 academic credential requests between Oct. 4, 2016 – Jan. 9, 2017 (associate degrees, diplomas and certificates). These credentials include:

  • 3,897 candidates for certificates.
  • 382 candidates for diplomas.
  • 1,806 candidates for associate degrees.

The next KCTCS Board of Regents meeting will be June 9 at Somerset Community College in Somerset.