Call to Order and Roll Call
The second meeting of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education of the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue was held on Thursday, September 28, 2017, at 10:00 AM, in Room 154 of the Capitol Annex. Senator Stephen West, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator Stephen West, Co-Chair; Representatives James Tipton, Co-Chair, and Regina Huff, Co-Chair; Senators C.B. Embry Jr., Stan Humphries, Christian McDaniel, Johnny Ray Turner, and Mike Wilson; Representatives George Brown Jr, John Carney, Kelly Flood, Tim Moore, Melinda Gibbons Prunty, Rick Rand, Jody Richards, Steve Riley, and Steven Rudy.
Guests: Dr. Gregory Postel, Interim President, University of Louisville.
LRC Staff: Joe Lancaster, Jennifer Krieger, Jonathan Eakin, and Amie Elam.
University of Louisville
Dr. Postel updated members on the state of the University of Louisville (UofL). He focused on graduation rates, student success, community outreach, and resolving prior issues at the university.
In response to a question from Chair West, Dr. Postel explained the remaining SACS requirements were both to create a memorandum of understanding between the university and the research foundation and to give an update on hiring processes. Dr. Postel said that the UofL budget is $1.2 billion; the $1.2 billion amount includes athletics and the research foundation.
In response to a question from Representative Tipton, Dr. Postel stated that the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) and other universities report graduation data on a six-year basis. There is a new building on the Belknap Campus dedicated to student success and improving graduation rates. He explained that UofL has a lower aggregate student debt than other Kentucky universities. The issue of merit versus need-based scholarships is a nationwide debate. UofL is looking to find the right balance between meeting the needs of students and attracting excellent students.
In response to a question from Representative Flood, Dr. Postel explained that UofL deemed vacating title game wins and the clawback of associated conference proceeds from those wins as excessive punishment from the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
In response to a question from Representative Moore, Dr. Postel said that his goal is to highlight diversity while focusing on allowing students to discuss a variety of polarizing subjects in the absence of violence and hostility.
In response to a question from Representative Brown, Dr. Postel said the university agreed to an additional $2.4 million commitment to the KFC YUM Center. The Louisville Arena Authority was pleased by the university commitment and said it would be sufficient to meet its needs.
In response to a question from Representative Brown, Dr. Postel said that UofL's $48 million deficit was addressed by reducing operational expenses, scaling back procurement spending, and being more selective about filling vacant positions.
In response to a question from Representative Prunty, Dr. Postel said the UofL overall budget decrease was between two and three percent. Budget cuts are not easy but they can be absorbed.
In response to a question from Representative Richards, Dr. Postel said he would provide the members with a list of Bucks for Brains chairs and professors.
Chair West announced the next meeting of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education would be held October 26, 2017. There being no further business to come before the subcommittee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.