Dr. Aaron Thompson, president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, discusses the positive developments made in higher education in Kentucky towards the goal of having 60% of working-age adults with postsecondary qualifications by 2030. The episode also discusses college enrollment rates and higher education accessibility and affordability.

In October of 2023, the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education organized the inaugural  Healthcare Workforce Collaboratory. Policymakers, educators and employers convened to discuss issues related to Kentucky’s healthcare workforce shortage and the Healthcare Workforce Collaborative's most recent efforts. The Collaboratory brought together 48 healthcare organizations, representatives from local and state government, K-12 and postsecondary education. Dr. Aaron Thompson and Dr. Leslie Sizemore give a recap of the Collaboratory, discuss the importance of this gathering and explore what’s to come.

As the Second Chance Pell Grant grows, so do opportunities for those interested in college degrees from Kentucky's institutions. Dr. Javan Reed, with Simmons College, discusses the school's new program to empower and provide justice-involved individuals with an opportunity to earn a college education and career path. 

Join us as we delve into meeting Kentucky's mental healthcare needs. Carl Wilson, with CPE's Healthcare Workforce Initiatives Unit, discusses CLIMB-Health, a statewide initiative building postsecondary paths to counseling careers for those who have completed recovery/reentry programs.

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is crucial in promoting access to higher education for African American students, both nationally and locally. Steve Miller, UNCF director of development for Kentucky’s region, discusses upcoming fundraising events, the impact of the UNCF on student success and how Kentucky students can access the scholarship. In our second segment, Von Purdy, vice president of advancement and community engagement for Simmons College of Kentucky, joins the conversation and discusses how UNCF specifically supports Simmons students. https://uncf.org http://www.simmonscollegeky.edu/

One out of three Kentucky undergraduates is classified as a student with low income. While financial aid can help with tuition and fee costs for these students, often they are left struggling to pay for food and housing. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Lilly Massa-McKinley, executive director of the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative, about how the state is approaching this problem and CPE's latest report, Kentucky’s Strategy and Recommendations for Addressing Student Basic Needs.  Learn more about the report here: https://cpe.ky.gov/data/reports/2023-SBNreport.pdf.  #KYHigherEd #BasicNeeds #AntiPoverty #KYStudentSuccess

At what point does affordability affect retention of Kentucky students? In this episode, we talk to CPE’s Dr. Christopher Ledford, whose recent study defines that financial tipping point for Kentucky's two-year and four-year public students. We also look at national trends, take a deep dive into the results for URM and low-income populations, and talk about the policy implications. Learn more by reading the report: https://cpe.ky.gov/data/reports/unmetneedreport-2023.pdf #StudentDebt #KYHigherEd #FinancialAid

Kentucky is currently is taking steps to assist students in the Commonwealth with providing guidance and promoting resources that assist with making postsecondary education affordable. Listen, as Leah Halliday,  Program Coordinator for Affordable Learning Kentucky (A Kentucky Virtual Library initiative), as well as Shaun McKiernan, Executive Director of Finance and Budget for the Council on Postsecondary Education, discuss postsecondary affordability in Kentucky.

Guests:  Dr. Lilly Massa-McKinley, executive director, CPE Kentucky Student Success Collaborative  Phyllis Clark, associate director, CPE Kentucky Student Success Collaborative   Dr. Beth Ann Collins, associate director, CPE Kentucky Student Success Collaborative     What factors help or hinder a student from making it to and through college? Dr. Rick Smith is joined by his colleagues from the Council on Postsecondary Education’s Student Success Collaborative to talk about the myriad factors that make students successful in college from mental health to student basic needs to ease of transfer. 

Kim Dolan, director of outreach services at the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, joins the podcast to talk about the importance of the FAFSA and bust myths around college affordability. Visit kheaa.com for more information on planning for college and financial aid. #KentuckyHigherEducation #FAFSA #StudentDebt