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LCC is officially transferred to KCTCS
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Caption: KCTCS President McCall, LCC President Jim Kerley and UK Provost Mike Nietzel sign a memorandum of agreement transferring governance of LCC from UK to KCTCS. June 30, 2004.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 1, 2004) - A public signing of the memorandum of agreement that transfers governance of Lexington Community College from the University of Kentucky to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System was held Wednesday, June 30, at the KCTCS System Office in Lexington.
"Today marks a milestone in the history of Kentucky's postsecondary education," said KCTCS President Michael B. McCall. "This transfer of governance completes the creation of a comprehensive community and technical college system that was envisioned in House Bill One, 1997."
On hand to sign the MOA were President McCall, LCC President Jim Kerley and UK Provost Mike Nietzel.
"All of us need to pledge our continued cooperation to assure that all the gains in higher education that have been made through the close association of Lexington Community College and the University of Kentucky are enhanced," said Nietzel. "The transition team is to be commended for their efforts to make sure that the students, faculty and staff would experience a seamless transition."
"This is a momentous day for LCC as we officially end at least a part of our longstanding relationship with UK and merge with the community and technical college system" said Kerley. "I know that our students will prosper from this transfer of governance, and that LCC will continue to grow as a community college that is committed to providing open access to anyone desiring higher education."
In July 2003, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) informed LCC that it was placed on probation for 12 months for failure to demonstrate that "it has sufficient autonomy to be accredited separately..." The transfer of governance to KCTCS has resulted in the SACS removing LCC from the list of institutions on probation.
House Joint Resolution 214, which was passed during the 2004 regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly, established the framework for KCTCS to accept responsibility for the governance and management of LCC effective July 1, 2004.
Included in the MOA are arrangements for transferring the following:
public and private funding, assets, liabilities and fund balances;
facility furnishing and instructional and other moveable equipment;
financial and accounting services, human resources and payroll services, student support services, academic support services, information technology and communication support.
LCC currently occupies three buildings located off Cooper Drive that are part of the UK campus. The MOA provides that LCC may occupy these facilities for an indefinite period of time.
Also included was a provision that through June 30, 2006, LCC students retain the same privileges and benefits they received before the transfer. After that time, students will be able to choose these same services on an individual basis. This includes tickets to athletic events, the student health plan, use of the Seaton Center and Johnson Center, and other student activities.
In addition, LCC students who are officially enrolled on or before September 1, 2004, in associate degree programs approved by the UK Board of Trustees receive degrees conferred by the UK Board of Trustees if they complete the degree program prior to August 31, 2010.
The MOA also guarantees that LCC faculty and staff may elect to maintain the same benefits for retirement, health care plans, and long-term disability plans as they had before the transfer or they may elect to become part of the KCTCS personnel system at any time.
KCTCS colleges change lives by providing academic and technical associate degrees; diploma and certificate programs in occupational fields; pre-baccalaureate education; adult, continuing and developmental education; customized training for business and industry; and distance learning. For more information, visit www.kctcs.edu .