May 1997 – Governor Paul E. Patton signs the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997 (House Bill 1), which creates the Kentucky Community and Technical College System – the ninth institution of higher education in Kentucky.  House Bill 1 brought together 15 technical colleges and 13 community colleges under one governing board.

June 1997 – Governor appoints KCTCS Statewide Transition Team to guide implementation until a permanent president is chosen.  Dr. James Ramsey is appointed chairman by virtue of his position as state budget director.

July 1997 – Governor appoints the eight citizen members of the KCTCS Board of Regents: Ms. Martha C. Johnson of Ashland, Mr. Michael S. Hoseus of Lexington, Mr. Richard A. Bean of Louisville, Ms. Cynthia L. Read of Louisville, Mr. Marvin D. Russow of Louisville, Ms. Lorna D. Littrell of Henderson, Ms. Diana L. Lutz of Madisonville, and Mr. John R. Banks of Hopkinsville.

September 1997 – Elections are held to fill the remaining six positions on the Board of Regents.  Ms. Cynthia E. Fiorella of Owensboro Community College and Mr. Mark A. Powell of Bowling Green Regional Technology Center are elected as staff regents.  Dr. John F. Hanel of Jefferson Community College and Mr. Bobby W. McCool of Mayo Regional Technology Center are elected as faculty regents.  Mr. Charles O’Neal of Madisonville Community College and Ms. Donna Davis of Somerset Regional Technology Center are chosen as student regents.

November 1997 – The technical institutions’ accreditation agency, the Council on Occupational Education, approves substantive change in governance proposal.

January 1998 – The community colleges’ accreditation agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, approves substantive change in governance proposal. Management of the community colleges is transferred from the University of Kentucky to KCTCS. 

June 1998 – Board of Regents adopts resolution transitioning Kentucky TECH institutions transferred to KCTCS by the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997 (House Bill 1) as technical colleges.

July 1998 – As provided in the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997, the postsecondary education improvement act, the technical institutions are transferred to KCTCS from state government and become technical colleges. 

The Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) approves the first KCTCS degrees.

December 1998 – Board of Regents hires Dr. Michael B. McCall as the founding president of KCTCS. Dr. Anthony Newberry is appointed chancellor of the community colleges.

January 1999 – KCTCS System Office moves from Frankfort to Lexington.

February 1999 – Dr. Keith W. Bird is appointed chancellor of the technical colleges.

April 1999 – Board of Regents approves an operational mission statement based on the legislative mandates of the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997.

Board of Regents approves a resolution that opens the door to consolidation of local community and technical colleges.  Colleges in several communities quickly move to develop partnerships (memoranda of agreements) for programs, services, and functions.

July 1999 – CPE approves first degree programs for technical colleges.

PeopleSoft Financial and Human Resources systems go live to replace the systems formerly provided by UK and the Commonwealth and give KCTCS a unified ability to maintain financial control, issue payrolls, and hire and track employees.

August 1999 – KCTCS Foundation, Inc., is created.

September 1999 – President McCall is inaugurated as the founding president of KCTCS.

October 1999 – Board of Regents approves the KCTCS Strategic Plan 2000-05, which is the first strategic plan for KCTCS, along with KCTCS Vision and Value statements.  

March 2000 – PeopleSoft Contributor Relations system goes live to support the KCTCS Foundation.

June 2000 – Regional Tech Center Building functions, services, and programs, including personnel and budget, are transferred to Hopkinsville Community College from Madisonville Technical College.

PeopleSoft Student system goes live to provide a unified student record, admission, registration, and financial aid capability for all KCTCS students and replace 28 separate student systems.

July 2000 – The Kentucky Workforce Investment Network System (KY WINS) was established to provide funding for business and industry training projects through the KCTCS Workforce Trust Fund.

August 2000 – KCTCS Board of Regents approved associate degree programs for all technical colleges.

KCTCS began awarding academic credit for workforce training programs.

December 2000 – The KCTCS Board of Regents adopts a resolution authorizing President McCall to implement the 16-college district structure "for effective and efficient operations."

February 2001 – The CPE endorses the KCTCS college district structure.

Spring 2001 – KCTCS technical colleges obtain degree-granting status from the Council on Occupational Education.

June 2001 – The KCTCS Board of Regents adopts a resolution endorsing the pursuit of single accreditation with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) for KCTCS colleges.

SACS reaffirmed accreditation for Henderson Community College.

July 2001 – The National Science Foundation (NSF) awards a grant to assist in increasing the enrollment, diversity, and success of students in industrial and engineering technology programs.

The National Science Foundation awards a grant to adapt and implement the Career Transcript System in selected high schools, colleges, and industry sites across the state.

September 2001 – Fall enrollment reaches a record statewide total of more than 60,000 students in credit courses. Each of the 16 districts in KCTCS posts an increase from fall 2000. 

Funding was received to establish a comprehensive community and technical college in northern Kentucky.

October 2001 – KCTCS and the University of Kentucky – Lexington Community College announce a $2 million National Science Foundation project to establish the Kentucky Information Technology Center. 

December 2001 –CPE survey shows students and graduates of KCTCS colleges express strong satisfaction with their experience and would recommend a community or technical college to other students. 

SACS reaffirmed accreditation for 10 community colleges.

SACS approved the consolidation and single accreditation of Madisonville Community College and Madisonville Technical College as well as the consolidation and single accreditation of Southeast Community College and Cumberland Valley Technical College.

KCTCS achieves Council on Postsecondary and Kentucky Workforce Investment Board recognition during 2001 for the Early Leavers with Marketable Skills (ELMS) concept as a valid measure of successful program completion.

January 2002 – KCTCS acquires a new web domain: www.kctcs.edu.  The change signifies the place of the System in the higher education structure of the Commonwealth.

February 2002 – Governor Paul E. Patton announces a technical education partnership that creates a more seamless path to postsecondary education and training for Kentucky high school students.

April 2002 – ACT Centers established at five locations to provide state-of-the-art testing and training programs for businesses, individuals, and organizations.  

May 2002 – KCTCS and four-year colleges and universities team up to offer scholarships to selected participants in the Intel/International Science and Engineering Fair 2002. The System sponsors a luncheon to honor science fair finalists from Kentucky.

June 2002 – KCTCS and the Kentucky Virtual University partner to provide students enrolled in West Virginia community and technical colleges access to Kentucky’s distance learning courses.

SACS approves consolidation and single accreditation of Hazard Community College and Hazard Technical College.

KCTCS Board of Regents adopts the KCTCS Strategic Plan 2000-05, July 2002 Edition, aligning the KCTCS strategic planning process with the budget cycle to include annual and biennial budget development.

September 2002 – KCTCS sets record enrollment of over 67,000 students in credit courses with each district surpassing enrollment goals for the semester.

Unification continues; Dr. Keith W. Bird named Systemwide Chancellor.

November 2002 – KCTCS launches its first major gift fundraising effort - The Fulfilling the Promise Campaign - during the annual President's Gala and Benefactors Awards Dinner.

December 2002 – SACS reaffirmed accreditation for Jefferson Community College.

Board of Regents adopts Resolution Endorsing the Development of a KCTCS Compensation and Classification Program.

KCTCS entered into a lease/purchase agreement that will lead to occupancy of a new System Office in Versailles. 

KCTCS acquires a new web domain during 2002 – www.kctcs.edu.  The .edu designation signifies the place of the System in the higher education structure of the Commonwealth and the nation.

May 2003 – KCTCS Board of Regents approve the first transfer degree for a technical college:  Associate in Arts and Associate in Science for Gateway Community and Technical College.

Board of Regents approves the classification structure for the new market-based KCTCS compensation and classification program. 

KCTCS kicks off the Kentucky Employability Certificate, a joint project with the Cabinet for Workforce Development that documents foundational skills for employment.  The state awarded more than 1,500 certificates.

KCTCS sponsors the first former KCTCS student participants in the British Experience in Living and Learning (BELL) program at Regents Park College, Oxford, England, during spring 2003.  BELL is a partnership with Georgetown College to offer international studies opportunities to students and faculty.

June 2003 – Legislation enacted by the 2003 General Assembly becomes effective: House Bill 223 gives Board authority to determine names of all colleges and eliminates tiebacks to the University of Kentucky and House Bill 370 allows KCTCS to offer post-retirement health insurance to employees enrolled in the 403(b) retirement program (TIAA-CREF).

SACS approves consolidation and single accreditation of Owensboro Community College and Owensboro Technical College (Owensboro Community and Technical College) as well as for Somerset Community College, Laurel Technical College, and Somerset Technical College.

KCTCS received a $40 million increase in grant funding.

July 2003 – KCTCS Strategic Plan 2000-05, July 2003 Edition is implemented, including updated 2003‑05 System priorities and revised performance indicators. 

September 2003 – KCTCS Board of Regents adopts a faculty and staff salary schedule as part of the market-based KCTCS classification and compensation program recommended by Mercer Human Resources Consulting, Inc.

October 2003 – KCTCS officially launches the Fulfilling the Promise Campaign and announces lead gifts from Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky and The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

December 2003 – KCTCS receives a “clean” financial audit for the fifth consecutive year from the independent auditing firm of Deloitte & Touche.

SACS approves consolidation and single accreditation of Ashland Community and Ashland Technical College (Ashland Community and Technical College), Prestonsburg Community College and Mayo Technical College (Big Sandy Community and Technical College), and Paducah Community College and West Kentucky Technical College (West Kentucky Community and Technical College). 

KCTCS Board of Regents approves an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Education, facilitating dual credit opportunities for high school students and transfer opportunities of KCTCS students to four-year colleges and universities.

January 2004 – KCTCS seeks and gains approval from the Council on Postsecondary Education for the review of its Kentucky Plan compliance to be completed within the existing comprehensive college structure, when accreditation and consolidation are complete, including SACS approval. 

KCTCS launches the Kentucky Manufacturing Skills Standards (KMSS) online assessment pilot in northern Kentucky.  KMSS is the first industry-based manufacturing skills certification offered online.

April 2004 – Governor Ernie Fletcher signs House Joint Resolution 214 (HJR 214) of the Kentucky General Assembly, transferring governance of Lexington Community College (now Bluegrass Community and Technical College) from the University of Kentucky (UK) to KCTCS on or before July 1, 2004. 

May 2004 – KCTCS Board of Regents accepts delegation of authority for Lexington Community College (now Bluegrass Community and Technical College) and approves the college’s course and program inventories.

June 2004 – KCTCS and the University of Kentucky sign a Memorandum of Agreement, officially transferring governance and administration of Lexington Community College (now Bluegrass Community and Technical College) to KCTCS.

KCTCS President Michael B. McCall elected chair of the American Association of Community Colleges for 2005-06. 

SACS approves consolidation and single accreditation of Elizabethtown Community College and Elizabethtown Technical College as Elizabethtown Community and Technical College.

July 2004 – Integrated faculty promotion process is implemented.

KCTCS makes salary adjustments to approximately 1,000 employees, to increase individual annual salaries to new Mercer-recommended minimum salary levels based on market analysis.

August 2004 – KCTCS establishes a Research and Policy Analysis Unit.

The former Community College Faculty Senate and the former Technical College Faculty Senate hold the first annual meeting of the new integrated KCTCS Faculty Senate.

October 2004 – KCTCS System Office moves to new headquarters in Versailles, Kentucky.

KCTCS presents awards to 39 KCTCS major donors and volunteers at the fifth annual President’s Gala.  It is announced that John Morgridge, chairman of the board of Cisco Systems in San Jose, California, will serve as the National Honorary Chair of the KCTCS Fulfilling the Promise Campaign and that the Kentucky campaign co-chairs are Tom Zawacki, general manager of Toyota Manufacturing Kentucky, and Tim Mosher, president of Kentucky Power.

November 2004 – KCTCS System Office hosts a dedication of its new facility. 

KCTCS is awarded $1 million in federal appropriations for the Center of Excellence in Automotive Manufacturing ($500,000), allied health education programs at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College ($400,000), and the Seminary Building restoration project at Jefferson Community College ($100,000). 

December 2004 – SACS approves consolidation and single accreditation of Maysville Community College and Rowan Technical College as Maysville Community and Technical College. 

KCTCS Board of Regents approves the strategic plan for 2006-10 which includes a new KCTCS Vision statement, the KCTCS Mission statement, KCTCS Values, and four new goals.

Distance learning enrollment increases from 1,336 students in 2000 to 26,629 students in 2004.

January 2005 – Kentucky Monthly magazine names KCTCS President Michael B. McCall the 2004 Kentuckian of the Year.  The feature article in the magazine’s January edition highlighted McCall's success in unifying the state's community and technical colleges, increasing access to postsecondary education, and establishing KCTCS as a nationally recognized two-year college system.

March 2005 – Kentucky General Assembly approves legislation codifying the delegation of governance of Lexington Community College from the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees to the KCTCS Board of Regents pursuant to House Joint Resolution 214 (approved in the 2004 Legislative Session). 

April 2005 – KCTCS Chancellor Keith Bird and Owensboro Community and Technical College President/CEO Jacqueline Addington are among 28 national educators receiving Phi Theta Kappa’s Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction presented to college administrators for exemplary support of Phi Theta Kappa at the local, regional, and international levels.

May 2005 – KCTCS President Michael B. McCall receives the 2005 International Leadership Award presented at the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) and is recognized for outstanding community college leadership.

June 2005 – SACS approves consolidation and single accreditation of Jefferson Community College and Jefferson Technical College as Jefferson Community and Technical College.

Fulfilling the Promise Campaign donations and pledges surpass the total of the Partners in Progress major gifts campaign.

KCTCS Board of Regents accepts core indicators, measures, and targets for the KCTCS Strategic Plan 2006-10. 

KCTCS colleges applied for 525 grants during 2004-05, up from 424 applications in 2003-04.

KCTCS pass rate by first-time takers on all licensure and certification examinations (averaged 89 percent) exceeds the national average during 2004. 

KCTCS Board of Regents adopts a faculty and staff salary schedule and approves funding to bring all KCTCS employees to at least the minimum Mercer-recommended salary levels for fiscal year 2005-06.

July 2005 – KCTCS launches the KCTCS Strategic Plan 2006-10.

November 2005 – Fall enrollment reaches a record statewide total of more than 84,931 students in credit courses.  Since 1998, enrollment within KCTCS institutions has increased over 64 percent from 51,647. 

KCTCS workforce and continuing education programs provided services to more 179,000 Kentuckians during 2004-05.

December 2005 – SACS approves consolidation and single accreditation of Lexington Community College and Central Kentucky Technical College as Bluegrass Community and Technical College, completing the consolidation of 28 colleges into 16 comprehensive colleges in 65 locations.

Dual credit enrollment increases from 4,842 students in 2001 to 13,694 students in 2005.

Grant and contract awards, excluding financial aid, increase by 81 percent since 2000 and include funding for the North American Racing Academy (NARA), the Coal Academy, and the Center for Automotive Manufacturing. 

January 2006 – Fulfilling the Promise Campaign tops the $50 million mark in gifts and pledges for initiatives statewide.

February 2006 – KCTCS statewide initiatives continue to benefit students and workers with over 3,400 Kentucky Employability Certificates (KEC) awarded through colleges, adult education, and industry; 3,582 Kentucky Manufacturing Skills Standards (KMSS) certificates issued; and Career Pathways approved for all KCTCS colleges with a KY WINS financial commitment of nearly $3.3 million over the next two years. 

KCTCS “Expanding Horizons” partnership initiative with high schools to develop ongoing college readiness programs receives 100 percent KCTCS college participation.

March 2006 – KCTCS Board of regents establishes Student Body Co-Presidents positions through KCTCS Board of Regents Bylaws revisions.  The Student Body Co-Presidents also will serve as the student members of the Board. 

KCTCS and Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc., announce details of a multi-faceted partnership to extend workforce development training opportunities through the KCTCS Center for Excellence in Automotive Manufacturing.

KCTCS and four chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) sign a Memorandum of Agreement, creating educational partnerships that will assist electrical apprentices in obtaining an Associate in Applied Science in Electrical Technology for union apprentices and IBEW members who are interested in furthering their education.

April 2006 – KCTCS President Michael B. McCall and Hall of Fame Jockey Chris McCarron announce the creation of the North American Racing Academy - the first horse-racing academy in the United States.  In partnership with KCTCS and the Kentucky Horse Park, the racing academy will initially focus training jockeys with the long-term goal of establishing career pathways for individuals interested in working in all aspects of the horse racing industry.

June 2006 – KCTCS Board of Regents establishes the KCTCS Board of Regents Scholarship for the two KCTCS Student Body Co-Presidents to provide support and distinction for these two positions. 

July 2006 – Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS), formerly an independent board within Kentucky state government, transfers to KCTCS via House Bill 155 enacted by the 2006 General Assembly and signed by Governor Fletcher April 24, 2006.

March 2007 – KCTCS System Office Information Technology changes its name to Technology Solutions to reflect commitment to take KCTCS to the next level; to find solutions for any KCTCS technology-related issue; and to bring all technology initiatives, including distance learning technologies and visualized learning and innovation (VLI), into the same unit. 

June 2007 – Gateway Community and Technical College achieves Candidacy Status with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

September 2007 – KCTCS Board of Regents approves a business plan for KCTCS that focuses on the specific mission and mandates issued to KCTCS in the enactment of the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997, known as House Bill 1, and the goals set forth for Kentucky to be achieved by 2020.  The Plan for a Competitive Commonwealth 2008-2020 addresses the KCTCS mission critical areas of workforce education, transfer education, and college and workforce readiness.