KCTCS Board of Regents Updated on COVID-19 Plans

March 13, 2020

Versailles, Ky. – Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Chancellor Kris Williams provided an update on the system’s response to the COVID-19 virus to the KCTCS Board of Regents during their quarterly board meeting.

Williams announced that all colleges within the system can move to online learning for two-three weeks beginning Monday. This decision was based on the request from Gov. Beshear and the Interim Commissioner of Education to public school systems across the state to move to online/remote learning at this time. Two KCTCS colleges, Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) and Gateway Community and Technical College (GCTC), have already announced their plans.  BCTC will move to online classes March 22-April 4 and GCTC will be transitioning to online delivery starting March 18.

The KCTCS System Office in Versailles is also allowing employees to work from home, if needed. Many are impacted by local school closures, so beginning Monday, the System Office will allow individuals to work from home for two weeks with support from their supervisor.  

“KCTCS colleges have been developing plans for several weeks to address the COVID-19 crisis and are well prepared to continue providing students with their educational needs while meeting community health concerns,” KCTCS Board Chair Gail R. Henson said.  “The health and safety of our students is our number one priority and we believe the move to online learning will allow us to continue serving our students in the current environment.”

KCTCS has created a web page on all college websites for COVID-19 announcements and updates.  Additionally, students, faculty and staff are being communicated to on a regular basis via the website, email, social media and other internal communication channels.

In other business, the board:

• Appointed KCTCS Vice President Paul Czarapata as interim KCTCS president beginning July 1 for a minimum of three months until a new KCTCS president is on board. 
• Ratified 20 certificate programs.
• Approved two Associate in Applied Science programs for Madisonville Community College - Associate in Applied Science in Fixed Wing Flight Training and Helicopter Flight Training
• Approved 8,180 academic credential requests between April 11, 2019 – July 17, 2019 (associate degrees, diplomas and certificates).  These credentials include:
  • 4,741 candidates for certificates;
  • 612 candidates for diplomas; and
  • 2,827 candidates for associate degrees.

The next meeting of the KCTCS Board of Regents is scheduled for June 12, 2020 at the KCTCS System Office, Versailles, Kentucky.