Continuing Our Work Together: Safety, Support, and Progress
Dear Thorobred Family,
As we move toward the close of our third week of the Spring 2026 semester, we are facing a new set of challenges as our region continues to feel the effects of Winter Storm Fern. I know many of you are managing difficult conditions — travel disruptions, changed routines, family responsibilities, and, for some, interruptions in power and connectivity. Please make safe decisions, look out for one another, and stay attentive to official University updates as conditions continue to evolve.
This additional disruption comes at a time when our campus is still carrying the weight of what we experienced on December 9. This tragic incident remains under active investigation, and for many, the path forward remains uneven. There will be moments of progress and pause, and recovery will look different for each of us. I want to reaffirm a commitment I have shared from the beginning: Kentucky State University will keep providing support for our students and employees, and we will continue to enhance the systems, safeguards, and resources that foster a stable campus environment.
Last week, I met with the Kentucky State University Board of Regents to discuss our ongoing efforts related to December 9 and reiterate the priority we place on campus safety and security. I am grateful to Board Chair Ms. Tammi Dukes and to all our Regents for their steady support and leadership as we move forward together.
Even as we navigate a demanding season, I am encouraged to share positive momentum in Kentucky State’s academic and career-focused innovation efforts.
The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) has recently approved two new degree programs: a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and a Bachelor of Science in Aquatic Science. These approvals build on another recent milestone: the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), our accrediting body, has approved our new Master of Science in Sports Analytics. This summer, in June, SACSCOC will also review a proposed Master of Science in Public Health in Nutrition, which has CPE support.
Earlier efforts to expand programming are already taking flight, particularly our work to expand opportunities through interdisciplinary programs designed for emerging career needs. In Fall 2025, Kentucky State launched Biological and Agricultural Engineering programs — at the undergraduate and graduate levels — through a partnership between the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources and the College of Business, Engineering, and Technology.
Taken together, these developments reflect a clear and deliberate direction: Kentucky State is expanding academic options with new and emerging programs aligned to workforce needs and changes in the economy. We are building pathways that are practical, future-focused, and grounded in innovation.
As we move through the remainder of this week, I am asking all of us to lead with patience and care. Faculty and staff, thank you for modeling flexibility as students and colleagues manage a range of challenges. Students, communicate early with your instructors when weather or circumstances affect attendance, coursework, or deadlines.
Please continue to rely on the resources available to you at kysu.edu/support, and encourage others to do the same. If you are struggling, reach out. If you see someone else struggling, check in and connect them to help. This is how a community strengthens itself — quietly, consistently, and together.
Thank you for the professionalism, resilience, and compassion you have shown in a difficult stretch. Let us keep prioritizing safety, supporting one another, and continuing the work that makes Kentucky State University a place of opportunity, purpose, and shared devotion to our mission.
Sincerely,
Koffi C. Akakpo, Ph.D.
President
Kentucky State University