Adding UPike to state’s university system
doesn’t make sense, Morehead president says

By Mark Boxley
mark@kyforward.com

As Kentucky’s state government explores the possibility of adding the University of Pikeville to the state university system, the discussion rages over the need for such a move – and the possible implications.

During a meeting of the Lexington Forum Thursday on the University of Kentucky campus, Dr. Wayne D. Andrews, president of Morehead State University, discussed the issue extensively.

For Andrews, the addition of the University of Pikeville to the state university system doesn’t make sense. State funding for higher education is already stretched thin, and if another school is added to the mix everyone is going to get smaller pieces of a shrinking pie, he said.

“There is a long list of things that will make this a significant issue,” Andrews said.

The idea is to take $14 million in coal severance tax money to fund the addition of the University of Pikeville into the state university system. That amount would significantly reduce the tuition costs at Pikeville — by more than $10,000, Andrews said — but the monetary needs of the university would go far beyond that amount, he said.

People have to ask themselves, “is that a good investment of the taxpayers’ money?” Andrews said.

“You can get the idea I’m not for (adding Pikeville), it doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Instead of taking the $14 million a year and giving it to the University of Pikeville, Andrews suggested the idea of using the funds to provide scholarships to students in coal counties.

“Adding another slice (to the funding pie) doesn’t make sense,” Andrews said. “… but investing money in kids and families … makes a lot of sense.”

Gov. Steve Beshear, on the other hand, is for the addition of Pikeville to the state university system.

“The University of Pikeville meets a regional need for quality education in Appalachia, and the school’s growth illustrates its potential as an economic driver in the area,” he said in a press release. “Universities are economic drivers in their regions, producing well-educated and trained students who are prepared to enter the workforce.”

Andrews believes that southeastern Kentucky is already served well by universities in the area, including Morehead.

An additional issue, Andrews said, is that the state’s other private universities would likely want to follow the University of Pikeville by becoming part of the state university system.

“This is kind of like the crack in the floodgate,” he said.

Regardless of a person’s position on the issue, Andrews said people should participate in the discussion.

“Should you be concerned as tax payers?” he asked. “Yes.”

Currently the state government is conducting a study to address numerous issues that could be caused by adding the University of Pikeville to the state university system. These include:

– the educational need in the eastern Kentucky region

– the capacity of existing institutions to meet that need

– the economic impact to the region of making the University of Pikeville a state institution

– a review the financial resources needed to assure success of the University of Pikeville as a state institution

– the impact of the proposal on the existing system of state universities 

– whether the proposal would advance the goals of the Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997

– identification of transitional issues that should be considered including changes in policy, financial administration, personnel issues,  ethics and open meetings and records compliance, procurement issues, academic standards, accreditation, facilities and other related issues

The study has not yet been completed.

The University of Pikeville enrolls about 1,100 full time students from 80 Kentucky counties, 35 states and 16 foreign countries.  Founded in 1889 by Presbyterians, the University of Pikeville offers a broad liberal arts and sciences education. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, baccalaureate and doctoral degrees.