KentuckyCAN

Kentucky College Access Network came about as a result of the recognition that more needed to be done to encourage Kentuckians, young and older adults, to pursue their education beyond high school and thus improve the college-going rate in Kentucky.  People representing college access programs throughout the state met periodically to discuss the need and/or the possibilities of a state college access network that would promote and enhance existing college access programs, advocate for new programs, and provide a network for college access providers to exchange ideas and best practices.

As a result of the high level of interest in college access in Kentucky born out of these meetings, formal organization of the Kentucky College Access Network, Inc. with articles of incorporation occurred in May 2007.  A board of directors was named and the board formally designated an Executive Director, Dr. Joe L. McCormick, in June, 2007.

During the course of these discussions, the Prichard Committee in partnership with the Council on Postsecondary Education received funds from the Lumina Foundation to promote college access programs in the state and to create a statewide college access network.  In addition, the grant calls for a state wide media campaign to promote the ACE/Lumina KnowHowToGo Campaign.

KentuckyCAN filed for tax exempt status with the IRS in August 2007 and launched the KentuckyCAN! List Serve to connect college access providers statewide.  The following goals for the KentuckyCAN were adopted by the board of directors:

• To provide existing college access services the opportunity and vehicle to coordinate and support one another’s efforts
• To identify gaps in college access services statewide
• To support creation of new programs, especially targeted to low-income, underrepresented and first-generation students
• To speak with one loud voice raising awareness of the need and value of postsecondary education
• To impact in a positive way the “college-going” rate in Kentucky, particularly among minority populations and adult learners

The response and interest in college access in Kentucky has been very encouraging.  To date KentuckyCAN has over 270 individual members representing all the major college access programs in the state and several community-based organizations engaged in college access programs.  The membership of KentuckyCAN is very inclusive and includes colleges and universities, TRIO programs, GEAR UP programs, school districts, high schools, and community-based organizations interested in college access programs.

As KentuckyCAN continues to gain interest and identifies support for college access initiatives, the potential for service might includes such items as:

• give existing college access programs the opportunity and the means to share and coordinate efforts
• support the creation of new college access programs to fill college access gaps
• share best practices in college access programs state-wide
• speak loudly and often on an ongoing basis with one-voice raising awareness of the need for and value of postsecondary education
• encourage and expand a public and private partnership investing in the creation of a better-educated workforce for the state
• build relationships with other professional organizations in the college access arena to leverage resources and improve services
• work with adult learner populations and adults that have had a college experience but need the motivation to continue to finish a degree plan