Kentucky State Students Rally Against Polytechnic Change

Proposed legislation would limit academic offerings and cap enrollment at the HBCU

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:33am

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As state lawmakers look to transform Kentucky State University into a polytechnic school, students and alumni have rallied at the state capital to protest Senate Bill 185. The bill would drastically change the university by limiting academic programs to 10 majors and capping enrollment at 1,000 students, which has sparked concerns about the removal of liberal arts and the impact on campus organizations like fraternities and sororities.

Why it matters

Kentucky State University is one of Kentucky's two historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The proposed changes to the university's academic offerings and enrollment threaten to undermine the school's identity and legacy as an HBCU, which has long provided access to higher education for the state's Black community.

The details

Senate Bill 185, sponsored by Republican state Senator Chris McDaniel and supported by House Speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers, passed the Senate unanimously on March 26th. The bill would require Kentucky State to transition to a polytechnic model, limiting academic programs to 10 majors and capping enrollment at 1,000 students. This has raised concerns among students and alumni about the removal of liberal arts programs and the impact on campus organizations like fraternities and sororities, which would be required to reapply for their charters.

  • On March 26th, Senate Bill 185 passed the Kentucky Senate unanimously.
  • Within the past week, Kentucky State students and alumni have rallied at the state capital to protest the proposed legislation.

The players

Chris McDaniel

A Republican state senator from Ryland Heights who sponsored Senate Bill 185.

David Osborne

The Republican Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives, who supports Senate Bill 185.

Robert Stivers

The Republican President of the Kentucky Senate, who supports Senate Bill 185.

Mugissa Donatien

The senior class president at Kentucky State University, who has expressed concerns about the proposed changes.

George Brown

A Democratic state representative and Tennessee State University alumnus who opposes Senate Bill 185 in its current form.

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What they’re saying

“If it changes to polytech that mean that all liberal art majors would go on-line and we would lose a sense of community that we have as black students here.”

— Mugissa Donatien, Senior Class President, Kentucky State University

“We cannot sit back and say its ok...it's not ok and we need to say it.”

— George Brown, Democratic State Representative, Tennessee State University Alumnus

“By taking our greek organizations that's part of the legacy of HBCUs.”

— Kristie Powe, Kentucky State University Student

“We are demanding to keep our identity and we are also demanding that they support more than a thousand students on campus and in the bill it actually states that they would only support at least a thousand students and so we want to actually have more students on campus.”

— Mugissa Donatien, Senior Class President, Kentucky State University

What’s next

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 185, will now move to the Kentucky House of Representatives for consideration. Kentucky State University students and alumni plan to continue their protests and advocacy efforts to oppose the bill in its current form.

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the importance of preserving the identity and legacy of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) like Kentucky State University, which have long provided access to higher education for the state's Black community. The proposed changes threaten to undermine the university's core mission and community, sparking fierce resistance from students and alumni.