HBCU Profile: Kentucky State University

Location: Frankfort, Kentucky

Date Founded: 1886

Mission Statement: Kentucky State University, building on its legacy of achievement as a historically black, liberal arts, and 1890 land-grant university, affords access to and prepares a diverse student population of traditional and non-traditional students to compete in a multifaceted, ever-changing global society by providing student-centered learning while integrating teaching, research, and service through high-quality undergraduate and select graduate programs. Kentucky State University is committed to keeping relevant its legacy of service by proactively engaging the community in partnerships on civic projects driven by the objective of positively impacting the quality of life of the citizens of the Commonwealth.

History: From its modest beginnings as a small normal school for the training of black teachers for the black schools of Kentucky, Kentucky State University has grown and evolved to become the state’s unique, small, liberal studies institution, serving students without regard to their race, age, sex, national origin, or economic status.

Over 122 years, the school has changed from an institution that focused solely on training teachers to one that looks more like a comprehensive university with a variety of majors students can choose from. And though the school has maintained its liberal arts roots, it also offers training in professional fields such as nursing and public administration.

The school also has changed in terms of its population. The faculty, staff and students are a diverse mix, making KSU the most diverse public institution in the Commonwealth.

Technology has allowed the school to reach out to even more people, including the newly approved master’s of special education program, which is completely an online curriculum and will allow students throughout the national and world earn their degree from Kentucky State University.

The university also was called to find a way to collect and preserve Kentucky African American history, including university history and contributions African Americans made throughout the commonwealth. Thus the Center of Excellence for the Study of Kentucky African Americans was born.

Famous Alumni: Whitney M. Young, Jr., Executive Director of the National Urban League (1961-1971); Effie Waller Smith ("Kentucky's Emily Dickison"), Educator and Poet; James L. McCullin, Tuskegee Airman; Anna Mac Clarke, First African-American officer of an all-white company; Moneta Sleet, Jr.,Ebony magazine photographer and Pulitzer Prize winner

Website: Kentucky State University