Policy on Academic and Financial Sustainability

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to provide a new Policy on Academic and Financial Sustainability. This policy was mandated by the 2026 House Bill (HB) 490such that each Kentucky public institution of higher education must develop a process by which a faculty member may be removed by the Board for bona fide financial reasons.

To create a fair policy, while ensuring we comply with HB 490, the Office of the Provost worked with institutional leadership and collaborated closely with the Faculty Senate, which has representatives from all colleges. The Faculty Senate provided extensive input.

In addition to including Faculty Senate input, an additional collaborative editing session to refine the draft policy language was conducted with representatives of the Faculty Senate. The policy was then presented to the Board of Trustees on Sept. 18, 2026, and was unanimously approved. 

As you review the policy, you will see multiple steps describing a fair process for programmatic assessment, consultation, consideration of alternatives and transparency.

If you have any questions regarding the policy, please reach out to me at rebecca.thomas@uky.edu.

Thank you.

Rebecca Thomas
Associate Provost for Faculty Advancement